Published: Tue 21 Aug 2012 at 15:49
Updated: Tue 21 Aug 2012 at 15:52
Fly to Chambéry or Geneva and you’ll soon be on the slopes experiencing some of the world’s best skiing and snowboarding. Our destinations give you access to over 30 fabulous European ski resorts. Here’s a low-down on just a few…
Situated in south-eastern France, Chambéry is a brilliant destination airport for all winter sport enthusiasts and attracts all year round tourism. Courchevel, only one and a half hours’ drive from Chambéry, is regarded as the most stylish of the Trois Vallées resorts and has a reputation for being the luxury playground for the rich and famous.
The height of the resort means that Courchevel is known as one of the best places to go snowboarding and its pistes above 2,500 metres mean that skiing and boarding are assured throughout the season. The slopes cater for all levels of skill from the beginner right through to the more experienced but don’t worry if you’re not a ski fan, there are plenty of other activities to keep you
occupied, from ice-skating to shopping.
Val d’Isère is another ultra-smart resort high in the French Alps and is known for its outstanding skiing, snowboarding and après-ski. It boasts a season longer than many (November to May) and so is popular with experienced and intermediate skiers. The resort also has a wealth of off-piste runs served well by ski lifts. Beginners will also enjoy what Val d’Isère has to offer – the nursery slopes are free of charge! In summary, a resort offering superb skiing, a modern and rapid lift system as well as a vibrant après-ski scene.
Tignes neighbours Val d’Isère and shares the fabled Espace Killy ski area, offering 350 km of pisted skiing as well as endless off piste. Tignes is a resort for the serious snow enthusiast – snow certainly comes first! If free-riding is your thing you’ll be overwhelmed by Tignes. With 50 runs including several blacks and plenty of reds confident boarders will be in snow paradise. If you’re keen to experience the off-piste free-riding you can book a tour with The Surf Rider Snowboard Club.
The gateway to a skier’s paradise and a perfect destination to access some of the best resorts that the French and Swiss resorts have to offer.
Chamonix is just over one hour’s drive from Geneva and offers great off-piste skiing as well as something for the more extreme skier. It’s located at the foot of Mont Blanc – the highest mountain in Western Europe – which means that the views are simply stunning. To really enjoy the views over the valley, go on the Aiguille du Midi cable-car. Unlike other winter resorts, Chamonix is an all-round destination for action sports, mountaineering, and also relaxation with many tranquil beauty spots to enjoy. If you want a day off the slopes, head for the leisure centre or one of the walking trails.
The town itself has a buzzing après-ski scene with plenty of restaurants, bars and clubs. Top tip from the Ski Club of Great Britain: Head to Le Tour ski area if you are a beginner or early intermediate standard. Great cruising pistes.
Morzine is another resort with a traditional alpine feel and is just an hour’s drive from Geneva. It’s a well-established and popular resort with British skiers and boarders of all ages and has almost 150 pistes on which to ski. Families enjoy coming to Morzine as the area is excellent for beginner skiers (and snowboarders) and children can enjoy high levels of tuition from the ski schools.
Verbier offers some of the most extreme skiing and boarding in Europe with four valleys to choose from. The resort is ultra-fashionable and combines high-society chic with serious skiing for everybody. There’s fantastic après-ski, restaurants and nightlife and although there’s much development in the resort, it still remains a beautiful place offering panoramic views.
Zermatt is a resort that offers excellent skiing for the more intermediate and advanced skier – all set within a beautiful Alpine setting. Its Klein Matterhorn glacier means that there is skiing all year round. There’s excellent dining on and off the mountain as well as a pretty car-free village coupled with a good party scene. Its high altitude also means that there’s generally reliable snow cover. If you’re looking for a short ski break, Zermatt would be hard to beat.
That’s not all. Fly to either Barcelona and Salzburg and you’ll be hitting the slopes within a couple of hours. For a full list of the ski resorts within easy reach of these featured airports, visit www.jet2.com.
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