If Hochgurgl (2,150m/7,054 ft.) were actually a village, it would take the "loftiest village in Austria" title away from other claimants. However, Hochgurgl is really little more than a cluster of hotels, whose owners anxiously await the first snowfall each year.
Consider Hochgurgl mainly a choice for a winter visit, as nearly everything closes in summer, when it becomes a sleepy little hamlet with not much action. In winter, however, it comes out of hibernation and can get quite lively if the crowd is right.
This is an area for dedicated skiers who want access to some of Europe's highest peaks. A three-section chairlift, leaving from Untergurgl, just outside Obergurgl, will transport you to Wurmkogl at some 3,050m (10,007 ft.). At this lofty elevation, skiing is possible year-round. From a restaurant at Wurmkogl, you have a panoramic view of the Italian Alps.
