As travel resumes around the world with borders reopening, albeit with Omicron-provoked hiccups, tourists across the world have begun to look forward to and book their long-awaited travels, with the winter break in mind. Snow-clad mountains remain on top of the heap as far travellers’ preferences go and that too with an increasing interest in skiing in India, a lot of tourists are also looking for some unique ski experiences to add that touch of adventure to their winter breaks.

After over two years of disruptions caused by the erratic climate due to global warming and then a total closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic, major ski stations around the world are finally up and running and ready to receive visitors for a multitude of fun activities. To help the tourists make up their minds and choose the best ski destinations around the world, India Outbound presents the top five countries along with their best ski slopes as per a list recently released by German ski resort consultant Christophe Schrahe and area52.com.

France

Not very surprising, at least not for connoisseurs of ski, France tops the global list of most preferred ski destinations, with a wide variety of stations scattered all over the awesome Alps, the majestic Pyrennées as well as the mountains in the centre of the country. It also offers the three biggest skiing resorts for tourists to enjoy.

Les 3 Vallées

The biggest ski resort in the world is Les 3 Vallées, the three valleys, which connects the valleys of Courchevel, Méribel and the Vallée des Belleville with Saint Martin de Belleville, Les Menuires and Val Thorens to form one of the largest connected ski resorts in the world. The different valleys also offer a variety of landscapes from high Alpine terrain with cliffs and meadows to slopes through the forests. For skiing and snowboarding, Les 3 Vallées offer 600 km of slopes and 50 km of ski routes available with 136 lifts transporting the guests.

Portes du Soleil

The second-largest resort in the world is Portes du Soleil. For skiing and snowboarding, there are 580 km of slopes available and 165 lifts transport the guests. Les Portes du Soleil is a major ski sports destination in the Alps, encompassing 13 resorts between Mont Blanc in France and Lake Geneva in Switzerland. The resorts are situated in the Alps encompasses thirteen resorts between Mont Blanc in France to Lake Geneva in Switzerland.

Paradiski

Paradiski is a ski area in the Tarentaise Valley of France that offers uninterrupted skiing in between the areas of Les Arcs, Peisey-Vallandry and La Plagne. In total over the three resorts, there are 160 lifts and 425 km of pistes. The area was linked in December 2003, by the Vanoise Express lift. In the three resorts there are 160 lifts and 425 km of pistes, with 152 green/blue (beginner) runs,79 (intermediate) runs and 22 black (expert) runs.

Les Deux Alpes

Les Deux Alpes is situated in Isere, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The resort is situated on the largest skiable glacier in Europe and it’s the second oldest ski resort behind Chamonix. The resort offers skiers long, open full on-piste vertical available in the world. It offers a 71 km drive southeast of Grenoble.

Switzerland

The most visited destination in Europe, at least for the Indians, Switzerland with its own share of Alps also figures high on the list of top ski destinations in the world.

4 Vallees

The 4 Vallees is situated in a natural mountain reserve and comprises Verbier, Bruson, La Tzoumaz, Nendaz, Veysonnaz and Thyon. The area offers a total of 410 km of ski runs and freeride routes in the winter, and hundreds of kilometres of hiking and mountain biking routes during the summers. The Mont-Fort is perched at over 3,300 m and is easily accessible. The site also offers breath-taking views of the well-known peaks in the Alps especially the Matterhorn, the Dent Blanche, the Grand Combin and the Mont-Blanc.

Matterhorn Ski Paradise

Matterhorn Ski Paradise offers 360 km of trails where 360 km of blue, red, black and yellow runs promise fantastic skiing. The visitors can use modern lifts and cable cars, including the Matterhorn glacier ride. It is the highest winter sports area in the Alps, containing ski terrain altitudes between 2,500 m and 3,900 m and more than 2,133 m of vertical drop.

Gstaad

Gstaad has 80 pistes with a total length of 220 km and 53 lifts between 1,000 and 3,000 m above the mean sea level. The resort located on Glacier 3000, offers the visitors a chance to enjoy the snowy bliss between October and May. In the region Rinderberg, Lengebrand, Saanersloch and Horneggli have lots of red and blue slopes that attract skiers and snowboarders. The largest ski area of the region even has a snow park and plenty of places to stop for refreshments.

Italy

Few of the highest mountain ranges in Europe, the Dolomites and the French, Swiss, and Savoy Alps form Italy’s borders on the north and west. The snow-covered mountains offer some of Europe’s best ski resorts.

Milky Way

The Milky Way ski area is host to some of the most popular European ski resorts located on the French-Italian border. The ski area extends to 400km of varied pistes, making it a popular choice among skiers. Seven resorts of Sauze d’Oulx, Sestriere, Claviere, Pragleato, Sansicario, Cesana and Montgenevre in France, making it within reach of Turin Airport.

Sella Ronda

Sella Ronda is one of the most famous ski carousels in the world. It is located on the Sella mountain in the heart of Dolomites with four valleys stretching out of it. The valleys are joined by road passes, but in winter, over 200 lifts and 500 km of slopes form a temporary connection made of snow, allowing the visitors to ski around the mountains.

Canada

Canada, with its mountains in British Columbia and Alberta, offers one of the best ski resorts in North America. The snow-covered peaks of the Rocky Mountains (sharing its borders with the USA) and the Coast Mountains play host to ski resorts offering skiers a paradise to enjoy the sport in peace.

Whistler Blackcomb

Whistler offers 253 km with 37 lifts and more than 200 trails across a variety of glade skiing, open bowls and three glaciers. At just 2-hour drive from Vancouver, is a popular village and ski resort among the skiers. In 2010, Whistler also played the host for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

United States of America

The United States of America with the Rocky Mountains stretching from Canada to Mexico passes through the state of Colorado, making it the host of some good skiing resorts in the world.

Aspen

The Aspen Mountain is a ski area in the western region of the US, located in Pitkin County, Colorado. The region offers 237 km of area for skiing. The mountain itself is situated at an elevation of 3,417 m.