Obergurgl

If you’ve ever wondered what you’ll find if you keep driving further down the valley past Sölden then the answer is Obergurgl. Just 20 minutes from Sölden and 90 minutes from Innsbruck, Obergurgl is traditionally a popular haunt for more elderly skiers; its slopes perfect for sedate snowploughing. Obergurgl is linked, with its slightly higher neighbour Hochgurgl, and is the first resort to open in Austria in mid November, and has one of the longest season, closing at the end of April.

At 3080m the resort is one of the highest in Austria, and most of its terrain is completely devoid of trees. Obergurgl and Hochgurgl are linked via a gondola, theres not a huge amount to choose between the two, but you’ll find the more advanced terrain at Hochgurgl. The resort shines and gets top marks is as a carver’s resort, where you area treated to huge wide open intermediate slopes.

The resort’s high altitude scores highly in its snow record with heaps of the stuff falling every year, and to keep the lower slopes open early the resort boasts snow cannons covering 90% of its pistes. Most of the 110km of runs are of an intermediate level with a series of reds, a few easy blues and only a couple of advanced black trails to check out. There’s good off-piste potential, but almost no interest for the freestyler. 99% of visitors are skiers, and the resort removed the half-pipe and terrain park last season as they said no one used it.