INN → HGU
Hochgurgl from Innsbruck Airport
At the head of the Ötztal, just a few minutes' drive below the Timmelsjoch, Hochgurgl sits at 2,150 metres. The last twelve kilometres are the most demanding, and we drive them all winter.
The route
From Innsbruck Airport the drive heads west on the Inntal motorway to the Haiming, Ötztal exit. From there the main road runs up the Ötztal through Oetz, Umhausen and Längenfeld, home of the Aqua Dome, one of Tyrol’s best-known thermal spas, to Sölden.
Beyond Sölden comes the part that makes this route special. At Zwieselstein, still part of Sölden, the valley divides: right for Vent, straight on into the Gurgl area. Just before Obergurgl the road forks again. To the right it ends in the village of Obergurgl. To the left it climbs through hairpins to Hochgurgl at 2,150 metres and on towards the Timmelsjoch, which is closed in winter. Hochgurgl is still part of the municipality of Sölden.
In total that is around 100 kilometres and roughly an hour and 30 minutes. The last section needs particular care in winter. It is open all year, but in extreme weather it can be closed for short periods. That calls for very well-equipped vehicles and drivers who know the road. Our vehicles carry full winter equipment from 1 November onwards, not only when Austria’s winter tyre rules require it.
Where we drop you
Hochgurgl is not a village with a centre but a small group of hotels right on the slopes. We drive you to the hotel door, not to the edge of the resort. Give us the hotel name when you book and we will know the way in.
Private transfer vs. public transport
The private transfer runs straight from the arrivals hall to your accommodation, whatever time you land, with no changes and no hauling gear and luggage between trains and buses.
The fixed price is per vehicle, not per person: two people pay the same as seven, gear and luggage included. On a run this far up the Ötztal, the numbers clearly favour the private transfer.
By public transport, Hochgurgl is one of the most laborious trips in the whole Ötztal. From the airport you take the bus into town to the main station or the Westbahnhof, the train to Ötztal Bahnhof and the local bus the full length of the valley, with a change in Sölden. All told, that is several hours.
In the evening it gets tight. The last buses into the upper Ötztal leave before some flights land, and if you arrive late in Innsbruck you may not reach Hochgurgl by public transport the same day.
When you travel
Thanks to their altitude, Hochgurgl and Obergurgl have one of the longest and most snow-sure seasons in Tyrol. Skiing usually starts in mid to late November and runs into May, considerably longer than in lower resorts.
That shifts travel times too. While other ski areas close in April, guests are still arriving and leaving here, and in November Hochgurgl and Obergurgl are among the few destinations already open. We drive the route throughout.
Saturday is the changeover day. Traffic regularly grinds almost to a halt in Oetz, where there is just one road through the village, and the same happens again in Sölden. As there is no alternative route, we plan particularly generous travel times on those days.
Night arrivals cost the same as daytime ones.
Arrival and meeting point
Your driver will be waiting in the arrivals hall with a name sign. Before you travel we send you the vehicle’s make, model and registration, along with your driver’s name and phone number.
Always give us your flight number when you book. We then track your flight in real time and allow for delays, diversions and early landings automatically. We wait 60 minutes free of charge after landing, which covers passport control and baggage reclaim.
Innsbruck Airport is small and the walk is short. There is usually less than half an hour between landing and setting off, though it can take longer when it is busy. Please switch off flight mode on your mobile phone once you land, so we can reach you.
The return journey: Hochgurgl to Innsbruck Airport
The return journey also has a fixed price, just like the outbound. We collect you from your departure address. You are welcome to book the return when you book your outbound transfer, or at a later date.
On departure day we plan particularly generously, so that you reach the terminal around two hours before your flight. Please take an early pickup time seriously and do not push it back: your driver knows the route, the traffic and the road conditions, and our aim is to get you to your flight without stress.
Easily confused
Hochgurgl and Obergurgl are marketed together as the Obergurgl-Hochgurgl ski area, or simply Gurgl. This page covers Hochgurgl. Obergurgl is around four kilometres away and a good 200 metres lower, and is a separate destination with its own fixed price.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the transfer from Innsbruck Airport to Hochgurgl take?
Around an hour and 30 minutes for roughly 100 kilometres, up the Ötztal and the hairpins. In snow we plan extra time. The fixed price does not change.
Is Hochgurgl the same as Obergurgl?
No. Both are part of the same ski area, but Hochgurgl sits a good 200 metres higher on its own road. For us they are two destinations, each with its own fixed price.
Is the road to Hochgurgl open in winter?
In principle yes. It is reliably cleared in winter, but in extreme weather it can be closed for short periods. Our vehicles are fully equipped for winter and our drivers are trained for it.
My flight lands late in the evening. Can I still get to Hochgurgl?
Yes, absolutely, and at no extra charge. By public transport that might not be possible the same day, since connections to the upper Ötztal stop early in the evening. We run around the clock.
Can I cancel free of charge?
Yes, up to 24 hours before your scheduled pickup. If the airline cancels your flight, you can cancel free of charge at any time, provided you send us the airline’s cancellation confirmation before you travel.
How do I pay?
Your choice: online when you book, or on arrival, paying your driver in cash or by card (except American Express). The price is the fixed price confirmed when you booked. If you change the destination during the drive to an address outside Hochgurgl, we adjust the price.
Are child seats available?
Yes, from infant carriers to booster seats, on request and at no extra charge. All seats meet the current UN R129 (i-Size) standard. Tell us the number and ages of the children on the day of travel when you book, so the right seats are fitted.
