Obergurgl

Obergurgl is one of the highest ski villages in Europe, set at 1,930m at the end of the Ötztal valley, about 90km from Innsbruck. The height of its own slopes, plus a mid-mountain link to neighbouring Hochgurgl, which has glacier slopes going up to 3,080m, make it exceptionally snow sure for Austria, with a winter season that lasts from mid-November until early May. Here, Solden, Val Thorens and Tignes are about the best snow sure resorts in Europe.

The attractive Tyrolean village centre retains its appealing, traditionally relaxed charm and a cosy, intimate feel, yet is big enough to offer an ample range of facilities and a friendly après-ski atmosphere. A long-standing favourite with British and Irish skiers, the Obergurgl ski area offers spectacular scenery, beautifully groomed pistes and a fast, modern lift system. While the ski area isn’t huge, with 112km of piste and 25 lifts, their is certainly the variety of pistes for beginners and intermediates to enjoy in this friendly area, with the small, traditional village set around an early 18th-century church and with the village centre benefitting from having no through traffic at all and with an excellent beginners area just behind the village centre.

With Obergurgl being a particularly great choice for families of all abilities, it especially user friendly for those learning to ski. Beginners will just have a blast and smile, laugh (or cry) all the way to lunch and even nervous novices will be encouraged to smile at their choice of resort in normally perfect conditions. Children who have progressed beyond the beginners’ stage, the blue runs of the Gaisberg provide the ideal area to move on to and wide open, easy slopes and superb snow conditions make for relaxed, safe and enjoyable skiing. Given the normally fantastic conditions you really can’t fail but improve here.

The ski area is also a superb choice for beginners and improving intermediates. The more advanced will find more challenge at two resorts nearby: Vent, which is smaller and larger Sölden, 7km away, the next glacier over. Both are covered by the Ötztal Super Skipass, the automatic option when buying an Obergurgl lift pass for three days or longer. It takes in all six ski areas in the Ötztal valley. Moreover the off-piste opportunities in and around Obergurgl are excellent and in late spring it is a major destination for ski touring.

It’s worth taking the gondola over to explore Hochgurgl. One of the highlights includes the Top Mountain Crosspoint. As well as being the base station for a two-stage gondola to nearly 3,000m, the building houses a smart mountain restaurant and an excellent motorbike museum. Here the ski area’s three main parts – Hochgurgl, Festkogl and Hohe Mut – combine to offer an excellent choice of red and blue runs, with the occasional black for those days when you feel like a challenge.With the great snow at this altitude, expertly prepared, there are also miles of flattering, open cruising runs to enjoy, with a welcoming choice of mountain huts to stop for refreshments along the way!

Obergurgl does not claim to be a top resort for experts, but the half dozen black runs and excellent off-piste possibilities still serve to get the adrenalin flowing and the top half of the Hohe Mut red run is renowned for its challenging moguls.

As regards apres-ski, this is typically Austrian, kicking off at the slope-side Nederhutte mountain bar from mid-afternoon, before continuing with pre-dinner antics at village bars such as the s’Pub and the s’Fassl; the umbrella bar of the Edelweiss & Gurgl being the liveliest spot of all.  Later at night, the action is at Krumpn’s Stadl, which is a huge rustic barn, which has live music and the Josl Keller disco bar. The Bajazzo is a more sophisticated hostelry for those wanting a quieter moment. Most of the hotels have their own very comfortable cocktail bars and many residents do not feel the need to venture out. Compared though to Solden the apres ski is pretty tame, so adult groups would have more fun after skiing, staying there.

A natural ice rink and some scenic way-marked walking paths are the only off-slope attractions in Obergurgl that are suitable for non-skiers, although some of the resort’s hotels do have some excellent spa and wellness facilities. Accommodation centres round hotels in the main with a few catered chalet and apartment options. We are happy to recommend accommodation options for your next ski holiday to Obergurgl and we also offer discounted ski hire and airport transfers where needed.

OBERGURGL RESORT FACTS
Top elevation 3080m
Resort elevation 1930m
Lifts in area 25
Ski area 112 kms
10% Green
39% Blue
45% Red
18% Black