If you have been following @champagneonplanes you might have noticed that I like big city vacations where there is a ton to explore but I am open to traveling just about anywhere if there is a promise of good food, great sights, and fun times with friends. I have no idea why it has taken me so long to book a ski trip. I loved everything about our 4-day ski trip. Well almost everything…I don’t like being cold but the right gear and hand warmers can mostly solve for that concern.
After meeting up with friends in Munich, we drove to Obergurgl, Austria. Obergurl is referred to as the Diamond of the Alps, where snow is always guaranteed. Never heard of it? Either had I at the time we booked the trip but a friend sent me a Jetsetter article that listed Obergurgl number 8 on a list of 9 best ski destinations (worldwide) to visit this winter so it has some ski cred.
Obergurgl is a village in the Ötztal Alps in Tyrol, Austria and is situated right next to the Italian border and the Dolomites mountain range which you can see from one of the ski huts on top of Wurmkogl peak.
Obergurgl is an ideal location because it is Austria’s highest ski resort with guaranteed snow and fresh powder starting in November and running through April or May. Because of the elevation, Obergurgl is largely comprised of ski-in ski-out hotels so that you can literally ski from the doorstep.
Obergurgl tends to be less crowded and a great place for beginners because most day trippers and people looking for a more lively après-ski scene head to neighboring villages instead of driving the extra few miles to Obergurgl.
A fun fact since we were there during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games is that the US Ski Team has used Obergurgl and surrounding villages as their European home training grounds. This was a little intimidating to know that I was learning to ski where Olympians shred the gnar, but maybe you’ll see us in Beijing 2022 Winter Games?!
Here are my favorite things about skiing in Obergurgl!
Staying in the village off of piste 6 so that you literally ski out as soon as your skis are on and you ski back in at the end of the day.
Taking a gondola to ~8,000 ft to this view!
Once I learned how to shred on piste 4, Nederhütte was my favorite spot for a morning coffee break.
The Nederhütte also had a great outdoor scene to hang out until the rest of the skiers wrapped up their morning runs.
Afternoon après-ski above the clouds. The better skiers took the trail down, the beginners took a chair lift and two gondolas since we were at ~10,000 feet.
Catching up on the day’s successes and bloopers during après-ski at our hotel, while keeping an eye on piste 6.
And of course, sharing the experience with friends!
Obergurgl really is the Diamond of the Alps. These are just the highlights so head on over to my Obergurgl page to read more about our ski trip!
Question: Where’s the best place that you have skied, and why?
champagneonplanes 