Holiday Type: Off Piste, Touring
Ski Profile:
Resort: Pitztal
Flights: Not Included
Transfers: Coach 1.5 Hours
Accommodation: 4* Hotel Sonnblick
View dates & prices
Holiday Type: Off Piste, Touring
Ski Profile:
Resort: Pitztal
Flights: Not Included
Transfers: Coach 1.5 Hours
Accommodation: 4* Hotel Sonnblick

Pitztal might be one of Austria’s smaller and lesser-known resorts, but we believe it is a hidden treasure with untapped potential. Known for its quiet slopes and great snow quality, this is the ideal destination for a unique touring experience. 

What's Included

What’s included

  • Return transfers
  • Half board for 7 nights
  • Single occupancy rooms
  • 6 days with guides
  • Transceiver if required

What’s not included

  • Flights
  • Lunches
  • Ski Passes
  • Ski/boot hire
  • Backpack, shovel & probe (mandatory)

On Snow Experience

This trip will be focussed on day touring and will include climbing to access the untouched off piste terrain. The holiday includes six full days with mountain guides. Groups will be organised based on ski level, and there will be up to 6 members in each group. At the end of the week, you will receive an updated grading from your Ski Club Rep. This holiday is aimed at Purple and Gold off piste skiers. Is it essential that guests have the correct ski profile for this holiday, as well as a good level of fitness, and some previous ski touring experience before booking.

Check out your

Guides and Ski Club Reps (see Essential Info for specific holidays)

Raphael Eiter Pitztal

Raphael Eiter

STATE-CERTIFIED MOUNTAIN AND SKI GUIDE

Globetrotter. Freerider. Father.

Raphael originates from a long-established family of mountain guides. Therefore it was clear for Raphael which way of life he will choose. In 2009 he graduated as a mountain and ski guide and became also a certified canyoning guide. From now on he began to discover the world. First, he worked as a ski guide at the famous Arlberg, then as a heliski-guide in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. He also guided clients to the Kilimanjaro in Eastern Africa and to many summits in the Western Alps. His passion is freeride skiing. For more than ten years he organises together with his cousin Philipp the spectacular freeride contest “Pitztal Wild Face”, which is a 2** Qualifier Event of the Freeride World Tour. When he is not in the mountains or making plans for new projects, he’s paying all his attention to his wife and his two sons.

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Freshtracks Reps TBC

Freshtracks Rep allocations for the 2026/27 season are currently being finalised. Once confirmed, they will appear here. Stay tuned!

Find out more about this trip ...

Freshtracks holidays are group ski trips organised by the Ski Club of Great Britain for solo travellers, couples, and friends who want to ski with like-minded people. We offer social skiing, instructional, off piste, and touring holidays. On all holidays, a dedicated Freshtracks Rep will be on hand to make sure the holiday runs smoothly.

Find out more here – Holidays – Ski Club Of Great Britain.

Single room availability will be shown in the "View Dates & Prices" tab on each holiday page, located under the holiday name. If single rooms are available, this will be clearly stated there. If no single room option is listed, unfortunately this means they have already sold out.

Sometimes we can request additional single rooms from the hotel. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

This information is usually sent out 7-10 days before departure. It will include your final itinerary, Freshtracks Rep contact details, and any important information relating to your transfers, flights, and accommodation, depending on what is included in your specific package.

Freshtracks holidays use a ski profiling system to ensure you’re skiing alongside members of a similar ability, creating well-matched groups and a more enjoyable experience for everyone.

We recommend reviewing our Ski Profile page and selecting the profile you feel best represents your current skiing. The profiles are there to help us place you on the right holiday, so please choose honestly to ensure you get the most out of your time on the slopes.

Our Ski Profiles

If you’ve been on a Freshtracks holiday before, your Rep will give you an official grading at the end of the week. This will be recorded on our system and available to view in your Ski Locker.

No. Freshtracks holidays cater to a wide range of skiing abilities, from early intermediates to advanced skiers. Each trip includes detailed information about the recommended ski level so you can choose the right holiday for your ability.

