Skiing Holidays in Europe

 

Morzine:

The immediate terrain makes the area best suited for beginners and less-seasoned skiers and snowboarders, which has led to the resort being especially popular with families. However more challenging slopes can be found at Avoriaz via the Prodains lifts which are only five minutes away on the excellent local bus service. The off-piste 'trails' are both varied and adventurous, making the village a firm favourite with snowboarders, including various European national teams and pro-riders. The nightlife of this functioning French village also keeps the boarders happy.

The village at 1000m, with top station at 2020m, is closely linked to its neighbours Avoriaz and Les Gets in that they function as linked skiing centres during the winter season. The two resorts are included in the Portes du Soleil ski area, which includes both French and Swiss villages.

Chamonix :

Chamonix is a popular winter sports resort in France. The 1924 Winter Olympics were held here. As the highest European mountain west of Russia, Mont Blanc holds a special allure for mountain climbers, and Jon Krakauer, in an essay in his collection Eiger Dreams, described the town as "the death-sport capital of the world" because Chamonix serves as an ideal playground for almost all types of outdoor activity, especially in their more extreme variants, such as ice climbing, rock climbing, extreme skiing, paragliding, rafting, canyoning.

Chamonix is famous for its spectacular cable car up to the Aiguille du Midi (3842m). Constructed in 1955 it was then the highest cable car in the world. Together with a cable car system going up to the Point Helbronner (3462m) from Entréves in the Aosta Valley (Italy) it is possible to cross the entire Mont Blanc Massif by cable car.

In the summer months Chamonix is a mecca for alpine mountaineers, drawn to the area by challenges like the north face of the Dru, the Frendo Spur on the Aiguille du Midi, traversing the Alps on the legendary GR 5 footpath or more accessible challenges like summitting Mont Blanc (by a number of possible routes).

Val-d'Isère :

The Eastern and Central areas of Val-d'Isère are most recognizable by its "chalet" architecture, while at the Western part of the town high-rise architecture dominates the landscape. Along with nearby Tignes the area forms part of the "l'Espace Killy", the self-titled "Most Beautiful Ski Area in the World." Beauty aside, the combined space is the largest ski area in the world.

The glacier de pissaillas (Pissaillas Glacier) offers summer skiing, as well as the usual winter fare. Summer skiing has not operated recently as the glacier has shrunk due to the effects of climate change. Snow cannons are placed on certain slopes to accommodate heavy skiing. The ski slopes themselves are equipped with a high-volume gondola, able to transport standing skiers, the funicular from La Daille via a tunnel to the top of Bellevarde, traditional chair lifts--some with windshields and many detachable, button/disc-pulls and tow-ropes. There are both groomed slopes and backcountry (off-piste) skiing. It should be noted that some runs, particularly down to the village are shown as easier than they are - a blue run at this may be closer to the difficulty level of a red. However, as in Tignes there are grand, easy motorway pistes as well to let rip on. It is first class off piste country for powder addicts and there are many good guides available.

Tignes possesses more of the same, with a funicular shuttling skiers up through one of the mountains to the Grande Motte glacier. The slopes in both areas cover all four of the French slope difficulty designations: from green (very easy) through blue and red to black (difficult). In the village, après-ski (nightlife) is lively, with a good selection of bars and clubs. A free shuttle bus runs between the villages in the valley every five minutes from 08.00 to 18.00 thereafter every 30 minutes, providing free transport throughout the town of Val d'Isère proper.

 

 

 

 

SKI HOLIDAYS IN EUROPE - AUSTRIA

Austria is a great desitination if you are looking for lively après skis. We have 2 main ski resorts available with a high standard of accomodation for those who would like a tailor made ski holiday this can be arranged.

 

SKI HOLIDAYS IN EUROPE - FRANCE

Popular with most skiers, france has some beautiful and exciting ski resorts.

 

 

SKI HOLIDAYS IN EUROPE - GERMANY

Take your next winter holiday at our German Ski resort of Garmisch which is Germany's biggest and most exciting winter sports area and was the site of the 1936 Winter Olympics.

 

SKI HOLIDAYS IN EUROPE - ITALY

You like the food, you like the wine you'll love the skiing.Courmayeur one of our resorts is a bustling market town with a feisty atmosphere and marvellous Italian nightlife. Courmayeur sits at the foot of Mont Blanc - the highest peak in Europe.

 

SKI HOLIDAYS IN EUROPE - SWITZERLAND

This beautiful european country, a wide variety of first class skiing and snowboarding slopes for all sorts of activities, from beginners to your more experienced skier this could be the place to start for your ultimate winter ski holiday.