-- Worldwide Ski Resorts - Austria - Mayrhofen --

Mayrhofen is a lively but essentially family friendly resort that is situated in the Austrian Tyrol. It is a fairly compact small town with many of the better quality hotels being centrally located and with the majority of the shopping facilities being interspersed with the bars and restaurants along the extensively pedestrianised main street. It has a very traditional alpine feel and is a favourite among the British. The resort has plenty of accommodation available to suit all tastes and there are is an excellent range of restaurants to be found.

The resort is fairly low at 630 m and provides access to 233 km of pistes that go as high as 3250 m if one includes the Hintertux glacier range. Most of the skiing is done on the main Penken-Horberg sector that lies above the town and which has direct links by lift from the centre. Because of the overall height of the slopes, the resort has a better than average snow record, but as a back up, there is an 86 km snow making capability covering nearly all main slopes, and in any case, the Hintertux provides one of the best Alpine glacier ski areas.

The challenge for expert skiers is to find enough to occupy them here. While there are a couple of tricky blacks and some fairly decent off piste country to be found here, it is probably wise to undertake visits to the other areas covered by the local valley lift passes. On the other hand, intermediates of all levels will find plenty of variety, although some of the slopes are fairly steep and tricky and are more suited to the advanced and confident intermediate. The local ski schools have a very good reputation, although the resort is not the best place for novices as the nursery slopes are inclined to be very cold and of variable condition with few suitable slopes on which to progress. The resort is also not ideal for learning the skills of snowboarding and has a lot of inconvenient drag lifts, however intermediates will find that the Penken slopes provide some good sport and there is a first class terrain park. Child care facilities are reportedly first class.

Virtually all of the Penken slopes are high above the tree line and are inclined to be a little on the bleak side. Experts will want to attempt Austria's steepest black run – the Harakiri that runs beneath the Knorren chair and the other challenging black on the Horberg Karspitz. The best off piste areas are high up at the Horbergjoch. Intermediates will enjoy the long runs over at Rastkogel and on Eggalm. Fans of cross country skiing will find an excellent 20 km trail at Lannersbach. The mountain has plenty of restaurants and although some are inclined to be very busy during peak times, they are all reportedly of an excellent standard.

Mayrhofen is famous for its après ski scene and is lively but not outrageously riotous. Favoured venues are the Umbrella Bar, the Ice Bar and Nicki's Schirmbar. The disco at the Sports Arena is great for youngsters and if all you want is a quiet drink, the Neue Post bar is the place to go.