Holidays at a ski resort in the Alps. The best alpine ski resorts

Alpine ski resorts are considered one of the best in Europe, and, according to some tourists, in the world. But the best does not always mean the most expensive. About the fact that France is not only Courchevel, as well as how to save on trips to the mountains and at which resort local residents sing songs from Soviet films, - in the RIA Novosti material.

Austria

“My favorite resort in the Alps is the Austrian Mayrhofen, which many skiers lovingly call Morkovkin,” says Alexander Sokolov from Moscow. “When I came here for the first time, I was amazed not relatively low prices and excellent tracks, and the Germans singing in the cafe “A furry bumblebee for fragrant hops...” This is what I understand - cultural exchange!”

According to Gerald Böhm, head of the Austrian National Tourist Office in Russia, among the major Alpine destinations, Austria has long been considered the leader in terms of price-quality ratio.

“Also, Austrian resorts have the most modern equipment, including ski lifts,” adds the expert. “And most hotels are family hotels, where in every detail you can feel the centuries-old connection between people and the mountains.”

Relatively inexpensive Austrian resorts, including Mayrhofen, as well as Elmau and Sell in the Kufstein district and Schladming in the federal state of Styria, recommends Alexey Teplov, marketing director of the OneTwoTrip service. “The airports closest to these cities are in Innsbruck and Salzburg. The average cost of a flight to Innsbruck this winter is 24,200 rubles, but if you “play” with the dates, you can save a lot,” says Alexey.

For example, a flight from Moscow to Innsbruck and back from February 7 to 14 will cost 13,500 rubles. A flight to Salzburg on average costs about 20,900 rubles, but you can find tickets on a low-cost airline, in February - for 6,700 rubles in both directions. You will have to pay extra for transporting equipment.

Experienced skiers recommend the Mayrhofen resort to those who value infrastructure, as well as the possibility of varied skiing, including the famous Harakiri slope with a slope of 78 degrees. Söll attracts British and American youth, Schladming is ideal for those who enjoy skiing surrounded by beautiful scenery.

Prices for a day ski pass at these resorts are about 54 euros, the cost of accommodation is from 4,700 to 6,500 rubles per night for two.

You can also find relatively inexpensive ones package offers. According to the Level.Travel service, the minimum cost of a trip to the Zell am See ski resort in Austria with flights, accommodation and insurance is 33,561 rubles for two for seven nights. At the same time, the average price of tours to Austria in 2018 was 76 thousand rubles.

Last week, rescuers advised against hiking in the Alps: there is a danger of avalanches due to prolonged snowfall. But this did not affect the flow of tourists from Russia - booked trips will not be cancelled.

France

"In France, the most popular Russian tourists resorts are also the most expensive: Chamonix, Courchevel, Meribel and Paradiski, says Alexey Teplov. “And inexpensive ski holidays can be found in small resorts in the Southern Alps: Isola, Valberg, Oron, as well as in the resort of Morzine.”

According to Anton Vershinin, a skier with five years of experience from Moscow, all fans should choose Morzine inexpensive holiday. “There are not only a variety of trails that are suitable for both beginners and experienced skiers, but also an ethnographic museum and a lively restaurant and bar street where excellent Savoyard wines are poured,” he says.

Anton also advises buying, instead of a ski pass for the whole day (43 euros), its equivalent for five hours of skiing (37 euros) - this is enough to cover all the most interesting slopes. The cost of accommodation per night for two at the resort starts from 6,000 rubles.

The most convenient way to get to Morzine is from Lyon or Geneva. A direct flight from Moscow to Geneva in February will cost 20,000 rubles, but an option with a short transfer can cost 11-12 thousand rubles.

Germany

"Just one hour and 20 minutes by train from Munich brings you to one of the most beautiful places In Bavaria, where I definitely recommend visiting is the resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, says Alexey Vorobiev from Rostov-on-Don. - There are good ski areas for both children and adults, and also excellent open pool with a view of the mountains."

