Far flung ski resorts
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Fancy going somewhere different on your next ski holiday? Why not break away from the usual destinations of the Alps and North America and try somewhere a little more exotic? Sampling the powder and pristine slopes in far flung resorts as diverse as Japan and the stunning peaks of Argentina is a great way to combine your skiing with a bit of travelling.
For skiing in the UK winter, you could head to
Furano, one of the most famous ski areas in Japan. The season runs from November to May and although its top altitude is a mere 1209 metres, the snow retains its dry powdery quality for long periods. Whilst the resort caters predominantly for beginners and intermediates, the runs here are steeper than most Japanese resorts and the off-piste skiing, although limited by national park restrictions, is sublime. Located in the heart of the province of Hokkaido, it is two and a half hours by train from Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city, and only 50 minutes from Asahikawa airport which is the main gateway for Furano.
From June to October, you can ski in the diverse and stunning mountain ranges of Argentina. The established and chic resort of
Catedral has been the destination of choice for well-heeled Argentinians and Brazilians for decades. Viewing the impressive peaks rising around the resort like a Gothic cathedral, you can see how the resort got its name. Although the ski areas in South America are not as well developed as European ones, and links can sometimes appear a little antique, Catedral offers 600 skiable hectares, and reaches from 1030 metres to over 2000 metres. Excellent food and accommodation can be bought for next to nothing, and lift passes will seem ridiculously cheap. Argentina has a very enjoyable culture in its own right, making a ski trip here really memorable both on and off the slopes.
Whilst the networks of lifts are getting quite efficient in some places, the real beauty of skiing in South America is the chance to explore the amazing Andean scenery off-piste.
PowderQuest ski tours specialises in taking skiers on routes around Argentina and Chile allowing you to get to know a little of the culture, as well as introducing you to lots of powder. The vast areas are largely undeveloped, so your route can take in tiny ski resorts, smoking snow covered volcanoes and thermal springs.
Also in the southern hemisphere, the Australian Snowy Mountains is an attractive option for long-haul skiing in our summer.
Perisher Blue is located about 500km from Sydney and with 1245 hectares of ski area, is the most extensive in the country. Spread over seven peaks, it is an amalgamation of four separate ski areas: Perisher, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega. The local airport at Cooma runs daily flights throughout the ski season.
To combine skiing with visiting a bustling town, head to Queenstown in New Zealand where you can reach the ski areas of
Coronet Peak (25 minutes away) and the
Remarkables (45 minutes away). One of the most the liveliest towns in the country, the food and nightlife are well worth sampling.
