Must-Go Ski Destinations Worldwide
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"What would be ugly in a garden constitutes beauty in a mountain." - Victor Hugo
For those who love this time of year, now is the perfect chance to take a break and be surrounded by fluffy white snow, mountain peaks, alpine trees and the adrenaline of winter sports. The time to take advantage of the opportunity isn’t over yet! Ski season is always a very exciting time, and choosing the right ski destination can make or break your experience.
Here are some of our favourite ski destinations, so you can book that flight and start packing!
Austria, Zillertal
Home to the majestic Alps, the elegant waltz, the brilliance of Mozart and Strauss and delicious schnitzel and strudel, Austria is a preferred winter destination due to its glorious scenery and impressive snowy slopes. Nothing quite compares to the Alpine activities at Zillertal; with four ski regions, 125 cross-country ski trails, numerous ski tours for all difficulty levels, snowshoe hikes, several ice skating rinks, winter hiking trails, toboggan runs, horse-drawn sleigh rides and ice climbing, Zillertal is truly a winter paradise.
The Zillertal Ski Arena is the largest skiing area of the incredible Zillertal valley. The area offers 143 kilometres of slopes and 52 lifts, where beginners, pro skiers and snowboarders will find a variety of exhilarating slopes to try. Skiing to an altitude of 2,500 metres within a snow-sure location guarantees a perfect winter holiday.
Deeply rooted in mountain traditions, Das Posthotel is the perfect alpine hideaway in Zillertal. With raw pine, oak and native spruce decorating its authentic interior, the hotel is only 1.5 kilometres from the Zillertal Ski Arena. Unwind after an invigorating day on the slopes with a fully equipped boutique spa, essential to resting your joints until your next jam-packed ski.
The ski season starts from early December and ends in late April so now’s your time to start packing your ski gear.
Switzerland, Crans-Montana
With mind-blowing scenery, beautiful cities and of course milk chocolate, Switzerland rules as one of the most inspiring alpine countries and ski locations. Located near Sierre in the district of Valais, the Crans-Montana ski resort offers exceptional views of the Swiss Alps and the Rhône Valley. Cable cars await you so that you can enjoy more than 140km of slopes during sun-filled days.
Located 1500-3000 metres above sea level, there’s slopes for skiers of all levels. There are also many cross-country ski trails in this region including the high altitude cross-country course at the Plaine-Morte glacier that even allows skiing in summer! Imagine skiing down these slopes with the sun on your face amid incredible views of the most beautiful 4000m peaks such as Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. There really is no better way to spend your ski holiday.
Located on the unadulterated landscape of the Swiss Alpine peaks and the Rhône Valley, Hotel Chetzeron induces a peaceful and luxurious feeling over 2000 metres above sea level. In this former cable car station, Chetzeron is the perfect hotel to stay, where you can indulge in an authentic alpine skiing experience, complemented by wonderful ski-in-ski-out access. With extra large windows providing panoramic views of the alps and authentically natural stone combined with cosy but sleek interiors, this luxuriously majestic mountainous hideout will make for an unforgettable experience.
Austria, Lech
Located in the largest interconnected ski area in Austria, SkiArlberg represents a new dimension of skiing pleasure. With over 300 breathtaking ski-downhill kilometres, 88 running cable cars and more than 200 kilometres of deep snow runs, Arlberg is one of the snowiest regions in the alps and one of the largest ski resorts in the world. It’s also known for its diverse fun parks, toboggan runs and race tracks.
Home to numerous ski pioneers, the slopes around Lech offer all levels of difficulty; from Kinderland (for beginners) to the deepest snow runs for the intermediates. For all you adrenaline-seekers, you can also sign up for the Run of Fame where you’ll dare to ski from St. Anton via Zürs and Lech to Warth with 85 kilometres and 18,000 vertical meters. Are you feeling up for the challenge?
The luxurious Hotel & Chalet Aurelio is THE place to stay on your trip to the Ski Arlberg. Recently awarded the “World’s Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018”, it sure meets that standard. This hotel has also been described as the most luxurious ski and spa lodge in Austria and really is the main talking point of Lech. Located on the Schlegelkopf slope, surrounded by picturesque mountains, it also offers a ski-in-ski-out service, perfect for those who want to roll out of bed and ski! Although Lech is famous for its many many kilometres of perfect slopes, you can also walk through this winter wonderland with Aurelio’s three fluffy resident alpacas… yes, alpacas.
Wake up and ski to your heart's content right out the doorstep from the hotel, and enjoy the smooth white snow beneath your skis whilst you watch the sunrise over the Alps. Or, enjoy the 23-metre pool and herbal steam rooms to help you unwind and leave you glowing after your long day of riding the slopes.
