Panorama Camping is a friendly, well organised campsite with an excellent central facilities building with free showers, toilets and a well equipped laundrette which are clean and very well maintained.
There is a pub/restaurant on site which offers good budget friendly food and drink. There is also a regular free ski bus service from the site to the town centre Bergbahn & the out of town Alpenrosenbahn ski lift. The family run site work hard to keep access and internal roads open and provide 140 pitches with 16amp EHU, cable TV, and on some piped gas. The site has very good access to facilities with a supermarket (hofer/aldi) across the road, a vet within 1km, a good safe dog walk to the rear of the site and direct access to a prepared langlauf area. There are a large number of seasonal pitches in use with mostly Dutch and German residents which gives the whole site a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
The campsite is just outside the well known town of Westendorf which has a good independent ski area (120kms) with a direct link to the popular SkiWelt domain (290kms). It is conveniently located about 10 minutes walk from the town centre, which has a good range of shops, cafes and restaurants.
How to get to Panorama Camping
There are two options for your journey to Panorama Camping. The most direct from Calais at 660 miles is via Luxembourg on the E25, the A13 & A8 in Germany to Munich and onto the A93 to the border at Kufstein. From there follow the E45/A12 to Worgl (some toll free sections again in 2021/22), and then the 178 & 170 to Westendorf. The campsite is on your right as you approach the outskirts of the town and is well sign-posted. There is a good level slip road to access the entrance which has sufficient parking for several large vans whilst you book in at reception.
For caravans: The better route will be to miss out Luxembourg and head for Koln, Wurzburg, and the A3 then A9 past Nuremberg to Munich, which will miss out some long tortuous hills. From Munich follow A99/A8 to Kufstein and then as above. Mileage on this route is around 680 miles.
If you’re looking for route planning advice for your caravan ski trip – check out this article on Winterised.
What do you get for your money at Panorama Camping
- Panorama Camping Tarif
- 16amp EHU with UK style connector.
- Some pitches have piped gas which is charged with a one off connection fee and per m3 (@2kgs)
- Showers are free
- Token operated washing machine and dryer
- Secure heated boot and ski room
- Drinking water available in large washing up room
- Grey and chemical disposal area under cover
- Morning breakfast service available in restaurant
- Gas cylinder exchange (German/Austrian type. Adapter required)
- Piped gas on some pitches
- English speaking staff at reception and restaurant
- Good value pub/restaurant open from 0800hrs daily
- Good wifi across site (payable), 4G & 3G signal good dependent on provider.
- Wooden pallets available on request for awnings
- Dogs welcome @€4.40 per day (included in flat rare pricing)
- Dog walking area adjacent to site
- Langlauf course starts from rear of site
- Seasonal pitches available
SkiWelt – What is the skiing like in Westendorf?
The ski area across the SkiWelt consists of 290 kms of predominantly red and blue pistes with some demanding expert runs both on and off piste in the Hohe Salve area. The terrain ranges from 620m to 1920m and can suffer from lack of snow at some points late in the season. If you can catch the Skiwelt out of school holidays and when good snow levels prevail, the skiing here is excellent, but attempt a warming south facing slope in the school holidays you may find the skiing is little more than a survival course if a beginner! The return red run down to Brixen-im-Thale to the link gondola for Westendorf can be heavily moguled with thin cover throughout in peak season, resulting in a long run disguised as an obstacle course.
As a standalone ski area, Westendorf has 120kms of largely north and east facing piste which produces a good balance on all but the warmest of days. Good snow making facilities and modern lift infrastructure adds to the resorts credentials. There are several ski schools operating, mostly from the central piste area in Westendorf town.
Winterised Tips
- It is mandatory to have winter tyres on your vehicle in Austria between Oct & March. For more information on winter tyres, regulations and the law see our articles at Winterised.com and Winterised on tyres for caravans
- If you have a car with you consider day trips to Soll, Ellmau, Brixen and Kitzbuhel
- Check out evening ski show in Westendorf on Wednesday evenings
- In peak season an overspill camping area is created to rear of site, additional 25m EHU lead may be required
- In Westendorf, ski through lunch for near deserted pistes
- For a easy pre ski breakfast stop try Backerei Mitterer on Dorfstrasse, two minutes from the ski schools in the town centre
- If visiting late season, check out snow levels before arrival, and avoid school holidays if possible
Pros
- Easy access, level site with excellent facilities
- Competitive off season pricing
- Piped gas facilities on some pitches
- Good langlauf, snowshoe, and winter walking areas
- Heated boot room and ski store
- Ski bus from campsite gates
- Easy access to other ski areas nearby.
Cons
- If pitched at furthest edge of site, dragging water etc from service point is a pain. A children’s sledge to drag containers over the ice a useful idea
- Campsite does accept credit cards, but flat rate deals require cash or debit card
- Campsite restaurant can be adversely affected by smoking in the bar area
- Ski areas can be affected by low altitude and degrading snow
Photos | Panorama Camping (1-5) & John Wilson (6-9)
