JOIN US FOR A CULTURE TRIP BASED IN TIROL'S SNOWBOARDING CAPITAL!
Join us for our favourite Europe trip, exploring the snowboarding capital of Tyrol. To give you a unique local perspective, you’ve got our Innsbruck powder guide on-hand to drive you to the best resorts each day. You’ll stay in old town Innsbruck and each night we’ll explore the cultural highlights as well as taste all the delicious local Austrian foods.
Innsbruck is the snowboarding capital of the Tyrol region and comes with quite a pedigree. It has twice hosted the Winter Olympics, it’s the home to the likes of Burton and Method Mag and is surrounded by oodles of resorts where you’ll find terrain that ranges from friendly to insane. There is no other city in Europe where you can snowboard world-class resorts by day, and have the culture, nightlife and restaurants just steps from our hotel at night.
On this trip we stay in the heart of Innsbruck old town so you can immerse yourself in the culture as well as enjoy the vibrant hustle and bustle. The city is steeped in history and it’s a tourist attraction in its own right. We’ll wander through the narrow winding streets of old town and visit all the sights including the Gothic 15th century three-story balcony called the Golden Roof, visit the traditional restaurants and beer halls, and no trip is complete without a stop at the famous strudel cafe and Speckeria.
On this trip you’ll have a guide on-hand who knows a thing or two about finding the best snow and terrain, as well as sharing unique insights into the local culture and food. Our local guide is born and bred Innsbruck and can’t wait to show you the highlights of his hometown. Plus he’s a passionate freeride snowboarder, instructor, photographer, FWQ athlete and all-round good guy.
Dates
Register your interest for winter 2024
Group size
6 guests : 1 guide
Price
Register your interest for winter 2024
Tour Type
Freeride - off-piste and in the trees
This is a co-ed tour
Why Travel With Mint
In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. We are a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conduct business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we are able to take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre or post tour arrangements.
RESORTS & INFO
Get in touch for a detailed tour itinerary and more info
WHY INNSBRUCK
Let’s begin with why you want to come to Innsbruck. For a start, the snowboarding is amazing and Innsbruck is surrounded by ski resorts of all shapes and sizes. You might be thinking at this point: ‘Isn’t that what every ski area says about itself?’ Yes, but with varying degrees of honesty. Here’s the thing about Innsbruck: it’s all true and it’s centered around a lively cultural hub that is home to plenty of fun-loving, active-outdoorsy people. And that’s what really makes the difference.
CITY STAY
We make sure you stay in quality accommodation that’s in the best location. The colourful row of houses along the river is world famous and that is exactly where we stay! A 4 star hotel in the heart of Innsbruck and only steps from Old Town. Our compact single rooms are equipped with a comfortable bed, flat-screen TV, minibar, safe, WIFI and ensuite bathroom. Every morning you’ve got a hot breakfast to enjoy in the restaurant.
SNOW & CONDITIONS
March is one of our favourite times to ride in the Tyrol. The resorts are in great condition, with all pistes open for top to bottom riding. You can expect anything from deep snowy days riding in the trees to perfect bluebird days where you can ride fresh snow in the alpine. Even if we don’t get fresh snow overnight, the altitude and our local knowledge will ensure you’ll be able to ride light dry snow days after a storm.
AFFORDABLE INNSBRUCK
Another unexpected surprise: Innsbruck is very affordable. Although the Swiss border is just over an hour’s drive away, Innsbruck is relatively unaffected by the soaring prices of her non-EU neighbours. The local cheeses, chocolate and comparatively cheap lift passes in Tyrol all rival the quality of Swiss goods — at far more affordable prices. Smart work from the Austrians.
SMALL GROUPS
We offer one of the smallest client to guide ratio’s in the industry which ultimately leads to a better experience for everyone. Our small groups allow greater manoeuvrability and ease of access to the best areas a destination can offer. When we are on mountain, our guest to guide ratio is maximum 5 people per guide. This also makes for a more personal experience between our guests and guides.
FLEXIBLE ITINERARY
We keep the itinerary flexible so your local Mint Tours guide can hunt down the best conditions all day, every day. Each day your guide will assess the conditions and decide which is the best place to snowboard based on weather and snowfall. Each day we’ll load up the van’s and drive to our chosen area. This flexibility ensures that we will find you the best snow and conditions all day, every day!
Essential Info
YOUR TOUR INCLUDES
- 6 nights single share accommodation Innsbruck (private ensuite room), 4 star hotel
- 5 days on-snow guiding with local guide
- 5 days of resort transfers in private vehicle
- Sightseeing tour in Innsbruck
- Breakfast daily
- Return Airport transfers from Innsbruck Airport
- Off snow cultural visits; restaurants & local attractions
- Fully-escorted tour, local guide on hand throughout the tour
All our Europe tours are 6 nights and run from Sunday to Saturday. You’ll ride every resort mid-week to maximise your time on-snow and avoid the weekend day-trippers. If 6 nights isn’t enough, then book one of our multi-tour combo’s. Join us in Austria, then start a new tour in a different destination the following day.
DATES Register your interest for winter 2024
PRO-TIP – GO PRIVATE!
Book this tour as a private departure – with your own guide and all the benefits of a Mint group tour – for any group, big or small (even just one traveller). Get in touch to discuss.
WHY TRAVEL WITH MINT?
In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. Mint is a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conducts business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we can take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre-or post tour arrangements.
WHAT IS A FREERIDE TOUR?