“The Alpine Ski World Cup stages are held here every year, which means the quality of the slopes is excellent,” emphasizes Alexey Teplov. “It’s better not to plan a trip for the middle or end of March - sometimes at this time it’s already too warm in Garmisch for skiing.”

The expert also advises flying to Munich. The average cost of an air ticket there this winter is 19,500 rubles, but there are cheaper options. As for package tours, they are quite rare, since mass tourism from Russia the direction is not yet very developed.

How to save

“Russians who ski and purchase package tours still often prefer their own country or Bulgaria,” says Alexey Zaretsky, general director of the Travelata.ru service. “However, there is a category of tourists who purposefully travel specifically to Europe. Experienced skiers try to purchase tours in the fall, at the stage early booking. However, in this case there is a risk of unpredictable weather."

Another opportunity to save money is to choose a tour package not only with flights and accommodation, but also with discounts on ski passes. Also, often on-site tour operator guides can provide bonus cards or flyers that allow you to reduce costs during your vacation.

According to the expert, at Alpine ski resorts the main way to save both money and time is to refuse the transfer included in the package. package tour. “The fact is that the road from the airport to the resort is not always convenient and is often long, so you can save money on a transfer when purchasing a tour,” recommends Alexey Zaretsky.

06.01.2017

My Way experts found out what new things the best ski resorts have prepared this season. But the main news is connected not so much with skis, but with what accompanies them. Now all MegaFon users get access to mobile Internet at the rate of 1 MB for only 5 rubles. And you don’t need to connect any additional options.

Switzerland

Switzerland is known to be the birthplace winter holiday. All ski resorts in the Alps originate here. The first resort in the world, St. Moritz, opened here back in 1864. And for more than 150 years, Switzerland has been proving that first class holiday can be not only in the summer on the beach, but also in snowy mountains. This year St. Moritz will be the center again skiing– from February 6 to 19, the World Alpine Ski Championships will be held there. The resort will host the world championship for the fifth time in its history. And, most importantly, holding a competition of this level will not interfere with ordinary vacationers. On the contrary, guests will be able to not only enjoy the performances of famous skiers, but also ski with them on the same slopes. And if you find yourself in St. Moritz on March 9, you will become a participant in the first night ski marathon Engadina. This is an amazing cross-country ski race in a whole new light - either by moonlight or by the light of a headlamp. All resort guests older than 2002 are allowed to participate. However, no matter which of the forty Swiss resorts you find yourself at this season, each of them has prepared something new for its guests. For example, the Alpine ski resorts of Disentis (canton of Graubünden) launched a new ski lift this year in cooperation with Porsche. The engineers did their best: skiers will reach a height of 1000 m in just 3.5 minutes. There they will have excellent trails with an elevation difference of up to 1700 m.

Villars (Vaud) this season opened a four-kilometer track for fat bikes (winter bikes with “fat” tires). Once a week, tourists are offered a fat bike race accompanied by guides, combined with an evening fondue in a mountain restaurant. After dinner, descend from the Roque d'Orsay to the very center of the Villars resort. Danusa (Grains), positioning itself as the best place for children's recreation, this year it will offer little guests motor sleigh rides. Along the way, participants will find a cheerful and densely populated castle, two ghost trains, a ski carousel and a magic carpet.
Crans-Montana (Valais) will host the first snow golf game in Western Switzerland. The idea is to allow players of all levels to enjoy this unique opportunity in a magical winter setting on an iconic course. And for food lovers in Pizola (Eastern Switzerland) they have prepared a whole cheesy snowy adventure. Ski slopes, lifts and sleds - all this will remain aside. You yourself will choose a place where delicious cheese fondue will be waiting for you. Everything you need will be in the backpack. You just need to wait until the cheese melts.
Engelberg (Lake Lucerne region) prepared new route for snowshoes along Lake Trubsee. Participants will walk through hilly, quiet terrain along nature reserve. Out of respect for the wild animals that live here, hikers are asked to stay on the marked trail. The highest point of the route is Bitzishtok with a fantastic view down to the Engelberg valley. The entire 3 km journey will take approximately an hour and a half.

