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Inspirations 2022
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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.
Cross-Country Try It Out Week at Pertisau. 7 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Cross-Country Try It Out Week at Pertisau. 7 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

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.
 

Book with confidence

We are accepting bookings for our winter holidays. Our flexible booking arrangements, commitment to safety and financial protection mean that you can book with confidence.

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
Check the destination entry requirements >
 
 

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 – your host, Alexandra Entner, is a keen rider and will gladly share her love and knowledge of the Karwendel Valleys with you.

    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 snow-covered 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
 

Where you stay

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 offers a good range of facilities, including a post office, a bank, sports and souvenir shops, several restaurants and a number of bars and cafés. 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.

Please note: most beds in Austrian hotels are normally one large base with two mattresses/duvets. We refer to these as 'Austrian Twins' and 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.
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.
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  • 7 nights: 23 January 2022 - 06 February 2022 & 06 March 2022 - 13 March 2022

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

    Starting Adults
    23 Jan - 23 Jan 2022 £1695
    30 Jan - 30 Jan 2022 £1730
    06 Mar - 06 Mar 2022 £1715
    Single traveller supplement £125

    Includes all elements of the holiday itself (accommodation, meals and any additional elements as described), plus flights (usually, but not always, from London) and onward travel as described.

    Included travel: British Airways Heathrow or Gatwick to Innsbruck (2h05) (times vary, please contact us for details; hold luggage included), connecting transfer (0h50)

    The 'Single traveller supplement' applies for solo travellers. A supplement is also payable for a single room – see 'Additional prices' below

    Prices are subject to availability and flight supplements may apply. Book early for Christmas, New Year and school holidays. We can also book different flight routes (see flight section below). Please contact us to discuss any pricing implications.

  • Room upgrades (supplement per room per night)

    Hotel Wiesenhof, Pertisau
    Family with balcony: 23 Jan - 13 Mar 2022 £38
    Junior suite with balcony: 23 Jan - 13 Mar 2022 £38
    Single room: 23 Jan - 13 Mar 2022 £18
    South view: 23 Jan - 13 Mar 2022 £38
    X-Large with balcony: 23 Jan - 13 Mar 2022 £14
    XX-large with balcony: 23 Jan - 13 Mar 2022 £27
  • 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.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book onward flights and connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Innsbruck Charter (contact us),  jet2 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Innsbruck Charter (contact us),  easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Innsbruck Charter (contact us),  jet2 
    Edinburgh - Innsbruck (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Edinburgh - Innsbruck (via Gatwick) British Airways 
    Edinburgh - Innsbruck (via Heathrow) British Airways 
    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 Charter (contact us),  jet2 
    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 
    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. Please note that we are unable to book Ryanair flights.

  • Choose a leisurely route 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 10-minute transfer to the hotel.

    We recommend the route outlined below, but our rail specialists can tailor the arrangements to suit you. As an alternative, you could take high-speed trains to Zürich and stay overnight. The following morning, watch spectacular mountain scenery unfold as you travel through the Arlberg Pass into Austria. You could perhaps take the sleeper route to Austria, and return via Zürich.

    > Travelling by train to Austria: what to expect

    Recommended route

    Outward journey Departure time
    from London     		Recommended cabin
    St Pancras–Brussels–Cologne (Eurostar & Thalys, 4h), Cologne–Jenbach (NightJet sleeper, 11h30), transfer to hotel (0h10) 1230; arrive at hotel approx 0900 next day Private 2-berth sleeper cabin with 2 bunk beds and washbasin. Continental breakfast is included
    Homeward journey Departure time
    from hotel     		Recommended cabin
    Transfer to Jenbach (0h10), Jenbach–Cologne (NightJet sleeper, 11h30), Cologne–Brussels–St Pancras (ICE & Eurostar, 4h) 2100; arrive in London approx 1600 next day Private 2-berth sleeper cabin with 2 bunk beds and washbasin. Continental breakfast is included
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 7 dinners
    7 breakfasts
  • guided snowshoe excursion
  • 6 days' ski hire
    3 x 2-hr lessons
  • local area cross-country trail & bus pass
  • detailed information about the area
  • flights from London (regional flights available)
  • transfers from/to Innsbruck Airport
 
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 >

All 14 reviews
  • Mrs Z Chaddock
    Emsworth
    29 February 2020

    Simply amazing hotel, perfect. Snow shoeing and winter walking were wonderful. Ski instruction very disappointing.

