The 50 best ski breakstobooknow - Savoie Mont Blanc...11 Mega resort in Utah Am erica The US has a new ski resort this year thanks to a link between Park Cit y and Canyons. The two

Date 03 October 2015

Page 23,24,25,26,27,29

Copyright NLA Media Access. For internal use only. Not for reproduction.

The 50 best ski breaks to book nowFrom the latest chic hotels to trips for all levels, Tom Chesshyre and Ben Clatworthy knowwhere to go

Coolest new hotels1 Le Totem Flaine, FranceThis is a big winter for French ski-hotelopenings and Le Totem, in high-altitudeFlaine, is the pick of them. Until now therenowned Sibuet family’s hotels — ofwhich Les Fermes de Marie in Megève isthe best known — have been four orfive-star with prices to match, but hipLe Totem is three-star and aimed at ayounger crowd. Expect avant-garde artmixed with vintage furniture, “woollenfabrics influenced by Native American

culture” and a buzzy après-ski cocktailbar. The Sibuets intend to open a seriesof similar hotels in the Alps, with thenext planned for Avoriaz.Details B&B doubles are from €150(£110). The hotel opens onDecember 18 (terminal-neige.com)

2 Hotel PashminaVal Thorens, FranceEurope’s highest resort has attractedhuge investment from hoteliers.Pashmina will become the fourth five-starhotel in Val Thorens, which was once

known for its cheap student breaks insimple apartments (try the Koh-I Noror Altapura). Pashmina has a slickcontemporary style, and a spa witha pool, hot tubs and treatmentsusing L’Occitane products.Details Half-board junior suitesare from €510. The hotel opens onDecember 12 (hotelpashmina.com)

3 White 1921Courchevel 1850, France

The French designer Jean-MichelWilmotte is the man behind the chic

interior of this new 28-room hotel, whichhas a sister property in Saint-Tropez(opened in 2012). It’s run by LVMH,the group that heads up LouisVuitton and Moët & Chandon. Expect

minimalism mixed with splashes ofcolour, as well as two salons that arelikely to go down well with Courchevel1850’s socialite ski set. White 1921 willhave a spa with a sauna, hammam andhot tub. It’s in the centre ofthe resort, close to lifts.Details B&B doubles are from €290.The hotel opens on December 19(white1921.com/courchevel) W


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


Skiing in the Dolomites;below, the HotelPashmina (2)

Skispecial


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


4 Le Taos Tignes, FranceThere seems to be an American WildWest trend in the French Alps thiswinter. This four-star hotel in Tignes willhave a “New Mexico-inspired ambiance”— Taos is a village in the RockyMountains, New Mexico, that caught theeye of the owners. The interior willfeature ranch-style wooden panels,sheepskin rugs, Mexican blankets onbeds and a steakhouse. The spa will havea hammam and an indoor heated pool.Details B&B doubles are from €183.The hotel opens on December 4(hotel-le-taos.com)

5 Le Yule Val d’Isère, FranceLe Yule is a 41-room boutique propertywith a vintage Scandinavian style.Expect blond wood floors,wood-panelled walls, furs and fireplaces.It’s where the Hotel Grand Paradisused to be, right on the slopes, so it’sski-in and ski-out. The inside has beentransformed. There’s a pool and spawith treatment rooms, saunas and asteam room. The restaurant willserve local dishes.Details Doubles with half-board arefrom €350. The hotel opens onDecember 9 (leyule.fr)

6 Peaks PlaceLaax, SwitzerlandThis is a cool new apart-hotel of 74self-catering apartments with one tothree rooms, perfect for friends lookingfor a reasonably priced break in a livelyresort. There’s a spa with a pool, sauna,hot tub and treatments, as well as a barand a restaurant.Details Ski Safari has a seven-night stayfrom £550pp (four sharing a two-bedapartment) or £785pp (two sharing aone-bed apartment). The hotel opens onDecember 5 (01273 224060,skisafari.com, peaks-place.com)

7 adeo Alpin HotelSt Johann, AustriaThe former Olympic skiing goldmedallist Hermann “the Herminator”Maier, with his former team-mateRainer Schoenfelder, are opening athree-star, budget hotel in the small

resort of St Johann. Rooms will besimple but comfortable. Maier plans tostart a chain of properties to bring skiingwithin the means of the less wealthy.There’s to be a spa and a restaurant.Details Three nights’ room-only in adouble room is from €174. The hotelopens on January 15 (adeo-alpin.com)

