TORONTO — The new Canadian-owned and operated Ski Austria wants Canadians to experience the best skiing and snowboarding Austria has to offer.

A ski trip to Austria can be less expensive than some Western Canada or U.S. ski areas, says Gordon Dreger, co-owner of Ski Austria. “We offer Canadian skiers affordable packages where all they have to worry about is the skiing and we take care of the rest.”

The Toronto tour company (skiaustria.ca) has registered with TICO and is now offering a variety of packages for departures starting in January to the Western Austrian Alps region of the Montafon Valley, a long-time Austrian favourite that’s little known outside of Europe, says Dreger. The area is about 40 kilometres long and includes 11 villages and surrounded by peaks of 3,312 metres.

Skiers will enjoy Montafon’s casual, sporty atmosphere with a variety of snow activities – ideal for families, couples and ski groups looking for a fun, no-hassle ski getaway, he notes. Easily accessible from Zurich airport, this ski paradise includes 66 mountain railways and ski lifts, and almost 200 kilometres of marked, manicured downhill runs in addition to 100 kilometres of cross-country trails.

There are a number of packages available:

January Powder Weeks – Jan. 16-23 & Jan. 23-30.

March Sunshine – March 12-19 & March 19-26.

Accommodation:

Gasthaus Kreuz with Chalet apartments – from $1,160 – January Powder Week/March Sunshine

Bio-Hotel Saladina – from $1,990 – January Powder Week (including breakfast and four-course dinner daily)

All ski tours include:

• Transfers between Zurich airport and the accommodation by private van or coach;
• Seven nights accommodation in the selected hotel/apartment based on two sharing a room;
• Five out of seven day ski pass valid for the entire Montafon Valley plus a Branderstat Valley fondue evening;
• Austrian tobogganing evening including sleigh rental and chairlift ticket; and
• Ski Austria reps will be on hand to take care of all your needs.

Partners Dreger and Andy Vergut have extensive experience in ski tours/escorting and direct knowledge of the Montafon region. Vergut, a native Austrian who was born and raised in the area, was certified as an Austrian ski instructor and has led groups of skiers to the Alps for more than 15 years. Dreger has spent 25 years in the travel industry marketing and developing tours from around the world. He was previously a certified ski instructor in Ontario and started his career co-ordinating ski tours to the Austrian Alps. He lives part-time in Austria. For more information contact Dreger at 1-866-545-0850 or info@skiaustria.ca.