Lech

Lech is an beautiful village and attracts a chic upmarket clientele, but is not so exclusive that you will feel out of place if you're not dressed like Zsa Zsa Gabor or Victoria Beckham. Along with Zurs it is one of the highest Austrian ski resorts and so benefits from consistently good snow.

It has a lovely sunny aspect but the excellent snowmaking and piste grooming ensure that conditions remain unaffected late season. The accommodation is virtually all hotel based with some apartments, an extremely exclsuive chalet and three chalet hotels.

In the hamlet of Zug, just 3kms from the centre of Lech, there are two more modest chalets.

The area is superb for intermediates and the heated chairlifts are an added luxury on cold days. The main attraction of the area for experts will be the endless opportunities to get off-piste or at least onto teh abundance of itinerary runs.

Guiding is a great choice if you want to get the most out of the area.

Lech has its own area for beginners and novices will easily find runs to progress to. Despite its image, the area does attract snowboarders but avoid the flatter parts of the west facing slopes at Zurs. Some 15km of picturesque trails exist for cross-country skiers.

The small and friendly rural hamlet of Zug lies on the outskirts of Lech and is easily reached by the free bus service. There is a chairlift in the village and good skiers have a choice of itinerary runs back.

Recently the area has increased in size with the gondola from Oberlech linking up to the resort of Warth adding on an additional 66km of piste.