 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi all, I'm a solo traveller visiting Saalbach for the first time the last week of January 2026 (hopefully there will be lot of snow then  ).
I usually join some guided tours or group classes to get to know the system, meet new people and get some tips and trick on how to improve my skiing. So far, I havent been able to find any guided tours to sign up for. Also if you know of any ski schools that cater for intermidiate to advanced level skiers would be of great interest? I'll be staying at Saalbacher Hof, any ideas if that hotell arranges guided tours?
Also, what kind of skis do you recommend me to take with me? Pure carving or all mountain skis? I dont venture off-piste, but I usually ski from the first lift up to the last run down to apreski and the pistes are usually in quite a bad shape in the afternoon =)
Thanks in advance!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Keke81, Nice choice of hotel, the GB Ski Club has a rep in Saalbach, and there will be group skiing covering the whole area, if you aren't a member you can ski along for a day and see if you like it, group sizes are variable, the have a social hour at the SchattbergStubbe or Eva Alm, both very close to your hotel. https://www.skiclub.co.uk/resort/saalbach-hinterglemm/?tab=reps
Finding your way round the ski circus is pretty straightforward, the signage is very good and was upgrade a few years back, their app is handy as well.
As far as I know none of the hotels offer guiding round the mountain, Tatmantours has a useful guide to the resort and might show you round, but he only does afternoon tours  , DM him and he will send it to you, he also knows some ski instructors who would do guiding, there would be a charge.
Ski Schools, Penhab https://www.penhab.at/skischule/ are very good they offer guiding for €164 for half a day €294 full (the ski club is cheaper  ) , Furstauer https://www.skischule-saalbach.at/en/ have a good reputation for their group lessons.
If your aren't going off piste then just take the carving ones, the pistes will be fine in the afternoon in January, most locals ski with 68 to 74 under foot, I ski on 80
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| radar wrote: |
“As far as I know none of the hotels offer guiding round the mountain, Tatmantours has a useful guide to the resort and might show you round, but he only does afternoon tours , DM him and he will send it to you, he also knows some ski instructors who would do guiding, there would be a charge.” |
I would have you know that, despite my tendency to be an owl rather than a lark, I have been known to set my alarm clock for 8.00am, or even earlier, on occasions.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@radar thanks for tips! Will look into those and message @tatmanstours =)
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@Keke81, we stayed at Hotel Die Sonne in 2023 and they offered a free ski guide trip one day a week. It was whoever wanted to go on the day. I don't think it was offered to outside guests but I never checked. You could email them.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Specialman, sorry, retail therapy always helps.
10 December 24
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hello Folks.
Just before I explore the usual routes to accommodation, I thought I would seek the wisdom of those here who know Saalbach very well. I am looking for accommodation for my family 20th Dec to 27th (4 people). We usually prefer the an apartment for flexibility but open to suggestions, your recommendations are very welcome.
Cheers
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@alantherope, I can help! Messaging you.
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@alantherope, @tatmanstours, is in contact with a number of apartment owners in Saalbach and Viehofen, ours is booked.
In addition there is https://haus-scharnagl.at/ certainly located, you could look at Jaursen, it's a bit out but right by the Schonleiten bhann, there is the Tiroler Buam or Leibe Heimat, shopping might be a challenge, but eating out wouldn't, both of the above have excellent restaurants and there is a superb pizza restaurant Mangia nearby.
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You know it makes sense.
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Hi Richard
Thanks for responding with those, will take a look at both and see where we end up from there:).
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@alantherope, see my personal message - a virtually ski-in ski-out apartment in a perfect location is available for the Christmas period.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Hi
I was just getting interested in Saalbach and had a look at flights. Alas, me and the teen are confined to Feb half-term, 24/2 to 21/2. It would be something like £1600-1700 which isn't going to work. Probably most places are getting that way.
But just wondering if maybe I've missed a route? I was looking at any London to Salzburg.
Thanks!
L
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You can always fly in to Munich
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Southend to Salzburg?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thanks @scr and @Austrian Seagull.
Salzburg is pricey but Munich is half the price. Ace, thanks.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I notice Ski Miquel seem to have added the week of 6th december to their Chalet Hotel Christina in Saalbach listing for anyone fancying an early trip. £455 with no flights included, though not sure if transfers would be (prices generally include board, transfer and flights). I am sure when I looked previously their properties in Saalbach and Bad Gastein had nothing before 13th Dec.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@@BaobabPowder, Skyscanner is your friend.
If you are willing to take one of the (sometimes very) odd routes that Skyscanner comes up with, there are savings to be made.
For example - if you can be at Heathrow for a 19.30 flight on Friday 13th with Scandinavian, you could fly via Copenhagen, have an overnight stop and a glass of Carlsberg in a hotel, and then take the connecting flight to Salzburg very early on Saturday morning, arriving at SZG at 07.30. The return flight leaves SZG at 09.10 on Sat. 21st and again via a stop at Copenhagen (time for a nice lunch at the airport) gets you back to Heathrow at 16.00 on Saturday afternoon. Total price only £237 p.p. for the return ticket - plus whatever you pay for the Copenhagen hotel (£150?) and the beer. The early arrival on Saturday morning in SZG gives you time for a ski around before heading to Bobby's Bar for the rugby.