Absolutely. The majority of Freshtracks guests travel solo – in fact, 85% of our guests last winter were solo travellers.

Our holidays are specifically designed to help you meet other passionate skiers and feel part of the group from the start. Group dining, organised skiing and fun social activities all help to create a friendly, relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, making Freshtracks an ideal choice for anybody travelling alone.

Ski rental is not included on Freshtracks holidays and is arranged separately. That said, Ski Club of Great Britain members enjoy access to a number of ski hire discounts, which can be found on our Discounts page.

Ski Club of GB Rental Discounts

Please note that inclusions differ by holiday when it comes to lift passes, so it’s important to check the Essential Info tab beneath the holiday title, as well as the "What’s Included" and "What’s Not Included" sections at the top of the holiday overview page.

For Freshtracks holidays that include group flights, it is not possible to check in online beforehand. You simply need to turn up to a manned check-in desk with your passport on the day, where you will be checked in and issued with a physical boarding pass.

Make sure you read the full travel information in the Travel tab and, once you have booked, keep an eye out for your final information document. This will provide further details on your baggage allowance.

Ski carriage cannot be pre-booked and is payable at the airport.

We are ATOL and ABTOT protected so you can book with confidence knowing your money is secure.

Our holidays are a great way to meet and ski with other members of a similar ability to you.

Have questions? Call now and talk to our friendly team of holiday experts on 020 8410 2022.

Ready to Book?

Prices include

7 nights half board, 4* hotel, single occupancy rooms, coach transfers, 6 days with mountain guides

Prior to booking it is essential that you have the correct ski profile for your holiday. See our profiles here.
Start date End date Ski Profile Peak Experience Availability Price Deposit
Start date 17-01-2027 End date arrow24-01-2027 Ski Profile Peak Experience Availability 11 spaces
Single rooms available
Price From: £1970 Deposit £300
Start date 30-01-2027 End date arrow06-02-2027 Ski Profile Peak Experience Availability 12 spaces
Single rooms available
Price From: £1970 Deposit £300
Start date 14-03-2027 End date arrow21-03-2027 Ski Profile Peak Experience Availability 11 spaces
Single rooms available
Price From: £1970 Deposit £300

Book by phone

Can’t make it?

Book with confidence - the Ski Club is ABTOT and ATOL protected

Hotel Sonnblick

You’ll be staying at the Hotel Sonnblick 4*, a great hotel located in the Pitztal Valley and the ideal base from which to explore the ski touring terrain each day. You will be staying on a half board basis, meaning breakfast and dinner will be provided by the hotel. This holiday is on a single occupancy basis, meaning you will have your own room for the duration of the trip.

Hotel Sonnblick, Pitztal

Plangeross 45, 6481 Plangeroß, Austria

Phone: +43 5413 86204

Ready to book?

Travel Information

Flights are not included on this holiday, however group transfers will be arranged to/from Innsbruck Airport. The transfer times are the same for Week 1 & Week 3, but are slightly different for Week 2. Please see options below:

Departures 1 & 3

17/01/2027 – 24/01/2027

14/03/2027 – 21/03/2027

LGW 0820 – 1120 INN (BA2620) // IN 1210 – 1305 LGW (BA2621)

MAN 0730 – 1045 INN (EZY2281) // INN 1135 – 1550 LGW (EZY2282)

The inbound transfer will leave Innsbruck Airport at 1220. Please ensure your flight lands no later than 1120 for you to make the group transfer time.

The inbound transfer will arrive at Innsbruck Airport at 0930. Please ensure your flight departs no earlier than 1130.

Departure 2

30/01/2027 – 06/02/2027

LGW 0825 – 1125 INN (BA2618) // INN 1215 – 1310 LGW (BA2619)

MAN 0655 – 1010 INN (TOM2660) // INN 1315 – 1435 MAN (LS940)

The outbound transfer will leave Innsbruck Airport at 1230. Please ensure your flight lands no later than 1125 you to make the group transfer time.

