Backcountry & Intro to Ski Touring Week in St. Anton, Austria

Things to know

• What’s included?

  Included:

  • • An experienced UIAGM/IFMGA Mountain Guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • 8-day St. Anton ski holiday (5 days of guiding and coaching, progressing from off-piste skills to ski touring)
    • 7 nights’ accommodation at a boutique chalet lodge and 1 night in a traditional Alpine mountain hut
    • All breakfasts
    • Lift-accessed off-piste skiing
    • Avalanche awareness and companion rescue workshop
    • Mountain safety and decision-making skills
    • A dedicated host taking care of logistics throughout your stay

  Not included:

  • • Transportation to St. Anton
    • Ski equipment — can be rented at a discount
    • Ski pass — €360 per week 
    • Tourist pass — €5 per day, paid upon arrival 
    • Lunches, dinners, and snacks
    • Taxi transfers on guiding days
    • Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above
    • Insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout
    • Guide gratuities — optional
• How fit do I need to be?

  Excellent fitness is required for this tour. This week is designed for confident off-piste skiers who want to make the transition into ski touring. You should be an intermediate (Level 2) to advanced off-piste skier, comfortable on variable terrain and able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning uphill.

  No previous ski touring experience is required. The week builds progressively, from off-piste coaching and avalanche awareness through to your first tours and a hut-to-hut style experience, so your guide will tailor the pace to the group’s ability throughout.

• What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

  No previous ski touring experience is required to join this week, but you should be an intermediate (Level 2) to advanced off-piste skier.

  The week is designed to build your touring skills progressively, from off-piste coaching and avalanche awareness through to your first tours in the mountains. If you’re a beginner off-piste skier, you can still join the trip with an accommodation-only package and take the intro to off-piste course as an alternative option.

• What do I need to bring?

  For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:

  • • Alpine touring skis or telemark skis (can be rented)
    • Touring boots and poles (can be rented)
    • Avalanche safety equipment (can be rented):
      • Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon
      • Lightweight snow shovel
      • Avalanche probe

  For personal items, you need to bring:

  • • Helmet
    • Ski goggles
    • Gloves and hat
    • Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended)
    • Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended)
    • Down jacket or vest
    • Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear, and socks
    • Spare clothes for layering and 5 days of skiing
    • One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners
    • Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
    • Water bottle and 1L of water
    • Thermos with a warm beverage — optional
    • Food you can eat on-the-go
    • First aid kit
    • Sunscreen
    • Backpack with ski carry straps (around 25L)
    • Camera — optional

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• Can I rent equipment?

  Yes, all ski equipment and ABS bags can be rented from a local rental partner in St. Anton.

  The avalanche safety kit, including the transceiver, shovel, and probe, can be rented for approximately €70 ($75 USD) for the week, or €140 ($150 USD) including a free ride backpack (non-ABS).

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing

  • • For this adventure, the max client-to-guide ratio is 9:1. 
    • It takes a minimum of 8 people for this tour to operate. 
    • The price is fixed and does not decrease as the group grows.

  Skiing in St. Anton can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors older than 16 but younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
    • Minors younger than 16 cannot participate in this tour.

  If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Getting there and meeting location

  To get to St. Anton am Arlberg, most people fly into Zürich Airport in Zürich, Switzerland, 2 hours away. From there, you can take a regular train line, a night train, or just rent a car and drive to St. Anton.

  Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet. You will usually meet the host at the St. Anton am Arlberg railway station, and they will escort you to your hotel in St. Anton.

• Safety measures and insurance

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

  Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  Deposits

  Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.

  Cancellations

  Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.

  Basic

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 60 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Flexible

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 60 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled 30-59 days before departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 29 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Super Flexible

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 30 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 29 days of departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.