Enjoy a superb week of Solos skiing in the pretty, laid-back resort of Bad Hofgastein. The extensive Gasteinertal ski area is one of the largest in Austria and offers a variety of fantastic skiing – you need almost never ski the same piste twice in a week on its well-groomed slopes!
Suitable for intermediate and advanced skiers.
Extras
An unsung hero of the Austrian Alps, the resort of Bad Hofgastein offers miles and miles of beautifully groomed slopes. It’s a great option for serious snow buffs looking to try somewhere new, and with over 200 prepared pistes on offer here, we’re sure you won’t be disappointed. The resort of Bad Hofgastein is famous as much for its outstanding natural thermal springs as its world-class skiing. It’s a relatively quiet resort with a relaxed informal approach to après ski, yet has a bustling pedestrianised centre with cobbled streets and a fantastic choice of bars, restaurants and other amenities – not forgetting its famous spas.
There’s something for everybody on the pistes. The gentle nursery slopes at Angertal provide an ideal introduction for beginners from where they can progress on to the gentle blue runs on the Schlossalm or Stubnerkogel. For intermediates, this is ski-your-heart-out country! Bad Hofgastein offers a huge variety of red and blue runs, which are linked to the nearby resort of Bad Gastein to form one large skiable area.
In addition, the Gastein valley has a further 3 ski areas, offering total of 250kms of well-groomed, often quiet pistes which are linked by the efficient and frequent ski bus service that runs throughout the resorts, and is covered by your lift pass.
Advanced skiers will love the testing runs on the Stubnerkogel and there are a couple of fantastic blacks to try out on the Graukogel, as well as the highest sector of the ski area above Sport Gastein, which has a base at 1600 metres and a snow-sure top lift at 2685m.
We are based at the excellent Johannesbad Hotel Palace which lies a short walk away from the resort centre with the ski-bus stopping right outside. This friendly hotel will provide a great base for our ski groups and with drinks included at dinner – some fun and sociable après ski evenings are sure to be on the cards.
This comfortable hotel has excellent facilities, including bar with live music, indoor swimming pool, sauna, steambath, as well as an excellent wellness area to relax in after a hard day on the slopes! Free Wi-Fi is available in the reception area.
All the rooms feature abalcony or terrace, safe, hairdryer, radio, telephone and TV. Bathrobe and slippers are available from reception.
Frequently Asked Questions
The transfer from Salzburg Airport to the hotel is approximately 2 hours, depending on weather and traffic.
On a skiing holiday, dress is generally very informal, the emphasis being on comfort and warmth. We recommend that you pack a pair of skiing trousers and warm ski jacket or a waterproof shell and separate fleece lining or an all-in-one ski suit. Thermal or silk underwear is recommended. Cotton/cotton mix roll necks, T-shirts or sweat shirts; several thin layers are better than one thick layer. Ski socks, ski gloves or mitts and a hat or headband are suggested. Where temperatures are expected to be well below zero, take a facemask or balaclava. Moon boots or waterproof walking shoes are a “must”. Suntan cream (high protective factor), lip salve, sunglasses and/or goggles are all very useful items to pack. Casual clothes are ideal for the evenings; it is unusual on skiing holidays to dress formally in the evenings.
You may either take group ski lessons, private ski lessons or form groups to enjoy exploring the slopes together. Whatever you preference your Tour Leader will be available to help organise your skiing.
Ski Hire
Poor piste conditions can be hazardous to ski equipment as uncovered rocks and stones can easily scratch and damage skis and snowboards. We strongly recommend you inspect your ski hire equipment at the start of your holiday and agree the state of their condition with the ski hire suppliers, as clients are responsible for the care of their hired equipment and should this equipment be damaged the ski hire suppliers are within their rights to ask for a compensation payment.
Ski Equipment
This can be hired in the resort where you will be advised about the most suitable equipment for your standard of skiing. It is very important to have ski boots that are comfortable and fit well, so do not be afraid to keep going back and changing your boots until you get a good fit. For your safety, we advise that you wear a ski helmet wherever possible.
*Please note all the above are rough prices for 2024 and can change.
We suggest a Group Collection to cover transfer drivers, and hotel staff of €25.00 per person. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate % to add on. If you choose to have ski lessons, you may also like to thank your ski instructor at the end of the week with a token of appreciation.
If you are planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements.
Your passport must be:
You must check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.
Contact the embassy of the country you are visiting if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training.
If you are travelling to Austria and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.
Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Austria, including the high Alps. More information about altitude sickness is available from TravelHealthPro (from the UK’s National Travel Health Network and Centre).
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad. Guidance is also available from NHS (Scotland) on the FitForTravel website.
General information on travel vaccinations and a travel health checklist is available on the NHS website. You may then wish to contact your health adviser or pharmacy for advice on other preventive measures and managing any pre-existing medical conditions while you’re abroad.
Austria use the Euro.
It is advised that you have a good level of fitness for this trip.
Average Temperatures
| Month(s) | Highest temperature | Lowest temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January | 3 °C | -6 °C |
| February | 6 °C | -5 °C |
| March | 11 °C | -1 °C |
| April | 15 °C | 3 °C |
| May | 20 °C | 7 °C |
| June | 23 °C | 11 °C |
| July - August | 24 °C | 12 °C |
| September | 19 °C | 8 °C |
| October | 15 °C | 4 °C |
| November | 9 °C | -1 °C |
| December | 4 °C | -5 °C |
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