St Michael/Mauterndorf

"Snow pocket" may be an overworked term in ski brochures, but this quiet, unspoilt area definitely qualifies. It's situated close to Obertauern and the Tauern Pass and is well known all over Austria for reliable snow. This is officially the coldest but also the sunniest part of Austria (i.e. clearer skies). The bad weather comes from both the north and the south so this area gets 2 bites of the cherry.

Long-term RocketSki/Equity clients may have skied here before and will remember an uncommonly pretty area with endless blue and red runs. They are all still there, but Obertauern recently bought the system and are investing in new lifts. The pass covers nearly 200kms broken down into 3 areas of roughly equal size. The ski bus is free with the lift pass. The Speiereck/Grosseck, above St Michael and Mauterndorf, is uncrowded, spacious and distinguished by enormous 9 and 10km runs. Beginners have a local nursery slope 3 or 4 mins from our hotel then they take the long, chairlift all the way to the top station where there's good snow and a nursery run. There are plenty of undulating blue slopes here offering good progression. Intermediates have great skiing on interesting runs through pretty scenery and sheltered woods. The beautiful, long runs suit every ability. Advanced skiers have massive mileage, some terrific off-piste and the interest of the other areas on the skipass.
The return run to resort has been modernised. It's now groomed to the middle station so everyone, including beginners, can ski two-thirds of the way back to resort. Mid-intermediates and advanced skiers can usually manage to ski all the way back. Beginners can now hop on the lift.

The Katschberg/Aineck is linked by ski bus in about 10 mins. The lift system is very well developed here and gives a good idea of what St Michael/Mauterndorf is becoming. Fanningberg is reached by skibus if you are staying in St Michael in about 25 mins. This is a lovely ski area, much prized by our staff and is well worth a day out. Finally, as an extension Obertauern, where they filmed the ski sequences in the Beatles' film "Help", is one of the best known ski resorts in Austria and is only 30 mins by ski bus. We organise trips most weeks.

St Michael is a beautiful village, typically Austrian and totally unspoilt. Its quaint old buildings and narrow streets are hardly touched by the 20th century. There are plenty of shops, atmospheric bars and those enticing cafés with old fashioned pastries.

Mauterndorf is a ravishing village, one of the prettiest in Salzburgerland and its been established since Roman times. It has a 13th century castle, good shops and a fascinating historic centre. All the buildings are painted in warm, harmonious colours and have steep gables and decorative murals.

Village Facts
Lovely little Austrian village, totally authentic, with old buildings and cobbled, narrow streets.

o Indoor swimming pools in Tamsweg (15 mins)
o Skating
o Haybath
o Bowling alley
o Paragliding
o Indoor tennis
o Curling
o Many miles of cleared paths for snowshoe hikes
o Horse-drawn sleigh rides
o Night tobogganing
o Folklore evenings
o Local handicrafts
o Plentiful bars
o Traditional cafés and restaurants
o Night club
o Visits to the old walled town of Radstadt or glorious Salzburg
o Ski shows by the local ski schools
o Snowmaking
o Snowbiking
o Scenic flights
o Spa and wellness centre