The inbound transfer will arrive at Innsbruck Airport by 1000. Please ensure your flight departs no earlier than 1215.

The group transfer will take approximately 1.5 hours. For all holidays, your Rep will meet you in the arrivals hall at Innsbruck Airport (they will be wearing their Ski Club jacket).

Please do not book your flights until the hotel has been confirmed to run. Please contact the Freshtracks office on 020 8410 2022 in order to discuss this further.

Confirmation

Once the holiday has been confirmed, please send your flight details (flight numbers, arrival and departure time) to the Freshtracks Team via email to [email protected].

Ready to book?

The choice of ski touring skis is limited here so we recommend to bring your own.

If you do require ski hire, and would like a broader variety of options with guaranteed touring skis, we recommend renting in Innsbruck before your transfer.

If you would like to hire in resort, the options are either Sport Haus Pechtl Mandarfen or Intersport shop opposite the Rifflesee lift, both a short bus ride from the hotel, but tend to have very limited availability and variety.

As touring equipment availability is often limited, guests are required to contact the rental provider in advance to confirm availability should they need to hire equipment.

RECOMMENDED TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT
  • Touring Skis and skins – (ensure good adhesive properties)
  • 1 pair of ski crampons compatible with the binding system
  • 1 pair of ski touring boots
  • 1 pair of ski poles
  • 1 avalanche transceiver *
  • 1 shovel
  • 1 probe
  • 1 Day Touring Backpack
  • 1 pair of lightweight crampons compatible with ski touring boots (for the March week)
  • 1 alpine harness
  • 1 thermos or water bottle (max. 1 litre)
  • 1 pair of sunglasses
  • 1 pair of ski goggles
  • 1 small sunscreen
  • 1 lip balm
  • 1 mobile phone with charge

*Equipment that can be provided by the club. Please notify us via email with what you require
before departure so we can update the guide.

Additional
  • Sun cream & Lip protection, Personal medical supplies inc anti-blister
    plasters!
  • Passport; Tickets; Insurance; Phone; Chargers for all electronics
General Advice

It is as important not to overheat and to avoid sunburn as it is to keep warm. Therefore, try to choose light-weight, good quality equipment over heavier items. A clothing system based on layers is best – you can control your temperature much more easily than wearing one thick jacket. Avoid one piece ski suits, they are not suitable for ski mountaineering.

We recommend purchasing lift passes ahead of time online for up to a 30% discount. This resort uses dynamic purchasing, so purchasing more days than required can sometimes work out cheaper.

It is essential that guests purchase the lift pass for Pitztal Glescher and Rifflesee. Alternatively, they can be purchased in resort with the help of your Ski Club Rep.

To view prices and purchase a lift pass follow the link below:

Prices & Ski passes | Pitztal Glacier

This holiday is designed for skiers with at least a few weeks of ski touring experience.

As a day‑touring programme, participants should expect a significant amount of uphill travel. Typical days involve 500–800 vertical metres of ascent, with around three hours of skinning per day, depending on conditions. The group pace is generally around 250 vertical metres per hour. You should be confident in your ability to maintain this level of effort over the course of a full week.
The terrain is predominantly high‑alpine, ranging between 2,500 and 3,500 metres, so you should also be prepared to spend extended periods touring at altitude.
Training recommendations:
The best preparation is long mountain walks over consecutive days. If that isn’t possible, regular running or jogging provides a good alternative. Gym training should focus on cardiovascular fitness and breathing efficiency, rather than strength work.

 

 

17 – 24 Jan 2027 : TBC

30 Jan – 6 Feb 2027 : TBC

14 Mar– 21 Mar 2027 : TBC

17 – 24 Jan 2027 : Rapheal Eiter & His Team

30 Jan – 6 Feb 2027 : Rapheal Eiter & His Team

14 Mar– 21 Mar 2027 : Rapheal Eiter & His Team

 

 

The hotel is a two‑minute walk from the bus stop, followed by a three‑minute bus ride to the lifts each day.

