A Guided Snowshoeing Holiday in Austria
A sublime week of guided and self-guided snowshoeing and winter hiking in the Kitzbühel Alps
January
and
March 2027
Enquire
Book Now
Country
Austria
Ability
All Abilities
Duration
7 Nights
Style
Guided
Type
Centre-Based
Price
£1450
Snowshoeing Holidays in Austria
The charming village of Neukirchen lies in Austria’s Salzburg region in the Kitzbühel Alps, part of central Europe’s largest National Park, the Hohe Tauern.
This holiday unfolds in a winter paradise for snowshoeing and hiking, with free guided snowshoe walks from Monday to Friday. In true Collett’s style, though, each day is yours to shape as you wish, and if you prefer to self-guide, you can venture out on stunning routes, from easy to intermediate. Cross-country skiing is another option, whilst the nearby Wildkogel ski area offers downhill skiing.
For snowshoers and winter hikers, trails pass through snow-covered forests and alpine pastures, with magical glimpses of wildlife against a backdrop of 3000m peaks, including Austria’s highest, the Grossglockner (3798m), keeping guard in the distance. You can also hike to the Krimml Waterfalls, Europe’s largest, cascading 380 metres in 3 dramatic tiers, if not immobilised by winter’s cold.
This deeply restorative holiday is based at the family-run 4* Superior Hotel Gassner. Unpretentiously luxurious, it provides the warmest of hospitality, excellent cuisine, and an exquisitely relaxing health spa, which is an extensive labyrinth of saunas, whirlpools, treatment rooms, relaxation areas, and a large indoor pool.
At a Glance
Dates
9 January / 16 January / 23 January
27 February / 6 March / 13 March / 20 March
(Saturday to Saturday, 7 night stays)
Price
£1450
Single Room – £1495
Upgrade to a Suite – add £225 pp
Grade
With flexibility and choice throughout, this holiday is suitable for all levels of fitness.
Snowshoeing & Winter Walking
Guided Snowshoeing
Your holiday includes 5 guided snowshoeing excursions Monday to Friday, which are free and optional – see ‘Snowshoeing’ below for more details.
Self-guided Snowshoeing & Hiking
Our Holiday Handbook and Smartphone App will help you self-guide on our 10 favourite snowshoeing routes (5 x Easier / 5 x Moderate Harder), and our 10 favourite winter walks (5 x Easier / 5 x Moderate Harder)
Snowshoes, a small rucksack, and walking poles are provided daily on a complimentary basis. Free transport is also provided for guided snowshoeing as necessary.
Cross-Country & Downhill Skiing
Cross-Country Skiing
45kms of piste available locally – classic and skating.
See ‘Cross-Country Skiing’ below for more information.
Downhill Skiing
75kms of piste in the Wildkogel Arena with easy access to slopes and ski rental.
Skipasses can be purchased at the hotel’s reception desk.
Regular skibus connections to the Zillertal Arena & Kitzbuhel – free of charge with Guest Card.
What’s Included
7 Nights Half-Board – at the 4* Superior Hotel Gassner.
Bed, breakfast and 4-course dinner
Return Airport Transfers – Salzburg Airport.
5 x Guided Snowshoe Excursions – Optional and free of charge.
Transport to and from trailheads included, as required.
Self-guiding – All you need to create a succession of memorable days out whether you walk, snowshoe, or cross-country ski.
Holiday Handbook & Digital App – making itinerary selection and navigation easy.
Guest Mobility Card – free use of public buses and trains across the Salzburg region.
Travel
This holiday is based in Neukirchen in the Salzburgerland region. The nearest airport is Salzburg.
Airport Transfers
Join our scheduled transfer service at Salzburg Airport.
Private Transfers – Ideal for groups of 4 – 8. Available from the airport or railway station of your choice. Contact us for a quote – and book early.
Fly-Driving – Winter car hire deals and driving conditions are good. The drive from Salzburg Airport to Hotel Gassner does not involve any mountain passes.
Scheduled Airport Transfers
Our Scheduled Transfers operate every Saturday between Salzburg Airport and Hotel Gassner as follows:
Outbound: Salzburg Airport – departs promptly at 13:00.
Homebound: Hotel Gassner – departs promptly at 06:00 (for flights taking off after 10:15).
Journey Time – 2¼hrs.
Waiting & Delayed Flights
Some waiting time at the airport is inevitable unless you book a private transfer. Please note that the scheduled transfers cannot wait for delayed flights.
Holiday Highlights
Snowshoeing
With such wondrous snowshoe hiking opportunities, Hotel Gassner offers complimentary guided excursions every weekday, Monday to Friday, with its resident guide, Gertraud. And if you seek out something easier or harder than Gertraud’s daily proposal, the hotel can access the National Park rangers’ winter hiking programme. Either way, expect peaceful snow-covered pastures, atmospheric forests, sweeping views of brilliant glaciers, and sightings of winter wildlife.
