Austria is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe, attracting tourists not only in summer and winter - which in the mountain regions is almost as busy a season as summer - but also in the in-between seasons. Visitors are drawn particularly from neighboring Germany, as for them there is no language problem


Austria
Best of Austria: Vienna-Salzburg-Innsbruck 05Nights/06Days

Day 01: Arrival Salzburg
Arrival in Vienna Pick up by car and transfer to hotel Overnight at hotel in Vienna

Day 02: Salzburg
Buffet breakfast at hotel,Half day city tour on SIC basis including entrance to Palace Schönbrunn. Overnight at hotel in Vienna

Day 03: Innsbruck
Buffet breakfast at hotel,Pick up by car and transfer to Vienna railway station,Pick up by car in Salzburg and transfer to hotel 1,5 hours city Mozart Tour through Salzburg on SIC basis Overnight at hotel in Salzburg

Day 04: Innsbruck
Buffet breakfast at hotel.Sound of Music Tour on SIC basis. Overnight at hotel in Salzburg

Day 05: Vienna
Buffet breakfast at hotel in Salzburg.Pick up by car and transfer to railway station in Salzburg ,Pick up by car in Innsbruck and transfer to hotel. Visit of Swarovski Crystal World in Innsbruck on SIC basis Overnight at hotel in Innsbruck
Day 6Vienna


Ski Zell am See: 07Nights/08Days
Zell am See is found in the valley of Prinzgau in western Austria. This charming lakeside town has some of the best views of the lake. Zell, combined with the neighboring town of Kaprun provide a wide range of opportunities for skiers and non-skiers. This makes Zell am See a great base for vacationers who enjoy traveling around to different locations within an area.
General Information
The town of Zell was founded by monks from Salzburg in 740 as Cella in Bisonzio. You are sure to enjoy the charming town center, which has some of the best views on the lake. It is close to the Kaprun glacier and because of the finished construction of a new tunnel, it is only a few minutes away from Schuttdorf. Although city transit is available, it is recommended to have access to a car, so that you are bale to experience many other resorts including Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Bad Gastein-Bad Hofgastein, Wagrain, Schladming, and Obertauern just to name a few.
Skiing/Snowboarding
The resort covers 81 miles of slopes. Of these, 25 miles are glacial, 9.3 miles are in Kaprun, and 45 miles are in Zell. This gives a total of 53 slopes. Ski buses are available to travel between slopes or you can ski from slope to slope.
Zell am See is a great place for beginners to start out. The slopes are broad and the lift lines are usually short. About 20 percent of the trails here are rated for beginners. This resort, with its interesting slopes and experienced ski schools, is a place that teaches excitement and technique fairly quickly.
Intermediate skiers will find Zell am See ideal. Twenty percent of the runs are rated intermediate. The runs at the resort are strongly recommended for skiers who like diversity. There are different types of slopes, off-piste skiing, and bump-pistes all available to the intermediate skiers.
Zell is the only place in the area to find advanced slopes. Zell is also the only resort in which off-piste skiing is allowed. Powder snow, bumps, and other obstacles are available to supply amazing experiences. The resort also supplies a high number of broad and steep tracks.
So far, snowboarders are not too familiar with Zell am See, but the possibilities here are immense. The fun-park at the Schmittenhohe contains one of two Austrian boardercross courses; this means plenty of jumps, ramps, and bumps to test the fitness and flexibility of boarders. The park at Kitzsteinhorn has one half-pipe.
Regular night skiing and boarding is offered in Zell am See, but it is not at all promoted as a major event. Heliskiing is available here through a few companies from the Schmittenhohebahn. Snowmobiling is not the norm, but rentals are available. Ice climbing is also possible in Zell am See.
Since Zell am See is embedded into a valley, the resort is extremely interested in cross-country skiing. There are 125 miles of trails that cover all skill levels and are fascinating in terms of panorama and location. There are special, cheaper lift tickets for cross-county skiing. Zell am See is one of the larger and more beautiful areas in which to experience the nature via cross-country skis.
Children's Ski and Winter Activities
Zell am See is a paradise for children. Most of the events and activities are under the supervision of Schmidolin, a funny dragon who is loved by the little ones. The dragon heads up the free Children's Club and writes a special children's newspaper. Kid-friendly establishments are mostly located in the medieval centers which are partly pedestrian zones. Daycare is available for children over one year of age. Discounts are available for children between six and 15 and youths between 16 and 20 years. Children under six ski for free.
Overall, the deals, especially in Zell, are very family- and kid-oriented, and Schmidolin, the cute little dragon, is always terribly excited to see the little ones.
Apres-Ski
The most important part of the apres-ski in Zell am See is to relax and regain your energy for the next day. There are 32 restaurants in Kaprun and 90 in Zell that offer everything from fast food to gourmet dinners. Although all types of food and quality of classes are present here, the average price level is relatively high. The 28 bars and pubs are open from about 3:00 p.m. on. Although these are not the top party spots in Europe, the bars, pubs, and discos are lively enough to keep everyone happy.
Attractions
Within the town center of Zell lies the church of St. Hippolyt and the chateau Rosenberg from the 16th century. The castle of Kaprun was built around the 12th century and hosted the Salzburg musketeer in the 17th century.
Since it is in the heart of Austria, Zell am See offers many possibilities for one- and two-day trips. The thermal springs in Badgastein in the Gastein Valley, the ice cave in Werfen, the salt mines in Hallein, and Europe's highest waterfalls in Krimml are guided tours that are offered regularly and are within 25 miles. Salzburg is 50 miles away and Innsbruck is 93 miles away. These cities can be reached by car or train quickly. If an extended trip is desired, Munich can be reached within four hours.
Lift Facilities
Zell am See resorts operate 62 lifts as a whole, of which 18 are located in the glacial resort of Kitzsteinhorn, nine in Kaprun, and 35 in Zell. These include two sub-terrain trains, a four-seater bubble, a draglift, a six-seater bubble, one two-seater, and nine draglifts. This totals up to 25,560 skiers up the mountain per hour at Kitzsteinhorn. At Kaprun, there is a large gondola, four draglifts, two two-seaters, and two t-bars. This capacity is 7,924 skiers per hour. Finally, at Zell, the 20 draglifts, eight chairs, and seven high-capacity lifts carry 38,776 people per hour.
Lift Tickets
Zell am See offers a lift ticket that is valid for all three resorts. The prices are relatively cheap compared to other Austrian and Swiss resorts. Children below six are free of charge and there are discounts available for children over six and seniors. <<pricing>>
Snow Conditions
Due to the extreme difference in height, the snow conditions in Zell am See vary significantly. The average snowfall at Kaprun is 408 inches and they do not need to use snowmaking facilities often. Zell has an average snowfall of only 118 inches and is dependent on snowmakers on 65 percent of the resort and 45 percent of Schmittenhohe.
Travel Time
The closest airports to Zell am See are Salzburg at 50 miles away and Munich at 120 miles away. There are trains from either airport, but Salzburg seems to make things a bit easier. There is a bus from Salzburg, but not from Munich.