Why not spend the long-awaited vacation in the mountains, racing on a well-groomed ski track and “refueling” after it with a delicious meal with a fragrant mulled wine? There are a lot of ski resorts – at any level of skiing and wallet. Surely you have already visited the most popular of them and you are not averse to trying something new.
Therefore, natalydate wants to tell you about 5 alternative best ski destinations, which, according to visitors' reviews, have gained a good reputation, and at the same time are not the most loaded ones.
Encamp, Andorra
Located in 186 km from Barcelona and 7 km from Andorra la Vella, the small town of Encamp is an attractive place for skiing, both for confidently standing on alpine skiing or snowboarding, and for beginners (for them there is a ski school). The Funicamp lift takes you up to the highest mountain in Pirinés Pas de la Casa – Grau Roig, with a 210 km of trails, in just 15 minutes.
Here, you can find a good choice of hotels and entertainment – restaurants, shopping in the tax-free zone and the famous thermal spa Caldea. If you are looking for cheap ski destinations without large crowds of tourists, it is what you exactly need.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Germany is not so associated with mountain skiing as Austria, France, Switzerland and Italy. Perhaps because in the local mountains, even in winter, there is not always snow. However, it is worth paying attention to Garmisch-Partenkirchen – the center of winter sports and the venue of the 1936 Olympics.
The skiing area passes at altitudes from 700 to 2800 m above sea level, and the total length of the trails is 120 km (the longest of them is 5 km). Slopes of different complexity, 20% of them are convenient for beginners. There are two half-pipes and two fan-parks, 150 km of cross-country ski trails and 120 km of hiking trails. Getting there will be convenient from Munich (90 km) or Innsbruck (64 km). Settle in one of the cozy hotels, so that the feeling of a fairy tale was completed. Connoisseurs of top ski destinations mark this place as an ideal resort for a quiet, family holiday.
Chimbulak, Kazakhstan
In Soviet times, Chimbulak was one of the most popular mountain resorts. It is located at an altitude of about 3000 m in the beautiful natural boundary of the Zailiysky Alatau, just 25 km from Alma-Ata. Nearby there is the famous high-mountain skating rink Medeo. On the routes of Chimbulak (there are 8 of them) international competitions in alpine skiing are held, and fans of high-speed skiing like come here. There are wide well-groomed descents there, successful terrain and the “fastest” snow in the CIS, the season lasts from November to April.
The most popular hotel there is Shymbulak Resort, located near the ski lifts and equipped with all amenities, including a swimming pool, ski school, Wi-Fi, shuttle, etc.
While you are on the slope, professional nurses will take care of them in the “children's town”. After skiing, you will not be bored: you can warm up the bones in the sauna, trust the caring hands of the masseur, play board games and go on an excursion.
Aspen, United States
This mountain-skiing Mecca of the Western Hemisphere is located in the state of Colorado. Here it is almost always snowy in winter, the heights are 4 km, and the total length of the trails is impressive – more than 200 km. Aspen itself is a resort town in Victorian style, stuffed with all kinds of entertainment, shops and restaurants.
The place is perfect for beginners, and for fans to maneuver between the trees. There are all kinds of snow parks and half-pipes, you can ride on anything that slips through the snow. It is one of the best ski destinations in the world.
Yenphen, South Korea
Until recently, skiers and snowboarders did not seriously consider South Korea, but the 2018 Olympics opened this country as one of the Asian winter sports centers. Yongpyong Resort, located at an altitude of about 1500 m, has become a favorite place for snowboarders. There are 31 routes of different complexity (the longest – Rainbow Paradise – is 5600 m), 14 chair lifts. Ski pass costs 64 USD per day, it also gives you the right to get into a snow park and an unforgettable night skiing.
