The Stubai Ski Tour in the Austrian Tyrol offers high quality touring, glacial scenery and reliable conditions. This is a great ‘ski focussed’ touring week taking in north facing descents which often hold powder, as well as various summits along the way. The route is a part linear, part ‘star’ hut to hut tour that can be completed in most conditions, with lots of possible variations making it a great trip for novice tourers or anyone wishing to gain more experience. **Free safety equipment rental is included with this trip**

Please visit our Covid-19 Ski Information page for Covid FAQs, details of our new participation requirements, travel advice and what to expect on your trip.

Tour Info

Due to the uplift available at the start of the week, there is more skiing down than skinning up on this tour, and when you do arrive at the huts you’ll find hot showers, comfy bars and full restaurant service – some of the most comfortable huts in the alps!

We meet in Innsbruck because it’s easy to get to and if you turn up early there’s good warm up skiing accessible directly from town. Onward travel to the Stubai is also fast and straightforward, as we are able to hire a private transfer minibus rather than relying on public transport.

Trip reports >> Report 1, Report 2

Suitability

This is an intermediate level trip. To take part you should be at Fitness Level 2-3 and Tech Level 2-3 (see our Fitness/Experience guidelines). You need some previous ski touring experience to enjoy this tour – some day touring as a minimum, so you are familiar with the equipment, skinning technique and uphill kick turns. Typically there will be 500-1000m of climb a day, with options to take in extra summits along the way, so you can expect to be skinning for 3-4 hours a day. Type of ascent: we use 20% uplift and 80% skinning – approx 4500m skinning up, and 6200m skiing down, plus a lift assisted day tour/off piste skiing on day 1.

Guiding ratio

One IFMGA guide skiing with 6 clients, or occasionally 2:7, with one Aspirant guide joining the team too.

Included in price

• 6 days of guiding
• All guides expenses
• 2 nights accommodation in Innsbruck, including breakfast
• 1 nights accommodation in Stubai Valley including breakfast and evening meal
• 4 nights accommodation in mountain huts, including breakfast and evening meal
• Return transfers between Innsbruck and the Stubai
• Equipment hire: avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, ice axe, crampons, harness

Excluded from price (see course factsheet for cost estimates)

• Evening meals in Innsbruck
• Uplift
• Lunches and drinks
• Flights and transfers
• Insurance

Hotels

We start and finish the trip at the excellent 4* Alphotel in Innsbruck – its a convenient meeting point and also a great way to end the trip, seeing the sights and having a nice meal out in the town. Rooms are provided on a twin (or occasionally triple) sharing basis, but if you wish to book a single room please let us know and we will confirm availability. Any extra luggage not required on the tour can be left until the end of the week. Hotel details can be found on our Accommodation page.

Huts

For overnights in the high mountains we will use mountain huts. The Austrian hut network is the finest in Europe – many have hot showers, a very well stocked bar and the food is usually excellent. For more info please read the Using Alpine Huts article which provides an overview of typical hut facilities, average costs to help you budget for lunches/drinks and general info on hut etiquette.  Also, our Multiday Ski Touring FAQs page answers some of the most common questions we are asked about multi day ski touring and logistics etc.

ABTOT Protected

This trip is protected by ABTOT – Alpine Guides Ltd, Membership Number 5394.  For further information, please visit our Financial Protection page.

Saturday

You should arrange outward travel on Saturday, arriving by 6-7pm latest in time for the briefing at your accommodation. Your guide will run through kit checks and safety routines, as well as hand out any rental equipment, before going on to discuss the current weather and mountain conditions and how these affect our plans. We’ll have maps and guidebooks of the area to show you, so if you’ve any further questions or last minute requests, then this is the ideal time to bring them up.

Overnight in Innsbruck.

Sunday

AM Travel to Stubai Valley.

Warm up day – Stubai Gletscher

Off piste and glacier skiing, with a shorter day tour. Skills refreshment and safety training along the way.

The Stubai Gletscher lift system is surrounded by good off piste descents and shorter day tours – ie perfect for a first day. Numerous options are possible depending on the group, weather and snow conditions.

In the event of bad weather, this also a great place to ski powder for a day of two whilst avalanche conditions in the high mountains stabilise (ie way better than being stuck in a hut!)

500-700m ascent, a lot more of descent! ~5-6hrs

Overnight at a hotel in the Stubai Valley.

