SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental

SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental is one of the largest and most popular ski areas in Austria.

Located in the state of Tyrol, it encompasses several traditional villages and purpose-built ski resorts, providing a diverse experience to suit many needs. With its vast ski terrain and modern infrastructure, including a heavy investment in snow making, SkiWelt is a smooth skiing experience. 

Over the years, the villages of Söll, Ellmau, Going, Scheffau, Brixen im Thale, Hofgarten and Westendorf developed into ski resorts, with cozy accommodations, restaurants, and shops. 

Skiers and snowboarders can enjoy a variety of terrain, including wide-open slopes and tree-lined runs. Despite the superior snowmaking, it's important to note the area is low - in sunny and warm weather the lower slopes can suffer.

Compared the the big mountain skiing of say, 3 Valleys or Saalbach, Skiwelt's pistes are quaint and small. The runs are all fairly short and the map is a maze of slopes and lifts up and down small valleys, making your way from Söll to Ellmau takes quite some time and some good navigation skills - it's not the most intuative of areas get around. 

We don't recommend for those who enjoy fast skiing down long pistes, it's for those who enjoy a slower pace of life and take in the scenery. 

As with many resorts, these once traditional villages have been developed into ski centres. With development comes many changes and depending on where abouts in town you stay, blink and you might miss the old town charm.

Brixen im Thale is a very quiet option, bet suited for those who want to retire to their accomodation at the end of the day and stay there. There's not really anything that resembles a "high street" or centre. The main throughfare is a fairly busy valley road with one or two resturants and bars, a small convenice market and post office.

Apres at the bar at then bottom of the Gondola and then head home. It's well set up for those who wish to self cater, with 2 decent size supermarkets at either end of the town.

The "Old" area sits at the opposide end of town, with working farms mixed with slightly newer chalet style buildings.

Söll, is regarded as the town with the most vibrant après-ski scene. There's a handful of bars  to choose from, offering the typical live bands and themed nights. 

Once again its well set up for self catering with big supermarkets in town. There's more of a resturant selection here too, enough to offer some variety to a weeks holiday but nothing to blow the mind with options. It's centre is typical tyrolian arcitecture, with  plastered chalet roofed buildings and traditional painted frescos.

The ski lift sits seperate to the town, most acccomodation would require use of the ski bus or a car, otherwise its a lenghty (Slightly up hill) walk.

Ellmau

The biggest town of the area, with the best selection of off-ski activities, bars and resturants.  Leisure facilities, such as a swimming pool, ice rink and bowling alley keep everyone occupied.

The ski lifts in Ellmau are all located within walking distance of the town center. Located just above the village is one of Austria's best beginner zones. Several draglifts and magic carpets serve gentle slopes that are now reliably covered in snow thanks to recent investments in snowmaking. From here, skiers and snowboarders can progress to longer blue runs, and by the end of the ski week, much of the Ski Welt will be open. 

Scheffau is a smaller town than Ellmau, but it is still very popular with skiers and snowboarders. It has a good selection of restaurants and bars, as well as a number of leisure facilities. The ski lifts in Scheffau are all located on the outskirts of town - you'll need to get the ski bus or car.

Going is the smallest of the three towns, the ski lifts basically stretch out from Ellmau towards Going, but it's easiest if you stay here to drive across.