8 Hôtel A LârzeLe Châble, SwitzerlandLe Châble, a village at 820m (2,690ft), isconnected to the gondola that travels upto Les Ruinettes in Verbier, so there’sexcellent access to all the slopes of one

of the most popular Swiss resorts. HôtelA Lârze is a ten-room hotel built out oflarch, from which the hotel gets its name.This is for those after a down-to-earthhideaway, but with comfortable rooms,wi-fi and a sauna for relaxing in afterhitting the slopes.Details B&B doubles are from £107during the ski season. The hotel openson December 10 (alarze.ch)

Best new hotspots9 Grand Bornandby rail FranceA new direct Eurostar service to Lyons,which launched this summer, opens up aswathe of resorts previously inaccessibleby fast train. To reach the charmingvillage of Grand Bornand take a trainfrom Lyons to Annecy (£42 return), beforehopping on a bus up the hill (€8.20).Details A week’s self-catering is from£409pp, based on two sharing anapartment at the Village De Lessy(0844 5760170, peakretreats.co.uk).Eurostar (eurostar.com) returns to Lyonsare from £89. For more, seesnowcarbon.co.uk

10 New ski area AustriaA €20million gondola will link thetraditional village of Fieberbrunn to theresorts of Saalbach-Hinterglemm for thefirst time this winter. The new area has220km of terrain, making it Austria’ssecond-largest. Fieberbrunn will beoffered by Inghams.Details A week’s half-board at thefour-star Sporthotel Fontana costs from


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


£799pp, including flights and transfers(01483 791114, inghams.co.uk)

11 Mega resort inUtah AmericaThe US has a new ski resort this yearthanks to a link between Park City andCanyons. The two will be connected bygondola to become one large resortcalled Park City, covering 7,300 acres.The new lift forms part of a $50million(£33million) project, which will result inthe creation of new slopes, upgradedchairlifts and renovated restaurants.Details Ten nights’ B&B at the four-starSilverado Lodge costs from £1,425pp,based on four sharing a two-bedroomlodge, including flights and transfers(01273 224060, skisafari.com)

12 Pre-Olympics visitSouth KoreaIf you’re looking for a seriously quirkyski experience, South Korea is hard torival. Yongpyong is the country’s biggestresort and it will be home to the alpineevents at the 2018 Pyeongchang WinterOlympics. Games preparations havebarely started, so you can still experiencethis resort at its most authentic.

Details An eight-night tour ofYongpyong and Seoul costs from£1,280pp, including flights and transfers(01273 224060, skisafari.com). For moreinformation see gokorea.co.uk

Best on a budget13 Half-price roomsin Whistler CanadaWith the most extensive ski area inNorth America and lively après-ski,Whistler has long been a favourite withBritish skiers. This season one of itsiconic hotels, the Fairmont ChateauWhistler, has some tempting offers.Details Frontier Travel is offering tennights room-only in early December atFairmont Chateau Whistler from£1,185pp with flights, ski carriage andtransfers; a 50 per cent discount with anupgrade thrown in (020 8776 8709,frontier-travel.co.uk). Also see Carrier

(0161 492 1359, carrier.co.uk) forFairmont Chateau Whistler deals

14 Early-bookingdeal AustriaThe laid-back village of Hinterglemm isconnected to Saalbach by extensiveslopes. The mountains suit intermediates,with plenty of long red runs. The area isless busy than the likes of Verbier andSt Anton, so rates are usually reasonable.Details Inghams has a week’s chalet-catering at the four-star Chalet HotelPinzgauerhof from £699pp departing onDecember 19, with flights and transfersincluded for bookings made by October17 (01483 791114, inghams.co.uk)

15 A week from£635pp FranceThere’s an outdoor hot tub at theNeilson Hotel Escapade in Alpe d’Hue

There are also some good rates at thehotel, which is new to Neilson’s stablethis winter. Alpe d’Huez’s slopes suit allevels and are famous for the 10km(6.2 miles) Sarenne run, which has somchallenging sections for experts.Details A week’s chalet-board is from£635pp with flights, transfers, skiguiding and a £25 bar credit, departingon December 19 (0330 0143351,neilson.co.uk)

