Around 1.5 million UK households go skiing at least once a year, and for many it’s a holiday they can’t quite get enough of. But what is it about skiing that makes so many people love it so much?
There are a whole array of reasons why people love skiing, but we believe some of the main reasons are that it’s a real challenge for everyone no matter their experience level, it keeps you fit, it’s a social experience and most importantly it’s lots of fun!
This is why here at Altitude Ski School we wanted to look at a number of ski resorts in a variety of countries, to see how the skiing experience would differ depending on which part of the world you are in.
Climate data such as annual hours of sunshine and annual snowfall were taken from either the resort’s exact or closest location where data was available. The number of lifts, highest point, ski season and day pass price were all taken from the respective ski resorts official website. Information regarding the KM of the ski slopes were taken from skiresort.info
We wanted to create a map that shows the top skiing destinations around the world. We also wanted to highlight for each location the following information to help you for your next ski holiday:
- When is the ski season
- Hours of Sunshine
- Highest point of resort
- Kilometres of slopes
- Average snowfall
- Average cost of a day pass
- Number of Lifts and Gondolas
We took all these factors into account and assigned each ski location a number out of 84. We then ranked the destinations by how many points they received to help you make the most informed decision for your next ski trip.
Breckenridge (USA)
Breckenridge is first on the list at 66 points out of 84, which is a Colorado town in the USA at the base of the Rocky Mountains’ Tenmile Range and has a population of 5,078 according to the 2020 United States Census. Breckenridge is world renowned for its skiing and snowboarding and is one of Colorado’s favorite locations for skiing and snowboarding, which were made in 1961.
Summer in Breckenridge is equally as beautiful and attracts people who wish to hike, fly-fish in the Blue River and mountain bike among many other outdoor activities.
- Ski season: November – May
- Annual average sunshine (hours): 3204
- Highest point (M): 3962
- KM of slopes: 153
- Cost of a day pass (euros): 130.25
- Average Snowfall (CM): 782.32
- No. of Lifts and Gondolas: 36
Verbier 4Vallées (Switzerland)
Verbier 4Vallées is second on the list at 63 out of 84 points and is the largest ski area located in Switzerland. The 4 Vallées ski resort is made up of Verbier, Bruson, La Tzoumaz, Nendaz, Veysonnaz and Thyon.
What’s great about this ski resort is that it is open 10 months of the year and is the perfect paradise for skiers and mountain bikers alike. It is also possible to visit the summits and explore the beautiful scenery around Verbier.
- Ski season: November – April
- Annual average sunshine (hours): 2094
- Highest point (M): 3330
- KM of slopes: 412
- Cost of a day pass (euros): 70.23
- Average Snowfall (CM): 748
- No. of Lifts and Gondolas: 72
Sierra Nevada (Spain)
Sierra Nevada ski resort is in Sierra Nevada, in the province of Granada in southeastern Spain and is third on the list at 54 out of 84 points.
The ski resort is on the northwestern slopes of Veleta and is the third highest peak in Spain and the most southerly ski resort in Europe.
Areas of the ski resort have been included in the Sierra Nevada National Park and have also been declared a biosphere reserve, thus showing how magnificent this destination is.
- Ski season: December – April
- Annual average sunshine (hours): 2935
- Highest point (M): 3398
- KM of slopes: 107
- Cost of a day pass (euros): 45
- Average Snowfall (CM): 22
- No. of Lifts and Gondolas: 14
Madonna di Campiglio (Italy)
Madonna di Campiglio in Italy is fourth at 53 out of 84 points and is the largest ski area in Trentino and is a popular ski destination for tourists.
Madonna di Campiglio hosts world-class winter races and sporting events and the ski resort is connected to Folagarida-Marilleva and Pinzolo via modern and efficient lift systems. Madonna di Campiglio ski slopes are suitable for all levels of skiers.
