5 EURO SKI RESORTS TO VISIT THIS CHRISTMAS
Before you pack your bags to ski the snowy slopes of Europe this Christmas, check out these great five resorts which offer something for everyone, whether you favour groomed pistes, park tricks and pipes, exploring unchartered backcountry, family fun or an unbeatable après ski atmosphere.
1. For the piste... Ski & Gletscherwelt Zillertal 3000, Austria
The Ski & Gletscherwelt Zillertal 3000 (‘Ski & Glacier World of the Zillertal 3000’) boasts an impressive 196km of groomed pistes for skiers of all ability levels, including stunning runs as high as 3,250m above sea level.
Importantly, this paradise of diverse pistes also includes the Hintertux Glacier (pictured), which is the only resort in Austria to offer year-round snow for the dedicated skier or boarder.
If you love the piste, what more could you ask for?
2. The Backcountry... La Grave, France
For a truly wild off piste experience, the slopes which surround the tiny alpine village of La Grave have everything you need, from extreme ski routes to challenging couloirs and chutes which will push highly skilled skiers to their limit.
La Grave is tailored for confident and experienced backcountry skiers; if you plan to explore unmarked and unpatrolled territory this Christmas, pack these backcountry skiing essentials and thoroughly swot up on your avalanche awareness and mountain safety skills. A mountain guide is highly recommended too.
3. For the Après Ski... St. Anton, Austria
St. Anton is the definitive après ski resort. Steins, lederhosen and Jägermesiter are common sites off the piste and outside the resort’s vibrant and welcoming bars and clubs.
Two of the resort’s most popular nightlife hubs, the MooserWirt (pictured) and Krazy Kanguruh, can be found in prime position on either side of the blue Galzig piste. Both offer booze, music and dancing until the early hours.
4. For Family Fun...San Vigilio, Kronplatz, Italy
Nestled between the Alps and the Dolomites, Kronplatz is the ultimate family-friendly ski resort: pistes for riders of all ability levels and plenty of fun winter activities for the little ones, including tobogganing and ice skating.
You can leave your kids in one of the resort’s excellent ski kindergartens while you hit the slopes.
The nearby resort of Riscone, which is only a ski bus/taxi ride away, offers more après ski for the adults.
5. For the Park...Area 43, Meribel, France
DC Area 43 in Meribel is not just considered one of the best parks in the Trois Vallees, it’s regarded as one of the finest in Europe!
This snow park features 1,200m of powder to practise your tricks on, not to mention a competition-size half-pipe, which is used for major freestyle board events and favoured by the snowboarding pros.
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