Guided Snowshoe Adventures
5 guided excursions included – Monday to Friday – ranging from leisurely to moderately challenging.
Sign up the day before – meet with Gertraud on the eve of the hike, and simply sign up.Self-Guided Flexibility
Prefer to explore independently? Everything you need to self-guide in a magical winter landscape at your own pace:- Comprehensive Support & Simple Navigation – route notes, map sections, waymarked trails, and tips for our
- Top 10 snowshoe hikes and Top 10 winter walks – and more. Use your Collett’s Handbook and Smartphone
- App to choose your itinerary and make self-navigation easy.
- Choose day-to-day – flexibility is key to a Collett’s centre-based holiday, so choose daily whether to go guided, self-guided, a mix of both, or something else, like cross-country skiing, toboganning, ice skating, archery, paragliding, horse-drawn sleigh riding. There’s plenty to do!
Winter Hiking
Winter walking in Austria’s Kitzbuheler Alps is stimulating and restorative: waymarked trails allow you to stroll snow-blanketed valleys, characterised by bewitching woodland, snow-filled meadows, frozen rivers, and quaint hamlets.
- 10 Unforgettable Hikes – assisted by Gertraud and the Hotel Gassner team, we present 10 unforgettable winter hikes in your Collett’s Holiday Handbook, all of which are available to you at the Hotel Gassner in the form of comprehensive route notes, maps, and Smartphone App navigation.
- Walks for all abilities – from 2hr. strolls, to longer hikes exceeding 10kms.
- Daily Flexibility – numerous choices to create sensational days out as you go, depending on how you feel. This is a holiday that combines the great outdoors with soothing spa time, and hearty lunches in cosy mountain lodges.
Cross-Country Skiing
45kms of perfectly groomed cross-country ski trails
Explore the snow-covered winter landscapes of Neukirchen and its surrounding pastures, towered over by Austria’s 4th highest peak, the Grossvenediger (3666m), and never without glorious views of the Hohe Tauern National Park and the Kitzbühel Alps. The cross-country tracks of the Wennserloipe in neighbouring Bramberg and the Loipe Einöd in Neukirchen are floodlit in the evenings, and a late-night excursion under starry skies is a uniquely wondrous experience.Whether you opt for an easy-going pace through the Salzach Valley or a more energetic challenge higher up, cross-country skiers find their own rhythm here and, if tuition is required, just say the word and the Hotel Gassner team will contact the Neukirchen Cross-Country Ski School on your behalf.
Downhill Skiing & Other Activities
The Hotel Gassner is a good base for exhilarating days on downhill skis, offering very quick access to the Wildkogel Arena via a two-stage gondola ascent a short walk from the hotel, and regular skibus connections to the Zillertal Arena (Zell-am-See) and Kitzbuhel, all known for excellent snow conditions, modern lifts and a stunning variety of pistes.
Wildkogel Arena, Neukirchen
75kms of predominantly blue and red runs, perfect for relaxing skiing. Directly accessible, this is the home ski area of the Hotel Gassner, renowned for wide, perfectly groomed slopes and breathtaking views of the Hohe Tauern National Park on long, panoramic descents. Top Station: 2150m, Bottom Station: 856m. Ski, Boot & Helmet rental nearby. Skipasses available at Hotel Gassner reception desk.Skiing in Zell-am-See & Zillertal Arena
150kms of blue, red and black runs, making it one of Austria’s largest and most diverse resorts.· Modern lift system with high-capacity gondolas and long valley runs. Top Station: 2500m / Bottom Station: 580m.Skiing in Kitzbühel
233kms of world-celebrated ski runs, from blue and easy, to black and challenging, all radiating out from a traditional and vibrant resort full of alpine charm. Home of the famous Hahnenkamm downhill piste. Top Station: 2000m / Bottom Station: 800m.Other winter thrills include:
- Curve-filled fun on the hotel’s own 5 km toboggan run
- The world’s longest illuminated toboggan run: 14 km from Wildkogel to Bramberg
- Ice skating, curling, snow-tubing, archery, paragliding, or romantic horse-drawn sleigh rides
Hotel Gassner
A Winter Holiday at Hotel Gassner – What makes it so special?
A stay at the 4* Superior Hotel Gassner is a well-earned indulgence of genuine hospitality, deep tranquillity and a close connection to a beautiful winter landscape.
From the moment you arrive, the hotel’s family-run character is clear. The welcome is warm, the luxury understated, and the atmosphere relaxed and sociable. The Gassner family and their team engage with guests in a way that feels both friendly and respectful, so you soon feel ‘at home’ and in good hands.
As a Collett’s guest, you stay in elegant Nature Bedrooms, where traditionally crafted and fragrant Swiss pine combines with modern comforts to create a cosy retreat. Downstairs, many a pleasurable moment prevails in the enchanting dining room, with generous breakfasts and refined 4-course dinners, showcasing regional produce, local specialities and select international dishes.
