Cross-Country Try It Out Week at Pertisau

On the shores of Achensee in the Tyrol
 
Learn cross-country skiing in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Between lessons, enjoy other winter activities, and make the most of your highly regarded 4-star superior hotel, which boasts an unrivalled spa complex and beautiful setting near a lake.
Price from
£1945pp
Cross-Country Try It Out Week at Pertisau. 7 nights
Price from
£1945pp
Cross-Country Try It Out Week at Pertisau. 7 nights
Price from
£1945pp
 

Holiday information

 

A cross-country beginners’ ski week

in Pertisau, Tyrol
Our ‘try-it-out’ breaks are designed for those who have never put on cross-country skis before, and introduce you to the pleasures of this sport: the friendliness of fellow skiers; the feeling of being close to nature; and the chance to fully take in your surroundings whilst out on the trails.

Cross-country skiing is suitable for almost anyone – regardless of age – and, with some initial tuition, it normally doesn’t take very long to master the basics. Once you have these, you can extend your range, enjoying a tremendous sense of freedom as you discover beautiful winter landscapes at your own pace.
And Pertisau is a wonderful place to learn. There is a good choice of gentle trails leading away from the village, and the local ski school is first-rate. Our long-standing partnership with the school’s owner, Christoph Leithner, means that Inntravel guests are very well looked after here. This warm welcome extends to the Romantik Hotel Wiesenhof, one of the best hotels in our collection, which has an impressive range of facilities for when you’re not out enjoying the snow.
 
 

Our expert says

“We’ve worked with Christoph Leithner, owner of the ski school, for many years. He and his staff offer the best possible learning opportunity and will put you completely at ease. Hopefully you’ll end up completely hooked!”
Rebecca Bruce, Inntravel snow holiday expert
 
Gallery

 

Winter activities

You are free to take your pick of the activities as the mood takes you – other than the lessons, there’s no fixed schedule. Below we’ve detailed our suggested itinerary for the week.
  • Arrival in Pertisau
    Depending on your time of arrival, you may like to visit the ski hire centre to be fitted with your equipment (hire of classic cross-country skis and shoes is included for the week) ahead of your first lesson the following morning.
  • Getting started
    The first of your three included lessons takes place on Monday morning. Depending how many others are also looking to learn this new skill, you may be grouped according to initial ability to ensure everyone gets the most from the lessons. During this 2-hour session, the instructor will teach you the basics of how to glide effectively, as well as essential techniques for mastering the up- and downhill sections of the trails.

    The afternoon is free to practise what you’ve learnt (access to the trails is free with your included visitor’s card), or to enjoy one of the many other activities available.
    Learn with a first-rate instructor
  • Honing your technique
    With two further lessons, you will become more proficient and gain in confidence, ready to tackle those trails that lead into the valleys around the village.
    Gentle cross-country trails lead from the heart of the village
  • Winter walking, horse-drawn sleigh rides & more
    You may like to spend the next few days putting your new-found skills to the test by exploring the local area on skis, however, there are many other ways to enjoy the snow – a host of winter activities are available locally, with the hotel itself offering a varied programme.

    Winter walking
    With a lake, mountains and two picturesque valleys on its doorstep, Pertisau is a winter walker’s paradise. There are 65 kilometres of prepared trails around the village itself, all well signed and with snow that has been specially flattened to facilitate walking. Our favourite options include a leisurely hike to the Gramaialm mountain inn, which enjoys a superb setting amid the Karwendel Alpine Park nature reserve, and a beautiful route that affords fine lake views as it criss-crosses snowy woodland to reach a height of 1,000 metres.

    Snowshoeing
    This easy-to-learn activity gives you the freedom to explore away from the beaten track. Depending on snow and weather conditions, we include a panoramic snowshoe excursion on one day of your holiday. This is organised by the local ski school, and is something of a highlight for many Inntravel customers.

    Horse-drawn sleigh rides
    A particularly beautiful way to view Pertisau’s magnificent wintry scenery is by horse-drawn sleigh. Not only does this relaxing experience give you time to appreciate the finer detail of your surroundings, it’s also an excellent opportunity to find out more about the area.

