There’s nothing like hitting fresh snow at the onset of winter. Keen skiers and snowboarders are always looking for the next skiing challenge. We scour the globe for the best skiing locations. Whether it’s Europe, America or somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere, we’ve got you covered. Travel Insurance will have you covered too.
St Moritz, Switzerland
This winter sport mecca in Switzerland caters to a variety of cold weather visitors. It offers plenty of downhill runs as well loads of cross country skiing terrain. It really is a centre of winter sports, and has hosted numerous winter sporting events, including the Winter Olympics twice. Those not wanting to don the skis can take advantage of the many mountain walking trails.
Lillehammer, Norway
Norway hosted the Winter Olympics back in 1994. This is the town that made it all possible. It’s the place for serious cross country skiers, but downhill skiers are also catered for. This pretty area is steeped in history, having been inhabited since the Norwegian Iron Age.
Whistler-Blackcomb, Canada
Located north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, this is the biggest and arguably the best North American ski resort. When Whistler and Blackcomb merged over a decade ago, a gondola began to move skiers between the peaks of these two mountains. Great pictures from the 2010 Winter Olympics have shown what this resort has to offer, and up to 2 million visitors take up the chance to visit each year.
Niseko, Japan
Situated on Japan’s most northern island, Hokkaido, sits Niseko, itself a sister city of St Moritz. Niseko receives huge dumps of powder soft snow, making it attractive to board riders. There are actually 6 skiing areas in the region, which can be accessed on a single pass.
Southern Hemisphere Skiing
Those living in the northern hemisphere are well catered for as far as skiing and snowboarding are concerned. Ample resorts are often conveniently accessed by train in Europe, and North America also offers a range of ski locations. For those that want to get their fix in the off season, what are the options? How about a trip down to the Southern Hemisphere?
Valle Nevado, Chile
Valle Nevado is in the great Andes mountain range, and having only been founded in 1988, is pretty modern. Apart from the variety of skiing options in this large and varied park, the location is pretty convenient, being only 46 kilometres west of Chile’s capital and largest city, Santiago.
Wanaka, New Zealand
Originally settled due to the 19th century gold rush, it’s now a snow rush that brings visitors to Wanaka. It has arguably the best lift access in New Zealand, and is a less commercialised option that rival Queenstown. The natural beauty of the area means that outdoor summer activities are also popular.
These great skiing and snowboarding locations allow the enthusiast to follow their pursuit almost year round. While snow cover can vary from year to year, the best places are invariably good. Cheap Travel Insurance will cover you for standard issues while on holiday. For skiers and snowboarders, check that your insurance covers the facets of your snow trip that you require.