Located as it is, the Hotel Gassner is a destination of genuine relaxation, invigoration and immense natural beauty, where time slows and days unfold at your own pace. So don’t miss out on the endless restorative experiences of the hotel’s impressive indoor and garden spa. Enjoy the spacious pool, jacuzzi and relaxation areas, or unwind in one of the themed saunas or steam baths. There are treatments and massages too, and you can even brave an open-air cold-water dip.
The final word belongs to Sonja and Hans-Peter Gassner. Hans-Peter brings creativity to the kitchen, while Sonja’s friendly presence fills the hotel. Together, they create an atmosphere so welcoming you’ll quickly be glad you came.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Austria is one of Europe’s best destinations for snowshoeing thanks to its reliable winter snow, extensive alpine landscapes and strong mountain infrastructure.
Areas such as Salzburg and Tyrol, including the Kitzbühel Alps, are particularly well suited, combining accessible winter trails, forested valleys and panoramic viewpoints with traditional alpine hospitality.
Some of the best snowshoeing in Austria can be found in the Austrian Alps, particularly in regions such as Tyrol, Salzburg and the Kitzbühel Alps.
Small alpine towns like Neukirchen, set within the Salzburg region, provide an excellent base for snowshoeing. These areas offer quieter winter landscapes away from busy ski resorts, with a mix of woodland routes and open alpine terrain.
No prior experience is needed for most snowshoeing holidays in Austria. Snowshoeing is easy to learn and suitable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness and a love of walking.
In regions like the Kitzbühel Alps, guided snowshoeing routes are chosen to match winter conditions, allowing walkers to enjoy the scenery safely and confidently, even if it’s their first time snowshoeing.
The best time for snowshoeing in Austria is usually between January and March, when snow conditions are most reliable across the Alps.
In alpine areas such as Neukirchen in the Salzburg region, this period offers consistent snow cover, crisp winter days and beautiful snow-covered forests, making it ideal for scenic snowshoe walks.
Snowshoeing in Austria offers classic winter alpine scenery, including snow-covered forests, frozen streams, wide valleys and mountain viewpoints.
In the Salzburg region and the Kitzbühel Alps, the landscape around Neukirchen combines gently rolling alpine terrain with dramatic mountain backdrops, creating varied and picturesque snowshoe routes.
No, guests already in Salzburg (or arriving by train) should take the bus to the airport in time for scheduled departure. Buses run every 15/20 minutes from the main station to the airport, and it takes around 15-25 minutes.
Yes – outdoor parking is available at the hotel.
There is an £80pp reduction if you do not require our airport transfers from Salzburg Airport.
Absolutely. If you would like to hire a guide, the Hotel Gassner can arrange a ski guide at an additional cost. Simply ask at reception.
The Austrian Alps offer an excellent mix of reliable snow, beautiful winter landscapes and accessible terrain, making them ideal for snowshoeing.
Basing a holiday in Neukirchen in the Salzburg region allows walkers to enjoy quieter alpine scenery, traditional villages and varied snowshoe routes, all while experiencing the best of winter in the Austrian Alps.
Need to Knows
Flight Delays – We cannot be responsible for the repercussions of delayed flights or other travel arrangements. If you are delayed, our transfer will still depart as scheduled. If you miss the transfer, airport taxis can be booked at your expense, although a car hired from the airport can sometimes be a cheaper option. Hopefully, any expenses caused by such a delay will be covered by your insurance, so be sure to get a receipt.
Helmets – If you plan to ski or snowboard, helmets are highly recommended, and compulsory for children up to an age of 15.
Insurance – All skiers must, by law, have third-party liability insurance. (This is not included in skipasses, where downhill skiing is concerned). Most travel insurance policies include this cover, but it is your responsibility to check that you are adequately covered. If your existing policy does not include it, it is easy to add it from as little as €3/day here.
ETIAS – The European Travel Information and Authorisation System is not due to be introduced until late-2026. Currently there is not an exact date as to when it will come into force. This means you do not need to have a ETIAS for travel to Europe at the moment. For more information read our blog article here
Booking Conditions – be sure to read our full terms and conditions here before booking.
At Your Own Risk – please read the important notes here.
Travel Advice – check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice here.
Passport & Visa – any questions should be directed to the relevant embassy of your destination country; find out more here. It is your responsibility to be in possession of a full passport, valid for your chosen destination.
Travel Insurance – having adequate and valid travel insurance is a condition of booking with us. Details of our insurance partner, Campbell Irvine, are here.
Health Information – You should carry either an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) Neither is an alternative to adequate travel insurance. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/
ABTA – Independent travel advice and help is always available from ABTA by calling 020 3117 0599 or visiting www.abta.com.
