The ski area is huge – and amazing
The Wilder Kaiser ski region in the northern Kitzbühel Alps includes the main mountain range of the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental at an altitude of more than 1,800m. It’s one of the world's largest and most modern ski areas and has been named several times in succession as the best ski area in the world.
SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental’s 90 mountain railways and state-of-the-art lifts open up 284 km of slopes above 1,800m with beautifully prepared wide slopes, perfect for carving, and 77 mountain huts and lodges to relax in. Plus, some 245 km of the region’s slopes are covered by snow cannons, guaranteeing snow-sure skiing throughout the season.
It’s a doddle to get there
The Wilder Kaiser Region is situated in the Tyrol between Kufstein and Kitzbühel in the Söllandl valley. Along with the other three Kaiser villages, Söll is within an hour’s drive of the airports at Salzburg and Innsbruck with busy Munich just a 90min transfer away. The nearest train stations are in Kufstein, Kitzbühel and St Johann-in-Tirol - all of which are also served by regular bus services.
The nightlife is spectacular
Already an arena of white by day, Söll becomes the largest night skiing area in Austria when the sun sets, with 10km of floodlit pistes open from Wednesday to Saturday. As dusk falls, an armada of piste bashers sets forth to prepare the slopes of Hochsöll ready for the night skiing - including the longest night slope in Austria – with the pistes staying open till 10.15pm.
There’s something special about carving turns on a freshly prepared piste under the cloak of the night – and that’s a feeling shared by visitors and residents alike, with many locals enjoying a few runs after work.
Plus, let’s not forget the wonderful après on offer when the lifts stop running. Great venues, a buzzing ambience and live music are the basic ingredients for having a great time in the Alps, and the two towns of Söll and Ellmau offer a huge range of après ski options.
In fact, in winter, après ski is an integral part of Söll village life, forming part of every skiing day for both locals and guests. Young and international, or calm and relaxed, straight from the piste or into the night – you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.
Families are especially welcome
The Wilder Kaiser has been awarded the Check24 marque as a particularly family-friendly and child-friendly ski resort. And if you want a destination where you can indulge in as much fun off the slopes as on them, a family winter holiday in Söll means a new adventure every day!
Try tobogganing on a forest trail or a sporty run on the 4.5 km long Astberg toboggan track. In all, sledging fans can enjoy 16 km of runs, spread over five tracks, with plenty of scope to let the toboggan go at full speed!
There are also two funparks in Söll for freestyle-loving teens – from beginners to experts - with heaps of exciting jumps, boxes, curves and corners, tunnels, crossings and many other hurdles.
For the younger children nothing beats the hilarity of snowtubing, and the whole family will love a piste-basher tour, a horse-drawn carriage ride, a snowshoe walk, or hanging out with the huskies and going dog sledging. Plus, the winter family holiday becomes particularly attractive when taking advantage of the Family Ski Weeks, during which kids up to 15 get their ski passes for free!
The kids will be in great hands
As well as offering a huge variety of child-friendly skiing and activities, Söll also has a great childcare centre. A converted granary, Kiko Söll is a paradise for children aged 1 – 15 years old that let’s them really make the most out of their time in the mountains and discover the magic of winter.
The building is located right next to the Söll cable car valley station and has a whole host of facilities to keep the kids entertained. From themed playrooms heated at different temperatures to please even the fussiest of children, to a craft room, toys and activities to enjoy indoors and out. There is even crawl-through activity area known as ‘the chicken run’ in a small wooden hut that offers even more opportunity to play.
It’s a feast for foodies
A great variety of restaurants and mountain inns guarantees that everyone will find a tasty Tyrolean treat. Try sweet Germknödel (yeast dumpling) with poppyseeds and butter or a delicious Kaiserschmarren – the iconic Austrian shredded pancake - after a day on the slopes.
Many dishes, which in earlier times were the food of the farmers, such as Gerstlsuppe (barley and bacon soup) and Brodakrapfen (hot crullers filled with fresh cheese), are today, somewhat refined, experiencing a new heyday. There is also a great deal of organic produce from local farmers, the cheese dairy, the schnapps distillery, beekeepers, the herb farm, and even local beer. Prost!
For more information about everything there is to discover in Söll, go to wilderkaiser.info/en/