16 Two-country holidayItaly and FranceThe resort of La Rosière (top left) islinked to La Thuile in Italy, so you can skiin two countries; the village of La Rosièris high, at 1,850m. Good value comparedwith nearby Les Arcs and Val d’Isère (butwith just 150km of piste), it is a greatchoice for a quiet escape. Most of theapartments and hotels are ski-in, ski-out.Details Ski Collection has a seven-nightstay in Les Balcons de la Rosière self-catering apartment from £1,835 for afamily of five, departing on December 19or during January, with a Eurotunnelcrossing included (02392 890960,skicollection.co.uk)

17 Short break inGressoney Italy


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


Fancy a short break for less than £600,staying half-board at a four-star hotel,with flights, transfers and lift passesincluded? That’s what Ski Solutions isoffering in the charming resort ofGressoney in Italy’s Aosta Valley. Theresort is part of the Monterosa ski areawith 180km of well-connected pistes.Details Ski Solutions has four nights’half-board at Hotel Lo Scoiattolo from£555pp with flights to Turin, transfers(which take 90 minutes) and lift passes,departing on December 10 (020 74717700, skisolutions.com)

18 Verbier on thecheap SwitzerlandThe chic and popular resort of Verbiercan be incredibly pricey, but Inghams hasput together an enticing week-long breakin the comfortable, laid-back Xtra Chaletde Verbier (book by October 15). Thechalet-hotel has a bar and is afive-minute walk to the Medran gondolas.Details Inghams has seven nights’chalet-board from £664pp in Januarywith flights and transfers included;week-long lift passes are from £180pp,which is £75 less than usual(01483 791114, inghams.co.uk)

19 Short break inTrysil NorwayThe best exchange rates in a decade willmake the 75km of pistes in Norway’sbiggest ski area a hit this season. Trysil’sski area is split into four linked resorts.Turistsenter, with its intermediateterrain, is considered to be the mainbase. Fageråsen is great for beginners.Details Four nights’ B&B at thefour-star Hotel Radisson Blu is from£445pp, including flights and transfers(020 8939 0864, flexiski.com)

Best for beginners20 Europe’s longestgreen run FranceNewbies to Val Cenis often wonder whythey haven’t heard of it before. The 125kmski area overlooks a lake, and is packedwith beginner and intermediate terrain.Novices can tackle Europe’s longest greenrun, the 10km, Escargot (or snail).

i

Details A week’s self-catering is from£340pp, based on two sharing anapartment at Les Alpages de Val Cenis(0844 5760170, peakretreats.co.uk).Eurostar (eurostar.com) returns toLyons are from £89. Onward returnsto Modane are £25. A bus connectswith the resort

21 Winter sports inGeilo NorwayHeadwater’s new activity holiday offersthe perfect introduction to four winterpastimes. You’ll start on Nordiccross-country skis before switching tohusky sledding and snowshoeing. Onlythen will you don your skis and head forGeilo’s alpine beginner slopes.Details Seven nights’ half-board at thefour-star Dr Holms Hotel is from£1,499pp, including equipment rental, allactivities, flights and transfers(01606 828261, headwater.com)

22 Gentle slopes inPyhä FinlandAnother Scandinavian resort but withmore gentle terrain than the Alps, Pyhähas mountains that are a beginners’ ideal

training ground. It has 14 well-preparedslopes, eight lifts and a good ski school.Details A week’s self-catering at thePyhä Suites is from £506pp, includingflights and transfers (020 8939 0726,crystalski.co.uk)

23 Stunning setting inSaas-Fee Switzerlandew places offer such a stunning setting

for learning to ski. Expect neon onesiesand mullets in December as Saas-Feeturns back the clock to the 1980s inhomage to Wham!, who filmed the videoor their 1984 hit Last Christmas there.Details A week’s B&B at the three-starHotel Tenne, departing December 5, isfrom £585pp, including ski passes (0041279571212, hotel-tenne.ch). Flights toGeneva with easyJet are from £65. Formore information: saas-fee.ch

