Zermatt ( www.zermatt.ch ), Switzerland’s ski resort, would be a dream destination for skiers even if it didn’t have one of the world’s most stunning mountains as a backdrop. However, it is the ski area that attracts the most interest. The 360km of pistes have some of the best trails in the Swiss and Italian Alps, and the Matterhorn’s spectacular peak can be viewed from practically anywhere. The world’s highest 3S Cable Lift opened in 2019, transporting around 2,000 skiers per hour to the Matterhorn Glacier at 3,883 metres altitude, where you can ski all year. It has the longest downhill descent in Europe, stretching over 25 kilometres from the Matterhorn glacier to Zermatt. Few sites can match Zermatt’s off-piste possibilities.
St. Anton ( www.Stantonamarlberg.com ) is a legendary name among skiers and has a reputation for keeping things moving especially when it comes to pistes, powder, and most definitely parties because it was here that the first ski club in the Alps was founded in 1901. Its 340 kilometres of terrain, which reach heights of 2,800 metres, are not for beginners and indeed most intermediates, as it has some of the most difficult runs in the Alps. That isn’t to argue that novices should stay at home; this is the birthplace of ski school and Alpine skills, and the standards have stayed high. Experts, on the other hand, will undoubtedly make the most of the landscape. It’s one of the snowiest destinations in the Alps, with some of the thickest snow and steepest descents on the planet, so the off-piste skiing is fantastic. The regional Arlberg lift pass grants access to 340 kilometres of slopes and pistes, including those in the neighbouring Austrian ski resorts of Lech and Zürs, all of which offer plenty of beginner and intermediate skiing possibilities.
Whistler Blackcomb ( www.whistlerblackcomb.com ) blends the best of two mountains’ terrain to create Canada’s greatest ski resort and North America’s largest winter sports region. More than 200 runs are accessible through 37 lifts on the combined skiable terrain. The PEAK 2 PEAK gondola, which spans 3 kilometres and is the world’s largest unsupported lift span, connects the two mountaintops. The Nintendo Terrain Parks will enthral freestyle skiers with every feature you could imagine… and then some. That’s before we get off the beaten path. It’s an equally fantastic choice for families and casual skiers, with unrivalled vistas that stretch all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Sufficient of terrain for all ability levels, and a delightful full-service resort community right at the base.
Kitzbühel ( www.kitzbuehel.com/en ) in the Austrian Alps, appears like a travel poster for Alpine ski towns, with its highly decorated houses and mountain chalets, and is easily accessible from both Salzburg and Innsbruck. When you’ve had your fill of skiing, return to one of the world’s most beautiful mountain towns. Bright coaching inns are home to a plethora of pleasures, including high-end boutiques, recognised restaurants, and high-end spa hotels, perfect for capping off a spectacular day on the hill. Kitzbühel offers a comfortable warmth and lodgings that welcome families on a budget, despite its sophisticated boutiques and luxury hotels giving it the appearance of a fashionable Swiss resort.
Courchevel ( www.courchevel.com/en ) despite its posh villages and reputation, is for serious skiers seeking once-in-a-lifetime snow experiences. It’s well-known for its champagne bars and Chanel-clad patrons, but that doesn’t mean the skiing is forgotten. Courchevel is in the heart of the 3 Valleys, amongst the world’s largest network of linked pistes (spanning 600km) and offers every type of terrain imaginable: interconnected ski runs spanning ten peaks above 2,500 metres and 150 kilometres of alpine ski terrain served by 60 lifts, entire valley descents, huge freeway cruisers, and runs that will give you goosebumps. Legs may well be begging for some pampering after all this.
Chamonix ( www.chamonix.com/en ) is one of the classics, having hosted the first Winter Olympics and being at the base of the iconic Mont Blanc. There are FIVE ski regions to discover, each as spectacular as the next, and they all combine to create Chamonix, one of France’s most well-known and popular ski resorts. Beginners have 4 nursery slopes to choose from, and there are numerous British-run ski schools offering good instruction. The off-piste skiing at Chamonix is legendary. There’s skiing for all levels as well as cross-country tracks, so it’s not just for specialists.
Val d’Isere ( www.valdisere.com/en ) and adjacent Tignes share the high valley, providing more than 300 kilometres of interconnected ski terrain supported by over 150 ski lifts. After winning 3 gold medals at the 1968 Winter Olympics, skiing hero Jean-Claude Killy made the area famous. Beginners have their own Slow Zones in the area. For talented skiers, however, it’s the outstanding off-piste terrain that awards bragging rights. This isn’t just a great ski area; it also has some of the best après in the country, with the original La Folie Douce rocking every afternoon since 1980 bringing generations closer by having fun and enjoying themselves. The town doesn’t disappoint either: it’s painfully classic, with stone and wood houses strewn everywhere.