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Cool mountain air permeates the airways, snow crunches under the tips of your poles and you keep moving forwards through wide valleys, in quiet forests and on sunny high plateaus. Hardly any other sport combines dynamic movement and enjoyment of the landscape like the powerful gliding on the narrow poles. In Austria’s Osttirol, fans of the classic style or skaters have more than 400 kilometres of groomed trails between 673 and 2,052 metres above sea level at their disposal. In the Obertilliach performance centre, the land of 266 three-thousand-metre peaks is ready for Nordic winter sports fun from mid-November. With measures such as additional snow-making facilities, snow farming and new trails, the region south of the main Alpine ridge is setting new standards for Nordic fans. 

Cross-country skiing on high-altitude trails: twice as effective

Cross-country skiing works pretty much every muscle from head to toe and gets the cardiovascular system going – there is hardly a better full-body workout. The sport is even more efficient above 1,800 metres. At such altitudes, the oxygen content of the air drops and the body has to work more economically to improve O₂ uptake. Osttirol offers professionals and amateurs alike numerous opportunities to benefit from ‘natural doping’. Another advantage of the alpine location is the guaranteed snow. For example, the Dorfberg high-altitude trail in the mountaineering village of Kartitsch is located between 1,820 and 1,950 metres above sea level. The medium-difficulty trail winds its way over ten kilometres in various loops, always with panoramic views of the Carnic ridge and the local mountain of the 850-strong community. Experienced Nordic fans can reach the starting point using the T-bar lift; all others can take a chargeable transfer to the starting point. The Staller Sattel high-altitude trail in Defereggen Valley at 2,000 metres above sea level leads uphill on a circuit of just under six kilometres and 196 metres in altitude. The starting point is also the turnaround point for the free ski bus from St. Jakob.  

Osttirol invests in snow, quality and new trails

Osttirol is positioning itself as one of the leading cross-country skiing regions in Tyrol by ensuring a high level of user-friendliness and the necessary infrastructure as well as focussing on the best possible trail quality. Thanks to the altitude and targeted snowmaking, the region offers daily groomed trails for all skill levels. Places such as Prägraten am Großvenediger, Obertilliach, Kals am Großglockner, Sillian and St. Jakob im Defereggental are continuously investing in the expansion of their trail network and snow systems to offer Nordic fans ideal conditions. Clear signposting and easy access to the trails using free public transport underline Osttirol‘s cross-country skiing expertise. New for the 2024/25 winter season: in Sillian in the Hochpustertal valley, a medium-difficulty trail of just over four kilometres in length is being created, which starts next to the train station and runs as an attractive circular trail through hilly terrain – partly through the forest – and entirely without road crossings. Thanks to its shady location and additional snowmaking, the new addition is guaranteed to have snow.

The Tyrolean Gail and Lesach Valley is one of the most beautiful high valleys in Europe. The picturesque mountain village of Obertilliach at 1,450 metres above sea level with its international cross-country skiing and biathlon centre is right in the middle of it. The season starts there as early as mid-November. The altitude and infrastructure make the region particularly interesting for international cross-country skiing professionals, squads and talent centres. A sophisticated network of eleven different trails for classic and free style, which allows amateurs and top athletes alike to access perfectly groomed Nordic trails in no time at all, make Obertilliach one of the most popular cross-country skiing spots in Austria, and not just when it comes to promoting young talent.

Sporting highlight in the Tyrolean Lesach Valley

For some, it’s the battle for the coveted place on the podium, for others it’s the special atmosphere and the mere participation in Austria’s largest cross-country skiing event: the Dolomitenlauf. Every year, more than 2,500 professionals and amateurs take part in the competitions in free technique or classic cross-country skiing over 21 or 42 kilometres. Less fit athletes compete in the Easyrace over five kilometres. What they all have in common is the route at 1,450 metres through the hilly landscape around Obertilliach in the Tyrolean Lesachtal valley. The Dolomitenlauf is a great station on the journey of becoming a Worldloppet Master. Both, the 21 and the 42 km distances are valid for a stamp in the Worldloppet Passport. Registration for 2025’s Dolomitenlauf is already underway!

Information: langlaufen.osttirol.com

Cross-country Safari Osttirol

16.12.2023 – 31.03.2024
Included services:

• 7 nights
• 7 days cross-country skiing pass Osttirol

Price example:

• Hotel **** with half board from € 715,00
• Hotel *** with half board from € 610,00
• Private room with breakfast from € 330,00