Oberlech: Five Reasons to Ski the Arlberg

When we started planning our first-ever Ski Escape, Oberlech was pretty much top of the list.

Sitting 1,750m up in the Austrian Arlberg, it's car-free, ski-in ski-out and surrounded by the kind of terrain you could happily spend a week getting lost in. Add great après, serious food and plenty of ways to recover when the boots finally come off, and it felt like a natural home for Salt's first week on snow.

Here are five reasons Oberlech should be your next ski destination.

1. The runs

Let's start with the important bit: the skiing.

Oberlech sits directly above Lech, with the slopes running right through the village. From our chalet, mornings are simple: breakfast, boots on, clip in and go. No buses, no hauling skis across town, no wasting the first hour of the day getting to the mountain.

From there, the whole Arlberg opens up. There are long, beautifully groomed pistes when you want to pick up some speed, more technical terrain when you want to work a little harder, and plenty of off-piste to explore with a guide when conditions allow.

It's exactly why we've built smaller ski pods into the week. You'll head out with skiers around your level, giving you the freedom to cover more ground, find the good stuff and get plenty of proper skiing into your legs.

2. The White Ring

The White Ring links Lech, Zürs, Zug and Oberlech on a 22km circuit around the mountains, and it's one of those Arlberg ski days you simply have to do once.

You'll move from village to village, taking in big descents, chairlifts and huge Alpine views along the way, before eventually looping back towards Oberlech.

All 18 of us will take it on together. Expect a lot of skiing, a few tired legs and a very well-earned drink at the end of it.

Which brings us nicely to...

3. The après

The Austrians know what they're doing here.

Across Lech, Zürs and Oberlech, mountain terraces start filling up long before the last lift closes, with skis stacked outside, music on and nobody in much of a hurry to head home.

During our week, we'll ski straight into Balmalp, perched high above Lech. There'll be DJs, drinks and mountain views as the sun disappears behind the peaks.

4. The Arlberg Spa

Five big ski days require a bit of looking after.

We'll have yoga, mobility, sauna and cold-water recovery back at the chalet throughout the week. Then, towards the end of the trip, we're giving the legs an entire afternoon off.

The Arlberg Spa has 1,000m² dedicated to doing very little: indoor and outdoor pools, Finnish sauna, steam rooms, infrared cabins, hydrotherapy and plenty of places to stretch out.

And if five days of skiing have really done a number on your quads, you can add a massage or treatment while you're there. Image ©Hotel Arlberg.

5. The heli-skiing

And then there's the option to go a little bigger.

The Arlberg is one of the few places in Austria where heli-skiing is possible, with experienced skiers able to book an optional guided trip into terrain that lifts simply don't reach.

Helicopter up. Untouched snow below. Ski back down.

It's completely optional (there's more than enough mountain to keep you busy without it) but if heli-skiing has been sitting on your list for years, this might be the week to finally do it.

Why we chose Oberlech

The slopes start outside the chalet. The wider Arlberg gives us days of terrain to explore. The White Ring gives us one big challenge to take on together. And when the skis come off, there's après, spa time, sauna, ice baths and a seriously good dinner waiting somewhere nearby.

Add 18 confident skiers and one week in the mountains, and we reckon we've got something pretty special.

Austria: First Tracks. See you on the mountain.