If you have yet to go skiing this season – or went but were left itching for more – it’s not too late to get a trip in. Many skiers worry about lack of snow over the Easter holidays, but their fears are largely misplaced. By April, most pistes have a solid, icy base underneath them, guaranteeing at least a strip of snow on even lower runs back into the village.
For the most wintry landscapes, however, head to some of these higher – or more northerly – resorts most of which only close in May.
Val Thorens and Orelle, France
As the world’s biggest ski area, the Trois Vallées is a popular choice. Méribel, a pretty village of stone houses, is at the centre of the area, with chichi Courchevel’s wide, immaculately pisted boulevards to the east. But for guaranteed snow off piste – and cheaper accommodation – try lofty Val Thorens at the other end of the ski area. You can even reach it by Eurostar booking through Travelski. There are even cheaper deals to be had in Orelle, which last winter got two new gondolas that whisk you up in 20 minutes to Val Thorens’ highest point, the Cime Caron, at 3,200m.
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Ischgl, Austria
Ischgl has a big network of high altitude slopes
Despite its reputation as a party capital, Ischgl is a charming, upmarket village, with challenging skiing on a big network of high-altitude pistes. Most of its snowsure slopes are north-facing, so drop into the warm, south-facing Swiss side of the area for sunshine. Après is a big thing here – and, to clarify, Austrian après-ski is just that, partying directly after skiing so you can freshen up for dinner and still ski the next morning. A free concert by Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti closes the season on 30 April at an altitude of 2,300m. Austrian hotels are also known for their excellent spas, and the newly opened public Silvretta spa has a huge outdoor pool on the roof and an ice rink running the circumference of the upper floor.
Zermatt, Switzerland and Cervinia, Italy
Another high altitude cross-border area is Zermatt-Cervinia. There’s more to see and do on the Swiss side, which has the best views of the Matterhorn, and is where cog railways climb incongruously between the pistes. Off-piste fans can try the avalanche-patrolled ‘itineraries’ around the Rothorn and Schwarzsee sectors. And the Zermatt Unplugged music…
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