Skiing is a great way to spend a vacation, whooshing down the hills is a great way to get rid of any extra weight that you may have put on during the Christmas holidays, and you’ll enjoy improving yourself by learning new skiing skills. Here are five awesome ski-holiday destinations around the world.
Hokkaido, Japan
Going on holiday to Japan is an amazing experience, but if you have time then you should certainly head to the slopes, as Japan is also a great destination for skiing! You can visit Hokkaido to have a fun filled ski adventure. Ski resorts in Hokkaido are also family friendly. You can find slopes that vary from a beginner to advanced levels. You can take part in activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snow rafting, snowmobiling, parasailing and dog sledging. A few popular ski resorts in Hokkaido are Furano Ski Resort, Grand Hirafu, Rusutsu and Sapporo Tiene. Ski schools provide the necessary training required and all equipment is readily available at these resorts.
Cairngorm Mountain, Scotland
There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor pursuits throughout the UK and you can travel to Scotland and visit the Cairngorm Mountain to have a wonderful ski experience. There are buses that travel to Cairngorm. It is approximately 2.5 hours drive from Glasgow and Edinburgh and 1 hour from Inverness. Cairngorm Mountain has a funicular railway that starts at the bottom of the mountain and reaches a height of 3500ft. There is a viewing terrace, shopping, a restaurant, an exhibition, and the highest post box in the British Isles at the top station. You can get skiing lessons and there are a variety of runs for all ski levels.
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown has several great areas for skiing and the best time to visit is from June to October. The Remarkables Ski Area, Coronet Peak Ski Area, and Cardrona Alpine Resort are a few of the places you can go. Most of the ski slopes have a treeless terrain and the Mountain Transport is available daily from the town which is only an hour away. Ski slopes for all levels of skiers are available. You can also indulge in other activities such as paragliding, jet boating, Heli skiing, Heli Boarding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing.
French Alps
The skiing in the French Alps is world renowned. It is a fabulous destination for thrill seekers no matter what time of year. Head to the ski hills of Les Trois Vallées where you will have access to 8 ski resorts and all of their runs with one pass. You can get great rental equipment, excellent lessons, and the amenities are world class. There are plenty of activities to do when you are not on the slopes like exploring small villages and indulging in fabulous food and wine.
Banff, Canada
Banff lies in the heart of Rockies. You have ski resorts in Banff and Lake Louise that have spectacular views of the surrounding mountain ranges. You can travel to Banff from the Calgary airport and it is an hour’s drive. There are also shuttle buses available and you can often spot elk, moose and bighorn sheep on your way to Banff. There are slopes for all skill levels and you can take ski or snowboarding lessons. Some notable slopes for intermediate and advanced skiers are Goats Eye Mountain and the Delirium Dive which is for professional skiers.
