"Do what you really want" is the motto of Austria's southernmost federal state, which is not difficult between the expanses from Heiligenblut to Mokrin and from Bad Kleinkirchheim to the Mölltal glacier. Skiers will certainly not be bored on the 1,031 kilometers of alpine trails.
The whole of Carinthia with one ski pass
Freestyle skiers, carver skiers and snowboarders, pros, beginners and families will find enough fast World Cup pistes, pleasant slopes, fun humps and ski ranges to satisfy skiing appetites. In addition, a ski pass TopSkiPass Carinthia & Osttirol enables skiing in 34 areas and thus complete freedom in planning the day and ski trips. Ski pass TopSkiPass Carinthia & Osttirol valid on ski resorts from Heiligenblut to Sillian, from Mokrin to Matrei. No fewer than 289 climbing options are available on 1,031 kilometers of trails. Ticket price TopSkiPass Carinthia & Osttirol (valid for 6 days) for adults from 189 euros and for children up to 14 years from 96 euros. In addition, there are attractive family packages, packages for partners and a ski pass for grandchildren.
The first turns of future champions
Carinthian tourism workers want to win their loyal skiers from the earliest years, so they pay special attention to children and families. In Carinthia, the youngest guests are the biggest. From the seventh day of life onwards, they are warmly welcomed, and the young parents are given adequate relaxation. Children's hotels offer suitable all-inclusive care for babies and children at least five days a week. In the 'family valley' Lieser-Maltatal they want to instill in children the joy of movement in snowy nature from an early age. Two-year-olds learn how to twist in the snow in ski school Smileys Windelskischule in Trebesing. Here, in the first village for children and babies in Europe, they are true to their name: free care for the youngest is a matter of course (so mom and dad have enough time for themselves). Toddlers create paper art and play in the snow. They go on exploratory walks through the nearby winter forest and to farms.
On Katschberg talking characters from comics encourage young skiers to discover Katschi's children's world. The German ADAC drivers' club ranked Katschi's children's world among the 3 best ski areas for children. For the youngest ski racers, this is a world where they can live their winter dreams. Here, they can learn to ski and snowboard together with characters from comics, and a small plane takes little skiers to a height of 300 meters, where they can rest in warm pavilions. All four-star hotels in the region provide additional care for children with a babysitting service wellness. They even have a pool with gummy bears. Skiing is of course a big financial expense for families, so for example in the children's skiing world White lake it is home to the measuring bear Meterix, which measures the height of the youngest skiers and the smaller the skier, the cheaper the ski pass for him, and from January 7, 2010 until the end of the season, the youngest skiers up to the age of 14 can use the ski carousel around Lake Miljski with a Topskipass Kärnten ski ticket - Osttirol Gold even skis for free.
Pleasures even without skis
In Mokrine, they are aware that just meandering along the exemplary slopes is not enough for young people, although the slopes also include the 7.6 kilometer long Carnia track, the last third of which becomes the longest floodlit ski track in the Alps every Wednesday. That is why they invite their guests, especially young ones, to parties, among which one of the best will certainly be the Fiesta de Cuba, on March 21, 2010, when hot salsa will be danced on the snow, and adrenaline enthusiasts will be able to enjoy a tour on January 2 and 3, 2010 of the Austrian Ice Climbing Championship. It is currently particularly popular ski touring, for which Carinthia has the best conditions with its mountains at different altitudes. From the Tur region to southern Carinthia, from the idyllic Lesach valley to the wide Labot valley - in directions with different levels of difficulty, the ascent on untouched snow will be a real alpine experience. They are also an increasingly popular activity in Carinthia snowshoe hikes. On professionally guided hikes, such as with rangers in the area of the Hohe Tauern Kärnten (High Tauern) National Park, visitors can learn a lot about nature and the animals that live in the area, and they can also learn to read tracks in the snow. Sledding along the many Carinthian toboggan tracks, which in some places are even illuminated, bring back childhood memories. The sledding experience is complemented by a visit to one of the traditional Carinthian huts and refreshments with mulled wine and homemade Carinthian food. Hearts cross-country skiers they will jump faster on perfectly prepared running tracks and a finished network of running tracks. All over Carinthia there are cross-country skiing schools where you can learn classic running and cross-country skiing. The trails are distributed throughout the country according to altitude and are suitable for both beginners and experienced runners, offering optimal running conditions for all levels of difficulty and different levels of endurance.
Due to more than 1,200 lakes and stagnant water, the south of Austria is a real paradise for skating. Above all, we must mention the lake Weissensee (White Lake), the highest swimming lake in Europe, which turns into Europe's largest natural ice surface in winter and is therefore a particularly attractive tourist spot. At 6.5 km2 ice surfaces we will find skaters from all countries who compete with each other or skate just for personal satisfaction. You can also enjoy skating on many other Carinthian lakes. Ice thickness and load capacity are regularly checked by the Carinthian Ice Skating Association. Even those looking for pleasure on horseback will find it in Carinthia in winter. Equestrian farms with affiliated hotels of the highest category will ensure the satisfaction of professional and amateur riders. Winter hedgehog across the snowy landscape on the backs of hedgehog-trained Haflingers is a unique experience.
Relaxation after a busy day
Carinthian spas, especially spas Römerbad in Bad Kleinkirchheim, Warmbad White and Bad Bleiberg, are known all over Europe and the motto "From the ski slopes to the spa" can be understood as follows: after sports, straight to the warm thermal pools, where the balance between body and soul is restored. With additional offers (wellness), spas and many hotels will ensure complete relaxation. Traditional methods of relaxation from the Alpine area are very popular with guests and locals. Whether it's relaxing in a bio sauna, where the air is filled with the aromas of grassy herbs, a massage with typical spaja oil or enjoying the aromas of spruce twigs in a traditional alpine sauna, the possibilities for well-being are numerous. The Roman-style Römerbad is one of the most beautiful Alpine wellness centers spread over 4,000 square meters and three floors. The ski center in the Nockberge and Turracher Höhe areas offers additional surprises. In one of the most beautiful areas of the ski center, there are free deckchairs that invite you to sunbathe. They also have a special servant on the track who takes care of the guests, serves them a glass of sparkling wine, and treats the youngest with small sweets. He drives around the track in a Mercedes-like snowmobile and attends to guests who have questions or need help.
Information:
Information about ski passes and snow conditions: www.topski.at
Information about the Katschberg Ski Center: www.katschberg.at
Information about the Mokrine ski center (in Slovenian): www.nassfeld.at/sl/