    Tobogganing
    It’s hard to beat the thrill of whizzing down the mountainside on a toboggan, and Pertisau’s illuminated 1.5-kilometre run can be enjoyed at any time of day. The run can be reached on foot or by an hourly tractor transfer, and has an adjoining mountain inn offering regional cooking and warming drinks.
    Follow a lovely, lakeside walking trail ©Achensee Tourismus
    Enjoy a snowshoe hike ©Achensee Tourismus
  • Innsbruck & more
    From imperial cities to interactive museums, there’s more to the Tyrol than beautiful scenery…

    Innsbruck
    Take the bus and train (pay locally for the latter) to Innsbruck, where we provide notes for a self-guided city walking tour. With the Dolomites to the south and the Tyrolean peaks to the north and west, this fairy-tale city boasts a splendid mountain panorama. Admire the Baroque façades of the houses lining Herzog Friedrich Strasse, and do not miss the Imperial Palace and the beautiful Goldenes Dachl ('Golden Roof'), an extraordinary Gothic bay window with 2,657 gilded copper tiles dating from the rule of Emperor Maximilian I.

    Rofanspitze
    For another highly enjoyable day out, we suggest taking the bus to nearby Maurach, from where you can ascend the Rofanspitze by cable car. At 2,259 metres high, this imposing peak offers a breathtaking panorama over both its immediate surrounds and a number of more distant mountain ranges. There is a choice of places to eat close to the summit, as well as an easy, 1.6-kilometre winter walking trail to follow. For a real adrenalin rush, however, have a go on the Air Rofan Skyglider – accessed from the top of the cable car station, it reaches speeds of 85 kilometres/hour, and affords the most incredible views.

    Karwendel Gondola
    It is also worth taking a trip in the local Karwendel gondola – passengers are transported up to the Zwölferkopf, from where they can soak in the sweeping views over the lake, village and surrounding mountains. The Karwendel Alpine Inn is located here, too, and is renowned for its homemade Kaiserschmarrn, a popular Austrian dessert that owes its intriguing name (‘Emperor’s Mess’) to Franz Josef I, an Austro-Hungarian emperor who is said to have been particularly fond of this sweet, shredded pancake.

    Tiroler Steinöl
    In addition to providing the village’s dramatic backdrop, the Karwendel Mountains are also the source of Pertisau’s ‘elixir’. This comes in the form of Tyrolean shale oil (Tiroler Steinöl), which has been mined from the mountains since 1902 and is unique to Lake Achensee. Products made from the oil are known for their natural healing properties and are used in the hotel spa and available in the hotel bathrooms. To learn more about the history of shale-oil mining, and the health benefits of the products, visit the village’s interactive museum, housed in an impressive glass building whose pyramidal shape is intended to symbolise the Karwendel Mountains.
    Innsbruck ©Innsbruck Tourismus
    The Karwendel Gondola ©Achensee Tourismus
 

About Pertisau

Set on the south-western shore, Pertisau (altitude: 952m) is one of the main villages on Achensee which, at 9km long by 1km wide, is the largest lake in the Austrian Tyrol. Although small, Pertisau has several local restaurants and a number of bars and cafés for you to sit and relax at the end of the day.

Pertisau was a favoured holiday spot for Emperor Maximillian I (1490–1519), who built a country residence here, and the village remained the preferred hunting and fishing ground for many Habsburgs until the early 20th century.
Hotel Wiesenhof
  • 4-star superior

Bedrooms

 

Options to extend or shorten your stay

 
Prices & travel
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
Currency converter
We can only accept payment in GBP, but you can use this converter to find out how much the holiday equates to in your own currency.
Please enter an amount Please enter a valid amount British Pound Sterling (GBP)
Currency is required
NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.
  • 7 nights: 19 January 2025 - 02 February 2025 & 02 March 2025 - 09 March 2025

    Start Sunday | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Adults
    21 Jan - 21 Jan 2024 £2175
    28 Jan - 28 Jan 2024 £2175
    03 Mar - 03 Mar 2024 £2115
    19 Jan - 19 Jan 2025 £2180
    26 Jan - 26 Jan 2025 £2180
    02 Mar - 02 Mar 2025 £2130
    Single traveller supplement £115

    Includes all elements of the holiday itself (accommodation, meals and any additional elements as described), plus Eurostar and onward rail services from London St Pancras, plus any transfer to the hotel as described below (see 'Rail option from London' section).

    Prices are subject to availability and supplements may apply. Book early for Christmas, New Year and school holidays.

