Zell am See

The terrain is mostly suitable for beginner and intermediate level skiers but there are a few reds and blacks suitable for more advanced skiers, several of which drop down all the way from the summit. On most parts of the mountain you get glorious mountain views over the lake. In good snow there is some good off piste, but the thickly wooded slopes limit the options somewhat.

For Beginners

There are two low-level beginner areas near Zell – at Schüttdorf and Schmittental, both of which are good places to start out. From the top of the Arietbahn gondola is the Glocknerbahn 8-seater chairlift gives access to the gentle Kids Slope and progression to longer blues is fantastic – head up Areitbahn 2 & 3 lifts or lap the Breiteckbahn. There’s also the Lechnerberg beginners area and Maiskogel area in Kaprun area that is perfect for families.

For Intermediates

The Schmittenhöhe mountain is ideal for intermediates and most of the hill is accessible. A long red down to the ZellamseeXpress is a great addition to the piste map and the reds around Sonnkogel and Hochmais are always popular. Intermediates keen to get some miles under their belt should pay a visit to the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, especially on a sunny day, and most of Saalbach is ideal for intermediate skiers.

For Advanced/Expert

There are a few tough pistes, including Abfahrt 13 and Abfahrt 14, which both offer a good challenge to advanced skiers and are usually immaculately groomed first thing in the morning. The off piste is fairly limited but can be a blast in good snow – head to the ski routes dotted around the mountain. It is also well worth heading up to the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier to tackle the Black Mamba piste and the several ski routes down to Langwied. There are also some more challenging blacks over in Saalbach Hinterglemm.

Salzburg is the closest airport, with the drive taking around an hour and a half. This route is also served by a regular bus – #260, running direct from the airport to the hear of Zell – if you’re looking to save some euros. Otherwise, a frequent train service operates from Salzburg central station (Hautbahnhof, HBf) to Zell am See. Aside from Salzburg, Innsbruck is the next best option – sitting around two hours drive or three hours on the train/bus to the west.

• Salzburg airport: 1.5 hours (driving, bus or train)
• Innsbruck airport: 2 hours (driving) or 2.5 hours (train)
• Munich airport: 2.5hours (driving) or 3 hours (train)
• Calais: approximately 14 hours driving (703 miles)