Lying southeast of Innsbruck in the state of Tyrol, Mayrhofen skiing region is linked with the Finkenberg, Rastkogel and Eggalm skiing areas to create the huge Ski-Zillertal 3000 skiing region. Whether beginner, advanced or professional, there is something here for everyone. The Hintertuxer Glacier provides year-round skiing and is laced with one of Europe’s most modern ski lift systems.

Located well below the ski runs, the main resort town of Mayrhofen, at 630m above sea level, is a charming and picturesque town characterised by wooden façades and balconies on whitewashed mountain houses. There is some excellent shopping here, from sports shops and fashionable boutiques to woodcarving and crystal outlets.

Mayrhofen and Hintertux resorts offer over 8,700 beds in hotels, pensions and apartments. Mayrhofen is well known as a party town, with its wild après-ski and nightlife while quieter Hintertux has some good restaurants and bars at the base of the lifts. There are a total of 32 cafés, 46 restaurants, 14 bars and pubs, and two discos. A ski kindergarten is also available.

Hintertux and Mayrhofen ski resorts have 146kms of pisted runs (492kms in the Zillertal region) suited mainly to intermediate skiers. Beginner and advanced skier slopes are also well represented and the longest run is 5.5kms. There are 46 lifts (127 in Zillertal) with an overall combined capacity of 60,000 skiers per hour (200,000 in Zillertal).

The other villages of the Tuxertal, the next valley up the mountain road on the way to the Hintertuxer glacier, are all cute, but without the amenities offered by Mayrhofen. Finkenberg hugs the steep road connecting Mayrhofen with the Tuxertal. A special attraction of the ski region is the ‘150er Tux’, a huge lift to the highest point of the ski area, the Wangelspitz, at 2500m above sea level. Views from here of the Zillertal peaks are breathtaking.

The ski season runs from December to April, and the cheapest rates are offered before the Christmas holiday, in mid-January, and from mid-March to the season’s end. Summertime skiing is available on the Hintertux Glacier. The most convenient way to get here is to fly to Innsbruck, or Münich, and take a bus, or hire a car.