Early Ski Season Is Just Around The Corner
There are just days to go before main Alpine ski resorts officially start new season to welcome skiers and snowboarders from all over the world to enjoy their great winter holidays to the full. If you can’t wait to hit the slopes and are monitoring snow reports to start packing your travel bags, this article will reveal best resorts to head to in order to ensure a snowy November.
Skiing for early birds
Can’t wait for the season to start and have already prepared all your skiing gear? Or, simply prefer early season skiing? Then you have to consider snow-sure resorts that have consistent, reliable snow cover and are mostly located in the glacier area.
(Photo: Flyprod.aerial – Franck Marchand Maillet)
Of course, not all ski resorts are open in November, but Val Thorens (France) does. It’s one of the most stunning places to go skiing. The Val Thorens resort is considered the highest ski resort in Europe, where most slopes lie at more than 2000 m altitude that guarantees the early snow. The resort is open from the end of November to the early May providing best skiing atmosphere to all winter sports lovers. Part of the huge Three Valleys ski area, Val Thorens has 600 km of equipped slopes, 320 runs and an effective lifting system consisting of 174 lifts. Val Thorens ski area welcomes everyone – snowsports for every age, interest, taste, abilities – Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, telemark skiing, snowshoeing and tobogganing. Located only one and a half hours away from the Chambery Airport, Val Thorens is easy to reach by airport private transfer. It is also the perfect place to enjoy exceptional panoramic views of Swiss, French and Italian Alps.
Zermatt (Switzerland) is one of the most popular Swiss ski resort in the world, best-known for its landmark – the Matterhorn, an absolutely beautiful mountain located on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Zermatt attracts skiers all year round by excellent snow conditions, long groomed slopes and stunning mountain scenery. Zermatt resort offers the longest winter season in the Alps – from late November to early May. Thanks to the surrounding glaciers, it is also possible to come to ski in summer. The resort is suitable for all skiing levels and offer slopes for beginners, intermediates and advanced skiers. Apart from Alpine skiing, Zermatt offers extensive off-piste terrain for skiers and open terrain for those loving snowboarding. At Zermatt, you can also enjoy great variety of apres-ski activities for different tastes and interests – plenty of restaurants with spectacular mountain sceneries, unique charming atmosphere, bars and legendary nightlife.
Coming to Zermatt for your ski holidays, you can take advantage of skiing over international border and explore beautifully sparkling slopes of Cervinia (Italy). The resort offers plenty of open, high-altitude runs, perfect snow conditions, and long, groomed pistes suitable for all level skiers. Intermediates and advanced skiers can practise speed skiing, beginners – sharpen their parallel technique. Skiing in Cervinia you will immediately feel the groove – vibrant and festive atmosphere, boisterous and active people are all around. Skiing in Cervinia is a mix of real fun and authentic mountain hospitality Italians are known for, a perfect combination of great conditions, value and fabulous ambiente. Being lift linked to Swiss resort of Zermatt, both resorts provide over 300 km of fantastic skiing and snowboarding area. Cervinia offers a variety off the slopes activities – ice skating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, tobogganing and hiking. You can also go shopping – boutiques, sport gear shops, souvenir shops, as well as markets selling local deli products are wainting for you. If you want to have a blast, Cervinia has an active nightlife with lots of small busy bars, pubs and nightclubs.
So, the general rule that works for early skiing is to head high! All of the above winter holidays spots are great choices for November skiing. Whether you decide to come to Zermatt, Val Thorens or Cervinia, you can be sure in gorgeous views, plenty of sunshine and good snow conditions early in the season.
