Mountain Adventure Holidays
Visit the towns of Pertisau and Seefeld on our Austrian Tirol cross-country ski safari. This two centre holiday offers first class 'classic' style track skiing whilst exploring the tracks around Lake Achensee, the largest lake in the Tirol, and Seefeld a beautiful high plateau.
The first four nights are spent at Pertisau a picturesque lakeside mountain village nestled in the stunning mountain scenery of the Karwendel and Rofan mountains. From Pertisau and neighbouring Maurach we explore several small valleys leading into the Karwendel Mountains.
We then move to the Olympic town of Seefeld and hochplateau at 1,200m (3937ft) for the second part of this trip. Tyrol's unique high plateau stretches between mountain and valley, forest and meadow and comprises of five idyllic villages: Seefeld, Leutasch, Mösern, Reith and Scharnitz.
Together these two regions (both easily reached from Innsbruck) form an impressive cross country ski holiday paradise in a breathtaking natural landscape.
This evening your ski coach, who is a fully qualified BASI Nordic Ski Instructor, will meet you at your hotel in Pertisau at approximately 1800 hrs and join you for dinner. Further details about travel are explained in the Arrival and Departure information under 'Trip Information'.
The villages of Pertisau and Maurach belong to the municipality of 'Eben' and are situated on the shores of Lake Achensee. This morning starting from the Nordic Ski Centre at Pertisau we plan to warm up along the south shore of the lake between the villages. We take in the scenic Panorama Track along the lake passing through an area of wonderful natural beauty setting the scene for the days ahead. Enjoy breathtaking views up and down Achensee Lake as our route connects with the 4km Maurach village trail where we plan to go for lunch.
Distance: 19km (12 miles) Ascent: 200m (656ft)
This morning we take the ski bus to Achenkirch. We begin our day here on the Achenkirch Village Trail and Unterautal Valley tracks which offer a mix of wide beginner to advanced picturesque trails. We then move onto the 15km (9 mile) long Guffert XC ski track which leads from Achenkirch to Steinberg am Rofan. Passing through wooded areas and wide-open meadows, this peaceful intermediate track is a nature lovers dream.
Distance: 20km (12.4miles) Ascent: 350m ( 1148ft)
Pertisau sits at the base of Karwendel mountains and today starting from the Nordic Ski centre we explore the valleys that wind their way towards the German border. Intermediate tracks offers a labyrinth of trails through the forest, around meadows and along the edge of ice-locked streams. The Pletzach - Gern Track (9.7km - 6miles) leads us to the Gernalm Alpine pasture hut. At the head of the valley we stop at the perfectly located Gernalm Restaurant for refreshments before returning to Pertisau.
In the afternoon for those that would like to ski more we plan to visit the Falzthurntal Valley. Explore pristine, snow-covered scenery and the peaceful corrie of Gramai with stunning views of the surrounding Karwendel Mountain Range (10km - 6.2 miles). Tonight is our last night in Pertisau. We pack our bags ready to transfer to Seefeld in the morning.
Distance: 19.7km (12.2 miles) Ascent: 430m (1410ft)
We continue our Tyrol explorer moving onto one of Europes' most well known snow-sure cross country regions - Seefeld. An hour by taxi brings us to the Seefeld Hoch Plateau. A haven for cross country skiing - an expansive high plateau opens up between the Alpine peaks at 1200m (3937ft). Over 245km's (152 miles) of trails for all levels of ability connect the five villages of Seefeld, Leutasch, Mösern, Reith and Scharnitz. With the local ski bus there are endless opportunities for exploring this superb network tracks that have perfectly situated restaurants and cafes along the way. After dropping off our bags we head to the Seefeld Olympic stadium to commence todays tour starting on the Triendlsäge trail. It runs north through the forest and connects the villages of Seefeld and Scharnitz via Bodenalm. After lunch in Scharnitz we join the trail along the Giessenbach stream across open terrain which offers lots of sunshine and overview of this nordic ski paradise. There is an option here to get the bus back to Seefeld.
