Where to find snow-sure resorts this winter
With rising temperatures affecting snow cover in some ski areas last season, skiers are keen to search for snowsure resorts this winter. We ask the experts for recommendations
While this summer saw temperatures exceeding 40°C in popular European holiday destinations, winter isn’t immune to the perils of climate change either.
Last season’s headlines bemoaned a lack of snow cover in ski resorts, with rising temperatures and decreasing snowfall shortening the winter season. The Royal Meteorological Society’s Europe’s Ski Season: 2022-23 Snow Report says a significant lack of snowfall led to delayed openings and shorter ski seasons across the region, disappointing many skiers and snowboarders.
As these trends gather pace, the report asserts: “Resorts in the Alps with a base elevation below 1,500m are the most vulnerable in terms of survival.”
For the best chance of bountiful snow and pristine pistes, it pays to aim high, with resorts at the loftiest altitudes typically receiving the best snowfall. Aspect can also play a big part in retaining snow cover, while other resorts boast snowsure slopes via extensive artificial snowmaking. Here, the experts give their recommendations for giving your clients the best chance of tearing up the powder this winter.
THE THREE VALLEYS, FRANCE
Home to some of Europe’s highest resorts, the Three Valleys ski area reaches 3,230m on the slopes above Val Thorens. It can be accessed on a Three Valleys ski pass that also covers the Meribel and Courchevel valleys.
Ski France has two new chalets in Meribel for this winter: six-bedroom Chalet Altair and five-bedroom Chalet Arolla.
Zac Brown, group head of sales and marketing at Ski France, says: “Meribel is a brilliant option, as it sits right at the heart of the vast Three Valleys area, where you’ve got so much fantastic high-altitude skiing to choose from. Around 85% of the Three Valleys ski area is above 1,800m, which means it’s super snowsure from early December to late April.”
Book it: Ski France offers seven nights in Chalet Altair (sleeping 12) on a self-catering basis from £11,349 based on a 10 December 2023 departure. Flights and transfers not included; skifrance-premium.co.uk
OBERTAUERN, AUSTRIA
St Anton gets plenty of attention for its high-altitude sheltered slopes that hold snow well, but Inghams ski product manager Holly Whitby also highlights Obertauern at 1,740m for having one of the best snow records in the Alps, and certainly the best in Austria.
She says: “Because of how the resort is situated, it gets snow from the north and south, so you don’t get slush even when it’s sunny. In previous years they’ve had skiable snow into May [Inghams sells until the end of April]. We have also just added three new properties to our 2023/24 programme in Obertauern.”
Book it: Inghams offers seven nights’ full-board at Hotel Steiner departing Southampton on 16 December 2023 from £1,298pp based on two sharing; inghams.co.uk
SAN CASSIANO, ITALY
While clients seeking guaranteed snow often aim high, other resorts offer pristine slopes via artificial measures. Karen Anderson, senior ski specialist at Ski Independence, recommends San Cassiano.
“While only 1,537m in altitude, there is state-of-the-art snowmaking in the Dolomiti Superski. San Cassiano sits in the Alta Badia area and gives easy access to the whole Sella Ronda [a ski circuit that takes in four Dolomite passes].
“I skied there in March this year, and it’s fair to say it wasn’t a vintage snow season, yet all the pistes were open with full coverage down to resort level.”
Book it: Ski Independence offers a seven-night stay at Hotel Fanes featuring spa facilities such as a rotating sauna with panoramic Dolomite views, from £2,555pp based on two sharing from 14 January 2024, including flights and transfers; ski-i.com
ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND
With a glacial ski area reaching 3,899m, Zermatt is a pretty sure bet when it comes to snow cover. Liz Goodwin, Carrier’s product manager – Europe and ski, says: “Zermatt is so high, it’s normally open for year-round skiing. While summer skiing is no longer guaranteed, you can be assured of excellent snow conditions throughout the winter.”
She adds that the Swiss resort should be on every skier’s bucket list: “A fairy-tale, car-free village at the foot of the iconic Matterhorn ensures spectacular scenic skiing. The new Matterhorn Alpine Crossing by cable car means a faster and easier link to Cervinia on the Italian side of the ski area to take full advantage of 360km of pistes.”
Book it: Carrier has seven-nights’ B&B at the Mont Cervin Palace from £3,870pp based on two adults sharing, departing 16 March 2024. Includes flights with Swiss and private transfers; carrier.co.uk
WHISTLER, CANADA
Canada is often a bucket-list topper for ski fanatics. Whistler Blackcomb is an ideal destination for first timers to the country thanks to access via a direct flight to Vancouver and a short transfer plus it’s a ski-in/ski-out resort.
Frontier Ski’s Michael Williamson-Giles says Whistler’s 8,100 acres of skiable terrain and legendary apres are huge draws, and the resort has an average annual snowfall of more than 10 metres.
“The elevation of the resort and its closeness to the Pacific Ocean means it receives a lot of precipitation that sweeps in off the storms over the sea. Obviously, the higher you go that precipitation turns to snow. So when people say ‘I’ve heard it rains in the village’, I tell them that rain in the village means snow on the mountain,” Williamson-Giles asserts.
Book it: Frontier Ski has seven nights in a two-bedroom suite (two adults and two children under 12) at The Delta from £10,750 including flights and transfers, based on a 10 February 2024 departure; frontier-ski.co.uk
Tips for greener skiing
While ski holidays and sustainability haven’t always been a natural fit, the industry has been making strides in ski-lift technology and snowmaking as well as in-resort transportation.
Ski Independence’s Karen Anderson says there are lots of small changes guests can make too. “Renting instead of buying snowsports equipment; eating locally sourced food; downloading a digital piste map instead of using a paper one; reusing or recycling the plastic lift ticket cards... to name but a few.”
Krissy Roe, senior sustainability manager at Inghams, adds tips including travelling by train instead of flying and looking for electric bus or rail transfers; borrowing or hiring ski wear – Inghams recommends Ecoski; and booking with an operator that has clear carbon reduction targets.
Finally, Carrier’s Liz Goodwin recommends Green Fares by Swiss. These enable passengers to fly more sustainably by purchasing sustainable aviation fuel and making a contribution to high-quality climate projects such as offsetting the remaining CO2 emissions.
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