Lech is a beautiful traditional resort set in a wooded valley high in the western Austrian Alps. Lech forms part of the world famous Arlberg ski area. Lech has a whole range of facilities; skating, curling, tennis, squash, indoor golf, shops, cleared walking paths and of course the flood lit toboggan run between Oberlech and Lech. Après ski kicks off at the Tanbergerhof just after 4pm and continues on through the night at Fuchs Bar.

Traffic free Oberlech is situated 300 m above Lech. A cable car connects Lech and Oberlech and runs from 7am through to 1am every 15 minutes. After 1am there is a free bus service from Lech to Oberlech. All the hotels in Oberlech have the rare benefit of being able to ski to and from the front (or ski room!) door.

A floodlit toboggan run also links Oberlech with Lech (open till 10pm). This is an experience not to be missed! The track is around 1.5 km long with each corner banked! No matter how fast you think you are on your toboggan you’ll be overtaken by some fearless helmet clad 5 year olds! Great fun, but you definitely earn the gluwein at the Sport Café situated a few yards from the end of the track!

The Skiing
The Arlberg ski pass covers 85 ski lifts linking 260 kms of marked piste linking Lech and Zurs; St Anton, St Christoph and Stuben. Lech has a very efficient ski bus service.

Beginners
Both Oberlech and Lech have some wonderful beginners areas. Both the two ski schools (Lech Ski School and Oberlech Ski school) run a range of ski courses with the majority of ski instructors speaking very good English. Soon beginners will be progessing up the Petersboden 6 man chair to the groomed slopes above Oberlech.

Intermediates
For the more advanced skiers Lech and Zurs offer some wonderful wide motorway skiing. Take a day to ski the Lech / Zurs circuit – be early for the Rufikopt cable car upto 2360 m – then a long blue run to the Trittalp above Zurs for the first hot chocolate of the day! Down to Zurs then on up to The Seekoppt for lunch. After lunch it’s the massive Madloch down to Zug, followed by the Zugerberg chair to the Balmengrat – for some loud music and beer before you head for the ice bar in Oberlech! Try the speed skiing course on the Weibermand – can you break 70 kmh? or the timed giant slalom course on Hinterweiss.

Advanced
The huge network of marked pistes and acres of off piste throughout the Arlberg will satisfy even the most advanced skiers. Lech has its fair share of steep black runs – the Langerzug from Rufikopt is a steep north facing couloir; Liezen from Balmengrat is always very bumpy. You’ll need to spend a couple of days skiing over at St Anton, though for one of the best off piste runs you’ll have to try the Stierloch which drops over 900 m down to Zug.