New Gondola Cabins for Hohe Salve: SkiWelt Invests €3.3 Million

SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental has made a major investment: the gondola lift from Hochsöll to Hohe Salve was fitted with brand-new cabins this summer. Bergbahnen Söll invested €3.3 million in the upgrade, aiming to make the ride up the 1,829-meter panoramic mountain more comfortable, accessible and visually appealing all year round.

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The previous red cabins of the eight-passenger Hohe Salve gondola dated back to 2000, meaning they had already clocked up an impressive 25 years of service. Work began when the winter season ended in April and was completed three months later.

The lift towers and cable were retained. The cable itself had only been replaced two years earlier, so no major changes to the existing infrastructure were required. This allowed the upgrade to be completed comparatively quickly and efficiently. The gondola lift’s uphill capacity also remains unchanged.

The retired original cabins sold out fast: priced at €3,000 each, every one soon found a new owner eager to secure a piece of cable car history.

A Constellation on Every Cabin

The new gondola makes a statement not only technically, but visually as well. Each of the new eight-passenger cabins is dedicated to a different constellation, tying in with “Between Heaven and Earth", this year’s theme at the neighboring Hexenwasser attraction in Söll. Passengers can also access audio guides on their smartphones by scanning a QR code.

Large panoramic windows offer unobstructed views of the surrounding mountains around Söll, Hopfgarten and the Wilder Kaiser throughout the journey. This turns the ride up Hohe Salve into an experience in its own right—perfectly in keeping with a theme centered on nature, time, mysticism and the skies above.

Improving accessibility was a key priority for Bergbahnen Söll. The new cabins now offer level, step-free boarding, making the journey considerably easier for families with strollers as well as guests with limited mobility. A new elevator has also been installed at the summit station, providing even better step-free access to the summit area.

Starting with the winter season in early December 2026, skiers can look forward to a modern and more comfortable ride to the summit. From there, an impressive 360-degree panorama takes in more than 70 peaks rising above 3,000 meters—from the Kitzbühel Alps and Zillertal Alps to the Hohe Tauern.

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In keeping with the redesigned gondola lift, another new attraction awaits visitors at the summit of Hohe Salve this summer: the Sky Labyrinth. The new play and discovery area invites children to explore, move around and test their sense of direction, while adults can enjoy the unique atmosphere and spectacular views. At the center of its winding paths stands the “SalvenSun.” Much like planets orbiting the sun, visitors circle it until they reach the golden center.

Together with the existing Sundial Trail, the labyrinth fits perfectly with this year’s Hexenwasser theme, “Between Heaven and Earth.” It makes the summit an even more appealing destination for families—ideal for a summer visit between ski seasons.

Wettervorhersage

Hohe Salve is just one of many highlights at SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental, one of the largest and most modern ski areas in the Alps. With 275 kilometers of slopes and 81 lifts, the ski area connects the ten resorts of Brixen im Thale, Ellmau, Going, Hopfgarten, Itter, Kelchsau, Kirchberg, Scheffau, Söll and Westendorf to create one vast, interconnected winter sports destination.

More than 1,000 snowmaking systems ensure reliable slope conditions even during winters with less natural snowfall, while over 80 mountain huts and restaurants provide plenty of opportunities to stop for refreshments. Those who want to keep skiing after sunset can head to Austria’s largest night skiing area, with floodlit runs in Söll and Brixen im Thale. More ambitious skiers can also take on the KitzSkiWelt Tour. Covering approximately 88 kilometers of slopes and around 17,000 vertical meters, it is considered one of the longest ski circuits in the world and connects SkiWelt with the neighboring KitzSki ski area.

For the 2026/27 winter season, SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental will open its lifts and slopes on December 5, 2026, and is expected to remain in operation until March 29, 2027. This gives winter sports enthusiasts almost four months to enjoy excellent skiing, welcoming mountain huts and unforgettable alpine experiences—including the newly redesigned ride up Hohe Salve.

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