best ski resorts

where to ski and snowboard in 2011 and 2012 - ski holidays in the top 10 best ski resorts in the world

to ski & snowboard
the very best ski resorts
choose from our uber list of
the world's top ten ski resorts

All of these ski and snowboard mountains have at some stage held titles like "best skiing resort" or "best ski resort Europe", or been included in the winners lists of top US ski resorts such as "top Colorado ski resorts", "top ski resorts in USA". Neither the cheapest, nor the most expensive... they are simply the best ski resorts worldwide.

world's best skiing resorts

Val d'Isere France

Trendy favourite resort of the huge Espace Killy ski area. Fantastic intermediate, expert and apres ski from pretty town. Expensive but worth it

Beginner Trails
 22 runs ?km
14% 
Intermediate Trails
 61 runs ?km
39% 
Advanced Trails
 46 runs ?km
29% 
Expert Trails
 25 runs 25km
16% 

snoman says

Val d'Isère ranks alongside St Moritz, Stowe and Cortina in the "famous names of skiing" category and is one of the very few in the world to stage World Cup, World Chamionship and Olympic competitions.. However... more

Val d
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass€208.5
Resort OpenNov 2012Resort CloseMay 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)
Val d'Isere ski holidays
Jardins de la Balme apts.
03 Mar 2012
Edinburgh £262
Val d'Isere chalets
Chalet Les Danaides
08 Dec 2012
Dover Ferry £395
Val d'Isere luxury
Chalets de Solaise Apar...
05 Jan 2013
Ashford - Eurostar £420
Val d'Isere last minute
Jardins de la Balme apts.
03 Mar 2012
Edinburgh £262

Meribel France

Trad chalet resort in middle of huge 3 valleys ski area. Very popular with Brits for it's big mileage and big apres scene - often big prices too

Beginner Trails
 10 runs ?km
13% 
Intermediate Trails
 34 runs ?km
45% 
Advanced Trails
 24 runs ?km
32% 
Expert Trails
 9 runs 9km
12% 

snoman says

In 1938 a British Officer created a ski resort, Méribel, in an almost abandoned mountain valley. Today Méribel is one of the world's greatest ski resorts. It now has an apartment built off-shoot, Méribel Motta... more

Meribel
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass€187
Resort OpenDec 2012Resort CloseApr 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)
Meribel ski holidays
Le Hameau de Mottaret A...
24 Mar 2012
Gatwick £256
Meribel chalets
NEW Chalet Camelia (Mé...
24 Mar 2012
Folkestone Ferry £358
Meribel luxury
NEW Chalet Camelia (Mé...
24 Mar 2012
Folkestone Ferry £358
Meribel last minute
Hameau du Mottaret Apar...
03 Mar 2012
Stansted £350

Zermatt Switzerland

One of the greats. France has the Mont Blanc and Chamonix, Switzerland has the Matterhorn and Zermatt - linked by the classic Haute Route. Legendary apres-ski is topped only by the awesome intermediate and expert skiing. Klein Matterhorn lift is highest cable car in world. Beginners are well looked after

Beginner Trails
 0 runs 0km
0% 
Intermediate Trails
 12 runs 29km
16% 
Advanced Trails
 41 runs 109km
55% 
Expert Trails
 21 runs 21km
28% 

snoman says

Regarded by most as Switzerland's top ski resort and by many as the world's best. Picturesque, car free with spectacular views of the Matterhorn. Large glacier for Summer skiing, lift links to Breuil Cervinia ... more

Zermatt
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift PassCHF359
Resort OpenDec 2012Resort CloseNov 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)
Zermatt ski holidays
NEW Chalet Alessandra (...
14 Apr 2012
Dover Ferry £244
Zermatt chalets
NEW Chalet Alessandra (...
14 Apr 2012
Dover Ferry £244
Zermatt luxury
Chalet Aeschhorn B
24 Mar 2012
Dover Ferry £296
Zermatt last minute
Ambassador Self Caterin...
10 Mar 2012
Belfast (Aldergrove) £420

St Anton Austria

One of the greats - huge ski area and ultimate Austrian nightlife. Ski your legs off then party 'til you drop - a hard livin' heaven