If just walking and enjoying the views is not your choice, welcome to Mount Rigi (Lake Lucerne region). Here, snowshoe lovers will be rewarded with a delicious three-course lunch. Each dish awaits you in one of three restaurants; participants choose the route between them themselves.
For extreme sports enthusiasts in the Safien Valley (Grains) this season we have prepared a free ride on the Alpine toboggan. By the way, it has a control system and brakes, it can move in deep snow, which makes such off-piste skiing an unforgettable adventure. But keep in mind that this sled requires a certain amount of athletic madness, love of adventure, and athletic training.
And, of course, we should not forget that one of the most popular places Switzerland - Gloria's Pizza (Bernese Oberland/Schilthorn) - turns 50 this year. This cableway leading to the revolving restaurant is located at an altitude of 2970 m above sea level. Without looking up from your meal, you can see 200 mountain peaks at once. In addition, Piz Gloria is the filming location for the James Bond film. In the anniversary year, visitors will be treated to a real celebration with lots of entertainment.

Don’t forget to activate the “Whole WORLD” option from MegaFon before going to the resort. With it, you can freely and faster than any media outlets tell your family and friends all the results of the competition. You will never get lost on the night tracks of the exciting marathon.

Italy

Dolomiti-Superski – the largest single ski region not only in Italy, but throughout the world. These are 12 valleys that offer 450 ski lifts, 1,200 km of slopes and 26 snow parks in 50 alpine villages.

The winter season will last until early or mid-April (depending on the location of the resort). But some slopes and lifts, such as Skiing Area Faloria, usually operate until early May (subject to snow availability). The 42nd season of skiing in the Dolomiti Superski was no exception: many new products await guests. By the way, about €80 million was invested in the reconstruction of slopes, ski lifts and snow cannons in the region for this season.

The main innovation is that ski resorts have become much more accessible: from December to April, the transport company Dolomiti Ski Shuttle will launch Passenger Transportation from the airports of Verona, Bergamo and Milan-Linate to the ski resorts in the Alps - Arabba, Marmolada, Civetta, Falcade and others located in the Veneto region. Ticket prices start from €30 per person. Directly at the resorts, one of the new products awaits in Madonna di Campiglio. There will be a 3 km long toboggan run, starting at an altitude of 2070 m (Monte Spinale) and ending at 1730 m (at the stop of the Spinale 2 chairlift). The elevation difference is 340 m, the average inclination is 12°, the maximum is 18°.

Cervinia welcomes the new season with the opening of several new slopes on the Italian slope, and from November 19, the Cervinia-Valtournenche connection opened, so you can get to the town of Cervinia without taking off your skis. In addition, thanks to the huge ski area, Dolomiti Superski offers guests a unique experience - the “Dolomites Ski Safari”. Over seven days, guests will visit all 12 resorts, traveling from one valley to another using connecting ski lifts. During the week, participants will ski and visit ski resorts in the Alps such as Val Gardena / Alpe di Siusi, Alta Badia, Arabba / Marmolada, Lagzuoi / Cinque Torri and Cortina d'Ampezzo. At the same time, it is absolutely not necessary to ski professionally; routes are developed depending on the skills of the participants.

Whatever valley you find yourself in during your Dolomite safari, rest assured that you will always be accessible to your family and friends. To do this, you just need to connect the option of the MegaFon company “THE WHOLE WORLD”. Share your impressions with everyone who calls you completely freely.

France

Val Thorens is perhaps the most titled ski resort not only in France, but among the ski resorts in the Alps. Twice in a row - in 2013 and 2014 - it was recognized as the best ski resort in the world. In 2015, Val Thorens became one of the best ski resorts in the Alps, and in 2016 it defended its title. The valley is located at an altitude of 2300 m. 99% of the ski area of ​​Val Thorens lies between altitudes of 2000 and 3230 m, and the total length of pistes is 150 km. In 2017, the season in Val Thorens will last until May 1. Guests are not only welcome skiing, but also sledding, paragliding, an extreme ice driving school, mountain biking on snow, bowling, a sports center and a spa complex. This year the resort has new hotel Fahrenheit 7 and family park entertainment. In addition, one of the houses of the Russian entrepreneur Oleg Tinkov is located in Val Thorens, and from this year he rents out his resort houses to everyone.