Distance: 18km (10miles)
A short bus ride today brings us to Leutasch which offers a network of trails north of the Gross Arnspitze (2196m - 7204ft). Große Arnspitze is the highest peak of a prominent ridge splitting the Leutasch and Scharnitz valley. This ridge is called Arnstock and towers over 1000m (3280ft) above the valley floors. From Leutasch we take the ‘Unterleutasch’ trail (13.6km). This fantastic circuit is enjoyed by all levels of skier. It leads down the valley, alongside the stream and over several bridges at the foot of the majestic Ahrnspitze and Ahrnplattenspitze mountains. It gently slopes down to Burggraben before turning at the Gasthof Mühle. In the afternoon we head south and the choice on the Alpenbad trail (5.6km) from Leutasch another wonderfully scenic route offering views of the Hohe Munde mountain and Wetterstein range or moving on to Moos for the (6.5km) Katzenloch Trail for views of the Inntal Valley and Telfs. Enjoy a rest along the way at the well known Ropferstubn Inn before heading full circle back around to Seefeld.
Distance: 19.2km (12 miles) Ascent: 100m (328ft)
The Wildmoos Loop is one of the most beautiful cross country skiing routes in the Seefeld Olympic Region. Combining several trails it forms a 17km circuit taking in several cosy huts featuring fine views of the surrounding landscape. En route, skiers will also pass three mountain lakes and plenty of thick pine forests. There are just a few roads which need to be crossed. The final section is a descent down into Seefeld, which hosted the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in 2019.
Distance: 17.3km (10 miles) Ascent: 324m (1062ft)
Today is your departure day. Please see the Arrival and Departure section for details.
It is always our aim to complete the proposed itinerary outlined above, however, it may be necessary for our guides/instructors to adjust the daily itinerary based on the weather conditions, group safety and enjoyment.
We always aim to accommodate our guests in well-situated, clean, characterful, family run accommodation. All of our trips are based on two people sharing a bedroom, what we call a 'twin' means two single beds in one bedroom. If you are booking as a single traveller you will share with someone of the same gender.
For our Austrian Tyrol Explorer ski trip we stay in two locations 4 nights in Pertisau and 3 nights in Seefeld and depending on the availability at the time of the trip confirming in either 3 or 4 star hotels. The hotels are always well situated to access public transport, local facilities and the cross country ski tracks.
In Austria a double room for a couple is usually two single beds joined together within one bed frame. Standard 'twin' rooms with two single beds apart are less common so twin rooms in this case will either be a family room with an extra room OR a double bed and a double 'sofa' bed within the same room.
A single room with a simple single bed is available on this trip with no additional supplementary fee. However a double room for single use will cost an extra £560. Room upgrades are also available for a supplementary fee, but these can be in short supply and require early booking.
Note that it is very rare to have air conditioning in European mountain areas, and most bedrooms do not have this facility. If you have any questions about the accommodation please contact us.
For the first four nights of this trip we stay at the Hotel Bergland, a 3* hotel perfectly situated on the shores of Achensee lake and on the cross country ski tracks. Enjoy cosy rooms, panoramic views, wellness area and home cooked Tyrolean specialties from this family run hotel. Hotel Bergland promises a memorable experience!
The Hotel Bergland has a cafe, bar and restaurant that prides itself in delicious Tyrolean specialties. The 3-course half board menu offers four different main courses and a fresh salad buffet. All dishes are freshly prepared including Gröstl, Kaspressknödel, Schlutzkrapfen, or Kiachl.
After a day of skiing relax in the hotel spa, Bergland Oase. Enjoy the Finnish sauna, a solarium and water treatments in the new Kneipp baths or for those with energy to spare there is a gym.
The family run 4* Hotel Das Kaltschmid is located in a central but quiet location of Seefeld. Enjoy the culinary delights and fine wines with a view of the mountains around the town.
The Hotel Das Kaltschmid prides itself in it's spa and wellness facilities. Enjoy relaxing with a swim or time in the spa after a day on the trails. The Hotel has a cafe, bar and restaurant offering Tyrolean specialties.
The rooms in our 4-star "Das Kaltschmid" are individually furnished with great attention to detail. Whether single room, double room, or suite you have a wonderful view of Seefeld.
Whatever your mode of transport, the Tirol is easy to get to. Read our advice on how to get to Pertisau, Lake Achensee, by train and bus, by car, or by plane and then away from Seefeld.
Jenbach is a 25 minute bus ride from Lake Achensee and a central travel hub to other parts of Europe. Up to eight times per day, for example, the Austrian train “Railjet” from Vienna stops here. There is at least one connection per hour between the Bavarian capital of Munich and the train station Jenbach. From here the public buses operated by the Verkehrsverbund Tirol (VVT) run regularly to Pertisau.
