Snow reporter Jolanda

Live from the snow: Your daily dose of Zillertal

Ski & Glacier World Zillertal 3000 - Higher. Further. More snow-sure.

Hello from the beautiful mountains of the Zillertal! Here I am again, your snow reporter Jolanda.

Today we're heading to one of the most versatile ski regions in the Alps: the Ski & Glacier World Zillertal 3000, where five ski areas - the Hintertux Glacier, Eggalm, Rastkogel, Finkenberg and Penken - come together to form a single large winter sports area with 206 kilometres of pistes, offering perfect conditions for beginners and real pros alike.

The Hintertux Glacier offers the longest ski season in Austria. Due to its altitude, the Hintertux Glacier stands for 100% snow guarantee.

Families, connoisseurs and ambitious skiers will also find ideal conditions throughout the region.

What awaits you today? Fantastic pistes, legendary viewpoints and, of course, a culinary stopover - because nobody leaves the mountain here without a savoury hut treat. Let's go!

Glacier circuit: the best of five ski areas in one day

My highlight in this region? Definitely the glacier tour! This tour connects Eggalm, Rastkogel, Finkenberg, Penken and the Hintertux Glacier - right across the region with endless pistes.

The best place to start is in Finkenberg and take the Finkenberger Almbahnen cable car up to the mountain station, where you first head to the 150er Skischaukel.

Once there, you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama and, with a bit of luck and good weather, you can see all the way back to the Hintertux Glacier.

Tip: The perfect start to the glacier circuit for me is piste 67 on the Rastkogel. The sun bathes the wide slopes in golden light early in the morning and I can hardly wait to make my first turns in the perfectly groomed snow. There's nothing better than carving on these slopes early in the morning when everything is still fresh and grippy.

From there, the route continues towards the Rastkogelbahn lift - and that means long descents with just a few lift rides. This is exactly what makes the glacier circuit so special - you can really cover some ground and enjoy the panorama.

Once we arrive at the Rastkogelbahn lift, we change to the ski bus, which takes us on towards Hintertux. During the journey, our gaze falls on the snow-covered landscape of the Tux Valley, which is almost always covered in wintery white. Even from here you can see the impressive 3000 metre peaks in the distance and get a first taste of what awaits us at the top.

Once you arrive at the Hintertux glacier lifts, the Glacier Bus 1, 2 and 3 will take you further and further up to one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the entire Zillertal. A real highlight that you have to experience at least once!

Flying high: the panoramic terrace at 3,250 m

Skiing is all well and good - but sometimes you just need to stop and relax. And there's one spot that's not to be missed: the panoramic terrace on the Hintertux Glacier.

Up here, at over 3,250 metres, the world seems to recede into the distance. 360° views over the Alps, fresh glacier air and a panorama that will take your breath away. On clear days, the view even extends as far as the Zugspitze and South Tyrol - simply magical!

Tip: Thanks to the glacier lift and a barrier-free lift to the panoramic terrace, anyone can get up here - even without skis. And it's worth it!

Now I treat myself to a few minutes' rest, lean against the railing and take in the surrounding mountains. Sure, the descents are amazing - but this moment up here? Priceless.

Stop off at the Sommerbergalm

After so many impressions, my stomach is rumbling. Time for some refreshments! So I put my skis back on and head for the Sommerbergalm - one of the best places for a relaxed lunch break.

Here you'll find everything your heart desires: pressed dumpling soup, steaming yeast dumplings with vanilla sauce and plenty of poppy seeds, Kaiserschmarrn pancakes. I order a hearty soup, sit down on the sun terrace and savour the moment.

You only feel that here in the Zillertal!

And just when you think this day couldn't get any better, my expectations are exceeded once again. Our final highlight awaits to crown the day: the black pan, piste no. 1.

This descent is more than just a route down into the valley, it's an experience. From over 3,000 to 1,500 metres, the descent takes you back down into the valley. At the top, you start with a view of an abundance of snow-covered peaks, at the bottom you simply feel pure happiness - and maybe you're also a little out of breath ;-)

My conclusion: A ski resort that inspires 365 days a year

Whether you come for the breathtaking pistes, the incredible panorama or the hut treats - the Ski & Glacier World Zillertal 3000 simply delivers.

Although I grew up here in the Zillertal and have been here a thousand times, this ski area never ceases to amaze me - and if you're still thinking about where to plan your next skiing holiday: Definitely put the Ski & Glacier World Zillertal 3000 on your bucket list.

On that note - I can hardly wait to take you on your next adventure. Next time it's off to the Zillertal Arena, the largest ski area in the Zillertal.

See you soon on the piste,

Your Jolanda