Resort: The villages of Hallstatt and Obertraun are located in the Austrian province of Upper Austria and lie on the banks of the Hallstatt Lake and have since 1997 been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for its beauty and cultural heritage. Hallstatt is known to be one of the oldest human settlements in the world dating back to 5500 BC; it is made up of little wooden houses some of which stand on stilts in the river and was virtually inaccessible until the late 19th century when a road was blasted through the mountains. It is now only 1 hour 15 minutes from Salzburg.

Winter: In winter the Krippenstein – Dachstein – Obertraun ski region offers a great choice for all abilities. Just 20 minutes’ drives from here are the Dachstein-West Mountains which form upper Austria’s largest ski area. Located in the Salzburg province and at an altitude of 1400m it is the perfect place to enjoy skiing in the Alps with 152km of slopes serviced by 52 lifts. The village of Obertraun also has its own, family-friendly ski resort called Krippenstein which not only has a good selection of groomed pistes but is also excellent for off-piste skiing with over 30km of safe terrain.

Summer: In Summer this region offers a hiking paradise for nature lovers as there are numerous activities such as boating on the lake, scuba diving in the crystal clear waters (which are so clean they are drinking quality) and taking one of the many walking routes within the villages. Even the most casual of ramblers can relax, take in a beer and sample some traditional Austrian cuisine while enjoying the beautiful scenery and taking in the fresh Alpine air. In the region there are plenty of adventure playgrounds, beach volleyball, mini golf, alpine slides, horse riding and fishing.