Obertraun/Krippenstein

The ski metropolis Obertauern is located in the middle of the Salzburger Land's alpine world, in front of the magnificent Radstädter Tauern mountains, in central Austria. The resort has several feathers in its cap, such as Gamsleiten 2, one of the steepest moguls in the Alps, and that the Beatles' video for Help was filmed here.

It is one of the country's most snow-sure cards with an average snow depth of 264 centimetres. The season runs from late autumn to late April/early May. Via the famous Tauern Trail, you can ski around the entire Obertauern (in several places, the locals have built bridges over the roads). Go either clockwise (follow the red signs) or counterclockwise (follow the green signs).

In recent years, Krippenstein has become an Eldorado of freeriders with 18,6 miles of wunderbar off-piste. Plus, it has by far Austria's longest piste: 6,8 miles. The cable car gives riders access to the entire north face of Dachstein and summit glacier, but it doesn't hurt to enlist the help of a local guide.