EN
EN
SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser - Brixental is one of the largest connected ski areas in Austria, linking seven traditional Tyrolean villages across a wide, interconnected network of slopes beneath the dramatic Wilder Kaiser mountain range. It's an area built for families and intermediates: well-groomed, efficiently connected, and full of cosy mountain huts with good Austrian food. The villages are proper communities - each with its own church, Gasthöfe, and character - and the lift system is modern enough that you can ski the entire 284 km network in a week without retracing your steps.
The area covers 284 km of marked piste served by 82 lifts, sitting between 620 m and 1,957 m at the Hohe Salve summit. There are 114 runs: 23 green, 42 blue, 37 red, and 12 black. The season runs from early December to mid-April. All seven villages are fully linked by lifts and share a single pass. The area also has one of the largest night-skiing networks in Austria, with over 10 km of floodlit runs.
Söll is the liveliest village, popular with British visitors for its après-ski. Ellmau is the most picturesque, sitting directly beneath the Wilder Kaiser rock face. Scheffau is quiet and family-focused. Going is the smallest and most traditional. Brixen im Thale, Hopfgarten, and Westendorf sit in the Brixental on the southern side and have a more local, Austrian feel. Browse SkiWelt ski deals on WeSki to start planning your trip.
Söll is the SkiWelt's best-known village - a compact, lively base at 703 m that's been popular with British skiers for decades. The village has a good selection of hotels and restaurants, and the après-ski scene, centred around bars in the village centre, is one of the liveliest in the area. A gondola from the edge of the village takes you up to the Hohe Salve side of the ski area, with the Hexenwasser (witch's water) gondola providing access to the central network. The skiing above Söll connects directly to Brixen im Thale and across to Ellmau. The night skiing here is particularly popular - over 10 km of floodlit piste, the largest night-skiing offer in the SkiWelt.
Ellmau is the most scenic village in the SkiWelt, sitting at 820 m directly beneath the dramatic limestone walls of the Wilder Kaiser. The village is quiet, well-kept, and has a picture-postcard Tyrolean look - it's the setting for the Austrian television series Der Bergdoktor, which gives you an idea of the character. The Hartkaiserbahn gondola from the village connects to the central SkiWelt network, with direct links to Going and Scheffau. The skiing above is a good mix of blues and reds, and the views towards the Kaiser range from the upper slopes are among the best in the area.
Scheffau is a small, quiet village at 752 m with a family-friendly atmosphere and a gondola linking to the central ski area. It's less well-known than Söll or Ellmau, which keeps it calm even during busy periods. The skiing above connects to both the Ellmau and the Söll-Brixen side of the network. Scheffau has a good beginners' area near the mid-station and some pleasant tree-lined runs above. It's a solid choice for families who want easy access to the full SkiWelt without the bustle of the more popular bases.
Going is the smallest and most traditional of the SkiWelt villages, sitting at 780 m on the eastern edge of the area. It has a handful of guesthouses, a church, and a genuinely local feel with minimal tourist infrastructure. A gondola connects to the Astberg and links into the wider network via Ellmau. The local slopes are gentle and quiet - ideal for families and beginners. Going is the kind of place where you'll be greeted by name by the end of the week.
Going am Wilden Kaiser ski deals
Brixen im Thale sits at 794 m in the Brixental valley on the southern side of the SkiWelt, with a modern gondola connecting to the ski area above. The village is a pleasant market town with a broader selection of shops and restaurants than the smaller Kaiser-side villages. The skiing above links to Söll and across to Westendorf. Brixen also connects to the Kitzbühel Alps AllStarCard network, making it a well-positioned base for exploring beyond the SkiWelt if you upgrade your pass.
Hopfgarten is a traditional market town at 622 m in the Brixental with a proper town centre, a weekly market, and a relaxed, local atmosphere. A gondola from the edge of town takes you up to the Hohe Salve area, the highest point in the SkiWelt at 1,957 m. The views from the Hohe Salve summit are panoramic - over 70 three-thousanders visible on a clear day, including the Wilder Kaiser, Kitzbüheler Horn, and Grossglockner. Hopfgarten has a more authentically Austrian feel than the tourist-focused villages on the Kaiser side.