Best for food and drink24 Microbreweries in


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


Savoie Mont Blanc FranceMove over Heineken and Kronenbourg1664: a microbrewery revolution hasbeen taking place in the Savoie MontBlanc region of the French Alps. Morethan 20 breweries have opened,including the Brasserie du Mont Blanc,based in Chambéry, which has wonaccolades for its white and amber beers(brasserie-montblanc.com). BrasserieGalibier in Valloire — France’s highestmicrobrewery at 1,430m— isrenowned for the crisp taste comingfrom the high-quality water it usesfrom the glacier (biere-galibier.com).You can arrange to visit some of thebreweries and the beers are availableat most good bars.Details Crystal has a week’s stay at thefour-star Les Chalets de la Vallee d’Orin Valloire from £598pp, based on foursharing and including flights, transfersand lift passes in January(020 8939 0726, crystalski.co.uk)

25 Michelin-starredchefs in Alta Badia ItalyThis year’s culinary delights in Italy’smuch-loved Alta Badia resort in theDolomites will include slope-side winetastings, a south Tyrolean gourmet dayand a festival celebrating local Ladincuisine. They are all part of the annual“A Taste for Skiing” event, which startson December 13 and runs through theseason. This winter it is run inassociation with Le Soste (lesoste.it), anorganisation that represents the bestItalian Michelin-starred chefs. Mountainhuts will serve tapas-style dishes thatthey have prepared.Details Iglu Ski has a week’s stay atChalet Hotel Al Pigher, La Villa, from£828pp in January with flights andtransfers included (020 8544 6031,igluski.com) W

p

16

��


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


6

23 13 11


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


25


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


4


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


26 Angela Hartnett inCourchevel FranceThe former head chef at theConnaught in London, and currenthead chef of London’s Murano and York& Albany restaurants, is opening herfirst overseas restaurant in CourchevalMoriond, formerly Courcheval 1650. Thenew venture, at the rustic chic LePortetta hotel (sister hotel to themuch-loved Lime Wood Hotel in theNew Forest), is to be called CucinaAngelina and will serve Italian-influenced mountain food.Details Menu prices are yet to be set;Scott Dunn has seven nights’ half-board

from £1,640pp with flights and transfers(020 8682 5050, scottdunn.com)

27 Heston Blumenthalin Courmayeur ItalyIt’s the third year of Heston Blumenthal’scollaboration with celebrity chefsMarcus Wareing and Sat Bains inCourmayeur in Italy’s Aosta Valley tocreate a four-day weekend break forskiers who are serious about their food(and have serious cash). This year’s eventwill have a few new culinary twists,including Blumenthal’s “Alpine surprise”dish and a gourmet-pizza tastinglunch alongside meals by each of the

Michelin-starred chefs. One meal willbe served in a lodge only accessible bysnowmobile. Sixty places are availablefor the weekend in Courmayeurwhere, this winter, a new €110millioncable car will link the resort to the3,462m Punta Helbronner, on theItalian side of Mont Blanc.Details The three-night trip costs from£3,500pp with flights, B&B at afive-star hotel, a three-day ski passand equipment, all meals and wine(020 7371 9111, momentumski.com)

Best for families28 Easy run in LesDeux Alpes FranceLes Deux Alpes has long been popularwith families, but it has always sufferedf h i i b k

from not having a convenient run backinto the village. As the Where to Ski &Snowboard 2016 guidebook points out,the choice has always been between anarrow, congested green run or “icyblack mogul slopes”, so the introductionof a blue run into the village this winterwill really open things up and give it anew lease of life.Details Neilson has seven nights’chalet-board at Hotel Aalborg, which hasa kids’ club, from £3,313 for a family offour departing on December 20 fromGatwick (neilson.co.uk)

29 Ski touring in LaPlagne FranceMost beginners and families feel a bitdaunted by the idea of ski touring —skiing across mountains without lifts,walking uphill with “skins” attached toskis and then skiing downhill — but theOxygène ski school (oxygene-ski.com) inLa Plagne doesn’t think they should be.It has created a series of new ski touringitineraries to suit all levels, linking theten villages of La Plagne. One-off guidedtrips are available at 7-8.30am or5.30-7pm each day (for £26pp), or youcan opt for a five-day course from£237pp (9am to midday). All courses areavailable for both adults and kids, whomust be aged over 14. Equipment hire isincluded.Details A week’s self-catering atPlagne Centre is from £113pp,based on four sharing(la-plagne.com); easyJethas flights to Geneva fromabout £50