Another unique ski resort in France is Alpe d'Huez. It is there that the longest ski slope in the world is located - Saren. Its length is 16 km. Last winter, 33 additional snow guns were installed on the slope. As a result, with the existing 72 snow cannons, there is now always snow there.

This year, Alpe d'Huez replaced rope tows with mixed-type lifts (a combination of cabins and chairs).
Megève resort (by the way, this is where most people ski ex-president France Nicolas Sarkozy) this year will be replenished with a Palace category hotel. Megève offers its guests a plane ride over the icy peak of Mont Blanc, hot air balloon rides, snowshoeing, an ice skating rink, ice climbing, dog sledding and a visit to a reindeer farm.

Another world ski record among ski resorts in the Alps can be boasted by the resort of Les Deux Alpes - there is the greatest difference in altitude: the ski area is between 3600 m and 1300 m. By the way, this area is called nothing less than a resort for gourmets: Les Deux offers guests Alps 66 restaurants.
The Val d'Isere ski area will remain open until May 1 this year. About 300 km of ski slopes and 80 mechanical lifts await guests. The elevation difference at the resort reaches 1900 m (the lowest is 1550 m, the top is 3450 m). In addition, there are two glaciers above 3000 m and two snow parks.

Whatever type of active recreation you choose (from hot air balloon to snowshoes), always stay connected. To do this, activate the “Whole WORLD” option of the MegaFon company, and you will always find yourself in the access zone for calls from family and friends. In addition, with MegaFon's new mobile Internet tariff, you don't have to wait until you get back to the hotel to connect to Wi-Fi. Use the Internet anywhere.

Austria

If you choose a Tyrolean valley for perfect skiing this season, the Zillertal slopes should take precedence among the ski resorts in the Alps. Surrounded by the Alps, surrounded by a network of cable cars, it includes four ski areas: Hochzillertal-Hochfügen-Spieljoch, Zillertal-Arena, Mayrhofen-Hippach and Tux-Finkenberg. In addition to the fact that it is 508 km of perfectly prepared trails, it also has new offers and options that are simply impossible to refuse.

To begin with, it is here in the Zillertal that they began to develop a special network of mountain huts, where you can have lunch on occasion (in the Platzalm, for example, they serve signature pies with cheese and potatoes) or simply choose them as a permanent place of stay. At the same time, the design of the huts is varied and will satisfy the most demanding taste: from traditional Tyrolean dwellings to the most modernist suites. In other words, you find yourself in the position of masters of the slope - while other skiers are just approaching the lifts, you are already rushing down the mountain.
However, there is another option to be the first on the mountain. It is during this season that in Hochzillertal the funiculars start operating at 7.30 am. So, immediately after waking up, early risers can ski down the slopes several times instead of exercising, and then have breakfast in one of the resort restaurants with a sense of accomplishment.

And a completely mind-blowing option will be available from mid-January 2017. From now on, you will be able to book a track for one hour only for yourself and your friends. This proposal in Zillertal was born not from a bad life, but rather from a too good life. There are so many trails that your “personal” descent will not change the traffic at the resort in any way.

This season, the longest ski slope in Austria with a height difference of 1930 m will open in the Zell-Gerlos region. But if such distances are not enough for you, we recommend trying the seven-kilometer Gerlosstein toboggan run - this is where true ecstasy is guaranteed.
Please note that at the Hintertux glacier, which by the way is a year-round ski area, you will find a new fun track with many obstacles for skis and snowboards. For those who are not in the know, we inform you that under the ski slopes in a cave of natural origin there is Ice Palace, where relict stalactites and stalagmites shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow. Be sure to have lunch at the local Alpenhof restaurant.

