Ski holidays in the ski resort of Mayrhofen, Zillertal, Austria
Mayrhofen - the principal ski holiday resort of the Zillertal Valley offers some of the best skiing and apres ski in Austria.
Mayrhofen is the key ski holiday resort in the Zillertal ski region and has an impressive and diverse ski area, glacier skiing just down the valley and an upmarket resort that boasts great facilities and some of the very best aprθs ski in the whole of Austria. Mayrhofen is a big resort that spreads out across the flat Zillertal Valley and has skiing on both sides of this valley. The ski area boasts arguably the best terrain park in Europe as well as the steepest groomed piste in Austria, the Harakiri. Intermediates are best suited to the terrain but there is good beginner terrain over on the Ahorn and some great off-piste at Penken. The aprθs ski in Mayrhofen is legendary and attracts a great international mix.
The ski areas in Mayrhofen
The skiing and snowboarding in Mayrhofen rates as some of the very best in Austria, with a great mix of terrain, extensive ski pistes and an impressive snow record, backed up by the local Hintertux Glacier. The Ahorn ski area is located to one side of the valley and offers a compact area which is excellent for beginners and families. The opposite side of the valley hosts the Penken ski area and the biggest and most diverse terrain. From here it is possible to ski into Finkenberg and beyond. Penken has a huge and impressive terrain park as well as the legendary Harakiri ski piste, classified as the steepest groomed piste in Austria. Signs warn of the impending drop yet many still take the challenge and come unstuck.
Mayrhofen the ski holiday resort
Mayrhofen the resort comes with a very big reputation for aprθs ski and whilst this is well deserved, the ski holiday resort is in fact pretty upmarket with impressive hotels, restaurants and facilities. Mayrhofen is a sprawling resort that spreads out across the flat valley floor and is completely low rise and built in traditional, rural Austrian style. There are a good range of facilities in Mayrhofen, especially since it is the principal ski holiday resort of the region. Access to Mayrhofen is via the main valley road or via the Zillertalbahn train that runs from the Inn (Innsbruck) valley and terminates in Mayrhofen, a great way to travel through the valley and enjoy the superb scenery; it also by-passes the weekend and peak time traffic.
Family and apres ski in Mayrhofen
Aprθs ski in Mayrhofen is some of the very best in the whole of Austria. Bars on both mountains are packed at lift closing time and the action continues later in Mayrhofen, around the lift stations in the valley. Aprθs ski is pretty well contained in this upmarket ski holiday resort and is easy to avoid or alternatively get involved in.
For families the new Ahornbahn lift is a welcome addition to the Ahorn ski area, the beginners ski area in Mayrhofen. The slopes are sunny and relaxed with a run back down into the valley. Mayrhofen is en-route between some main centres in the Zillertal Valley but much of the traffic by-passes the ski holiday resort.
