Located 90kms south of Salzburg city, in the province of Salzburg, Obertauern ski resort (2,350m) offers an interesting group of ski runs and you have the option of skiing around the bowl that completely wraps around the mountaintop village. In addition to the wide selection of ski slopes, there are some superb off-piste trails.

Obertauern village is uniquely situated in a beautiful setting at an height of 1,740m. There are two- to four-star hotels, excellent bed-and-breakfasts, guesthouses, apartments and other lodgings, offering up to 6,500 beds in all. Obertauern is a lot quieter than other Austrian Alpine towns, which certainly adds to its appeal for many skiers; however, it does come with plenty of cafés, restaurants, bars and discos.

Obertauern ski resort boasts 120kms of manicured pistes catering to all levels of ability, from beginner and intermediate to advanced and expert skiers. Twenty-six modern ski lifts, including a gondola, chairlifts and T-bars, transport up to 34,760 skiers per hour. Six ski schools and 70 instructors offer Alpine, cross-country and snowboarding instruction; a kindergarten is also available.

For an alternative to the slopes of the Obertauern ski resort, there are several other quality ski resorts located on the Katschberg and Aineck mountain ranges, to the south. Be sure to visit the charming hamlets in the area, such as Mautendorf, with its majestic castle, and the Pöllatal Nature Park. Salzburg is one of the most beautiful European historic cities and the birthplace of Mozart, and features many castles, castles, churches, art collections and parks.

The ski season is between late November and early May with the cheapest rates offered until the week before Christmas and the last half of January, and late in the season. The easiest way to get to Obertauern ski resort is to fly to the International Airport in Salzburg (90kms north) and take a shuttle there, or drive.