  • JT Wickhurst
    29 February 2020

    A brilliant hotel with an excellent service, spa and food. We really enjoyed the langlaufing for the first time and though it is not as easy as it looks it is a great way of having some exercise in the winter.

  • JKC, Hertfordshire
    29 February 2020

    Wonderful holiday from start to finish. I can highly recommend the Hotel Wiesenhof in Pertisau for its excellent rooms, facilities, service and food. I couldn't have been happier. Although the village itself is very small and offers few attractions, the snow activities and the hotel facilities more than make up for that.

  • Beverley, Nottingham
    01 February 2020

    The hotel is fabulous, the spa was uncrowded. The food is like Michelin star dining. If anything the hotel was too warm and t-shirts are all that is needed indoors.

  • Mr M Cousins
    Forres
    01 February 2020

    The weather was not great on a couple of days. Fully waterproof clothing is a must. The highlight was a walk up one of the valleys in sunshine on the final day.

  • Anon
    01 February 2020

    This was our second visit to the Wiesenhof Hotel in Pertisau, and it was just as good as the first. The hotel has first class facilities, and you will be glad of the lovely swimming pool to relax in after skiing. There is a good choice of cross-country trails, and lots of walking opportunities. Also a good range of mountain cafes to recharge your batteries! We will be returning next year.

  • Mr M Trasler
    Sevenoaks
    25 January 2020

    With some downhill skiing experience we were very quickly able to venture out on our own on beautiful wintery trails. The hotel was exceptional - excellent service, too much food and a fabulous swimming pool and spa.

  • Mr A Ryder
    Heywood
    02 March 2019

    An excellent hotel although we did not expect it to be amongst so many others in what is a resort location. Be prepared to pay for EVERY drink at the hotel apart from those taken at breakfast time - this includes tap water thoughout the day. Be prepared also for group sizes of at least 14 during the cross country ski lessons which may leave absolute beginners struggling. The hotel provides excellent food, helpful and friendly staff and a wide choice of menus as well as a "pillow menu" should you wish to make use of it. The only negative was the heat - VERY warm throughout the hotel building.

  • anon
    02 March 2019

    We had a fabulous week staying in this lovely hotel. The facilities, staff and food was outstanding.

    Sadly I did not excell at the skiing but enjoyed the winter walking and snow shoeing.

    A thoroughly enjoyable and refreshing holiday.

  • Mr T Perkins
    Lewes
    02 March 2019

    Great holiday very well organised absolutely no problems or anything to complain about all went like clockwork.

  • Mrs C Deakin
    Hinckley
    02 February 2019

    The whole week and experience from beginning to the end was seamless and well organised. The hotel, facilities, food, travel and lessons were of an excellent standard. Take the packed breakfast offered by the hotel as queues and facilities are limited at Innsbruck airport. Having previously only done downhill skiing, I was surprised by how little clothing one needed in comparison! Have a rucksack with layering options available!

  • Mrs C Boulton
    Cardiff
    02 February 2019

    I am trying very hard to be objective and find some fault that I should report to you, but no, absolutely every part of our trip was fabulous and could not have been better.  

  • Anonymous
    02 February 2019

    A splendid week. The scheduling of activities was particularly good; the flights were at convenient times, the transfer to the hotel was seamless allowing for a relaxed first evening. The following day we were able to collect our skis and discover the village in the morning and take part in a delightful snow shoe walk in the afternoon. After that, morning ski lessons for three days meant we had time to practice in the afternoons. The last two days were spent following the ski trails at our own pace in two of the beautiful valleys.

  • Mr S McKnight
    Preston
    26 January 2019

    We had a fantastic holiday, the hotel was wonderful with helpful, friendly and happy staff. We really enjoyed the cross country skiing having never done it before and by our last day we were able to manage half of a red route which was a great achievement.
 

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.
  • If your holiday plans go awry because of Coronavirus, rest assured that we’ll do right by you. Since the start of the pandemic, our flexible booking policy and prompt issuing of refunds to customers who prefer not to defer their holiday have earned us high praise in the national press.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – activities such as winter walking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are ideal in these times of social distancing, and we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety, not least taking tests before and after your holiday for many destinations.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
    Entry requirements for non-UK destinations & for re-entering the UK >
  • 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 Abi and Lizzie 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 cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out our recommended travel insurance policy (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), 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.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • 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. 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.

    At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
  • 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 : 10/25/2021 11:56:20 AM