Fun in the sun
Enjoy Austria's famous slopes while they're green rather than white.
During the summer, the snow that the mountains are famous for almost completely vanishes and the hilly terrain becomes a whole new level of exquisite, with grassy peaks and wooded valleys stretching for miles. A trek through the countryside will reward you with incredible panoramic views that are well worth the walk.
Austria is a firm favourite for winter sports and you'll find that during the summer months, most of the ski lifts are still operating. This means you'll have no problem getting up or down mountains if you fancy just doing a one-way walk.
The lack of snow does mean the usual winter sports aren't really possible. However, if you would like to speed down the mountainside to lovely summer views, there is an exhilarating alternative. Why not try a toboggan ride? You can glide downwards safely on a special, man-made toboggan track to uninterrupted scenery.
The Zell am See toboggan track is open year round and you can see a clip of it in action here. It can reach speeds of up to 40 km/h though each toboggan also has a set of breaks that you can use if you prefer a more relaxed pace. You can travel down the track alone, or if you have youngsters with you, aged between 3 – 7 years, they can travel with an adult. You will begin the journey from 750 metres up the mountain and then descend for 1,300 metres. The track is located next to the Schaufelberg car park.
A number of other tracks exist such as the Celtic Lightning which is located just a short distance from Salzburg in Bad Durrnberg. Bad Durrnberg is also home to a great cable car, so you won't be short of excellent view points. The start is located at the mountain cable car station on the Zinkenkogel Mountain in Hallein.
