Travel to Saalbach-Hinterglemm with travel insurance from Essential Travel

Just 100kms south of Salzburg lies the resort of Saalbach / Hinterglemm - Leogang, with 200kms of runs for skiers of all levels, and one of the biggest lift-linked resorts in Austria. A high-speed six-seat chairlift links Hinterglemm to Saalbach, which runs parallel to the valley where Leogang is set in a natural basin. The resort of Saalbach / Hinterglemm - Leogang combines the convenience of French resorts with attractive Austrian Alpine villages.

Saalbach, the epicentre of the resort’s activity, nestles quaint and traffic-free amid the backdrop of mountains and within the narrow throat of the valley. The packed rooftops in the village are dominated by an old church’s custard-yellow steeple, while the village of Leogang, farther up the valley has its own micro-climate. The village of Hinterglemm is less cosy and has the look and feel of a resort.

There are 60 pisted runs, amounting to 200kms of slopes over wide, parallel ridges of open snowfields at the Saalbach / Hinterglemm - Leogang ski resort. Expert skiers can run off-piste here, while intermediate level skiers get the lion’s share of the runs that are suitable for all levels. Around 83,000 skiers per hour are transported by seven gondolas, 14 chairlifts and 34 draglifts, adding up to 55 lifts that service the area.

Pensions, guesthouses and hotels in every category offer 17,000 beds at the resorts. Saalbach and Leogang’s hotels aren’t as big as those in Hinterglemm, which sprawls out over a wider area. Young Dutch, Brits, Scandinavians and Germans tend to flood the bars and clubs at Saalbach / Hinterglemm, which has a top après-ski and nightlife, making it a little rowdy; however, an abundance of traditional and attractive mountain restaurants balances out the equation.

The attractive town of Zell am See is set against the snow-capped Tauern peaks and Alpine meadows, reflected in the town’s deep glacial waters. Additional atmosphere is provided by a 16th century château, several medieval towers and a Romanesque parish church. Unrivalled views can be seen from the peak of the Kitzsteinhorn (3,203m), which is serviced by the Gletscherbahn, a cogwheel railway which runs along a glacier bed from the village of Kaprun.

The Saalbach / Hinterglemm - Leogang ski season runs from late November (snow permitting) to late April, with the two weeks before Christmas, mid-January and late March/April offering the cheapest rates. Flying to Salzburg or Munich and taking the train to Zell am See, before boarding a bus to the resorts, is the most practical way of getting there. Zell am See is linked by rail to Leogang.

Skiing in Saalbach-Hinterglemm

Younger visitors as well as families will find the top Austrian destination of Saalbach / Hinterglemm - Leogang ideal, with its good skiing and lively resorts. Both sides of the valley as well as the villages of Saalbach and Hinterglemm are linked by an extensive network of lifts, with all skiing levels catered for over the 200kms of pisted runs.

The resorts offer 200kms of pistes over 60 runs, with the longest being seven kilometres. Great for all levels, there are 45 per cent of slopes for the beginner; 47 per cent for intermediates; and eight per cent suitable for advanced skiers. An additional 12kms of cross-country trails from Hinterglemm to Talschluss, plus some great off-piste for expert skiers, are available at the resort, which has 55 lifts with a capacity for 83,400 skiers per hour.

Mid-December, mid-January and late March/April offer the cheapest weeks for skiing at Saalbach / Hinterglemm - Leogang. Mid-February to mid-March (high season) sees the best snow conditions

. For the most convenient way to get to the resorts, fly to Munich (180kms) or Salzburg (100kms) and hire a car to Saalbach / Hinterglemm - Leogang. A train to Zell am See (near Saalbach / Hinterglemm) from Salzburg Airport, and a bus from there to the resort, is the most practical option.

Apres-ski in Saalbach-Hinterglemm

Twenty-three coffeehouses, 29 bars, 20 ice bars and 14 discos provide a lively and friendly social scene, while a range of winter activities and après-ski facilities includes 13kms of boarders-only pistes, two half-pipes, jumps and excellent tuition; a floodlit toboggan run; curling; horse-drawn sleigh riding; ice-skating (natural); indoor swimming and tennis/squash; paragliding; and a sauna and solarium.

Around 17,000 beds in a variety of accommodation options are available at the resort, with the greatest collection of hotels in the quieter village of Hinterglemm at the end of the valley. The car-free streets and busy après-ski and nightlife make Saalbach the most attractive of the three villages, all of which blend traditional Alpine spirit with modern conveniences.

Transportation to Saalbach-Hinterglemm

Saalbach / Hinterglemm - Leogang ski resort is southwest of Salzburg in the province of Salzburg, and has a number of travel options for a straightforward journey. Flying to Salzburg or Munich and boarding a train to Zell am See, followed by bus transfer is the easiest option; alternatively, driving to the resorts yourself is usually a lot quicker. Trains are also available from London, while a self-drive all the way is another alternative.

By car, the journey from Calais is 1,150kms, travelling via Reims, Metz, Strasbourg and Munich. If flying to Germany, the journey takes about three hours from Munich Airport to Saalbach, travelling along autobahns A-9, A-99 (bypass), A-8 and A-93. Take the B172 east from the A-93, and follow the signs to Saalbach / Hinterglemm - Leogang (216kms). From the Salzburg autobahn, take the Siegsdorf exit, then follow signs to Lofer-Maishofen, and then to Saalbach / Hinterglemm.

By train, the Eurostar service leaves London at 17:09 daily and arrives at 20:59 in Paris (Nord). From Paris gare de l’Est, board the overnight train leaving at 22:56 to Munich, arriving the next morning at 08:59. A Eurocity train leaves at 09:26 from Munich and arrives in Salzburg 10:54, from where there are hourly buses to Saalbach and Hinterglemm.

Salzburg is the nearest international airport and is serviced by scheduled and charter services worldwide; however, far more options are available at Munich’s FJ Strauss Airport. Zell am See can be reached by direct train from both Munich and Salzburg (shuttles and buses go to Salzburg train station from its airport); from where you can wait for a regularly scheduled bus to Saalbach or travel by taxi for the remaining 18kms. A train will take you all the way to Leogang

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