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When the snow begins to fall not everyone is dreaming of a sun holiday. The white powder calls many for a snow holiday and we’ve rounded up the best places to ski and snowboard around the world.
There are plenty of great opportunities in North America, but there are so many reasons to hop on a flight to Europe. If you’re looking to skip the lines try to avoid holidays and weekends for these resorts when everyone is looking to hit the slopes.
Whistler, Canada
Western Canada is famous for many ski towns, including Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper and Kamloops. However, the king of all the hills is Whistler Blackcomb, which is why it was the site of many 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.
While the site is enormous and can be intimidating, there are over 200 trails and 37 lifts for beginners through experienced riders who want to experience the largest vertical drop at a resort in the world.
Whistler makes for a great family vacation with lots of other activities including dog sledding and tours.
Chamonix, France
Well known amongst experienced snowboarders, Chamonix Mont Blanc is not for the timid at heart.
Skiers flock here for freeriding, and you’ll find snowboarders equipped with carabiners, ice pics and ropes in search of the best ride. It’s possible to hire mountain guides to navigate through the glaciers.
While there are five resorts in Chamonix, this is not a beginner region. There are slopes for beginners and children but this is really a bucket list region for the experienced.
Breckenridge, United States
Considered universally to be one of the best places to ski and snowboard in the world, you’ll find many professional athletes on the slopes at Breckenridge. It’s hosted World Cup races along with many events for the Dew Tour.
Snowboarders love the challenge of the Olympic-worthy 22 foot half-pipe, mountain parks along with jumps, boxes and rails.
This Colorado resort is a bit more expensive but the trails are impeccable and it’s considered a classic location with an excellent ski and snowboard school.
Mayrhofen, Austria
One of the most popular resorts in the Alps for the British, Mayrhofen is loved for its diversity in experience
With over 130km of pistes, glacier riding opportunities and one of the best snowboarding parks, serious snowboarders love this site. But there are plenty of great experiences for those on holiday, complete with a great nightlife scene and childcare services.
It’s easy to reach and is just outside Innsbruck, Austria.
Mont Tremblant, Canada
Only 130km north of bustling Montreal, this ski resort is the second oldest in North America. It’s a busy spot known and loved for its European charm with cobblestone streets nestled in the Laurentian mountains
For those that don’t want to ski or snowboard every day there are lots of things to do in the village including dogsledding, snowshoeing and fondue tours.
Avoriaz, France
Avoriaz is considered by many as the best snowboarding resorts in France and the snowboarding capital of Europe. Avoriaz was one of the first resorts to welcome snowboarders with a dedicated park and pipe.
Today it remains popular with plenty of off-piste terrain and a famous snowboarding school.
But skiers shouldn’t shy away, it remains a great destination for skiing with world’s largest lift-connected ski region and you won’t have to walk long to find a lift. Beginners have plenty of opportunities here and the resort is well-known for its après ski scene.
