Bad Kleinkirchheim is a resort spa in Carinthia, the Austrian state that borders northern Italy and Slovenia. The combination of exhilarating skiing and relaxing hot spring baths makes the resort popular with visitors of all ages.

The town is rather large and there is plenty to do besides skiing. Being an old world spa, the streets are lined with quaint ancient medieval buildings, and dotted with numerous cafés and restaurants. Bad Kleinkirchheim has a wide variety of quality accommodation, from five-star hotels to cosy guesthouses.

The ski terrain features 100kms of groomed trails; all but 11 per cent of them are classified as beginner or intermediate. Yet there is an impressive vertical drop of 1,370m and a FIS run four kilometres long that is named after native son Franz Klammer, hero of the 1976 Olympics in Innsbruck.

There are 34 lifts, including surface lifts, chairs and gondolas. Advanced skiers and snowboarders can find plenty of off-piste routes, and snowboarders also have a specialist park and half-pipe. Cross-country skiers can enjoy 50kms of excellent trails, which are also fine for winter hiking.

Non-skiing activities abound at Bad Kleinkirchheim, with horse-drawn sleigh rides, horseback riding, ice-skating, tobogganing (both night and day), carving, indoor swimming, indoor tennis, indoor golf, solarium and sauna.

February and early March are the best months for skiing at Bad Kleinkirchheim, with bargains to be had in early December and April. Bad Kleinkirchheim ski resort is far from major towns; however, it is well served by road and rail networks.