This exclusive Austrian resort attracts an upscale clientele from around the world who come to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, excellent skiing, and luxurious accommodation.
The Resort
Situated in the Arlberg region of western Austria, Lech is an upmarket mountain resort, with facilities and infrastructure to match, that has nonetheless managed to retain its traditional Alpine character. Originally a farming hamlet dating back to the 14th century, Lech’s emergence as an internationally-renowned ski destination began in the 1920s when Hannes Schneider and other local pioneers helped develop skiing as a leisure pastime.
Situated on the banks of the Lech river at an altitude of 1,450 metres, the village is part of the Unesco-listed Kleinwalsertal and still has a typical Vorarlberg atmosphere, with timber chalets and onion domed church spires. Today, Lech has plenty of luxury chalets, apartments and hotels along with chic boutiques and fine dining restaurants and is frequented by a well-heeled clientele from Europe and around the world. At 1,750 metres, the hamlet of Oberlech is even more exclusive and offers convenient access to the pistes, whilst the neighboring village of Zürs is more pastoral and somewhat less exclusive.
With the completion of the Flexenbahn lift system in 2016 Lech became fully integrated into the Arlberg ski area, the largest in Austria with a total of 305 km of marked runs. Lech’s predominantly northerly aspect and reliable winter precipitation generally ensure good snow conditions throughout the ski season. The Arlberg area is popular for off-piste skiing and Lech/Zürs are the only resorts in Austria where heli-skiing is permitted.
With convenient transport links to Zurich, Innsbruck or Friedrichshafen airports, Lech is easy to get to, however a restriction on the number of visitor beds available in the resort helps ensure that overcrowded pistes and long waits at the lifts are a rarity. Offering challenging skiing, high-end accommodation, world-class infrastructure and an authentic mountain ambience, Lech is a more laid-back and upmarket alternative to the larger and much livelier resort of St Anton 20 km down the road or a short ski away.
Our Lech Properties
The Lech Ski Area
Lech’s ski area offers everything from immaculately groomed pistes to exceptional off-piste terrain. The main slopes rise from the village at 1,450 metres to the Steinmähder and Zuger Hochlicht peaks at 2,450 metres. The aspect of the terrain is predominantly north-facing, ensuring excellent snow preservation throughout the season.
The local runs are particularly well-suited to intermediate skiers, with wide, beautifully maintained runs from Oberlech and the Schlegelkopf sector providing satisfying cruising. The famous ‘White Ring’ circuit, a 22 kilometre route linking Lech with Zürs and Zug, offers one of the Alps’ most scenic ski itineraries. Expert skiers will find challenging runs off the Steinmähder and some testing blacks beneath the Kriegerhorn.
Off-piste opportunities are extensive, though less obvious than in neighboring St Anton. The north-facing bowls beneath the Steinmähder and Zuger Hochlicht hold powder well after storms, while the routes from the Rüfikopf towards Zürs offer exciting terrain for advanced skiers. Lech is also one of the few Austrian resorts to permit heli-skiing, with drops on the Schneetäli and Mehlsack providing access to some spectacular high-alpine terrain.
The entire Arlberg region’s 305 kilometres of marked runs are easily accessible via the modern lift system, with swift connections to St Anton, Zürs, and Warth-Schröcken. Lech’s high altitude and extensive snowmaking ensure reliable conditions, while strict limits on daily ski passes prevent overcrowding and maintain the area’s reputation for uncrowded slopes and minimal lift queues. For those seeking fresh challenges, the newly developed Ski Arlberg circuit allows ambitious skiers to cover 65 kilometres and 18,000 vertical metres in a single day.