Monday

Daunscharte Col to Amberger Hut

AM Uplift through the resort. The traverse of the Daunscharte involves a short boot track from the top of the lift system, in order enjoy a 1400m north facing glacier descent leading to the Amberger Hut.

Part way down the descent we usually stop and put on skins, then head off to explore one of the side valleys or summits in the area, in order to hunt out some more fresh powder.

400-500m ascent, 1400m descent ~4-5hrs

Tuesday

Day Tour – Kuhscheibenspitze

The Kuhscheibenspitze is one of the best day tours from the Amberger Hut, with a long north facing descent.

The summit is reached from the ski depot by a short roped climb and gives an excellent viewpoint. Alternatively, the peak can be climbed via a snow gully on the south side to make a traverse of the mountain.

On the way down various options are possible depending on conditions, including some steeper variants down gullies and couloirs.

1000m ascent and descent ~5hrs

Wednesday

To the Franz Senn Hut.

In order to traverse between the Amberger and Franz Senn Huts, the watershed between the Otztal and Stubaital needs to be crossed.

This can be done at two points: the Schwarzbergjoch and Wildgratscharte – we’ll take whichever route is in best condition at the time.

Both traverses involve a roped climb on foot, leading to a long north facing descent down the Alpeiner Gletscher.  This leads to the well equipped Franz Senn Hut – named after the father of Tyrolean ski touring, this a place of pilgrimage for local ski tourers!

1050m ascent and descent ~5-6hrs

Thursday

Day tour from Franz Senn Hut.

Todays objective is the Wildes Hinterbergel (3288m), one of the best known classic tours in the range and an excellent viewpoint from the summit.

The ascent is mostly on south and east facing slopes, so an early start is required in order to catch good spring snow conditions on the way back down.

On the descent, a variety of good lines are possible, depending on conditions and the ability of the group.

1150m ascent and descent ~5-6hrs.

Friday

Kraulscharte.

The final ascent of the week to the Kraulscharte is a great way to finish the tour.

This offers a very scenic ascent to a fine viewpoint, followed by a long, open north facing slope down the upper half of the mountain.

In good conditions, it’s often possible to do a short skin and boot track, which links to a second big north facing descent down to the lower valley – 1600m of skiing in total.

900m ascent, 1600m descent ~5hrs

PM Taxi back to valley + return to Innsbruck and the hotel.

Saturday

Return travel should be arranged on Saturday morning, after your final nights accommodation.

Your trip starts and finishes in Innsbruck, the most convenient access point for touring in this part of Austria, on the doorstep of the Stubai, Hohe Tauern, Otztal and Silvretta ranges. The most convenient way to reach Innsbruck in winter is fly directly to the city airport, then take a short shuttle bus journey to our hotel. Alternatively fly into Salzburg or Zurich and catch the train to Innsbruck.

After a comfortable stay in Innsbruck, a private taxi transfer gives quick access to the mountains to start the tour.

Flights and transfers

• Fly to Innsbruck: check Sky Scanner website for best options.
• Shuttle bus into town: www.innsbruck-airport.com/en/train-bus
• Or, fly to Salzburg or Zurich.
• Train from there to Innsbruck: www.oebb.at/en/ (excellent Austrian integrated train/bus timetable)
• Alternatively hire a car at any airport: www.arguscarhire.com / www.holidayautos.co.uk

For flights and other travel options, including train, coach and driving, visit our Travel Planning page.

To enjoy this trip you should be comfortable operating at Fitness Level 2/3, and Ski Tech Level 3:

Fitness Level 2
You do 2-3 hours cv training/sport per week. At this level you should be happy doing either a 3-4 hr hillwalk, cycling 30-40 miles or mountain biking 2-3 hours without being exhausted. On foot: you should be able to walk from Ogwen Cottage in North Wales up Glyder Fach – Glyder Fawr – Y Garn – Ogwen in ~5hrs. Or in the Lake District Langdale – Bowfell – Esk Pike – Angle Tarn – Langdale in ~ 6hrs. On skis: you are capable of off piste skiing all day or doing a couple of hours skinning with out finishing up exhausted – ie you can do this for a number of days without taking a rest day.