The Zillertal Super Ski Pass gives you unlimited use of more than 179 lifts and by branded train, delivering anywhere in the valley. You can choose from a two-day to a 21-day super ski pass. The cost of a two-day super ski pass for adults is €99.50. By the way, a new ten-seater ski lift to the Issokogel area has just been launched in Gerlos. There are heated seats, an ultra-lightweight weather protection system, and, finally, Wi-Fi in every cabin - take selfies and photos and immediately post them online.

Two-day super ski pass for adults: € 99.50. Slope height: from 325 to 2000.

The nearest airports are Innsbruck (50 km), Munich (170 km) and Salzburg (150 km). Direct regular flights from Moscow to Innsbruck are operated by Austrian Airlines and a number of Russian air carriers. You can choose a shuttle service for transfer to your holiday destination. Four Seasons Travel, it will quickly and comfortably deliver you to any hotel in Tyrol.

The availability of Wi-Fi on the newest Austrian ski lifts is, of course, very encouraging. However, this innovation is rather an exception to the rule. It is much more reliable and easier to use mobile Internet from MegaFon. Without connecting any options, you pay only 5 rubles for 1MB and calmly communicate on social networks, post photos taken in hot pursuit on a snowy slope.

Text: Kirill Komarov, Sergey Soloviev

The European Cooperation Organization Best of the Alps is an association of world-famous Alpine ski resorts that are pioneers in the field of winter and summer holiday in the mountains.

Best of the Alps is the only organization of this level that has existed for over 20 years. It represents twelve prestigious resorts located in five Alpine countries. These resorts have a great tradition of hospitality, combine the requirements of modern organization of active recreation and the unique beauty of mountain landscapes. They guarantee high quality and act as ambassadors for the entire Alpine region.

"Best of the Alps" offers a large number of four and five star hotels, excellent transport connection, a wide range of wellness centers, fine dining and sporting events. The Olympic Games, championships, world and European cups are held here, world exhibitions, concerts, cutting-edge seminars and conferences.

Here they are 12 wonderful places, popular and beloved, united by one happy circumstance - all of them are located in one of the most scenic spots on the ground:

Megève ( Megeve) is an elegant and sophisticated ski resort with the unique character and charm of the French Alps.

The Chamonix Valley is mythical, unique and incomparable. This is a land filled with history, legends and sporting exploits.

Zermatt ( Zermatt) - most southern resort in the country, located at the foot of the Matterhorn mountain. It is home to traditional and exclusive summer and winter sporting events.

Grindelwald ( Grindelwald) – a lively village at the foot of northern slope Eiger Mountains, capable of satisfying any needs of those who are looking for leisure.

Winter tourism was invented here 150 years ago. Today this alpine city known throughout the world as a fabulous ski resort with its own unique style.

Davos ( Davos) is the business and cultural metropolis of the Alps. The world's business and political elite flock here during the annual World Economic Forum.

Lech ( Lech Zürs am Arlberg) was awarded the title of the most beautiful village in Europe in 2004. Most fashionable resort has wonderful natural conditions and gives countless surprises in winter and summer.

St. Anton ( St Anton am Arlberg) – Tyrolean mountain village, where traditions and advanced trends go hand in hand. A magnificent combination of modern amenities and untouched alpine nature.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen ( Garmisch-Partenkirchen) a place where you become closer to nature and get to know yourself better. The resort is located among breathtaking mountain landscapes at the foot of the Zugspitze - the most high mountain V .


Pages: 1

I often lack words to explain to friends and acquaintances what is so special about ski holiday in the Alps! Those who have not been to these places cannot quite understand me and my delight at what it’s like to “skate all day”, what it means to “ride a trail with a drop of 1500 meters”, and what it’s like to unobtrusively relax after skiing in a cozy room hotel or bar-restaurant.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


1. Authenticity

Any village/town in South Tyrol is a romantic idealized reality. Every house here is beautiful, polished to a shine and cozy to the brim. The feeling of being toy-like and thought out to the smallest detail is in everything. From any hotel to the ski-bus stop you don’t have to walk more than 5 minutes. Pass-throughs with escalators connect one street to another in places where it may be necessary for skiers with their heavy equipment.

