DESTINATIONS :
SKIING
DECK CHAIRS AT COURCHEVAL : FRANCE
Europe is scattered with fantastic ski resorts, offering thrills and adventure for all levels. There are resorts to challenge the experts, gentle slopes for beginners, remote mountain villages, beautiful wooded valleys, sophisticated dining and exciting night-life with cocktails and dancing. Whichever resort you pick you will find a wide range of places to stay; from family run hotels, offering warmth, traditional charm and hospitality; through to some seriously luxurious chic chalets that are so amazing you could be tempted to never leave. We have selected just a few of our favourite resorts, including one in Canada, along with some key facts that we hope you will find useful. Please contact us for more information, flight prices and details of accommodation.
A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITE SKI RESORTS
» Courcheval : France
Courcheval offers some of the best skiing conditions in France and has a reputation for being the world’s best ski resort. It is set in the magnificent Trois Vallees, a vast terrain with an incredible choice of runs making it a favourite for families. The resort itself is set across four levels, from La Praz at 1350, through to 1550, 1650 and finally up to 1850 which is the most exclusive, each linked by a variety of ski lifts and a ski bus.
The resort offers great beginners’ slopes, more challenging skiing higher up and a dedicated snowboarding park, as well as ice skating, tobogganing, skidoo-ing, and ice climbing. There is a strong cafe society and the boutiques, fabulous restaurants and stylish chalets give it an air of sophistication.
The resort offers great beginners’ slopes, more challenging skiing higher up and a dedicated snowboarding park, as well as ice skating, tobogganing, skidoo-ing, and ice climbing. There is a strong cafe society and the boutiques, fabulous restaurants and stylish chalets give it an air of sophistication.
» Tignes : France
Tignes in France is perfect for serious ski enthusiasts who will delight in the amazing terrain that is part of the vast expanse of Espace Killy, an off-piste haven. Compared to its neighbour Val d’Isre, sport comes first here and you’re more likely to find visitors staying on the slopes as long as possible rather than partying the night away.
Being set at a higher altitude it is snow sure making it ideal for early or late season trips and a highlight is the Grand Motte glacier with its excellent runs back down to the resort. The resort is split between Val Claret, Le Lac and Le Lavachet, and most visitors tend to move between each of the villages to access the skiing and lively selection of bars and restaurants.
Being set at a higher altitude it is snow sure making it ideal for early or late season trips and a highlight is the Grand Motte glacier with its excellent runs back down to the resort. The resort is split between Val Claret, Le Lac and Le Lavachet, and most visitors tend to move between each of the villages to access the skiing and lively selection of bars and restaurants.
» Champoluc : Italy
Champoluc, Italy, sits at the end of the Val d’Ayas, one of three adjacent valleys that make up the spectacular Monterosa ski area. It is still relatively unknown amongst British skiers but this beautiful resort offers an unspoilt skiing experience that is quite unique.
The villages still feel like authentic Italian farming communities and during the week the slopes are quiet and peaceful. It is perfect for intermediates with great selection of well maintained wide open runs, offering stunning views across the valley and a lovely selection of mountain restaurants. Monterosa is also one of the best places in Europe to get a taste of heliskiing.
The villages still feel like authentic Italian farming communities and during the week the slopes are quiet and peaceful. It is perfect for intermediates with great selection of well maintained wide open runs, offering stunning views across the valley and a lovely selection of mountain restaurants. Monterosa is also one of the best places in Europe to get a taste of heliskiing.
» Zermatt : Switzerland
Zermatt, spectacularly situated beneath the majestic Matterhorn, is a lively and sophisticated resort that offers fantastic skiing, breathtaking scenery and a lively nightlife. Reached by a scenic 10 minute train ride from the valley below this delightful traffic free resort oozes Swiss charm.
It is made up of three main ski areas, the Rothorn, the Gornergrat and the Klein Matterhorn, that together cover over 180km of pistes and offer clients a superb variety of skiing as well as stunning views. The jewel in Switzerland’s crown, it has justifiably earned the reputation as one of the world’s best winter destinations and is a haven for intermediates who come for the extensive off-piste which covers another 394km linking Zermatt to Cervinia in Italy.
It is made up of three main ski areas, the Rothorn, the Gornergrat and the Klein Matterhorn, that together cover over 180km of pistes and offer clients a superb variety of skiing as well as stunning views. The jewel in Switzerland’s crown, it has justifiably earned the reputation as one of the world’s best winter destinations and is a haven for intermediates who come for the extensive off-piste which covers another 394km linking Zermatt to Cervinia in Italy.
» Whistler : British Columbia
Whistler in British Columbia, is North America’s No.1 resort and the annual snow-fall of over 30 feet makes sure there’s plenty of off-piste and powder making it a firm favourite of skiers and boarders. The skiing is vast, being divided between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, and for advanced skiers, it just doesn’t get much better.
Blackcomb has steepness with long glacial descents, Whistler has bumps, couloirs, massive high-alpine powder bowls and chutes, making it the perfect playground for competent skiers and thrill-seekers. Après ski here has really taken off and the lively main village offers excellent shopping and a great choice of dining. The mountain also has zip trekking, dog sledding, snowmobiling and heli-skiing.
Blackcomb has steepness with long glacial descents, Whistler has bumps, couloirs, massive high-alpine powder bowls and chutes, making it the perfect playground for competent skiers and thrill-seekers. Après ski here has really taken off and the lively main village offers excellent shopping and a great choice of dining. The mountain also has zip trekking, dog sledding, snowmobiling and heli-skiing.
‘There are really only three things to learn in skiing: how to put on your skis, how to slide downhill, and how to walk along the hospital corridor.’
Lord Mancroft, A Chinaman in the Bath, 1974
