FATMAP by Strava
The reward for all the effort - a fabulous ski down into the valley that leads to the Kemater Alm.

The Ultimate Tirolian Ski Touring Ticklist

From steep couloirs to mellow trees runs - these 25 adventures showcase what ski touring in Tirol is all about!

Ski Touring Moderate, Difficult, Severe

The reward for all the effort - a fabulous ski down into the valley that leads to the Kemater Alm.
The reward for all the effort - a fabulous ski down into the valley that leads to the Kemater Alm. Photo: Charlie Boscoe

Description

With no 4000 metre peaks and countless small ski areas but no 3 Vallees-style monster resorts, Tirol doesn't quite get the recognition it deserves as a destination for adventurous skiers. That's bad news for the local hotels and restaurants, but it's fabulous for the tourers who do visit and don't have to share the mountains with too many other skiers!

The so-called "big 3" of Tirolian ski touring are a trio of legendary hut to hut trips, in the Stubai (/discover/guidebook/37), Ötztal (/discover/guidebook/38) and Silvretta (/discover/guidebook/36) ranges, but there are literally thousands of day tours to be enjoyed all over the region. 23 of the tours listed here are single day adventures, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy the legendary Tirolian cuisine every evening. It's hearty stuff but by doing these tours you'll have earned the vast number of calories you'll consume in the average Austrian restaurant...just!

The only multi day trip in here is a 2 day crossing of the truly wild Karwendel National Park - a trip which should be high on any adventurous skier's to-do list. The Karwendel is said to be the largest area of the Alps which is not inhabited year round and the only way to cross it in winter is to tour on day 1 to an unmanned hut and then over the highest peak in the range on day 2. It might just be the biggest non-glaciated ski adventure in the Alps, but don't take our word for it - go and check it out for yourself!

So if you've got a free winter and want to "tick" the Tirol then get your skis waxed and get started!

Routes included

Related guidebooks