- Ski season: December – April
- Annual average sunshine (hours): 2100
- Highest point (M): 2500
- KM of slopes: 150
- Cost of a day pass (euros): 65
- Average Snowfall (CM): 328
- No. of Lifts and Gondolas: 59
Shiga Kogen- Japan
Shiga Kogen (志賀高原) also ranked fourth at 53 out of 84 points and is a large ski resort in Japan that has approximately 600 hectares of terrain. Shiga Kogen provides a large variety of ski and snowboard terrain because it’s the second highest ski resort in Japan. The ski resort is connected by a shuttle bus service.
Shiga Kogen first gained an international reputation when it hosted events at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, these included the women’s downhill, slalom, super G and snowboarding events.
The UNESCO 1971 program “Man and Biosphere (MAB)” named Shiga Kogen as an area of “Biosphere Conservation ” in 1981. It has been internationally recognised as a model for the “coexistence of nature and society.”
- Ski season: December – May
- Annual average sunshine (hours):1895
- Highest point (M): 2307
- KM of slopes: 83
- Cost of a day pass (euros): 46.19
- Average Snowfall (CM): 1200
- No. of Lifts and Gondolas: 51
Catedral Alta Patagonia (Argentina)
The ski resort Catedral Alta Patagonia is ranked fourth in the list at 53 out of 84 points and is located in San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina, Río Negro.
Catedral Alta Patagonia is the perfect destination for skiing and snowboarding as there are large slopes and ski routes around the area. There are many lifts in the ski resort to cater for the many guests and tourists that visit.
- Ski season: June – September
- Annual average sunshine (hours): 2533
- Highest point (M): 2100
- KM of slopes: 120
- Cost of a day pass (euros): 20
- Average Snowfall (CM): 139.7
- No. of Lifts and Gondolas: 34
Bonneval-sur-Arc (France)
Bonneval-sur-Arc, ranked fifth at 45 out of 84 points and is a ski resort that is part of the “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France” association and is in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France.
The ski resort has access to the Vanoise National Park and has the highest road pass in Europe. The Route des Grandes Alpes, Bonneval is the perfect place to visit for a holiday as it is arguably one of the most beautiful mountain sites in Savoie.
- Ski season: December – April
- Annual average sunshine (hours): 2002
- Highest point (M): 3000
- KM of slopes: 32
- Cost of a day pass (euros): 29.8
- Average Snowfall (CM): 529
- No. of Lifts and Gondolas: 10
Obergurgl-Hochgurgl (Austria)
Obergurgl, sixth on the list at 44 out of 84 points. The ski resort became famous in 1931 when the Swiss explorer Auguste Piccard had to land on the Großer Gurgler Ferner glacier during a balloon flight.
Obergurgl is a village in the Ötztal Alps in Tyrol, Austria and is located in the village of Sölden which is mainly a tourist resort and has only approximately 400 year-round residents. Obergurgl is part of the ski resort area of the Ötztal Gurglertal valley which is a popular hiking area during the summer.
- Ski season: November – April
- Annual average sunshine (hours): 1300
- Highest point (M): 3116
- KM of slopes: 112
- Cost of a day pass (euros): 55.5
- Average Snowfall (CM): 492
- No. of Lifts and Gondolas: 25
Portillo (Chile)
Ski Portillo in Chile is seventh on the list at 39 out of 84 points and is the first ski resort in South America and is well-known worldwide.
The ski resort is located in the Chilean Andes and is surrounded by remarkable snow peaks. Portillo attracts skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities from around the world who come to enjoy the incredible snow slopes.
- Ski season: June-October
- Annual average sunshine (hours): 2462
- Highest point (M): 3310
- KM of slopes: 20
- Cost of a day pass (euros): 52.32
- Average Snowfall (CM): 91.44
- No. of Lifts and Gondolas: 14
Kicking Horse (Canada)
The ski resort Kicking Horse is eighth on the list at 38 out of 84 points and is located in the Columbia Shuswap Regional District in Canada, British Columbia.
It is the perfect location for skiing and snowboarding as there are a plethora of large slopes around the ski resort. It was named Warren Miller’s Best Ski Destination for Best Panoramic Views and Number 1 in Powder and Best Snow in North America.
