Looking for a ski holiday with a difference?
You love blitzing the pistes but feel like it’s getting a bit repetitive? Looking for an added extra to give your ski holiday a bit of a special edge? Find out how with our ideas.
Heli-skiing
Heli-skiing is usually on the bucket list of most enthusiastic skiers, and there are plenty of reasons why. Involving helicopter transport, you’ll either be transported to or picked up from (or both) a remote location where regular ski lifts don’t go. The idea is that you’ll be treated to untouched, out of reach, waist deep powder to make some fresh tracks in. Warning – this is not a cheap option, start saving!
Train with a Pro
Looking to brush up on your expert skills, and have an experience ready for name-dropping? Then this is for you. Choose from Emma Carrick-Anderson, Chemmy Alcott and Martin Bell, ex-Olympic skiers, all run ski tuition and guided experiences.
Ski Touring
So called because you’ll be touring around different locations, usually away from traditional ski resorts and cross-country skiing using Nordic equipment. Make it the ultimate experience and organise a multi-day tour where you stay at pre-organised accommodation en route, often wooden mountain lodges. They’re often basic but will have food and facilities, and a lot of companies that organise these sorts of trips will transport your luggage between your accommodation for you. The clue’s in the ‘Nordic’ part of the name and you’ll easily find guided tours in Scandinavian countries.
Skinning
No, it’s not a typo, skinning (not skiing) is where you ski uphill or across hill to access the coveted terrain. Unlike touring, you use alpine equipment, but attach climbing skins to the base of your skis or split board so that when you push the ski forwards it sticks to the snow and doesn’t slide back down again. You could say that it’s a cheaper (but more time-consuming and energy-burning) form of heli-skiing, the aim is the same – to access those harder to reach but glorious ski areas. Remember to always stay safe, it’s recommended that you have, and are trained to use, avalanche equipment, and if possible use a professional guide.
Out-of-hours Cable Cars
Whilst it’s not on your skis, it’s something a bit quirky, why not dine or stay in a cable car (telecabine? In 2015, Courchevel ski resort, alongside Airbnb, offered people the chance to win an overnight stay in one of their cable cars. Or Les Gets run an annual Valentine’s Day meal for two in the Mont Chery telecabine; this year diners enjoy cold canapes on the way up and warm canapes on the way back down including some carefully selected drinks.
There’s plenty there to whet your appetite for an adventure-filled ski holiday, let us know if you have any other suggestions!
