You must often say to yourself that working in the ski industry is a great job because we are always off skiing in great ski resorts in France, Austria and Switzerland! Well you’re not wrong! Our team of reporters just got back from another great ski trip to the famous Austrian ski resort of Mayrhofen in the Zillertal ski area. Snowplaza’s reporters, Fabian and Felix, visited the ski resort and its ski area, took great photos, tried out the mountain restaurants and the apres-ski, of course, and have come back raving about everything with the best tips for your next ski holiday in Mayrhofen.
Mayrhofen is part of the Zillertal ski area with almost 200 kilometers of pistes. The direct connection to the ski resorts of Finkenberg, Rastkogel and Eggalm extend the area making it great for ski safaris. On the steep northern slopes, particularly sporty skiers will get their money’s worth! Don’t worry though, it’s not all about extreme off-piste skiing in Mayrhofen! There are some wonderful, long, sweeping pistes and family-friendly ski slopes in the areas of Rastkogelbahn, Penken and Leisure Mountain Ahorn. The Vans Penken snow park attracts the professional freestylers but also beginners with its casual, laid back atmosphere. You’re not limited by skiing in the winter season here either – you can enjoy summer skiing holidays in Mayrhofen too! Thanks to the Hintertux glacier, the snow conditions in the Zillertal ski area are exceptional.
In Mayrhofen, expert skiers come to ski on the racy northern slopes, descents No. 3 and No. 4, as well as 15 and 18. The exit No. 18 is no other than the famous Harakiri ski slope, which is regarded as Austria's steepest groomed piste with an average gradient of 78 percent! Not for the fainthearted and we highly recommend NOT trying this ski run unless you are a very confident skier because a fall ends, at best, with a 1000 meter long slide and a possible visit to the local doctor in Mayrhofen! We voted piste No. 7 (7a) from Horbergkarspitz as our absolute favorite. With two options (red and blue) these sun-drenched pistes start on a broad ridge and then descend through forests and pastures to meander down into the valley. For a break on the way down, there is a wonderful resting point at the Sunnalm.
The apres-ski in Mayhofen gets going early. To warm up, from the cold slopes, but also for the evening, you can start at the Pilzbar Penken or join in the lively atmosphere at the open-air Horberg bar. Shortly before the end of the day, you need to catch the Horbergbahn lift down into the valley. There is no valley run in these areas which is probably not a bad thing, because everyone gets very jolly in the gondola and this is where the second round begins. In high spirits and with new friends, you move quickly onto the Yeti bar at Horberg or the Ice Bar in Mayrhofen. Both venues are absolutely guaranteed for great atmosphere – the rest of the evening depends on you and your stamina!
Wow is what you will say after you have taken the "150 Tux" gondola on Wanglspitz in Mayrhofen. Already the ride over the eastern flank of the 2420 m high mountain is a euphoric experience but once you arrive at the top you will be speechless, except for one word – Wow! Far, far away, to the east rises the jagged mountain range of the Wilder Kaiser. In the north, the view extends to the foothills of the Alps, and to the south are the Tux Alps. Even the lifts and slopes of the Hintertux Glacier can be assessed from this point. Let us know if you find a more amazing view that this in Mayrhofen…
Tux Valley
When weather and snow conditions are good in Mayrhofen, an easy ski from the Penken section to the Eggalm and then on to Hippach makes a great ski safari where you can enjoy superb views of the Hintertux Glacier. Along the way, there are a few intermediate slopes and then you arrive in romantic scenery of the Rastkogel Eggalm (ski route 1) where you come across the forest hut, which invites you in for a well-deserved rest. However, the real target, the quaint Lattenalm restaurant, with its delicious Zillertal specialties and a beautiful view of the Tux Valley, remains constantly in mind. These can be found tucked away on the right side of the blue slope No.1 just before the Lattenalmbahn station. To get back to Mayrhofen after this wonderful ski safari, you either take the ski bus from Vorderlanersbach or ski via Rastkogelbahn. Enjoy!
