The Tiroler Zugspitz Arena: One Destination, Seven Sensational Ski Resorts

New for 2019/20, improvements include the Obere Karbahn, a 10-person gondola lift with a middle station and mountain restaurant, as well as the Thanellerbahn, a child-friendly six-seater chairlift. While exploring the region, stay at the new luxury Pure Resort Ehrwald, Zugspitz Resort Ehrwald, reopening in December 2019, the Heiterwanger Hof or pension Zeegershof Heiter, both under new management this season.

Divided into the sportier and more vibrant villages of Ehrwald, Lermoos and Biberwier and the more traditional and laid-back settlements of Berwang, Bichlbach and Heiterwang am See, this region boasts a diverse winter offering.

Seven ski resorts with 142km of pistes and 56 cable cars are waiting to be enjoyed by winter sports enthusiasts. The individual areas are linked by bus – which means skiers and snowboarders can easily jump from area to area and explore a wide range of pistes. Seasoned downhillers, pleasure skiers and families with children will all find suitable conditions. Levels range from green (for brand-new beginners) to black (for seasoned skiers, freeride enthusiasts and mogul mavens). With the "Top Snow Card" skiers and snowboarders can also enjoy cross-border winter sports on 214km of pistes and 87 lifts. One pass, two countries: the "Top Snow Card" is valid for the German ski resorts of Mittenwald, Grainau and Garmisch-Partenkirchen as well as the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena.

But it's not just skiing enthusiasts who are well catered for in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena. The region is also a treasure chest for cross-country enthusiasts. At the foot of the Zugspitze is a 110km network of varied trails for classic and skating cross-country. Certified Cross Country Ski Holiday Hotels specifically cater for the needs of cross-country skiers and offer, for example, facilities including ski storage rooms, a waxing corner and saunas or steam baths, and are located at the most 300 metres from the entry point to the nearest trail. For those preferring to explore on foot, the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena offers 60km of cleared winter trails from which hikers can savour the landscape and stop off to refuel in cosy lodges. Away from the cleared trails, it's also possible to snow-shoe hike amid glorious scenery. Holidaymakers can immerse themselves in the wild winter landscape accompanied by a guide or independently.

Once the night falls, in Lermoos and Biberwier there are free torchlight and llama hikes every week. Visitors looking for a little more action can speed down the pistes or toboggan runs by sled on four nights every week. On the Grubigstein in Lermoos and the Marienberg in Biberwier, winter visitors can ride shotgun on a piste groomer every day. It's an opportunity to discover more about the work of the drivers and what preparing the many kilometres of slopes for the next day entails. This year, a new activity has been added: every Friday from 28 December 2018 until 29 March 2019, accompanied by mountain hiking guides from the Alpine school Lermoos,  visitors can build a traditional block-style igloo with their own hands.

The Tiroler Zugspitz Arena is situated directly at the foot of the Zugspitze. At 2,962m above sea level, it's the highest peak in Germany and part of the Wetterstein Massif, with the border between Germany and Austria runs along its ridge. The first cableway on the mountain, the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn, was built way back in 1926. Today, the summit can be reached by cable car in around ten minutes. On clear days the outlook from the viewing terrace extends as far as the Großglockner, the Piz Bernina and onwards to Munich. As well as enjoying winter sports activities, guests can also find out a wealth of information about the history of the mountain in the "Faszination Zugspitze" interactive museum. The romance of the Zugspitze can even be experienced during a candlelit fondue evening.

If you have questions about the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, would like high-res images or are interested in a press trip, please contact eleanor.moody@austria.info.