Ankogel-Mallnitz

Ankogel-Mallnitz is a small ski resort (by Alpine standards) in the western part of Carinthia. The area is especially worth recommending for family trips and for those who, besides interesting ski terrain, are looking for a break close to nature, away from the bustle of the city. Mallnitz is a small Alpine village and an important link in the Austrian rail network. This is where the tunnel connecting Carinthia with SalzburgerLand begins, or more precisely Mallnitz with Bad Gastein. Crossing to the other side of the mountains is smoother and quicker if you take the train (departing from Mallnitz station) instead of the car. About 20 km from Mallnitz lies the ski area on the only glacier in all of Carinthia, the Mölltaler Gletscher (3,122 m), with more than 50 km of pistes. The vast majority of Ankogel's 30 km of runs are easy and intermediate. The high pastures below the Ankogel summit, at more than 2,600 m, are reached in two stages by gondola, with a change at 1,945 m. Terrain suitable for beginners can be found, among other places, around the valley station of the Ankogelbahn. Intermediate skiers can choose from most of the runs leading from both the top and the middle station of the gondola. There are few really difficult pistes (only 3 km of runs are marked black). Experienced skiers can console themselves with attractive freeride terrain in the upper reaches of Ankogel. It is worth knowing that the "Top Ski Kärnten Silber" ski pass also lets you ski on the Mölltaler glacier and in more than a dozen other resorts in Carinthia. The slopes of Ankogel are very popular with ski tourers thanks to excellent conditions for the sport and unforgettable views of the surrounding massifs of the Hohe Tauern. For cross-country skiers there is a network of 25 km of trails, the vast majority of them easy. A major non-skiing attraction in Mallnitz is the Tauern-Bad pool complex, as well as the chance to visit the BIOS research station, where experiments are carried out on the interaction between earth, water, air and the Sun. Nightlife in Mallnitz may not be particularly lively, but there is no shortage of taverns, bars and restaurants (including some with regional cuisine). For those who want it, there is also a disco.