Not only is skiing fun, but it also benefits your physical and mental health. It's a type of aerobic activity that can help you burn calories and lose weight. In addition, it releases endorphins, which can improve your mood and overall sense of well-being. Whether you're a beginner trying to learn skiing or want to hone your skills, many destinations worldwide offer excellent skiing opportunities. Below, check out the top must-visit skiing destinations.
Whistler Blackcomb, Canada
Whistler Blackcomb is one of North America's largest and most impressive ski resorts. Covering more than 8,000 acres, it comprises two mountains and has over two hundred trails. It has fun and challenging slopes, with something to offer for skiers of all levels. The sheer size of the place and the stunning mountain ranges make it one of the world's top must-visit skiing destinations.
Whistler Blackcomb is about 75 miles north of Vancouver in British Columbia. You can get here by car, driving through a long, winding road offering stunning views of the Howe Sound and the nearby mountain ranges. If you're coming here by car from Vancouver, it's worth stopping at some attractions along the way, such as Horseshoe Bay, Tantalus Lookout, and the lovely town of Squamish. When driving on this road, you have to be very cautious. Also, all cars must have snow tires or chains when coming here in winter.
Whistler Blackcomb features some of North America's most varied terrains. It has more than 200 trails and 8,000 acres of skiable terrain, and the area receives an average of 396 inches of snow each year. Despite Whistler's steep elevation, you can find beginner terrains just about anywhere in the area. On Blackcomb, novice skiers will find quality terrain to ski along the Sunset Boulevard trail, which offers some of the most stunning views.
Vail Mountain Resort, Colorado Image credit: Four Seasons Resort Vail
Colorado's Vail Mountain Resort offers some of the best ski holidays on earth at a destination with incredibly stunning views. With over 5,000 acres of skiable terrain, three picturesque villages, and over 300 days of sunshine, skiing in Vail Mountain Resort offer a sense of adventure you won't experience anywhere else.
Vail Mountain Resort is Colorado's largest ski resort and the third largest in the United States. It has stellar terrains offering exciting skiing adventures, divided into three general sections - the Front Side, Back Bowls, and Blue-Sky Basin. The Front Side lies on the north, perched above I-70 at the base of Vail Pass. Meanwhile, Back Bowls occupies more than half of the 5,289 skiable acres, taking about an entire day to complete a few runs on each lift.
The final section along the trail map of Vail is Blue Sky Basin. It expanded Vail's terrain by five hundred acres, offering a northern-facing glade and steep skiing opportunities. You can spend a day exploring Blue Sky Basin. After your skiing adventure, relax and grab a bite at Belle’s Camp.
Saas-Fee, Switzerland
Surrounded by cascading glaciers and stunning peaks of about 4,000 metres long, Saas-Fee is one of the world's most incredible destinations for skiing. It offers skiing opportunities for all levels of skiers, including well-maintained ski slopes with lifts taking you to 3,600 metres. What's more Saas-Fee offers skiing opportunities all year round, with many tourists ending up renting chalets in Saas-Fee, allowing them to visit whenever they want.
The slopes close to the village of Saas-Fee are well-suited for those trying to learn the sports, while the wide-open slopes of Morenia are more suitable for intermediate skiers. Popular with families, all ski runs end at the base of the village, so there's no chance of getting lost. Saas-Grund is a carving piste offering fantastic panoramic views, perfect for families with kids. Meanwhile, Saas-Almagell caters to beginners, adventurous skiers, and families.
Another great thing about Saas-Fee is that it offers plenty of fun activities for non-skiers, from hiking to tubing, sledging, and toboggan runs. Gorge Alpine tour is also popular in the area, where a guide takes you on a tour of the gorge, passing frozen waterfalls and across suspension bridges before going down on a high-speed zip line.
Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy Image credit: Cristallo, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa
As the beating heart of the Dolomites, Italy's Cortina d'Ampezzo is one of the world's must-visit skiing destinations. It has long been a sophisticated hub for outdoor sports in Italy, offering diverse skiing opportunities. World-renowned for its perfectly groomed pistes with something for all levels of skiers, Cortina is a destination for superb skiing experiences.
The mountains around Cortina d'Ampezzo are some of the tallest and most dramatic in the Dolomites region. Skiing in Cortina guarantees stunning views and incredible landscapes, the world's best intermediate trails, and Italy's best range piste trails. Expert skiers will find several challenging free-ride terrains in Cortina, especially when the snow is deep.
Whilst there are many excellent skiing spots at Cortina, the best one is the Armentarola trail, which starts from the top of Lagazuoi down to Alta Badia near San Cassiano. You'll have a blast skiing past frozen waterfalls and get towed by horses during the last few kilometres. Cortina is also home to the most advanced piste trails in the Dolomites, where you can go hard and fast.
Courchevel, France
Courchevel is a world-class ski area and is definitely one of the world's must-visit skiing destinations. It is part of "The Three Valleys," home to around 600 kilometers of piste and offers more than 150 km of varied terrain for all levels of skiers and over 55 lifts serving more than a hundred runs between an altitude of 1,300 meters and 2,700 meters.
The ski area of Courchevel is famous for having the best grooming in the Alps, where you can enjoy perfectly manicured pistes every day. It's completely snow-sure, with 85% of the ski area sitting more than 1,800 meters.
Courchevel has the largest snow-marking operation in France and covers more than fifty per cent of the ski area. The slopes facing the north stay cold through the winter season, guaranteeing pristine snow conditions from December to April.