NB: Visitors to Lake Achensee can take advantage of the FREE BUSES by presenting the reservation confirmation from their accommodation provider. Tracks and Trails will provide this as part of the Trip Joining Instructions. Some accommodations in the Achensee region offer their guests a convenient pick-up and drop-off service from and to Jenbach train station. If this is possible we will advise you.
Follow this link for an overview of the fastest train times links to Jenbach station and visit the official website of the ÖBB Austrian national railway for intercity train connections to Tirol.
The ÖBB offers door to door luggage service shipping your baggage ahead to your accommodation at Lake Achensee. ÖBB Rail & Drive offers car hire at the tra station which is a very convenient way to reach your destination. Whether you’re on a weekend trip, business meeting or shopping tour, ÖBB offers easy and uncomplicated car hire by the hour. Click here for more information
Travel the "last mile" by bus: On arrival, you can take advantage of our free bus transfer from Jenbach to Lake Achensee by presenting your reservation confirmation. After check-in at your accommodation, you will receive your AchenseeCard (visitor card) which is your free bus ticket for the Regiobus in the entire Achensee holiday region (including Jenbach).
Taxi Kröll in Maurach, Tel. +43(5243)43280, www.taxikroell.com
Railway station transfer service Four Seasons Travel – bookable online at Bahnhofshuttle.tirol
Take the motorway A12 (toll sticker required), exit at Wiesing/Achensee and follow the Achensee federal road B181 until you reach Maurach after 7 kilometres. From there, follow the directions to Pertisau or continue your journey along Lake Achensee to Achenkirch and Steinberg am Rofan.
Toll-free journey via the Achenpass: From Munich, take the motorway and exit at Holzkirchen, continue via Tegernsee and Achenpass or via Bad Tölz to the national border. Follow the road to Achenkirch. Turn left to Steinberg am Rofan or continue to Maurach, Pertisau, and Wiesing in the Inntal valley.
You can pre-book transfers to and from Innsbruck airport with:
With a valid guest card you can use the entire bus network in the region completely FREE of charge along with the train between Seefeld and Scharnitz on the Karwendelbahn, one of the most beautiful train routes in Austria.
Over 50 trains (ICE, REX & S-Bahn) stop in Seefeld on weekdays and at weekends, including direct connections to Munich, Dortmund, Hamburg and Berlin.
Visit the official website of the ÖBB Austrian national railway for intercity train connections to Tirol.
Seefeld is 25 minutes by road, 1 hour by train from Innsbruck.
Activity, Injury and Mountain Rescue
It is a condition of booking that you are insured against medical expenses, injury, illness, death, cost of repatriation and personal accident risks. For all of our trips your insurance must also cover mountain rescue. The exception to this is if the trip is being held in the United Kingdom or Norway where mountain rescue is free of charge. Please ensure that your insurance covers you to the maximum altitude given on your trip itinerary. The maximum altitude for any trip can be checked on the 'At A Glance' box on each trip page.
Trip Cancellation/Curtailment Insurance
You should also have insurance to cover trip cancellation and curtailment. Insurance should be booked as soon as we have confirmed that your trip is going ahead. Note that your deposit and balance payments are non-refundable unless it is Tracks and Trails who cancel the trip due to a failure to reach the required minimum numbers. In this case we will offer you a refund or the option of transferring to another trip if one is available. We also advise that you should have insurance which covers baggage loss/equipment damage as Tracks and Trails will not be held responsible for loss/damage to baggage/equipment.
All of the above insurances are detailed in our Terms and Conditions. For further details, please read the Insurance section on our website.
Winter mountain weather in the European Alps can vary considerably, and in this respect it is no different to any mountain environment where the terrain influences the weather and it can change from valley to valley.
In winter the weather can deliver everything from clear blue skies, and glorious sunshine, to heavy snowfall and strong winds. Essentially, as with all mountain journeys, you should be prepared for any eventuality.
Temperatures vary depending on the month, generally December, January, and February are colder, but by March and April the temperatures are warming up and spring is on the way.
In December and January they can range from -10°Celsius (14°F) to 3°Celsius (37.4F), in February from -5°Celsius (23°F) to 7°Celsius (44.6°F), and in March from 0°Celsius (32°F) to 13°Celsius (55.4°F).
The above figures are a general indication only as the weather can vary considerably year on year for any given month.
The cross country ski style for this week is 'classic' technique. We can order equipment, to include skis, boots and poles in advance. Rental, for winter 2024, is 140 Euros for the 6 days. We will book this on your behalf and includes a 5% group discount. Our guide will ensure its safe return on the final ski day.