Beginner Trails
 ? runs 0km
?% 
Intermediate Trails
 ? runs 108km
?% 
Advanced Trails
 ? runs 138km
?% 
Expert Trails
 ? runs ?km
?% 

snoman says

St Anton is unique amongst ski resorts in holding three legendary reputations simultaneously. First there is its world class skiing, second there is the resort's reputation for the most hedonistic nightlife in ... more

St Anton
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass€198
Resort OpenDec 2012Resort CloseMay 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)
St Anton ski holidays
Chalet Arlhof
24 Mar 2012
Dover Ferry £296
St Anton chalets
Chalet Arlhof
24 Mar 2012
Dover Ferry £296
St Anton luxury
NEW Chalet Hotel St. Ch...
14 Apr 2012
Dover Ferry £296
St Anton last minute
Chalet Rathia
11 Mar 2012
Flights On Request £559

Tignes France

High snowsure town has some of best intermediate and advanced skiing in the Alpes. Not a pretty town but decent apres and huge Espace Killy ski area shared with Val d'Isere

Beginner Trails
 22 runs 121km
14% 
Intermediate Trails
 61 runs 100km
39% 
Advanced Trails
 46 runs 58km
29% 
Expert Trails
 25 runs 25km
16% 

snoman says

Tignes shares the huge and wonderful Espace Killy with Val D'Isere, but the underground funicular accessed Grand Motte glacier officially belongs to Tignes. The glacier no longer offers skiing 365 days a year (... more

Tignes
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass€154
Resort OpenNov 2012Resort CloseMay 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)
Tignes ski holidays
Val Claret Apartments
03 Mar 2012
Edinburgh £266
Tignes chalets
Chalet Les Martins A
03 Mar 2012
Gatwick £414
Tignes luxury
Village Montana Hotel, ...
24 Mar 2012
Gatwick £404
Tignes last minute
Val Claret Apartments
03 Mar 2012
Edinburgh £266

Courchevel France

Arguably France's most exclusive resort, well located in the world's largest truly inter-connected ski area (Trois Vallées) and with some of Europe's best infrastructure, Courchevel would rate in the top 10 selection of resorts around the world for most dedicated skiers. Courchevel has it's own special Charter which en... [more Courchevel]

Beginner Trails
 15 runs ?km
16% 
Intermediate Trails
 34 runs ?km
36% 
Advanced Trails
 35 runs ?km
37% 
Expert Trails
 9 runs 9km
9% 

snoman says

Arguably France's most exclusive resort, well located in the world's largest truly inter-connected ski area (Trois Vallées) and with some of Europe's best infrastructure, Courchevel would rate in the top 10 sele... more

Courchevel
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass€114
Resort OpenDec 2012Resort CloseApr 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)
Courchevel ski holidays
Les Brigues apts, 1550
24 Mar 2012
Manchester £292
Courchevel chalets
Chalet Hotel Les Anémones
14 Apr 2012
Dover Ferry £296
Courchevel luxury
Chalets Les Montagnette...
12 Jan 2013
Dover Ferry £336
Courchevel last minute
Les Brigues apts, 1550
03 Mar 2012
Stansted £360

Kitzbuhel Austria

Lively resort and large varied ski area. Pretty town has lots of affordable accom as well as upscale

Beginner Trails
 0 runs 0km
0% 
Intermediate Trails
 21 runs 67km
35% 
Advanced Trails
 26 runs 78km
43% 
Expert Trails
 13 runs 13km
21% 

snoman says

Austria's most famous resort, a lively town with chic overtones which most skiers agree has Austria's best intermediate/expert skiing in the mountains above it.

Kitzbuhel
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass€170
Resort OpenDec 2012Resort CloseApr 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)
Kitzbuhel ski holidays
Hotel Aurach
17 Mar 2012
Belfast City £371
Kitzbuhel chalets
Chalet Karlberger
17 Mar 2012
Belfast City £385
Kitzbuhel luxury
Hotel Jägerwirt
17 Mar 2012
Belfast City £539
Kitzbuhel last minute
Hotel Aurach
10 Mar 2012
Belfast City £404

Verbier Switzerland

Huge high alt. ski area above a buzzy and pretty village. Nightlife is world famous and rightly so. Nearly as good skiing and apres as Chamonix, nearly as expensive as St Moritz. Great for going big, on the hill and in the bar

Beginner Trails
 0 runs 0km
0% 
Intermediate Trails
 19 runs 65.2km
32% 
Advanced Trails
 20 runs 31km
34% 
Expert Trails
 5 runs 5km
8% 

snoman says

A world class resort, ranked by many in their global top ten. Capital of the 4 Valleys ski circus. Wide ranging facilities for skiers and non-skiers of all kinds.