- Ski season: December – April
- Annual average sunshine (hours): 2396
- Highest point (M): 2505
- KM of slopes: 100
- Cost of a day pass (euros): 100.42
- Average Snowfall (CM): 495.3
- No. of Lifts and Gondolas: 6
Amirsoy (Uzbekistan)
The ski resort Amirsoy Mountain Resort is ninth on the list at 34 out of 84 points. It is located in the Tashkent Region of Uzbekistan and is the perfect location for skiing and snowboarding.
The ski resort opened only recently in 2019 and boasts 13 ski slopes. The ski resort is suitable for both beginner and intermediate skiers. Black runs are also going to be added at a later date, but there are already many opportunities at the ski resort for off-piste skiing.
- Ski season: January – January
- Annual average sunshine (hours): 2830
- Highest point (M): 2290
- KM of slopes: 14.8
- Cost of a day pass (euros): 16.3
- Average Snowfall (CM): 0.5
- No. of Lifts and Gondolas: 7
Levi (Finland)
Levi’s ski resort is tenth on the list at 31 out of 84 points and is the perfect location for beginners and families, this is because most of the slopes in this resort are quiet and not too steep. This allows families to practice together and build their confidence on smaller slopes.
There are also a range of other snow activities on the resort such as Dog sledding, Reindeer safari, Ice fishing and Winter biking.
Additionally, there are ski slopes on the resort for more experienced skiers and a few more challenging black runs. The great thing about Levi Ski resort is that the snow stays in excellent condition all winter.
- Ski season: October – May
- Annual average sunshine (hours): 1560.5
- Highest point (M): 531
- KM of slopes: 38.5
- Cost of a day pass (euros): 43
- Average Snowfall (CM): 39
- No. of Lifts and Gondolas: 27
Kvitfjell (Norway)
Kvitfjell ski resort in Norway and is tenth on the list at 30 out of 84 points and is located in the municipality of Ringebu, 30 minutes north of Lillehammer. It is one of the most modern resorts in the world, with snow on 80% of the alpine pistes.
Kvitfjell has slopes for all ski levels from children’s areas for the smallest ski slopes to Olympic standard black trails.
Kvitfjell has a wide range of mountain sides and terrain. The middle areas of the resort and the east side offers more skilled slopes for more experienced skiers, which is also conveniently located close to the hotel.
All the mountain sides are connected by chair lifts for easy access which can carry you to the top and to the west of the resort.
- Ski season: November – April
- Annual average sunshine (hours): 1540
- Highest point (M): 1054
- KM of slopes: 39
- Cost of a day pass (euros): 49.48
- Average Snowfall (CM): 267
- No. of Lifts and Gondolas: 14
Whakapapa (New Zealand)
Whakapapa is the final ski resort on the list at 27 out of 84 points and is one of the largest ski areas in New Zealand. It is on the northern side of Mount Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand. The ski resort is one of three areas to ski on the mountain, the others are Turoa, and Tukino on the eastern slopes.
Whakapapa Ski resort is divided up as 25% for beginner skiers, 50% for intermediate skiers and 25% for advanced skiers. The beginners area, called Happy Valley, is the best beginners facility in New Zealand. The slopes in the beginners area are long with a gentle gradient which allows beginner skiers to learn how to turn and stop in plenty of time. The beginners area also has covered carpet lifts.
- Ski season: June-October
- Annual average sunshine (hours): 1700
- Highest point (M): 2300
- KM of slopes: 44
- Cost of a day pass (euros): 92.16
- Average Snowfall (CM): 182.88
- No. of Lifts and Gondolas: 9
After exploring all the ski resorts around the world and looking at how the skiing experience differs depending on which part of the world you are in, we’re sure we’ve got you in the skiing mood.
So that you can confidently ski and take advantage of all these wonderful ski resorts we believe you would benefit from our British ski and snowboard school in the stunning swiss alps. We offer a range of lesson options such as private and corporate lessons and we also offer ski instructor courses!
We only employ qualified and experienced English speaking instructors with a passion to help you become the best skier you can be.