Our Freeride Tours offer you the best chance to ride off-piste and in powder. Our experienced guides have an in-depth knowledge of the resorts we visit, which gives you the ultimate advantage when your chasing deep, un-tracked snow. We’ll aim to ride powder, glades and trees so please be prepared to largely ride off-piste for 5 days. Of course weather and conditions are impossible to predict so guests must be prepared to ride anything.
WHAT HAPPENS ON ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DAY?
Once you’ve signed up for the tour we will send you through a comprehensive guide with details about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, a map of where we meet, recommended arrival and departure times, flight options, Visa requirements and transportation information.
WHAT IF I’M TRAVELLING SOLO?
About 99% of our guests are travelling solo, so you’ll be in good company. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in snow sports and an eagerness to explore all that a destination has to offer. The accommodation for this tour is single share i.e. 1 guest per room.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THIS TOUR?
Each tour is different, but we know that by offering one of the smallest client to guide ratio in the industry allows you to ski or snowboard at your preferred pace, and ultimately leads to a better experience for everyone. We have a maximum of 5 people per guide on this tour. This ensures you get the most out of your time with us, and keeping the groups small means less time waiting and more time riding powder.
IS THIS TOUR RIGHT FOR ME?
This tour is best suited to confident snowboarders who can link turns in powder snow, can make a variety of turn shapes and can traverse and hold speed. If you’re not sure, give us a call. Weather and ski conditions are impossible to predict so guests must be prepared to ride anything.
WHICH RESORTS WILL WE VISIT?
We keep the tour itinerary flexible so you can ride at the best resort on the day. Each day your guide will make the decision on which resort to ride based on a number of factors including weather, snowfall, group ability and interest.
CAN I ARRIVE EARLY OR STAY ON AFTER THE TOUR?
For most tours you can arrive earlier or stay later. We can tailor the trip to suit your travel plans. Speak with one of our tour specialists when you are booking and they will be more than happy to assist.
WHO ARE THE GUIDES?
All of our tours are guided by friendly, knowledgeable and expertly trained guides who are passionate about the mountains. Most of our guides work for us season after season. Our lead guide for this tour is local guide Andi who has years of guiding and coaching experience in the region, so it’s fair to say he knows a few of the secret spots.
ARE FLIGHTS INCLUDED?
No, flights are not included. If you need assistance booking flights, we can book you the best flight options for the tour, with no booking fees.
DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?
Yes. All guests on tour need to be covered be comprehensive travel insurance. Once you have booked on the tour, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance.
WHAT HAPPENS ONCE I’VE BOOKED?
Once you’ve booked your spot on tour, we will send you through a booking confirmation and provide updates about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, a map of where we meet, recommended arrival and departure times, flight options, Visa requirements and transportation information. We will send out a Pre Departure Guide 30 days prior to departure.
HOW CAN I CHECK MY ABILITY LEVEL?
The best way to check if a tour is suited to your ability is by speaking with one of our tour specialists. They will be able to determine if the tour you have selected is a good fit for your ability, as well as suggesting other tour options.
HOW DO I GET TO INNSBRUCK?
We’ll provide you with a guide with details on how to get to Innsbruck. If it’s your fist time to Europe or if you’re unsure about travel arrangements, often we can link you up with other tour guests to travel with.
HOW DO I CHECK AVAILABILITY?
Speak with one of our tour specialists. As this is a small group tour with limited availability, it’s best to get in touch early to avoid disappointment.
ARE LIFT TICKETS INCLUDED?
We don’t include lift tickets. We want you to be riding the best snow each day which is why we have a flexible itinerary. There is no single lift ticket that covers all the resorts we ride, and we don’t want to lock you in to pre-purchasing lift tickets so you have to ride certain resorts. You can just purchase a lift ticket on the day, wherever we may end up. This means we can travel far and wide to score you the best snow; from the major resorts, to the smaller hidden gems. A day pass price is typically EUR 25 – 50.
CAN I RENT EQUIPMENT?
We can arrange rental equipment for most destinations, however we do recommend bringing your own equipment as selection can be limiting. We do recommend bringing a freeride specific board for this tour.
WHAT EQUIPMENT SHOULD I BRING?
Innsbruck can be a cold place with temperatures typically ranging from 0 to -15 degrees Celsius. We strongly recommend that guests dress in clothing specific for traveling in backcountry areas. We recommend that guests have a good quality waterproof jacket and pants, lightweight insulated layer, merino base layers, merino gloves and waterproof gloves, goggles with low light & high light lenses, sunglasses, balaclava, beanie, and helmet. We recommend that all guests bring their own snowboarding equipment for the tour (board, boots, bindings & outerwear). Freeride specific boards are recommended.
WHO WILL BE ON MY TOUR?
Your group will be made up of travellers from diverse backgrounds and will be varied in age. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in snowsports and an eagerness to explore all that Europe has to offer. Please note that this is a co-ed tour.
PRICE PER PERSON
EUR 2,150 per person, single share room
RESERVATION AND DEPOSIT
To secure your spot on tour, a 50% deposit is payable within 3 days of booking. The balance is due 90 days prior to tour departure.
If you would like some more information or a quote for the tour you can contact us by:
1. ONLINE
Enquire below. Once we receive your request one of our Austria Tour Specialists will be in touch with a with a quote, availability and further details about the tour.
2. OVER THE PHONE
Call us and follow the prompts to speak to one of our Austria Tour specialists.
Within Australia (03)5296 0314