Westendorf is a charming village at 783 m at the western end of the Brixental, with a distinctive onion-domed church and a calm, family-friendly atmosphere. The village links into the SkiWelt via the Ki-West gondola and also connects to the Kitzbühel-Kirchberg ski system, making it a useful crossroads between two major ski areas. The local skiing above Westendorf is tree-lined and well-groomed, with a quiet, uncrowded feel. It's a smart choice for anyone who wants access to both the SkiWelt and KitzSki from a single, traditional base.
The SkiWelt is excellent for beginners. Going, Scheffau, and Ellmau all have dedicated nursery areas separated from faster traffic, with gentle slopes and magic carpets. Söll has a beginners' zone at the mid-station of the gondola. The grooming across the area is consistently high, and the wide, well-graded blues make progression from nursery slopes feel manageable. Many of the villages have free or discounted beginner lifts at the base, so check at the ticket office before buying a full area pass.
WeSki does not currently have lessons available in the SkiWelt area, but all seven villages have well-established local ski schools with English-speaking instructors.
WeSki tip: Going's Astberg area is one of the calmest beginner zones in the Tyrol - gentle, uncrowded, and with a friendly, village-school atmosphere. Once you're comfortable on blues, the link across to Ellmau gives you access to wider, longer runs without a big step up in difficulty.
With 42 blues and 37 reds, the SkiWelt is built for intermediates. The network is designed for covering ground - modern lifts and well-groomed runs let you ski from one end to the other in a day. The reds from the Hohe Salve (1,957 m) are some of the most satisfying in the area, with good vertical and panoramic views. The runs between Ellmau and Söll through the centre of the network are long and well-maintained. Westendorf's tree-lined terrain has a different character - narrower, more sheltered, and quieter. The 284 km of piste means you can ski a different sector every day and still find fresh ground.
WeSki tip: The Hohe Salve summit has a revolving restaurant with 360-degree views - it's worth stopping for a coffee even on a non-skiing visit. The red run down from the summit towards Hopfgarten is long, consistent, and less crowded than the runs on the Söll side. Head there after lunch when the morning crowds have moved on.
The 12 blacks are spread across the area, with the steepest terrain above Söll (the Keat black run) and on the Westendorf side. The SkiWelt is not primarily an advanced-skier destination - the altitude is modest (topping out at 1,957 m) and there's limited off-piste terrain. But after fresh snow, the tree skiing between Ellmau and Scheffau can be rewarding, and the blacks have genuine pitch. For more challenging terrain, the connection from Westendorf to KitzSki gives you access to the Hahnenkamm's steeper runs on an AllStarCard upgrade.
WeSki tip: If you want steeper terrain for a day, take the link from Westendorf into the KitzSki area - the Hahnenkamm's Streif course and the Steinbergkogel blacks are a significant step up from the SkiWelt's offerings. You'll need the AllStarCard upgrade, but it's worth it for a day of more demanding skiing.
The SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser - Brixental pass covers all 284 km of piste and 82 lifts across all seven villages on a single ticket, including the night-skiing runs. Passes are available from one day up to the full season, with discounted rates for children, teens, and seniors. For a wider area, the Kitzbühel Alps AllStarCard extends access to KitzSki, the Skicircus, and other neighbouring areas - worth considering for a longer stay or for advanced skiers who want more challenging terrain.
You can add the lift pass directly to your WeSki booking, along with ski equipment hire at Ellmau, Scheffau, Söll, and Westendorf - so everything's sorted before you arrive.
WeSki tip: The SkiWelt has one of the largest night-skiing networks in Austria - over 10 km of floodlit piste, mostly above Söll. It runs on certain evenings during the week (usually Wednesday and Friday). If you're based in Söll, an evening session under the lights is a different experience entirely from daytime skiing - quieter, atmospheric, and surprisingly good fun.
Innsbruck is the closest airport, around 1 hour's drive east along the Inn Valley. Salzburg is about 1 hour 15 minutes, and Munich roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. All three airports have good UK connections. By train, Wörgl is the nearest mainline station on the Innsbruck-Salzburg railway line, about 10 minutes' drive from Söll and Brixen im Thale. A free ski bus network connects all seven SkiWelt villages during the season, running regularly and timed to the lift opening hours.
