5 top ski destinations:
In Europe, winter is on its way and the cold weather means the mountains will soon be coated in snow, causing many to ditch their bikes for skis and snowboards. With such an abundance of mountain ranges, Europe hosts some of the best ski resorts in the world and year on year many flock here to take advantage of this winter wonderland. If you are thinking of planning a ski holiday or season, here is a list of some of the best places to ski or snowboard.
Val Thorens: Not only is this resort the highest ski resort in Europe, but it is the highest point of the largest ski area in the world. Being 2,300m above ski level there is always an abundance of snow and therefore the quality of the pistes is always high. With perfect ski conditions, a large variety of accommodation options, restaurants and the occasional festival, it is no wonder Val Thorens was the winner of the 2016 best ski resort in Europe award.
La plagne: La Plagne situated in the French Aps is between 1250 and 3250m above sea level. This established ski resort has built up a 50-year history of winter sports. For years this Ski resort has become renowned globally for its fantastic ski area with a whopping 225 kilometres of pistes with a vast variety of runs from easy ones for small children to very challenging runs for professionals and thrill seekers. It is worth noting, medical travel insurance is essential when planning a ski holiday as injury is common and being airlifted to the nearest city isn’t cheap!
Alpe d’Huez: This winter and summer sports destination, situated in the French alps at 1860m to 3330m above sea level, is highly regarded for its very sunny climate, with an average of 300 days of sun a year. Perching on a south facing plateau overlooking the Grandes Rouesses mountain range, this village has been steadily growing and is now packed with a multitude of indoor/outdoor and cultural activities. The surrounding Grandes Rousses ski area has over 250km of interlinking pistes with the top station ‘Pic Blanc’ offering breath taking views over the alps including Mount Blanc the highest peak in the Alps.
St Anton am Alberg: This quaint Austrian village is located in the Tyrolean Alps, one of Europe’s snowiest areas. This place has a long history and is in fact known to many as the cradle of Alpine skiing for its contribution in inventing the sport. With a massive 340km of pistes winter sport seekers are spoilt for choice at all levels. If this wasn’t enough, a highly efficient ski lift system makes the quality of your experience here the ever more enjoyable.
St. Moritz: If you are looking for luxury, St. Moritz at 1822m above sea level in Switzerland’s Engadin valley is the perfect destination. Having hosted the winter Olympics twice it is no wonder this resort boasts some of the finest runs on the continent. If ski runs weren’t enough, St. Moritz is also home to an outdoor Olympic ice rink and world famous the Cresta run, a bobsled run made from natural ice.