You must often say to yourself that working in the ski industry is a great job because we are always off skiing in great ski resorts in France, Austria and Switzerland! Well you’re not wrong! Our team of reporters just got back from another great ski trip to the famous Austrian ski resort of Mayrhofen in the Zillertal ski area. Snowplaza’s reporters, Fabian and Felix, visited the ski resort and its ski area, took great photos, tried out the mountain restaurants and the apres-ski, of course, and have come back raving about everything with the best tips for your next ski holiday in Mayrhofen.
Mayrhofen is part of the Zillertal ski area with almost 200 kilometers of pistes. The direct connection to the ski resorts of Finkenberg, Rastkogel and Eggalm extend the area making it great for ski safaris. On the steep northern slopes, particularly sporty skiers will get their money’s worth! Don’t worry though, it’s not all about extreme off-piste skiing in Mayrhofen! There are some wonderful, long, sweeping pistes and family-friendly ski slopes in the areas of Rastkogelbahn, Penken and Leisure Mountain Ahorn. The Vans Penken snow park attracts the professional freestylers but also beginners with its casual, laid back atmosphere. You’re not limited by skiing in the winter season here either – you can enjoy summer skiing holidays in Mayrhofen too! Thanks to the Hintertux glacier, the snow conditions in the Zillertal ski area are exceptional.
In Mayrhofen, expert skiers come to ski on the racy northern slopes, descents No. 3 and No. 4, as well as 15 and 18. The exit No. 18 is no other than the famous Harakiri ski slope, which is regarded as Austria's steepest groomed piste with an average gradient of 78 percent! Not for the fainthearted and we highly recommend NOT trying this ski run unless you are a very confident skier because a fall ends, at best, with a 1000 meter long slide and a possible visit to the local doctor in Mayrhofen! We voted piste No. 7 (7a) from Horbergkarspitz as our absolute favorite. With two options (red and blue) these sun-drenched pistes start on a broad ridge and then descend through forests and pastures to meander down into the valley. For a break on the way down, there is a wonderful resting point at the Sunnalm.
The apres-ski in Mayhofen gets going early. To warm up, from the cold slopes, but also for the evening, you can start at the Pilzbar Penken or join in the lively atmosphere at the open-air Horberg bar. Shortly before the end of the day, you need to catch the Horbergbahn lift down into the valley. There is no valley run in these areas which is probably not a bad thing, because everyone gets very jolly in the gondola and this is where the second round begins. In high spirits and with new friends, you move quickly onto the Yeti bar at Horberg or the Ice Bar in Mayrhofen. Both venues are absolutely guaranteed for great atmosphere – the rest of the evening depends on you and your stamina!
Wow is what you will say after you have taken the "150 Tux" gondola on Wanglspitz in Mayrhofen. Already the ride over the eastern flank of the 2420 m high mountain is a euphoric experience but once you arrive at the top you will be speechless, except for one word – Wow! Far, far away, to the east rises the jagged mountain range of the Wilder Kaiser. In the north, the view extends to the foothills of the Alps, and to the south are the Tux Alps. Even the lifts and slopes of the Hintertux Glacier can be assessed from this point. Let us know if you find a more amazing view that this in Mayrhofen…
Tux Valley
When weather and snow conditions are good in Mayrhofen, an easy ski from the Penken section to the Eggalm and then on to Hippach makes a great ski safari where you can enjoy superb views of the Hintertux Glacier. Along the way, there are a few intermediate slopes and then you arrive in romantic scenery of the Rastkogel Eggalm (ski route 1) where you come across the forest hut, which invites you in for a well-deserved rest. However, the real target, the quaint Lattenalm restaurant, with its delicious Zillertal specialties and a beautiful view of the Tux Valley, remains constantly in mind. These can be found tucked away on the right side of the blue slope No.1 just before the Lattenalmbahn station. To get back to Mayrhofen after this wonderful ski safari, you either take the ski bus from Vorderlanersbach or ski via Rastkogelbahn. Enjoy!
Being lucky enough to have parents who were crazy about skiing, my love for the mountains started when I was 4 years old on our first family ski holiday to Austrian ski resort of Obergurl. One ski holiday a year was never enough and tears rolled down my face as I looked out the back window of the car on the drive down the valley on the way home!