WeSki has private and shared transfers to all seven resorts: Söll, Ellmau, Scheffau, Going, Brixen im Thale, Hopfgarten, and Westendorf. Add them to your booking for a straightforward door-to-door trip.
The season runs from early December to mid-April. There's no glacier skiing, and the relatively modest altitude (topping out at 1,957 m) means the area relies on snowmaking to supplement natural snowfall. The investment in snowmaking has been substantial - coverage is extensive, and conditions are reliable even in lower-snow years. The north-facing slopes above Ellmau and Scheffau tend to hold natural snow best. January to mid-March typically sees the most consistent conditions.
Austrian school holidays in February and the Christmas-New Year period are the busiest times, particularly in Söll and Ellmau. If you've got flexibility, early January and the first half of March are quieter. The SkiWelt's proximity to Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Munich means it can be busy at weekends with day visitors - midweek skiing is noticeably calmer. Late season brings spring conditions on the lower slopes while the upper terrain holds up well.
Yes - it's one of the best beginner areas in Austria. Going, Scheffau, and Ellmau have dedicated nursery zones, and the wide, well-graded blues across the network make progression easy. Many villages have free beginner lifts. WeSki does not currently have lessons available, but all seven villages have local ski schools with English-speaking instructors.
SkiWelt covers 284 km of marked piste served by 82 lifts, ranging from 620 m to 1,957 m at the Hohe Salve. There are 114 runs: 23 green, 42 blue, 37 red, and 12 black. Seven villages are fully linked by lifts and share a single pass. It is one of the largest connected ski areas in Austria.
Söll is the liveliest, with the best après-ski and night skiing. Ellmau is the most scenic, beneath the Wilder Kaiser. Scheffau and Going are quiet and family-friendly. Brixen im Thale and Hopfgarten have a more local, market-town feel. Westendorf connects to both SkiWelt and KitzSki. All seven are linked by lifts and free ski bus.
Yes. The SkiWelt has one of the largest night-skiing networks in Austria, with over 10 km of floodlit piste. Night skiing runs on certain evenings (usually Wednesday and Friday), primarily on the slopes above Söll. It's included in the standard SkiWelt pass.
The season typically runs from early December to mid-April. There is no glacier skiing. The area tops out at 1,957 m, but extensive snowmaking keeps conditions reliable. January to mid-March sees the most consistent natural snow.
Fly to Innsbruck (about 1 hr drive), Salzburg (1 hr 15 min), or Munich (1 hr 45 min). By train, Wörgl is the nearest station on the Innsbruck-Salzburg line, about 10 minutes from Söll. WeSki has private and shared transfers to all seven villages.
No. All seven villages are linked by lifts during ski hours - you can ski from one end of the area to the other. A free ski bus network also connects the villages via the valley roads throughout the day.
Yes. Ski equipment hire is available through WeSki at Ellmau, Scheffau, Söll, and Westendorf. WeSki does not currently have lessons available in the SkiWelt area. You can add equipment hire to your booking along with your lift pass and transfers.
Start building your dream ski trip today with our one-stop ski shop - hundreds of resorts, unlimited combinations.
4.9/5I usually book flights, ground transportation, hotel, ski rental and lift tickets myself but this year used WeSki for a trip to Morzine. It was so much easier. Everything worked perfectly - ground transportation arrived on time and there was plenty of feedback throughout the whole process giving you confidence the vacation would go smoothly.
A really useful service that is so much easier to use than other 'all-inclusive' sites. It nicely bridges the gap between a travel agent and booking the trip yourself online. I'll use WeSki every time I go skiing from now on.
We booked a late minute skiing trip to Morzine through we ski. We looked at booking the trip ourselves but could get anywhere near the price quoted by we ski. The company was excellent and we had no problems at all from start to finish. I would definitely use them to book another weekend skiing trip.
Seamless experience from start to finish. I was spending ages trying to sort out a weekend break and managed to do it with we ski in minutes and for the same price as booking it all up yourself. Flight, transfers and accommodation was all as expected and faultless.
