Skiing
Best Ski Locations around the world!
Top-Rated Ski Resorts in the World
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Skiing is now a popular winter activity for the whole family, having quickly outgrown its beginnings as a sport for brave mountaineers. In addition, ski resorts all over the world have added hotels, restaurants, apres-ski entertainment, and a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities to meet the demand. However, for skiers, the snow and the mountainside terrain it falls on matter.
Even though Europe and North America have the most well-known ski resorts in the world, the Winter Olympics of 1998 put Japan on the map for skiers, and the Andes have gained more attention as a result of enthusiasts' search for snow all year long.
The ski experience itself - the variety and difficulty of the terrain, the snow conditions, and lift access - predominates in selecting these top choices for any serious skier's bucket list. While there are many factors to take into consideration when selecting the best ski resort for your vacation, the ski experience itself is the most important one.
Caution: Backcountry terrain in many of these mountains is unpredictable by nature and should not be attempted without a trained and well-equipped guide.
Track down the best places of ski resorts on the planet.
Whistler Blackcomb, Canada
Website: www.whistlerblackcomb.com
Now part of Vail Resorts group, Whistler Blackcomb combines the superb terrain of two mountains to make it Canada's premier ski resort and the largest winter sports area in North America. The combined skiable terrain offers more than 200 runs accessed by 37 lifts. One of these, the three-kilometer-plus PEAK 2 PEAK gondola joins the two mountaintops and is the world's longest unsupported lift span. These outstanding technical facilities paired with the variety of terrain — wide-open bowls on Whistler Mountain and the Horstman Glacier on Blackcomb (where you can ski year-round) — and world-class grooming keep Whistler a favorite for serious skiers. Whistler Blackcomb is also a favorite of freestyle skiers and boarders. Five diverse parks covering 99 acres of snow are designed for all levels of freestyle, from easy jumps and rails to the Nintendo Terrain Park and an Olympic-sized pipe. The pros train here, but the wide variety makes this a good place to learn the basics. Incomparable views that stretch to the Pacific Ocean, plenty of terrain for all skill levels, and a charming full-service resort village right at the base make it an equally good choice for families and casual skiers. There's enough snow and mountain to go around, and it's just a two-hour drive from Vancouver. Whistler is just one of several outstanding ski resorts in British Columbia. Many of these are located in the interior of the province but are still easy to reach from Vancouver, either by car or a short flight.
Courchevel, France
Website: www.courchevel.com
Despite its decidedly upscale villages and reputation, Courchevel is for serious skiers looking for snow thrills of a lifetime. Part of Les 3 Vallées region, the world's largest Alpine ski domain, with 600 kilometers of interconnected ski runs across 10 summits higher that 2,500 meters, Courchevel offers 150 kilometers of Alpine ski terrain accessed by 60 lifts. The yearly average of four meters of natural snow is meticulously maintained and groomed, and the off-piste skiing is legendary. Black runs include one corridor (couloir) that's considered one of the most difficult black runs in the world; there's also a good choice of steep black mogul runs. For tight tree skiing, head for Jockeys and Jean Blanc pistes, from the top of Col de la Loze to Le Praz. Jean Blanc is a former World Cup downhill run. At the end of the day, you'll find restaurants in any of the five villages (seven of them are Michelin-starred), although this season won't see the usual dazzling après-ski scene that has made it among the most popular ski resorts in France.
Zermatt, Switzerland
Website: www.zermatt.ch
Even if it didn't have one of the world's most beautiful mountains as a backdrop, Switzerland's ski resort of Zermatt would be a place skiers dream about. It's the highest winter sports area in the Alps, and it has the greatest vertical drop in Switzerland, plus the magnificent peak of the Matterhorn can be seen from almost everywhere on its 350 kilometers of trails and slopes. New last year was the world's highest 3S Lift, carrying 2,000 skiers an hour to the Matterhorn Glacier, at 3,883 meters altitude, where you can ski year-round. Not enough reason to ski here? Try the chance not only to ski over a mountain pass and down into a trail system on the other side, but it's over an international boundary, as well. The Matterhorn's southern face is in Italy, and skiing over the Theodul Pass leads you into the immense trail system of Breuil-Cervinia, in Italy's Val d'Aosta. There's also Europe's longest downhill run, from Matterhorn glacier (Klein Matterhorn) into Zermatt, over 25 kilometers long. Zermatt Snow Park on the Theodul Glacier, one of the highest in the Alps, is the hot spot for snowboarders and freeride skiers. Few places can equal the off-piste opportunities of Zermatt. Along with Rothhorn, Stockhorn, and the Matterhorn Glacier, Zermatt is the gateway to one of the world's most exhilarating off-piste experiences, the 178-kilometer (111 miles) mountaineering route from Zermatt to Chamonix, in the French Alps, known as the Haute Route. A guide is mandatory, as are expert skills and high-altitude stamina; the route connects a network of mountain huts, inns, and lodges and usually takes eight days to complete.