Payment can be make either in cash Euros or by credit card. We recommend for the ease of returning your skis that you rent equipment in each area, Pertisau and Seefeld. The alternative is to hire in Pertisau only and to return the equipment by taxi which can be done as a group if prepared. Ask you guide to assist with this.
Classic style rental skis will either be fishscale or skintec bases (not skates or waxable skis). The boots and bindings need to be NNN compatible. Please contact us if you plan on bringing your own boots and would like to confirm that they are suitable for this trip.
Please make note of any equipment hire on your booking form. We will need to know your height, weight, normal shoe size (you must give us your everyday shoe size and not your personal adjustment for wearing boots) and the measurement of your height up to your armpits for ski pole hire.
The ski pass in Pertisau is free with a visitors card obtained from your however however in Seefeld on the second part of our trip there is a charge to use the tracks. In 2024, the Seefeld pass is 29 Euros for up to 7 days.
Your safety while skiing is our top priority. All skiers are requested to adhere to the Code of Conduct published by the International Ski Federation, or FIS. The aim is to make you, the skier, aware of how to avoid risks, take responsibility and act thoughtfully while on the cross-country ski tracks.
When packing for a trip in the mountains it is important to have appropriate equipment and clothing. This kit list features items we believe are necessary for the weather you will encounter and accommodation you will be staying in.
Equipment
We use 'classic' style cross country track skis for this trip either ‘fishscales’ or ‘skintec’. You can choose to bring your own 'classic' track skis (non-metal edged), however, do check with us first to ensure they are suitable.
Skis, boots, and poles - can be hired at the start of the trip. The cost of hire is indicated in 'Trip Information'. If you are intending to hire you must inform us as soon as possible as equipment must be booked in advance. The type of ski supplied by the hire shop is provided in the 'Ski Rental' section of the Trip Information page. If in doubt about the suitability of your own skis please contact us.
Clothing
Comfort
Personal First Aid
Documentation
Additional Items
**Supplementary snacks if you follow a gluten free or coeliac diet**
Leaders are all first aid trained and carry their own first aid kit
When booking a holiday as a solo traveller a twin bedded room comprising of two single beds, is booked as standard. This will be with someone of the same gender unless you request to pay extra for your own room. Single rooms are often limited in supply so if you would like to pay a supplement for a single room we urge you to get in touch as soon as possible. A single room on this trip is £435 for a small single or £600 for a double bed with single use.
We go to great lengths to work with first class ski instructors who are passionate about their work.
Your ski instructor will be a BASI qualified, or equivalent, Nordic Ski Instructor. BASI is the British Association of Snowsport Instructors and is one of Europe's leading examining boards for those choosing a career in snow sports. For some countries your ski instructor will hold the national qualification required for the country you are visiting. All are all fully qualified, insured, and hold the correct documentation.
In the majority of cases your instructor will also be a fully qualified and experienced International Mountain Leader or IFMGA Guide. International Mountain Leaders are not only qualified to ensure the safe management of the group, but are also a source of knowledge about the local flora and fauna, and traditions of the area which you are visiting.
Please note your instructor has complete discretion to make a daily decision on whether or not to take the advertised route based on the weather and the ability of the members of the group. They have our authority to make any route changes they believe are necessary in the interests of safety and enjoyment.
You can learn more about our guides and instructors on the About Us page.
For this trip you will be based in two hotels. Half way through the trip we will arrange for the transfer of your bags to Seefeld.
We ask that you keep the weight to a maximum of 15kgs (33lbs), and ONE bag per person. Taxi companies who move bags often impose a 15kg (33lbs) limit and restrict the number of bags. If you take more than one bag you may be asked to pay a supplement.
Please note that not all the hotels we use have elevators. This means you may need to carry your luggage to your bedroom and this might involve climbing several flights of stairs. We would suggest that luggage with wheels is generally a good idea.
We do not include lunches in your trip fee for various reasons, the most important of which is food waste. In general our guests have particular tastes and requirements for 'trail' or 'hill' food and it is better you purchase your own snacks rather than throw away items from the picnic lunch which we would supply.
Lunches on our trips are 'picnic' style lunches, in other words you take a packed lunch with sufficient snacks, food and fluid to sustain you throughout the day. Buying snacks and trying local specialities is a great way to inter-act with local people and to practise your language skills.
