Skiing
The top 9 most magical places to ski on Earth
Looking for stunning views and amazing turns? We’ve got you covered!
With just a month remaining until the World Cup racing season kicks off in Sölden, Austria (24-25 October), it’s time to plan the next ski adventure.
To help you out, we've put together our list of the most magical ski destinations for every travelling skier’s bucket list.
We've scoured the world from top to bottom – from Alaska to Ushuaia and from Honshu to the Matterhorn – to compile this list of what we consider to be the most amazing skiing spots out there:
1. Zermatt, Switzerland
Zermatt, Switzerland
© Michael Portmann/Zermatt Tourismus
Centred on the Matterhorn – the most photographed mountain in the world – Zermatt offers an unrivalled panorama with a year-round ski season on the glacier. It is a must-see destination. With access to both Swiss and Italian sides of the spectacular peak, Zermatt offers varied skiing from easy to challenging, along with incredible off-piste turns.
2. Rosa Khutor, Krasnaya Polyana/Sochi, Russia
Sochi, Russia
© Agence Zoom
The Rosa Khutor ski resort near the town of Krasnaya Polyana is located just 50km from the Black Sea. It boasts one of the highest vertical elevations of any lift-served resort, an impressive 1760m. Opened in November 2011, the resort features countless fun-to-ski couloirs and stunning views to the east over the Western Caucasus in the direction of Europe’s highest peak, Mount Elbrus, and over to Georgia.
3. Lake Louise, Canada
Lake Louise, Canada
© Agence Zoom
The Canadian Rockies have some of the best skiing in the world and Lake Louise is second-to-none in terms of scenery. Typically one of the first resorts to open for the ski season, Lake Louise also claims one of the most amazing hotels with the monumental Château Lake Louise, built in 1890. Besides the wow factor for the views, the terrain provides a lot of choice from corduroy to powder bowls.
4. Val d’Isère, France
Val D'Isere, France
© Andy Parant/Office du tourisme
Home to the French ski legend Jean Claude Killy, Val d’Isère provides some of the best turns in the French Alps, including the intimidating Face de Bellevarde. In addition to miles of groomed slopes, the quality of the lift-accessed off-piste is superb. It’s also a place for extraordinary après ski and nightlife – very Savoie faire as they say.
5. Diamond Peak, USA
Diamond Peak Ski Resort, USA
© Diamond Peak Ski Resort
Most US resorts aren’t renowned for spectacular scenery, but Diamond Peak, at North Lake Tahoe, is a remarkable exception. Featuring 360 degrees of grand views over the north-eastern shore and Sierra Nevada, the little resort in Incline Village has a laidback vibe. It’s the locals’ tip for undiscovered, affordable skiing and around 40 percent of the runs are marked for advanced skiers.
6. Zao Onsen, Japan
Zao, Japan
© Cyber/Getty Images
Zao Onsen provides the best of Japanese skiing, excellent powder, hot springs and more. The resort in the Yamagata prefecture, north-east of Honshu, is well known for its natural ice monsters (Juhyo), typically found atop the mountain from December to February. The monsters are evergreen trees encapsulated in metres of cold snow by seasonal winds. Just picture the magic of the view in colourful flood lighting!
7. Portillo, Chile
Portillo, Chile
© Morten Andersen
If you’d rather extend the ski season into the Northern summer, you should consider Portillo. Sitting on the edge of Inca Lake, South America's oldest resort sits 100 percent above the treeline. Expert skiers marvel at its steep, off-piste terrain and powder that can last for days. With just one hotel and no town, the place has a unique ambience and no masses. Portillo is a favourite of many of the world’s top ski racers, such as Julia Mancuso.
8. Ohau, New Zealand
Ohau, New Zealand
© Pete Oswald
An excellent skiwi option down under during the southern ski season is the off-the-beaten-path resort of Ohau on the South Island, near Wanaka. A hidden gem, it has some of the most spectacular mountain views in New Zealand, including of the Southern Alps and across Lake Ohau to the iconic mountain of Ben Ohau, and even Mount Cook. Most of the terrain is off-piste, offering an incredible skier-to-hectare ratio, but there are a few groomed runs, too.
9. Ushuaia, Argentina
Ushuaia, Argentina
© Agence Zoom
Last but not least, there is something magical about skiing in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, where snow-capped mountains meet the sea at the end of the world. Situated near the capital of Tierra del Fuego (Spanish for Land of Fire), the ski resort of Cerro Castor sits at just 195m above sea level, but rises up to 1,057m. The standard season lasts from June through to October and, despite the low altitude, often wows with plentiful powder. Simply breathtaking!