Verbier
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift PassCHF317
Resort OpenNov 2012Resort CloseApr 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)
Verbier ski holidays
Chalet Tom Kitten
24 Mar 2012
Dover Ferry £266
Verbier chalets
Chalet Tom Kitten
24 Mar 2012
Dover Ferry £266
Verbier luxury
Chalet Hotel De Verbier
07 Apr 2012
Dover Ferry £424
Verbier last minute
Chalet Le Cairn
10 Mar 2012
Dover Ferry £395

Whistler Canada

Huge, world-famous resort with unrivalled skiing & nightlife: ski hard, play hard. Two mountains connected by pedestrian village. Exciting & expensive, with enough to keep you busy for weeks

Beginner Trails
 0 runs ?km
0% 
Intermediate Trails
 34 runs ?km
17% 
Advanced Trails
 110 runs ?km
55% 
Expert Trails
 56 runs 56km
28% 

snoman says

Whilst many of the great European ski resorts tend to rest on their laurels, Whistler has shot up through the ranks to become one of the strongest contenders for the much disputed title of 'World's Greatest Ski... more

Whistler
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift PassC$397
Resort OpenNov 2012Resort CloseJun 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)
Whistler ski holidays
Coast Blackcomb Suites
11 Dec 2012
Heathrow £865
Whistler chalets
Chalet Alice
21 Mar 2012
Heathrow £1058
Whistler luxury
Coast Blackcomb Suites
11 Dec 2012
Heathrow £865
Whistler last minute
Holiday Inn
13 Mar 2012
Heathrow £1038

Chamonix France

To many, Chamonix is the undisputed mountain-sport capital of the world! This Off-piste ski & snowboard mecca is home to the world's longest run, the Vallee Blanche (not really a piste at all, but a 23km ski down Europe's second largest glacier the Mer de Glace - "Sea of Ice"). The Grands Montets is one of greatest sk... [more Chamonix]

Beginner Trails
 12 runs 5km
15% 
Intermediate Trails
 49 runs 46km
61% 
Advanced Trails
 190 runs 70km
237% 
Expert Trails
 21 runs 21km
26% 

snoman says

An historic ski and climbing town on the picturesque side of Mont Blanc, by the entrance to the Mont Blanc tunnel. Chamonix offers the world's greatest lift-served vertical drop. Away from the slopes it is ver... more

Chamonix
BeginnerIntermediate
ExpertSnowboarders
Apres SkiFamilies
SnowsureAmbience
ValueLift Pass€200
Resort OpenDec 2012Resort CloseMay 2013
(snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing)
Chamonix ski holidays
La Riviere Apartments
24 Mar 2012
Gatwick £212
Chamonix chalets
Chalet Hotel Sapinière
07 Apr 2012
Dover Ferry £382
Chamonix luxury
Les Balcons du Savoy Ap...
24 Mar 2012
Birmingham £291
Chamonix last minute
La Rivière Apartments
03 Mar 2012
Edinburgh £286

Each mountain resort on this list is created from the creme de la creme of top rated snowboarding and skiing resorts... combining two widely accepted lists which named the top ski resorts in north America and the top ski destinations in Europe, to create the definitive list of top 10 best ski resorts in the world.If you take your winter sports seriously, you're looking to discover what is for you personally the best ski resort in the world, or you simply want to guarantee you have the best ski holidays of anyone you know... why not use this definitive list for your ski holiday itinerary for the next few years - when you get to the end, you can genuinely say you've skied or snowboarded the best ski resorts in the world!

You can also checkout the best ski resorts Europe has to offer or the best ski resort france has created - be sure to think about what you want from your winter resort because there are many different types of resort on the "best of" lists and the real key to discovering your perfect mountain resort is to know which is the best specifically for you.

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