30 New family-friendly chalet inEl Tarter AndorraAndorra has some of the bestski schools in Europe, with areputation for good Englishspeaking instructors. Plus, as thePyrenees are less fashionable than theAlps, your pound goes further. The well-

run family-friendly tour operator Neilsonhas opened up in Hotel del Clos in thelittle village of El Tarter, which is close toSoldeu, the gateway to the Grandvaliraski area. It has twin, triple and four-


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


bedded rooms. Childcare is available for4-month-oldsto 16-year-olds.Details A week’s “chalet board”(breakfast, afternoon tea, four-courseevening meals) with Gatwick flights,transfers and ski guiding is from£435pp in January (0844 8798155,neilson.co.uk); childcare for4 to 23-month-olds is £250 a week,for 2 to 4-year-olds it’s £220, and for5 to 16-year-olds, £85

31 Learn to ski inMyrkdalen NorwayWith uncrowded slopes, patientEnglish-speaking guides, modern lifts,good quality accommodation andreasonable prices, Myrkdalen has a lotgoing for it. Ski Safari has created a“Learn to Ski” programme that focuseson Scandinavia for this winter.Myrkdalen is not far from the city ofBergen, so it’s possible to combine a firsttry on the slopes with a bit of sightseeing— and a good seafood meal.Details Seven nights’ half-board at thefour-star Hotel Myrkdalen duringhalf-term in February is from £985pp,based on two adults and two children,with flights, transfers, six-day lift passes,ski rental and five days at the ski schoolfor kids and adults (01273 224068,skisafari.com)

32 Fun in Les ArcsFranceMille 8 is an area at the bottom of theslopes at Les Arcs 1800 that centres onAquafun, an indoor water park withpools, hot tubs and water chutes. Thereare also toboggan runs, freestyle courseswith obstacles, igloos and ice sculptures.Les Arcs is great for families, with goodski schools with English-speaking guides.

Snow conditions are usually reliable.Details Esprit Ski has a week’s chalet-board staying at Chalet McKinley,departing on December 20, for an adultand a child from £1,639, or from £4,629for a family of four departing onDecember 27; flights and transfers areincluded (01483 791900, espritski.com)

33 Long, easy runs in

Champoluc ItalyChampoluc is part of the Monterosaski area, which also includes thefamily-friendly resorts of Gressoney andAlagna. It’s within the Aosta Valley andis particularly suited to intermediates,with long runs and some challengingsections. There are also decent nurseryslopes for beginners, so it’s ideal forfamilies with a range of abilities. Food aton-slope restaurants is high quality andnot too expensive.Details A week’s chalet-board fora family of four, departing on December19, is from £2,397 with flights andtransfers, staying at Chalet HotelBreithorn, which has a spa with a hottub, steam room and sauna (01483791933, skitotal.com). For Monterosa Ski,also try Ski 2 (01962 713330, ski-2.com)

34 Winter activities inMösern AustriaThis picturesque old village has access tothe decent downhill ski runs at Seefeld

and is also connected to an extensiveselection of cross-country trails. Theskiing is a little limited, but otheractivities include snow-shoeing,ice-skating and tobogganing. This is aplace for a relaxing winter escape in theheart of the Tyrol, and is well-suited toyoung families.Details A week’s full-board at the HotelInntaler Hof is from £862 per adult,£540 per child aged 9-12, and £338 forchildren aged 2-5, with flights andtransfers included (01653 617000,inntravel.co.uk); for stays betweenJanuary 2-16 and March 5-19 ahorse-drawn sleigh ride is included

Best for partying35 Chic bars inEngelberg SwitzerlandVerbier’s party scene is great, buteschew the mêlée — and the overpricedDom Pérignon— and head forup-and-coming Engelberg, which offersa more refined (and less pricey)experience. You’ll find chic bars — the SkiLodge is a must — as well as more livelyplaces, such as the Chalet. There’s also anl ll h h h h


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


Igloo Village, high in the mountains, withrooms and an ice bar that servesmean shots.Details Seven nights’ half-board at thethree-star Hotel Terrace is from£1,200pp, including six days’ mountainguiding, lift pass, transceiver hire, flights

and rail transfers (020 8410 2022,skiclub.co.uk, departures January 2, 23and March 12)

36 Great après-ski inMorzine FranceAprès-ski can be hit or miss in France,but in Morzine it’s possible to find goodparties from mid-afternoon, with livemusic at many of the bars around themain thoroughfare. L’Opéra is a greatlate-night haunt, but with the whole ofthe Portes du Soleil area — with awhopping 650km of pistes that span theFranco-Swiss border — to ski, it’s bestnot to stay out too late.Details A week’s B&B at the Rude Lodgeis from £245pp (0870 068 7030,rudechalets.com). EasyJet return flightsto Geneva are from £65