  • Room upgrades (supplement in £ per room per night)

    Hotel Wiesenhof, Pertisau
    Family with balcony: 21 Jan - 10 Mar 2024 £46
    Family with balcony: 19 Jan - 09 Mar 2025 £46
    Junior suite with balcony: 21 Jan - 10 Mar 2024 £46
    Junior suite with balcony: 19 Jan - 09 Mar 2025 £46
    Single room: 21 Jan - 10 Mar 2024 £22
    Single room: 19 Jan - 09 Mar 2025 £40
    South view: 21 Jan - 10 Mar 2024 £46
    South view: 19 Jan - 09 Mar 2025 £46
    X-Large with balcony: 21 Jan - 10 Mar 2024 £16
    X-Large with balcony: 19 Jan - 09 Mar 2025 £16
    XX-large with balcony: 21 Jan - 10 Mar 2024 £30
    XX-large with balcony: 19 Jan - 09 Mar 2025 £30
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Innsbruck (latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time both flexible)

    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Innsbruck Charter (contact us),  jet2,  TUI 
    Birmingham - Innsbruck (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Innsbruck Charter (contact us),  easyJet,  jet2 
    Bristol - Innsbruck (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Innsbruck Charter (contact us),  jet2 
    Edinburgh - Innsbruck (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Edinburgh - Innsbruck (via Gatwick) British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Innsbruck (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Glasgow - Innsbruck (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Innsbruck (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Innsbruck (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Innsbruck (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Innsbruck British Airways,  Charter (contact us),  easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Innsbruck British Airways 
    Heathrow - Innsbruck (via Frankfurt) Austrian Airlines,  Lufthansa 
    Heathrow - Innsbruck (via Vienna) Austrian Airlines 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Innsbruck easyJet,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Innsbruck jet2,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Innsbruck Charter (contact us),  easyJet,  jet2 
    Manchester - Innsbruck (via Frankfurt) Austrian Airlines,  Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Innsbruck (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Teesside International - Innsbruck (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of alternative flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated above, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice if you would prefer to fly via a different route to the one included in our standard arrangements. A supplement may be payable for other flights.

  • Choose a leisurely route from London on Austria’s NightJet sleeper train. Enjoy dinner in Cologne by the Rhine before boarding the sleeper, then wake up refreshed in Austria for a short transfer to the hotel.

    Leaving Pertisau on Sunday evening to travel home, you can reach London the following day, with just one change of train in Amsterdam.

    > Travelling by train to Austria: what to expect
    > More about 'by rail' prices

    We have based our prices (which include continental breakfast and a private 2-berth cabin with 2 bunk beds and a washbasin on the sleeper train) on the routes we recommend below, but our rail specialists can tailor the arrangements to suit you and provide a quotation.

    Recommended route

    Outward journey Departure time
    from London
    Arrival time
    at hotel
    St Pancras–Brussels–Cologne (Eurostar & ICE, 4h), Cologne–Jenbach (NightJet sleeper, 11h30), transfer to hotel (0h10) approx 1100 next day at approx 0900
    Homeward journey Departure time
    from hotel
    Arrival time
    in London
    Transfer to Jenbach (0h10), Jenbach–Amsterdam (NightJet sleeper, 13h), Amsterdam–St Pancras (Eurostar, 4h) approx 2030 next day at approx 1700
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 7 dinners
    7 breakfasts
  • 6 days' ski hire
    3 x 2-hr lessons
    guided snowshoe excursion
  • local area cross-country trail & bus pass
  • detailed information about the area
  • transfers from/to Innsbruck Airport
  • discounts on cable cars and the village museum
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • They are two mattresses (each with separate bedding) on one large base. They are locally regarded to serve requests for both double and twin bedded rooms. Separate twin beds or traditional double beds with one large mattress are rare and cannot be guaranteed.
  • In the Alps, most hotels have a vegetarian menu. Please contact us for specific information about this particular hotel.
  • Living far from the capital ourselves, we know better than most that flying from London can be a bind, so we are very flexible with our travel arrangements. Call or email us, and one of the team will be happy to list the different options available to you, and any price implications.
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact us to discuss your plans.
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Austria, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • (Austrian) German is the most commonly spoken language. The currency is the Euro. Austrian time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 12/7/2024 9:16:19 PM

currency iplookup:

cookie value: null

querystring value: null