If you can take Friday 13th off work/school, this opens up a whole load of opportunities. Fly Lufthansa from LHR at 13.30 via Frankfurt and arrive at SZG on Friday night at 22.30. Stay at the airport hotel Friday night (£150?) and get the first #260 bus to Saalbach on Saturday morning. Return Sat. 21st via Frankfurt. Dep 10.35, arr LHR 16.50. £245 p.p. return
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Ah that’s great, thanks, @quinton
To be honest (whispers) we did that last year – Tues to Tues and it was suddenly affordable to Les Saisies. Won’t be able to pull even a day again this time.
But maybe the 19.30 on Friday from Heathrow might work, if a bit tight… I’ll have a look at that, thanks.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Yep.....we out on jan 4th.
Daughter has countdown on her phone...think its 67 days????
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@Specialman, thank you for the complimentary mention 
(Don’t hesitate to send me a P.M. anyone, if you want information about Saalbach, or want me to circulate an enquiry about accommodation.)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| BaobabPowder wrote: |
Ah that’s great, thanks, @quinton
To be honest (whispers) we did that last year – Tues to Tues and it was suddenly affordable to Les Saisies. Won’t be able to pull even a day again this time.
But maybe the 19.30 on Friday from Heathrow might work, if a bit tight… I’ll have a look at that, thanks. |
Definately look at Lufthansa LHR to Munich. We are on the 1900 (ish) on the 13th Feb and staying in Rosenheim Premier inn for the night - €72 and car hire at €400 for week - meaning an early start will get us into Saalbach in time for all day skiing on the 14th. Late flight out on 21st will also give us Saturday skiing on departure day too meaning 8 days of skiing! Lufthansa came in just over £1k with bags and ski carriage compared to easyjet at nearly £2k! - 2 adults and 2 kids
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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That’s great, @daveqpr, thanks.
I’ve obviously been looking in the wrong places… I’ll have another go at late Friday.
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I did book this trip in March though so price has probably changed a bit since then.
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You know it makes sense.
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@BaobabPowder, Just playing around with dates and times on Skyscanner, I can see that even a Saturday-Saturday trip with Lufthansa via Frankfurt can be done for a base price of £205 p.p. return. LHR dep 10.50 to Frankfurt, then FRA-SZG arr 22.35 - the downsides are a very long wait at FRA and a late arrival on Saturday night which would require a taxi to Saalbach (about £200). Return journey is easier, dep SZG 10.35 via Frankfurt, where there is a 3 hour connection (enough time for a currywurst and a beer) then FRA-LHR arr. 15.50.
For something more exotic, Skyscanner suggests Gatwick-Alicante (overnight stop)-Salzburg and SZG-Alicante-Stansted for the return. A bloody daft route, and you also lose a day's skiing - but it can seemingly be done for a base price of £175 return, although once all of the Ryanair fees have been added on it would probably be as cheap to fly first class with Lufthansa.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@quinton that’s absurd! But it’s a good indication of what you can get. I had discounted the idea of doing it with a stop.
The first one could work maybe with a local hotel, but the Friday flight with a stop in Denmark that you suggested previously seems like a better bet.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Lift update for Fieberbrunn:
The new Streubödenbahn lift and the large crowdfunding contribution give us momentum and motivation to tackle new projects: for example, the old Maiskopf T-bar lift will be replaced by a 6-seater chairlift in time for the 2025/26 winter season. This means that waiting times on the way back down to the valley will be a thing of the past and the flow on the ski circuits will increase significantly. An additional bonus: the elimination of the snow-covered T-bar lift track will reduce the amount of snowmaking at Maiskopf, thus increasing snow reliability.
What makes this project special is that key components from the former Sassgalun lift in Ischgl are being reused in the construction. The drive system, supports, and chairs are being recycled and combined with new elements such as cables, controls, and modern station buildings. This makes the construction not only efficient but also resource-friendly—a statement in terms of sustainability!
https://www.fieberbrunn.com/en/crowd?lid=73w8ml9ty6pr
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi again,
You who have skied in the area before, do you think it´s worth it to venture out to Zell am See and Kaprun for a day when staying Saalbach (I have 6 ski days in total)? Would be nice to see the glacier. I like ski safaris and a little bit of adventure. Or would it be better to explore as much as possible of the Ski Circus area and leave Zell am See and Kaprun to another year?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Keke81, I think that my answer would be yes, subject to it not being a busy week.