It is a condition of booking that you have valid and adequate snowsports insurance. It is your responsibility to ensure your policy provides cover for all the activities that you participate in during your holiday. We offer a Ski Club Insurance policy which provides the cover we require for all bookings. This policy can be found here: Ski Club Travel Insurance – Ski Club Of Great Britain.

If you decide to purchase insurance elsewhere, it is your responsibility to ensure that your policy provides cover as that of the Ski Club Insurance policy. The policy of insurance should provide cover for personal injury, death, medical and repatriation costs in the countries which you intend to visit, together with cover for loss of baggage and valuables, personal liability, delay, cancellation, curtailment, missed departure and legal expenses. The policy should also include cover against losses caused by the effects or consequences of Covid-19.

Due to the type of holidays that you will be booking with us, we also advise that your policy should include skiing off-piste without a guide. Please note, insurance premiums must be paid at the same time as booking in order for the package holiday or single service cancellation cover to be effective. It is also advised to keep your insurance details with you while you are on your holiday. If you choose to travel without adequate insurance cover, we will not be liable for any losses howsoever arising, in respect of which insurance cover would otherwise have been available.

Passport – Check your passport is in date and valid for travel by checking the entry requirements for your destination country – you can see these here: Foreign travel advice – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

For most European destinations your passport should:

  • have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago
  • have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area

Check your passport meets these requirements before you travel.

NB: Beginning in October 2025, how you pass through EU border controls will change. Find out more information about EES and ETIAS here.

 

When venturing off piste, it is compulsory to wear an avalanche transceiver. These can be provided by the Ski Club and should be worn by every person on every all mountain, off piste and touring holiday. Anyone joining these holidays will also be required to bring their own backpack, shovel and probe.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Any Member wishing to ski/snowboard with a Ski Club Group, in any of the resorts where the Ski Club is represented, agrees to do so under the following conditions:

  1. You appreciate that the Ski Club Rep is a volunteer with no formal qualifications as an instructor or mountain guide.
  2. You also appreciate that no other member of the group undertakes any obligations to you concerning your safety for which you remain solely responsible.
  3. You must ensure that your equipment is in good working order before setting off for the day and that you are suitably clothed for the proposed itinerary and all possible weather conditions.
  4. You must decide whether or not a particular run or route is within your competence.
  5. You must ensure that you are properly equipped for that day. If you are skiing off piste you must have a shovel, probe and transceiver, and know how to use them. If you are using a Ski Club transceiver, it is your sole responsibility to know how to use it.
  6. It is your sole responsibility to ensure that you are suitably insured for the activities intended to be undertaken.

Ready to book?

The network of pistes may be small, covering only 21km, but unlike many glacier ski areas, most of the runs are rated red and are steeper than in other places.

The lift system is good, with access from the valley via an underground funicular and access to the slopes by two long, modern gondolas (plus a couple of drags). Away from the slopes, there’s some incredible high-altitude ski touring available, so hire a guide and explore – the altitude here means that the early and late season conditions are usually very good. 1km down the valley from the funicular bottom station, the Rifflsee ski area (open only in the winter) offers up a good variety of slopes, including some challenging blacks.
In terms of accommodation, Mandarfen is the only real settlement in the valley and is home to a number of family-run hotels, all of which are located well within reach of the funicular to the glacier and right at the foot of the Rifflsee ski area. Off the slopes, there’s some great cross country skiing routes, in particular up by the Rifflsee, but also on the glacier and down in the valley itself. To access the resort website for more information, please visit www.pitztal.com.

Reviews for this holiday(9)

Overall rating

star

Friendly and Helpful Staff

Richard, April 22, 2024

Excellent facilities. Friendly and helpful staff. Good food.

star

Excellent Food

Stephen, April 22, 2024

High quality family run hotel, excellent food and very friendly staff.

star

Very Helpful Guides

Richard, April 22, 2024

Felt very safe and confident in their abilities to guide. Very helpful. They also gave helpful skiing tips.