France, Tignes
Located in the French Alps close to the Italian border, Tignes has one of the highest ski resorts in the Alps with guaranteed skiing all year round. The ski area space is now called Espace Killy, however is still known as Tignes or Val d’Isère to regulars. With over 300 kilometres of terrain, it’s the perfect option for advanced and intermediate skiers whose idea of heaven is skiing around the mountains all day.
The Tignes / Val d’Isère ski area is definitely one of the most beautiful and largest ski areas in the Savoie region and in the Alps. With activities including on-piste skiing, freestyle, snowboarding, ice-climbing, husky rides, ice skating or even just a bit of family-friendly sledging, whatever you like doing, this is the perfect spot for you!
Situated in the heart of the most beautiful Savoie resorts and with dramatic views of the entire terrain, Village Montana is the ideal stay for this trip. It is a group of chalets, hotels and residences that offer authentic alpine experiences at the bottom of the slopes. Situated in Tignes, Val d’Isère and Val Thorens offer a brilliant ski-in-ski-out service so you can enjoy the slopes each and every day anew.
If you’re struggling to find somewhere to stay, Hotel Village Montana could be the perfect choice. With interiors featuring traditional Savoyard details, cosy atmospheres with fireplaces in every room and chic alpine design, Hotel Village Montana will be the cherry on top of this spectacular trip. After a long day of ski activities, indulge yourself in the spa and experience its outdoor Nordic swimming pool. Ski to your heart's content, celebrate, then unwind and relax under the snowflakes, with unspoiled views of the spotlit slopes and village at night.
Switzerland, Gstaad
With a range of excellent slopes for fun-filled snowboarding and skiing experiences, Gstaad is one of the world’s famous resorts. Located at an altitude of 1000-3000 metres above sea level, over 200 kilometres of slopes are nestled in between the German and French speaking part of Switzerland.
Gstaad is a romantic winter village and is the Swiss resort of fairy tales. Although the skiing is slightly more limited locally than others, venture up to the only glacier in the Bernese Oberland where you can ski with a magnificent view of the beautiful Gstaad village. This resort is definitely one of the more attractive and upscale, making a name for itself as a holiday destination of royalty and celebrity in recent years.
Behind the log cabin exterior lies the comforting home of Huus Gstaad. Tucked away on a hill in the Bernese Alps, this chic chalet is where you can enjoy the most picturesque views of Gstaad. After a ski-filled day, escape to this intimate hotel and comfort yourself with woollen tartan throws, dark wooden panelling and an authentic alpine environment.
Providing you with any ski equipment you may need and under ten minutes to the main ski resorts, Huus Gstaad provides everything you could possibly desire, producing the ideal skiing experience.
Canada, Alberta (Banff)
Both majestic and captivating, the Canadian Rockies are the ones to explore in every season. Just before the winter storm, the mountains nestle under a blanket of snow, preparing for the picturesque and invigorating ski season. They stretch an impressive 3000 miles from British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, to Wyoming and New Mexico in the US.
As Alberta has one of the longest ski seasons in the world, you can start booking your late ski trip from now up until May. There are three ski resorts located in the Banff National Park; Mount Norquay, most famous for its training grounds of Olympic and World Cup athletes, as well as its night skiing; Sunshine Village, featuring more than 3000 acres of skiable terrain; and the Lake Louise Ski Area, offering a wide range of runs for beginners and intermediates.
Buffalo Mountain Lodge is a timber and fieldstone complex on the slopes of Tunnel Mountain - formally called the “Sleeping Buffalo”, overlooking the extraordinary town of Banff and the Bow Valley. This mountain retreat is at complete harmony with its surroundings.
Although this is not a ski-in-ski-out hotel, it does offer a complimentary shuttle to the Banff Ski bus and it’s only a fifteen-minute drive to the charming Mount Norquay, and 25 minutes away from the Sunshine Mountain, famous for having the best snow in Canada!
USA, Wyoming
As the US has a huge variety of ski destinations, Wyoming is definitely one of the top locations to go for your ski trip. Located in the city of Jackson, Wyoming’s Jackson Hole Valley, is the home to three main ski areas, offering over 2400 acres of slopes for all skiers and gorgeous scenery. Carpeted in snow from November to late Spring, the Rocky Mountains in Jackson Hole offer incredible outdoor activities all year round. There are a ton of winter activities on offer, including alpine and cross-country skiing, dog-sledding, nature treks, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and many many more. It’s a delight to never run short of fun things to do here!
With the name Amangani meaning “peaceful home”, visitors all year round come to stay to escape and be surrounded by complete remoteness. The Amangani hotel is nestled amongst the breathtaking Teton Mountains, located 20 minutes away from the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort as well as the Snow King Mountain. It’s the perfect stay for those seeking a relaxing retreat all year round. Whether it’s craving the outdoor winter activities, yoga outside in the summer or bathing in the infinity pool, Amangani does not disappoint.