Most of the hotels here have been run by families for generations. You are received as valued guests and accommodated in simple, but thoughtfully designed apartments for your convenience. This cozy simplicity is in both the layout and the lovely interior details.

We had our own personal entrance to the room and our own small Christmas tree decorated with wooden hearts for the occasion of February 14th. All kinds of garlands made from spice seeds, orange peels and wood cuttings decorated almost every door.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


Rustic floral colors never look out of place because there is always only one pattern used in one room, as in the photo below. If the curtains are pink and blue colors, then the bedspread matches the tone.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


// aleksorama.livejournal.com


The feeling of being at home is why I love apartment hotels in the mountains. There is nothing better than having breakfast here early in the morning right in your room. By the way, the sense of time here is completely different. For example, I, accustomed to the dark St. Petersburg morning, woke up myself with the first rays of the sun. And the sun here rises, apparently, at about 6:40, and it was at this time that I opened my eyes, as if on an alarm clock.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


A doorknob shaped like an ermine or a marten forced me to place my hand on the head of the wooden animal right between the ears to open the door every time. It is clear that such a gesture evokes a pleasant feeling, and therefore you want to enter the house again and again.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


All kinds of Catholic jewelry, made of wood or clay, fill even a non-religious person with some kind of goodness.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


// aleksorama.livejournal.com


2. Nature

Of course, that's the main point here. The riding day starts around 9 am, and this is the best time for photos. While you're standing on bus stop, the whole village is in front of you at a glance, illuminated by the bright morning sun.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


The light and colors in the mountains are something amazing. I didn’t even need additional photo processing, because there is no need to increase the brightness of this blue sky.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


Many people come to the mountains not to ski, but for hiking. This is also a good idea, there are cabins that take tourists to the top and bring them down from there. But, in my opinion, only if you ski or snowboard, you will be able to see all the diversity of nature here. Moreover, the changes in landscapes occur so rapidly that often the route begins under the clouds and ends among a dense growth of fir trees.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


Here you have the opportunity to challenge yourself and climb the Marmolada glacier, over 3000 meters high. Of course, this challenge is only formal, because the ascent and descent of the mountain is equipped with the latest technology, and many resort workers are responsible for your safety. But still, when you first drive a 15-kilometer-long highway with the most... high point Dolomites, a feeling of pride fills you.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


3. Trails

Sometimes the slopes here are intimidating to an inexperienced skier, and that’s the beauty of them.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


The length and steepness can change as you descend, dividing the route into different sections of difficulty. The biggest challenge for an inexperienced skier is that in order to move along the route, he will somehow have to go through different levels of difficulty. Here you cannot ski only on “blue” or only “red” slopes. Almost any route involves difficult area, which cannot be circumvented in any other way.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


Below is a photo of the castle that you pass when you move along the famous giant slalom course - Saslong. Saslong is just an example of my inevitable route, which was almost the only quick way to our village from the main skiing region. Either Saslong, or wait for the bus and take a long and tedious detour. No other way.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


But there are sections of the route where the choice is up to the skier. True, it cannot be said that from an altitude of 2500 meters you can drive along a low-difficulty route. And I noticed that the areas with blue signs here are, at times, not much inferior to the “red” routes. This is a big plus of learning to ride in the Alps. When there is no choice, the skill inevitably grows.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


// aleksorama.livejournal.com


4. Lifts

Lifts are a zone increased danger in the mountains. But the right ski resort is a place where you can relax and take in the views. The photo below shows one of the few remaining, most inconvenient, in my opinion, lifts, where skis are inserted outside the cabin. This creates a bit of a rush when boarding. And here you can clearly see the quality of work of the resort staff. More than once the workers took my skis away to help me put them in while I climbed into the cabin.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


The large cabin for 60 people is perhaps the only elevator that caused an uncomfortable tingling in the stomach. In 3 minutes, this cabin rises to a height of 1500 meters. This is a very popular route, and there is always a queue of people wanting to get to another ski region. The cabin is filled to capacity and it seems that all these people with heavy equipment are putting too much weight on the thin metal cables. But, as it turned out, everything was thought out here too. The number of people allowed onto the site is counted by a counter.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


