Cool and up and coming ski holidays
Article updated every 6 months. Last update: 1st October 2007
Author: Nic Cicutti (Travel Expert) Ask me a question.
In recent years, many skiers' attention has switched from more “obvious” destinations within Europe to exotic locations around the world.
The attraction is the chance to experience something completely different from a skiing point of view and also the opportunity to sample a totally different culture, ranging from the US and Canada to Argentina, New Zealand, Morocco and even Japan.
Cool places to go
If you have a yearn for an exciting and totally different ski holiday, here are some places to consider.
Canada: undoubtedly one of the world's top ski holiday destinations, Canada offers excellent snow conditions, perfectly groomed runs and superb powder. Throw in spectacular mountain scenery, friendly local people and you have all the ingredients for a great skiing holiday. Canadian resorts typically open in early November and operate until late May each year.
Among the places worth looking at are Whistler, regularly voted the top ski resort in North America; Lake Louise, set in heart of the Canadian Rockies but within 90km of Calgary International Airport and nearby Banff, which offers a combination of easy slopes for beginners, plus longer runs for intermediates and black runs for the advanced skier.
USA: if you want service with a smile, coupled with endless miles of powder snow, plus the opportunity of some serious shopping, the US is the place to go. Destinations range as far and wide as New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Vermont.
Individual resorts include Aspen, frequented by stars but still offering some options for budget skiers; Vail, another exclusive place, offering great skiing for intermediates, while beginners will find excellent nursery slopes and brilliant ski schools, and the Lake Tahoe area in California, where Godfather II was filmed.
Japan: despite the fact that up to 80 per cent of Japan's land mass is covered by mountains, skiing remains one of the country's undiscovered secrets. This could be about to change as more travellers learn of Japan's superb resorts and choose to combine a wonderful ski experience with its centuries-old culture.
Among places to visit are Nozawa Onsen, a well-established village at the foot of Mount Kenashi-yama; Furano, with virtually every run giving you great views of the peak of Mt Furano and the summits of Hokkaido's highest mountains' and Hakuba, which offers everything from gentle beginner slopes to long black and intermediate runs.
Argentina: for those who prefer to ski while everyone else lies on a summer beach, Argentina offers the perfect opportunity. Skiing takes place mostly between June and September, mostly in the western part of the country, close to the Andes.
The main resorts include Barilocha, the biggest mountain in South America; and Las Lenas, a ski resort built in 1983 described as a “paradise of extreme ski” and heli-ski, where you hire a helicopter to take you close to the top of the mountain's 11,000ft summit and you then ski back down.
Chile: on the other side of the Andes, offering a similar skiing experience, lies Chile. Facilities are reasonable, with most ski resorts close to the capital, Santiago.
Resorts include the Portillo ski area, the most famous and oldest center in South America; and El Colorado, between 7,970 and 10,930 ft above sea level. Heli-ski opportunities are available at Valle Nevado, Olivares and Parraguirre, with prices as low as $135 per person.
Who do we recommend?
With so many companies to choose from, we have researched the market to find those with a wide range of choice as well as some that are more specialist. Browse our list below to find the right company for you then click through to their web site for more information and how to book. It couldn't be easier!
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