37 Saké and spa inNiseko JapanIf you think ski resorts in Europe areparty towns, wait until you’veexperienced a night in Japan’s biggest skiarea. Don’t be fooled into thinking thataprès-ski here is merely a time spentrelaxing at a traditional hot spring. Once

night falls, the beer and saké start toflow. The Hirafu area has the best partyvibes and bars that stay open well intothe wee hours. The powder at Niseko issome of the best in the world, and nightskiing under floodlights is avaialableuntil 8.30pm.Details Seven nights’ B&B at thefour-star Ki Niseko is from £1,695pp,including flights and transfers(01273 224060, skisafari.com)

38 Festivals inMayrhofen AustriaArguably the party capital of the Alps,

Mayrhofen is home to skiing’s biggestmusic festival, Snowbombing (April 4-9).But, if you’re after something a littlemore low-key, the Altitude ComedyFestival also has its home here, and thisyear moves from the spring to newmid-season dates (January 11-15),ensuring the best snow on its extensivenetwork of mainly intermediate slopes.Marcus Brigstocke is headlining, withfurther acts to be announced.Details For single skiers, the resort is anew addition to Solos Holidays(0844 3718860, solosholidays.co.uk)with a week’s half-board from £1,065pp,including flights and transfers

Best for experts39 Sella Ronda circuitfrom Arabba ItalyIn the middle of the extensive SellaRonda circuit, Arabba is home to thearea’s steepest pistes and offers plentyof challenges for advanced skiers. Thebest slopes are the north-facing reds andblacks that descend from Porta Vescovo,while those looking for high-mileageskiing should tackle the entire circuit,which is easily doable in a day.Details A week’s half-board at thefour-star Sporthotel Arabba costs from£839pp, based on two sharing, includingflights and transfers (020 8939 0726,crystalski.co.uk)

40 Ski touringSwitzerlandWinter sports pioneers used to ski touras a mode of transport to reach remotevillages, but in recent years the sport hasseen a huge resurgence, with skiers keento bypass the lifts and explore thewilderness. It’s tough going on thesteepest mountains at first but once youhave mastered it you’ll be whizzing upthe mountains and taking on brilliantslopes that cannot be reached by lifts.Exodus is launching an introductorytouring holiday this winter. You’ll betaught the basics and stay at the fabledSaint Bernard Monastery, at 2,500m,which is still owned and run by monks.Details A four-day trip with Exodus(0845 2873787, exodus.co.uk) costsfrom £1,499pp, including three days’


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


ski guiding, equipment, all meals,accommodation, flights and transfers W

32

26


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


38

31

��


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


37


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


27


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


41 Heli-skiing in thePyrenees SpainWhile the pistes of Baqueira, in theSpanish Pyrenees, are mainly suited tointermediate skiers, it’s the extensive andvaried off-piste that makes it fun forpros. Spain is one of the few Europeancountries where heli-skiing is permitted.It doesn’t come cheap, but offersunrivalled access to some of the bestslopes and an adrenaline rush, too.Details Ski Club Freshtrackshas a week’s half-board at the four-starHotel Val de Ruda from £1,599pp,including six days mountain guiding,two heli-drops, flights and transfers(020 8410 2022, skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks)

42 Off-piste explorationTurkeyFor a serious adventure, Snoworks islaunching a multi-resort Turkishexploration this winter. After a nightin Istanbul you’ll ski Uludag, which at2,543m is the highest mountain in theregion. Then, after a short internal flight,it’s on to Sarıkamıs, followed byPalandöken & Konaklı. With 90 per centoff-piste skiing, however, including someski touring, it’s not for the faint-hearted.Details Departing February 15, 11 nights’half-board costs £2,500pp, includinginternal flights, Snoworks instructor andlift passes (0844 543 0503,snoworks.co.uk). BA return flights toIstanbul are from £130

