The Hintertux Glacier is a family-friendly ski resort in Austria that offers a terrific all-round experience. The snow-covered resort boasts a wide range of fun-filled and adrenaline-fuelled activities that are suitable for all ages. In fact, the resort won the test-winner award by the famous test portal skiresort.de in the snow-safety category. No need to worry about keeping the kids safe!
All you need to do is opt for some snowy adventures and create long-lasting family memories. With such a wide variety of winter sports on offer, including skiing, tobogganing and cave exploring, you may not know where to start. Here are my recommendations for exciting adventures, which I would have loved to try with my family as a young teenager.
Thrills at Funslope Hintertux
This brilliant course is a fun and exciting slope for the whole family. Starting at 2100 metres above sea level, you will whoosh down to the brilliant figure of eight course, passing through the exhilarating snow tunnels and then over snow hills, before reaching the thrilling ‘fun twister’.
You can then choose between two courses with different obstacles. Personally, I would opt for the one with a small jump, a challenging rainbow box and a bridge crossing, but you can choose to tackle the other course’s four big waves. But once you have experienced such an invigorating rush, you won’t be able to resist having another go, so you can easily alternate between routes. For round two, simply hop on the Tuxerjoch chairlift and quickly travel back to the start for another adrenaline-fuelled descent.
Adventures at the Ice Palace
The Natural Ice Palace lies 25 metres beneath the Hintertux Glacier. It is an awe-inspiring underground chamber that will completely fascinate the kids. It has sparkling 15-metre high ice walls with phenomenal needle-like icicles dangling from the roof. The best way to explore the cave is to take your little adventurers on a two-hour family-orientated guided tour. Armed with hard-hats and lots of layers, you can venture through the glacier crevasse, passing beneath the ice stalactites and across the frozen waterfall, and admire the beautifully clear waters of the glacial lake. It’s an experience your kids are guaranteed to cherish forever!
Insider Tip: Temperatures inside the cave are usually below 0°C, so remember to wrap up warm. You’ll also need appropriate footwear. I would recommend sturdy trainers, but ski boots are acceptable too.
Sensational Tobogganing
To create long-lasting family memories, take your kids on a thrilling toboggan ride. There are two family-friendly runs available in Hintertux. You can choose to go on the Bichlalm toboggan, which is a fast and exhilarating three-kilometre-long run. Alternatively, you can check out the Grieralm run, which is slighter shorter but a little bit faster. After getting your blood pumping and your heart racing, you and your family will have worked up an appetite. Fortunately, both toboggan runs have huts at the bottom. While the one in Bichlalm serves tasty Tyrolean specialities, the one in Grieralm offers local delicacies and is decorated with hand-carved wooden figures
How to Get to Hintertux
The easiest way of getting to Hintertux is to fly to Innsbruck Airport (INN). Several airlines, including easyJet and British Airways, offer a direct two-hour flight from London. When you land, your kids will probably be getting really excited. It’s tiring enough to keep them entertained, so don’t add the hassle of trying to get to the resort by using public transport. Save yourself the stress and book a shared, group or private transfer with Shuttle Direct. A friendly driver will take you straight from the airport to the resort in just under an hour.
Where to Stay
Apartment Wandspitz – This accommodation is located on the top of a hill, overlooking the village of Hintertux. With both an apartment and a single room, there is plenty of space for the whole family. You’ll also find a fully-equipped kitchenette, a private bathroom and free Wi-Fi.
Frühstückspension Christina – Situated in the nearby Tux, this hotel is at the foot of the Hintertux Glacier. The rooms will satisfy both your desire for a stunning view of the mountains and your kids’ need for Wi-Fi and a TV. You can also keep them entertained by playing table tennis free of charge in the hotel lobby. In the morning, a breakfast buffet is served in a rustic dining room, and there is a snack bar to keep your hungry bunch satisfied throughout the day.
Der Rindererhof –This hotel is set in the Tux Valley. Its rooms are spacious and feature a satellite TV, a private bathroom and a hairdryer. There is also a delicious Austrian restaurant that serves local specialities, as well as Mediterranean dishes (something to suit everyone’s taste!). In the evenings, you can spend some quality family time challenging each other to a game of billiards, darts or table tennis.
About Shuttle Direct
Shuttle Direct is a family-friendly airport transfer provider. Thanks to its trustworthy and efficient service, it has become the leading shuttle service in Europe and North Africa. Enjoy a hassle-free family getaway this year by making all of your travel plans well in advance. You can book your shuttle via their easy-to-use website and choose the shared, private or group transfer that best suits your budget.