I ski throughout the season, mainly in the Ski Circus (based in Saalbach), but it makes a nice change to ski over to Zell occasionally (utilising piste 168 when open, or the regular ski bus between the Schönleitenbahn and the Zell am See Xpress when it’s not). Although it’s a much smaller area with a slower lift system, it feels bigger than you expect. The views of the lake and the glacier are spectacular, there are a few characterful restaurants, and there are some enjoyable ski runs. And you can finish the day by ascending the Schönleitenbahn and skiing down the Kohlmais back to Saalbach, possibly calling at some of the après-ski haunts on the way down (the Bergeralm, the Maisalm, the Hinterhag Alm).
And, if you have your own vehicle and it’s a fine, clear day, it’s also worth a visit to the glacier, for the spectacular views, the interesting visitor centre at the top of the Kitzsteinhorn, and the experience of skiing at over 3,000 meters on the glacier (which again feels bigger than you expect). The restaurants aren’t up to much, and it’s probably not worth going if it’s crowded, but otherwise it’s worth it.
Having said that, if you have only 6 days, there’s enough in the Ski Circus to keep you interested and entertained, and discovering new places.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Keke81, it depends whether "I like ski safaris and a little bit of adventure" means you're looking for a gentle 20Km circuit, or an 8 hour day covering 80Km and a couple of bus trips.
I did it in January because I could and I'd not been in Kaprun for 10 years and wanted to see the new connecting lift, and because I was on my own and therefore not too worried about the consequences of getting it wrong and having to take 2 buses to get back. I started from Hinterglemm, taking the U-bahn and Westgipfel lifts and then straight to the bottom of Schonleitenbahn to get the bus to the Zell Express lift. After a couple of runs on the Zell side, from the top of Schmittenhohe I headed down the line of the Areitbahn and took the bus to Kaprun and got off at the Maiskogel lift. Up and down the Maiskogel, I then went back up and took the connecting 3K gondola to the glacier, managed a couple of runs there, and then had to turn around and make my way back. The wait for the bus back seemed interminable (20 minutes).
From Areitbahn I made my way back to the link run, and then had to download from the middle station as the lower ski route is rarely open. With time then running short, I had to take the bus back from the bottom of Schonleiten to the bus station in Hinterglemm, and just managed to make the Bergfriedlift T-bar up to get back to the U-bahn start point.
Here are some images from Skitracks showing the day - the waits for the buses are pretty obvious in the speed and altitude tracks. The top speed for the day of 50mph was of course on the bus
Here are a few photos of the glacier area as an example of what it's like in perfect conditions...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Thanks for the replies. I'm the one who takes the first list up in the morning and the last run down to apres and ski trying to ski as much as possible in between I've done the Run of fame in Arlberg and the Arena tour in Zillertal and I'm looking forward to the Challenge in Ski Circus.
@tatmanstours, Sounds like I really should visit Zell am See for at least half a day. I'm relying on lifts, busses and taxi for transfer.
@ousekjarr, Sweet pictures!
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| quinton wrote: |
| @@BaobabPowder, For example - if you can be at Heathrow for a 19.30 flight on Friday 13th with Scandinavian, you could fly via Copenhagen, have an overnight stop and a glass of Carlsberg in a hotel, and then take the connecting flight to Salzburg very early on Saturday morning, arriving at SZG at 07.30. The return flight leaves SZG at 09.10 on Sat. 21st and again via a stop at Copenhagen (time for a nice lunch at the airport) gets you back to Heathrow at 16.00 on Saturday afternoon. Total price only £237 p.p. for the return ticket - plus whatever you pay for the Copenhagen hotel (£150?) and the beer. The early arrival on Saturday morning in SZG gives you time for a ski around before heading to Bobby's Bar for the rugby. |
Hey @@quinton, one follow-up if that's OK. Your suggestion of LHR>SZG via Copenhagen going out is great. Thing is, I can't see how to make the return flight in time by bus. I'd need to get to SZG by 7.00-ish and that probably means a taxi or car hire and then via Munich looks more competitive. Or stay until Sunday, but I really need to be back Saturday.
Anyway... did I miss a connection? Thanks!
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@BaobabPowder, Page 1 of this thread you will find the transfer options, there is a shuttle at 03.15 arriving Salzburg 05.30 or 05.15 arriving 07.30
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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This video was compiled by my cousin, Steve Walker, whom I introduced to Saalbach and the Ski Circus in 1988. He has visited for occasional holidays, with his wife and family ever since and has also made use of my spare bedroom and rental apartment.
On this occasion I was skiing with them some of the time (including when they skied over to Leogang, Fieberbrunn, and Zell am See). I’m wearing the turquoise/blue jacket, and a curmudgeonly expression, as I listen to his commentary, and occasionally chip in with corrections and suggestions (you can often tell when, because he prefaces his remarks with the words, “apparently”, “I’ve just been told that”, and “rumour has it that”).
As he kept commenting, it was Fasching week and unusually warm, but we still enjoyed the skiing.
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| radar wrote: |
| @BaobabPowder, Page 1 of this thread you will find the transfer options, there is a shuttle at 03.15 arriving Salzburg 05.30 or 05.15 arriving 07.30 |
Thanks @radar, much appreciated.
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FAQ