Best for skiingwith extras43 Fat biking inGstaad SwitzerlandBikes able to handle snow were firstdeveloped in the late 1940s, but it’s onlyin recent years that they have taken theAlps by storm. Under-inflated tyres helpgrip the snow, while disc brakes makesure you don’t go flying. This seasonGstaad will allow bikes on fivehiking trails in the resort.For novices, the GrandBellevue hotel islaunching bike

l d d d

rental and guidedtours for guests.Details Threenights’ half-boardcosts from£1,240pp (00 4133 748 0000,bellevue-gstaad.ch). Swiss(swiss.com) hasreturn flights toGeneva from £56

44 Ice driving in LaClusaz FranceBelt up and watch the rev counter rise asyou hurtle around La Clusaz’s ice-drivingtrack. For petrolheads it’s an unmissableactivity, except . . . they use electric cars.But fear not, the Renault Twizys have atop speed of 50mph, so you can stillexpect hair-raising moments as youtackle the hairpin bends. Ten minutes’driving is €30 (laclusaz.com).Details Four nights’ half-board at thetwo-star Hotel Beaulieu is from £525pp,including flights and transfers (02380206971, skiweekends.com)

45 Easy ice climbing inOrcières-Merlette 1850If you fancy yourself as an extreme iceclimber, but are — unsurprisingly —

put off by the frozen walls, opt instead totry “ruisseling”: equipped with cramponsand ice axes, you hike frozen rivers andmini-waterfalls as opposed to toweringcliffs. Guides Champsaur Valgaudemar(guides-champsaur-valgaudemar.com)has a three-day course with ruisselingand some ice climbing, if you want, from€930 with all equipment, andaccommodation in a gîte included.Details B&B doubles are from €70 atthe Hotel Gardettes (00 33 49 255 7111,gardettes.com)

46 Horse riding inColorado AmericaHigh in the Rocky Mountains, theformer mining town of Telluride —now

a top ski-resort — is as WildWest as they come, and will

form the dramaticbackdrop for QuentinT ’


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


Tarantino’sforthcoming filmThe Hateful Eight.To get intocharacter,wannabecowboys shouldsaddle up andhead out toexplore the

wilderness onhorseback. Circle K

Ranch (ckranch.com),40 miles south of the

resort, offers one hour’s ridingfrom $45 (£30). A half-day tour is $120.Details Rooms at the Lumière Tellurideare from about $600 (£380) per night(lumieretelluride.com)

Best for snowsureskiing47 High altitude at ValThorens FranceLast season started badly in the Alps, butin Europe’s highest ski resort the liftswere turning from late November.The resort lies at 2,300m in a lunarlandscape, with slopes reaching to3,100m. It’s virtually guaranteed to havesnow but, with no trees, inclement daysare best spent nursing a hot chocolate.Val Thorens opens on November 21.Details A week’s self-catering is from

£367pp, based on four sharing aone-bedroom apartment at theOlympiades Apartments, includingflights and transfers (020 8544 6413,igluski.com)

48 Early snow at LakeLouise CanadaBeing the first resort to open is a hotlycontested race in Canada. Lake Louiseoften wins and is home to the first men’sWorld Cup downhill race of the season— chosen as the snow is reliable. Thisyear’s competition is on November 28.Details A week’s stay at the three-starDeer Lodge costs from £989pp, basedon four sharing, including flights andtransfers (020 8544 6413, igluski.com)

49 November opening

at Ischgl AustriaIt’s easy to see why Ischgl, with slopesrising to 2,870m, remains a favourite. Theslopes are snow-sure, the après-ski wild,and the hotels welcoming. To kick winteroff with a serious bang, head to the resortfor its opening concert. This year,American band the Beach Boys take tothe high-altitude stage, on November 28.

Access is free with a lift pass.Details A week’s B&B at the three-starHotel Val Sinestra is from £679pp,including flights and transfers(01483 791114, inghams.co.uk)

50 High peaks atObergurgl AustriaAnother favourite with British skiers,Obergurgl, and lift-linked Hochgurgl,have arguably Europe’s most snow-surenon-glacier pistes, with their summit at3,080m. Add to that snowmaking on99 per cent of slopes and it’s fail-safe.Details A week’s chalet-board atChalet Angela is from £514pp,including flights and transfers(01483 791 933, skitotal.com)

41


Page 23,24,25,26,27,29


43

47

��

Documents

The 50 best ski breakstobooknow - Savoie Mont Blanc...11 Mega resort in Utah Am erica The US has a new ski resort this year thanks to a link between Park Cit y and Canyons. The two