Fitness Level 3
You do 3-4 hours cv training/sport per week. At this level you are happy doing a 5-6 hr hillwalk, 40-50ml cycle or 3-4hr mountain bike ride without being totally exhausted. If you are into challenges – then the thought of doing a road sportive, or training to do a 1/2 (or maybe even a full) marathon, wouldn’t seem too ridiculous. On foot: you should be able to do the full Langdale Horseshoe: Langdale – Pike of Stickle – Angle Tarn – Bow Fell – Crinkle Crags – Pike of Blisco – Langdale in a day without finishing up exhausted. On skis: you can skin uphill at 300-400m/hr for 3-4 hrs a day (ie 8-1200m of ascent each day)

---

Tech Level 3
Confirmed Off Piste Skier. You can put down a reasonable set of tracks in powder, but difficult snow types – eg heavy wet snow, crusts, poor visibility or 40dg slopes – can all cause problems (though you can cope with them safely, if not elegantly!) *Equivalent to Ski Club of GB Off Piste Level: Purple – Advanced*
Likely to say: ‘I’d like to handle difficult snow/steep slopes more confidently in better style’
Our Advice: Off piste coaching still useful. Intermediate off piste weeks are at your level too. If you want to get into ski touring, try a touring course or intro level ski tour. If you’re an established ski mountaineer, then intermediate level tours are generally suitable.

To view all of our Ski Fitness Levels and Off Piste Technical Levels, please visit our Ski Ability page.

If you need to top up your fitness for this trip, please see our Ski Touring Training Advice page.

Hut to Hut Touring Equipment List

Just remember, every extra kilo on your back knocks 10% off your enjoyment on the descents – so try and keep the weight down!

Technical Clothing

• Waterproof Jacket – preferably lightweight and breathable
• Overtrousers/ski pants – preferably with side zips
• Fleece mid layer – or equivalent
• Socks – specialist ski socks or a warm loop lined pair of mountain socks
• Wicking thermal top – not cotton please…
• Thermal leggings or ski pants
• Thin inner gloves
• Warm ski gloves or mittens, if you suffer from cold hands
• Warm hat
• Spare fleece/lightweight duvet jacket

Personal Items

• Water container – at least 1 litre
• Personal medications and blister kit – regular meds, zinc oxide tape, compeed and painkillers etc
• Lightweight head torch
• Ski goggles
• Sun glasses – CE rated 3 or 4 with side protection
• Sun and lip cream – factor 30+
• Wallet, passport, Alpine Club/BMC card (hut discount) and insurance docs

Hut Overnight Items

• Small wash kit
• Spare lightweight t-shirt/socks/pants
• Silk sheet liner
• Ear plugs
• (Hut slippers for indoor use, blankets/duvets and pillows are provided by the huts)

Technical Equipment

• Rucsac 35/45l – try and avoid ones covered in too many features, just ski and ice axe attachments required
• Ski mountaineering boots
• Skis with touring bindings – some ‘freeride’ bindings are also suitable
• Ski strap – to keep skis together on your rucksack if we need to carry them
• Ski poles – with good size 5cm+ baskets (telescopic poles are not needed)
• Climbing skins – they come with the skis if you hire your kit
• Harscheisen (ski crampons) – they come with the skis if you hire your kit
• Metal snow shovel – must be a full metal shovel (plastic blades don’t work in real avalanche debris!)
• Avalanche probe
• Avalanche transceiver – must be a modern digital model (older analogue models are now obsolete)
• Harness, with 120cm sling and locking karabiner
• Crampons – lightweight model
• Ice Axe – lightweight model

Your guide will have all other safety kit, first aid and survival equipment.

Recommendations and Advice
Visit the Knowledge Base section of our website, where we publish an annual review of the years best new skis, boots and touring equipment, plus a range of other interesting tips and recommendations. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please get in touch!

Purchasing Equipment
Backcountry UK in Otley offer an excellent ski touring boot fitting service, one of the best ranges of ski mountaineering equipment in the UK and top notch advice.

Hiring Equipment
Please visit our Equipment Hire page for recommended hire shops in your resort, and Alpine Guides hire equipment price list (safety equipment is provided free of charge on certain courses – please consult price inclusions).

For this trip you must have specialist travel insurance providing medical, emergency search/rescue and repatriation cover for off piste skiing and ski touring, as outlined in the trip itinerary. We also strongly recommend that you purchase cancellation cover, in case you’re unable to attend your trip due to personal circumstances or injury. Please arrange your insurance as soon as your trip is confirmed to run.

Further details can be found on our insurance info page.