Maria Alm, Austria

Maria Alm is part of the immense Hochkönig ski circuit. Despite the vast ski area, immaculate slopes and enviable snow record, the Hochkönig Winter Kingdom is still largely unknown to the British market. For the few keen skiers that have discovered this incredibly beautiful area with its quiet pistes and short lift queues there's no looking back. Having retained its traditional Alpine charm, the resort has however also updated many lifts over recent seasons making skiing the wide variety of slopes an effortless task. The Hochkönig ski area has 150 kilometres of superb slopes stretching from Maria Alm in the West to Mühlbach in the East. Whether you prefer the conventional approach on two skis, hitting the halfpipe on your snowboard, or getting away from the crowds - a wealth of superbly groomed slopes, state-of-the-art lifts and captivating powder snow provide all the variety you could hope for. The Hochkönig ski area also forms part of the immense Ski Amadé alliance allowing winter sports enthusiasts access to 276 lifts and 865 km of superbly groomed slopes and all under one skipass.