If there is the possibility of lunch being taken at a restaurant/farm/cafe beside the trail, your guide/instructor will advise you of this. Each evening you can order a picnic or a sandwich from the hotel, or your guide/instructor will advise you of other options such as a local shop or market. In all cases we would ask you to settle any 'bill' for lunch or drinks the evening before you depart, and not in the morning when there may be a queue.
On your itinerary you will find an indication of the amount of ascent and descent you can expect each day. This offers a guideline to how much effort might be expended each day and allows you to decide, based on previous experience, if your fitness and stamina are correct for the trip.
We make every attempt to ensure these statistics are as accurate as possible, but ask you to note that the most modern of technology used to record these details can show considerable variations in terms of ascent, descent, and in particular distance. In other words no two people using GPS devices on the same route will have exactly the same details recorded at the end of the day.
The statistics given should be used as a 'general' indication of the effort required.
It is useful to arrive at your destination with some cash in the local currency, however, on most occasions it is relatively easy to visit a 'cash machine' after arrival and withdraw money on a credit or debit card. Some of our locations are an exception to this in particular Norway, where the accommodation will often have no facilities for withdrawing cash, but they will take a credit card.
On many of our trips we will visit remote cafes/farms where it is wonderful to enjoy a drink and a cake, at places such as these they will often only accept payment in the local currency in cash.
Food
On all of our trips we encourage you to experience local tastes and dishes.
If you are vegetarian catering for your diet is not generally a problem. If you have a 'special' diet because of an allergy/intolerance we would ask that you make your needs clear on your booking form so we can discuss your requirements with the accommodation as soon as possible. A diet that is not related to an allergy/intolerance or beliefs cannot be catered for. It is simply not possible for mountain accommodation to deal with many variations in diet while providing meals for groups.
In addition, if you have an allergy/intolerance we would suggest you bring/purchase suitable snacks as a supplement to the picnic lunches. At times finding gluten free bread, for example, can be an issue. If you would like to discuss the suitability of a trip for a vegan diet, gluten or lactose intolerance please contact us.
We request that you do not CHANGE your dietary requirements during the trip as we will have pre-ordered your meals.
Water
The countries we visit all have tap water which is drinkable. If for any reason a particular hotel or mountain hut is having a problem with a water supply they will normally post a sign over the tap indicating that you must not drink the water.
We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:
Plug, Socket & Voltage by Country
Note that if your trip involves staying in a mountain refuge/rifugio/hut that electric sockets may be in short supply and for that night you may not be able to charge any items. Although the accommodation will have electricity this will often be supplied by solar panels or a generator and limited to use by the staff. For this reason we advise that carrying a small slimline and lightweight 'battery pack' can be very useful for recharging phones which many of you will also use as your camera.
Tracks and Trails pays guides/instructors a fair and appropriate fee for their professional service. However, if you feel your guide/instructor has provided an excellent service that went 'above and beyond' then it is at the discretion of each guest whether to tip or not. Guests will often give a tip of between 2 - 5 per cent of the total value of their trip. It is entirely up to you and any gesture will no doubt be appreciated no matter the size.
Before booking consider whether you expect to be in the appropriate physical condition on the date of your departure to allow you to fully participate in and enjoy your holiday. If you have any doubts because of an illness or injury it would be advisable to check with your doctor.
For UK residents travelling to an EU country you should obtain and bring with you a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment in certain European countries, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance.
If you have a UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) it will be valid until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you’ll need to apply for a GHIC to replace it. The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Please check this before departing. We advise that you always carry your insurance documents with details of the Emergency Medical telephone number for your insurance provider, and your policy number.
We feel strongly about protecting the environment and do not encourage the use of single-use plastic items. We would ask that you arrive with a ‘water bottle’ or ‘hydration system’ that can be used repeatedly. We would point out that we operate a ‘zero tolerance’ for rubbish, and would ask you to remove all your rubbish items from the mountain even those you consider to be bio-degradable. In particular we ask that you remove any toilet tissue.
You can read our full policy here.
Prices may vary depending on date.
| Dates | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sat 24 Jan - Sat 31 Jan Code: ATE1 |
Price: £2180 | Spaces available | Book |
|
Sat 21 Feb - Sat 28 Feb Code: ATE2 |
Price: £2105 | Spaces available | Book |
| From Price | £2105 |
| Holiday Type | Cross Country Ski Instruction |
| Duration | 8 Days |
| Group Size | 4-8 |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Maximum Altitude | 1332m (4370ft) |
| Countries Visited | Austria |
| Meet In | Pertisau, Austria |
