Obergurgl - Slope

Obergurgl has one of the longest ski seasons and earliest starts to the winter in the Alps for a resort without a glacier, thanks to the high elevation of the ski area and 90% snowmaking coverage on its slopes. It typically opens in late November and has a five-month ski season through to the beginning of May.

Apart from snow-surety, Obergurgl's ski area is known for its open, snowy slopes and its excellent modern lift system, dominated by seven gondolas and several six-seater chairlifts. This makes queuing a rarity and getting about easy for boarders, with few drag lifts to negotiate.

One of these lifts is the 3.6km-long (2.2 miles) Top Express gondola, which first connected Hochgurgl and Obegurgl's ski areas in 1997. The lift ascends high above the Königstal and Verwalltal valleys, revealing stunning Alpine scenery on the panoramic ride.

There are runs for all ability levels on both sides of the ski area. Beginners and novice skiers will find terrain best suited to them accessed from the Gaisberg and Mahdstuhl lifts, and there is a choice of two ski schools.

Intermediates will be drawn to the Festkogl ski area on the Obergurgl side, as well as the Schermerspitze trail. The 8km (5 mile) run down from the Wurmkogl to Pill is the longest.

For experts, the Hohe Mut black piste (number 11) in Obergurgl is regarded as the most challenging, and there are plenty of off-piste and ski touring opportunities to tackle with a guide. There's also a challenging mogul piste (number 27) down from Top-Wurmkogl II in Hochgurgl.