Vail Mountain Resort, Colorado, USA
Website: www.vail.com
Vail Ski Resort is a premier ski destination in the United States with over 5,300+ acres of skiable terrain and a summit of over 11,570 feet. Here you will find over 193 trails, 10 bowls, and 39 lifts to explore. In addition to skiing and snowboarding passes, the resort also offers ski/snowboard lessons and cross-country skiing tours. One-day and multi-day lift passes, and unlimited access passes to resorts across the country are available for purchase online. During the off-season, Vail Ski Resort offers scenic gondola rides, a mountain coaster, bike hauls, a bungee trampoline and more. Tip: If you sign up for email marketing from Vail, you will receive a $10 discount code off of your first rental purchase. During peak winter season, be sure to take advantage of the complimentary mountain tours from one of Vail's knowledgeable "mountain hosts" as your guide.
Aspen Snowmass, Colorado, USA
Website: www.aspensnowmass.com
Top among the several ski resorts in Colorado, Aspen Snowmass is made up of four ski areas surrounding Aspen and Snowmass Village. The combined terrain of Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk exceeds 5,500 acres, with Snowmass alone accounting for more than 3,000. Although the smallest of the four, Buttermilk is known for hosting the Winter X-Games since 2002. The 2023 games are scheduled for January 27-29, bringing nearly 100 top skiers and winter sports stars to Aspen. Aspen Mountain is strictly for intermediate and expert skiers, with steep terrain from its three ridge lines all rated black or double-black. The Aztec run is the scene of the annual World Cup Women's Downhill. Aspen Highlands, known for its expert runs, is also a favorite for backcountry skiers, who hike to the high-alpine terrain of the Highland Bowl. Aspen Highlands is known for its advanced and expert runs. Aspen has completed the three-year glade project at Aspen Highlands to clear new lines in the steep, wooded Lucky Find area. The number of Hollywood and sports stars who own property here has given Aspen its reputation as a glamor resort. Although much of the backcountry terrain is for experienced skiers, Aspen is unusual in having some easy areas that are safe for newcomers to ungroomed terrain. This is one of the first places on the continent where backcountry skiing became popular, and it still leads the pack. Aspen Powder Tours takes skiers and riders by snowcat into the powder stashes behind Aspen Mountain, where the lift system doesn't reach.
Val d'Isere, France
Website: www.valdisere.com
One of the world's favourite ski resorts, Val d'Isère has access to the best all-around ski area in the world, the Espace Killy. With just over 100 lifts, this ski area has as much skiing as one could ever need, not to mention the longest winter in the Alps. The winter ski season here begins in late November and continues until early May and conditions are seldom disappointing. The main centre of Val d'Isère ski resort has been virtually rebuilt over the past 25 years and many of the buildings are imaginative contemporary interpretations of the traditional stone and Savoyard style wood structures. Ski holidays to Val d'Isère were revolutionised with the introduction of après-ski in the 80s, when Dick Yates-Smith set up the seminal bar-nightclub known as Dicks Tea-Bar. There's plenty of apres ski options in Val d'Isère so you will not be disappointed. Call our ski experts today to find out more about Val d'Isère ski resort.
Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy
The five ragged peaks of the Cinque Torri give upscale Cortina D'Ampezzo the most beautiful setting of any of Italy's ski resorts. Known only to avid skiers before it hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics, Cortina became an overnight sensation for the well-set winter set. The town is still decidedly high-end, but skiing here is a surprising bargain, thanks largely to the value-packed Dolomiti Superski Pass. This gives access to the lifts and trails of a dozen resorts, most linked to give nearly 400 kilometers of interconnected skiing. Included are the several ski towns between the peaks known as the Gruppo del Sella, and the Marmolada Glacier; this entire area is included in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. More than three dozen lifts in Cortina alone carry skiers from the center of town to snowfields at the crests of the highest ridges, from which they can ski back into town in a single exhilarating run or spend the day on the high-altitude snowfields. Skiing here is one of the top things to do in Italy. Not just for experts, Cortina's terrain is about half suitable for intermediates. There's also a bobsled run, and the Olympic rink for ice-skaters. Opened in 2022, the 10-person Son dei Prade-Cianzopè-Bai de Dones gondola connects the Tofana and Cinque Torri areas, making it much easier for skiers to reach the Sellaronda and Dolomiti Superski area from Cortina with their skis on.
Telluride, Colorado, USA
Website: www.tellurideskiresort.com
In a beautiful setting with plenty of challenging terrain at an altitude that promises consistent snow, Telluride is one of Colorado's most popular ski resorts. The height of the San Juan Mountains makes it possible for the resort's base to begin at an impressive 8,725-foot elevation, and lifts carry skiers to 12,515 feet. Between the base and the top of the lifts, skiers have more than 2,000 acres of skiable terrain. It's this impressive vertical and expanses of hike-to terrain that bring extreme skiers to Telluride. But it's also a resort for the whole family, with skiing at all levels and a ski-in-ski-out Mountain Village at the base, which is connected by a free gondola to the town of Telluride. Experienced skiers can ski the steep trails directly into Telluride.