Alpine Ski Holidays

Alpine skiing, or downhill skiing, is perhaps the most popular form of winter sport and recreational activity. Appealing to all ages and abilities, alpine ski holidays offer slopes for both beginner and expert skier, with most resorts catering to all levels of expertise with a range of easy, intermediate and advanced trails. Alpine skiing holidays give novice skiers the chance to learn the basics and gently perfect technique during a few days away, or let thrill-seekers race down sheer steeps and navigate through seemingly-impossible mogul fields.

 

Established resorts all over Europe offer fully-equipped facilities on an alpine ski holiday, including a central base, village or town, a choice of accommodation, selection of shops and restaurants, convenient parking and series of ski lifts. The lifts range from basic surface lifts such as magic carpets, t-bars and rope tows to sophisticated aerials and cables such as heated gondolas and funiculars. All give access at various points and heights to the numerous trails and runs which form the focal point of an alpine ski holiday, and lead back down the mountain. Pistes on an alpine ski holiday are graded accordingly, with colours symbolising the slopes' level of difficulty (be aware that colours are different in the US and Canada to Europe), with green denoting the easiest slopes, blue and red signifying the more difficult intermediate terrain, and blacks and double blacks used for challenging expert runs, usually very steep or full of moguls.

 

Accommodation on an alpine ski holiday ranges from self-catered apartments right next to the slopes or lift stations, to charming fully-catered chalets in the heart of the resort centre. Apres-ski entertainment is very much part of the alpine ski holiday experience, with bars, pubs, restaurants and discos catering to the resorts' guests once the lifts close, and skiers enjoying the areas' local hospitality during the evening. On an alpine ski holiday, there is plenty of choice for those seeking a week away on the slopes, from young, fun and lively, to peaceful and traditional. Ski resorts suited to an alpine ski holiday in Europe are offered in countries such as France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Andorra, Bulgaria, Norway and Sweden, and focus on towns and villages throughout major mountain ranges such as the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Sierra Mountains and the Dolomites.