There can be no mistake. But, you must admit, when you see something like this, being in a glass box filled with a crowd of people, a feeling of fear is a forgivable thing for many.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


The most popular are chair lifts! There is no need to take off your skis, the chairs are soft, and the chair has a smooth ride when boarding and disembarking. Many chairs located in areas where the wind often blows have special transparent plastic covers called bubbles that can be thrown over to protect them from wind and snow during the ascent.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


// aleksorama.livejournal.com


The colorful capsule cabins, or eggs as they are often called, can accommodate no more than 12 skiers. This is my favorite look cable car. In a capsule, the ascent can last up to ten minutes. During this time, you can take off your helmet, take a bottle of water out of your backpack, or take a couple of photos.

// aleksorama.livejournal.com


5. Lunch at an altitude of 2500 meters

You have breakfast early in the morning. By about 8:30 you are already on your way to the first lift station, and by nine you have already made your first descent and have warmed up well.

This means that your appetite will be brutal for the entire coming day.

Active recreation at ski resorts in Europe, which are located in the Alps and Carpathians, is becoming increasingly popular. And if the Carpathian ones are located on the territory of one state - Ukraine, then the Alpine ones are located on five.

In the article we will look at the features of the ski resorts of the Alpine region, located in Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy and Germany, to make it easier to choose where to go on vacation.

Austrian ski resorts in the Alps

Mountains occupy most of the country, but there is a low part of the Alps. Therefore, local trails are very dependent on the weather, but the glaciers located here make it possible to maintain sufficient snow cover for skiing for almost 7 months a year. Ski resorts are represented by small typical alpine villages; there are a lot of them here - more than a thousand. Most of the trails are designed for beginner skiers, but there are also quite difficult ones.

The most popular and highest tracks are in the western province of Tyrol (Lech, St. Anton), in the east - Mayrhofen. And in resort complexes Bad Gastein and Zell am See can even be enjoyed all year round.

Swiss ski resorts in the Alps

It is in Switzerland that the highest, best ski resorts in the Alps are located in terms of piste preparation and comfort. Thanks to the large number of slopes, lifts with high capacity, high location of all resorts, the ski season here lasts from November to April.

The best ski resorts in Switzerland are Chateau, Crans-Montana, Engelberg, Saas-Fee, Arosa, Kandersteg.

In addition to skiing in Switzerland, you can also do things like visit local attractions.

French ski resorts in the Alps

It is in France, thanks to stable sunny weather and high mountain slopes, that the largest European winter sports center is located. In the French part of the Alps you can find ski slopes of varying complexity and focus, equipped with modern tourism infrastructure and a wide selection of entertainment. This is where most of the good winter sports schools are located.

The most popular resorts:, Brides Les Bains, Courchevel, Val d'Isère, Tignes, Val Thorens, Les Deux Alpes, La Plagne, Megève, Meribel-Mottaret, Morzine, etc.

You can visit French ski resorts from early December to mid-May.

Italian ski resorts in the Alps

Located in the north and northwest of the country, Italian ski resorts are united by one lift system into a common ski area, which is very convenient for tourists. In Italy you can find both small recreation centers and modern tourist complexes with a high level of infrastructure.

The most frequently visited resorts in Italy are in the Dolomites: Val Gardena, Bormio, Val di Fassa, Arabba, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Val di Fiemme, San Martino di Castrozza, Valle Isarco, Tre Valli and Cervinia, Madonna di Campiglio, Livigno, Pinzolo, Sestrietra and Monte Bondone. This totals more than 1,400 km of ski slopes.

German ski resorts in the Alps

The main part of the Alps is located in Bavaria and on the German border with Austria. This is where the most famous German ski resorts are located: Oberstdorf, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Feldberg, Ruhpolding, etc.

A distinctive feature of these ski resorts is the thoughtfulness of the lift systems, hotel locations, high level services, a varied choice of accommodation and the opportunity to combine winter sports with a variety of spa treatments.