- French Alps: half a year of snowy splendor
- Austria: the highest ski resorts in Europe
Alpine skiing has become a part of the life of an active Russian tourist, and true lovers of this sport strive to open new tracks every year in order to find the ideal one for themselves. In this case, not only technical equipment and weather play a significant role, but also the surrounding landscapes. The length of the slopes and the length of the season are also becoming an important condition for experienced athletes, and therefore tourists are often interested in the answer to the question of where the highest ski resort in Europe is located.
French Alps: half a year of snowy splendor
Val Thorens in France is recognized as the highest mountain ski resort in Europe:
- The slopes of Val Thorens are 4-5 hours' drive from Grenoble or Geneva airports. The cost of the flight will be from 200 to 300 euros, depending on the company and route.
- The season at the resort begins in mid-November. The most stable snow cover lies from December to March, but in April-May, on the slopes of Val Thorens, you can meet skiers who do not want to part with winter.
- The height of the slopes is up to 3200 meters, and therefore the air temperature in the high season can reach rather low temperatures - from -10 ° С to -15 ° С.
The tracks of the French resort are more suitable for professionals and intermediate athletes. There are enough "black" and "red" slopes here, and fans of freeriding will like the virgin fields of Pointe de Thorens.
Snowboarders are also not ignored by the organizers of the resort. The modern fan park can be considered an example of technical excellence: fans of the board will find a half-pipe and jumps of varying degrees of difficulty, obstacle courses and rails. The beginning of December in Val Thorens is the time of the week of snowboarding, which is attended by pros from all over Europe and even from overseas.
While parents are conquering the trails, young visitors to a high-mountain resort in the Alps can spend time in the miniclub, exercise under the supervision of educators, go down the slide in a sleigh or swim in the pool.
The resort hotels cannot be called too cheap and a room even in a 2 * hotel will not cost less than 60-70 euros per day. It is better to book inexpensive accommodation in advance due to the high popularity of such apartments among tourists.
The infamous Courchevel is also on the list of the highest resorts in Europe:
- The nearest airports are located in Geneva and Lyon, from where there are regular bus services.
- Courchevel pistes are laid at a level of 1300-1850 meters and athletes can enjoy high quality natural snow. The slopes are so varied that during the whole vacation you can ski without repeating.
- Lifts start up in early December and close only in April.
Despite the reputation of a very expensive resort, not only the oligarchs can afford rest in Courchevel. You can book a three-star hotel for only 120 euros per day if you start preparing for your trip well in advance. The cost of accommodation and other services strongly depends on the season, and the price of lunch at a restaurant or, for example, equipment rental can differ by half.
Austria: the highest ski resorts in Europe
The Austrian Alps are not only about perfect mountain landscapes and idyllic pastoral pictures on cheese and chocolate wrappers. Ski resorts in Austria are included in the ratings of the highest mountainous ones, and therefore can boast of a long season, long slopes, high quality snow and other arguments that make true connoisseurs of alpine mountain air buy tickets to Innsbruck or Salzburg every season.
A solid height above sea level is recorded on the Lech-Zürs highways - at least 1,700 meters
The ski area is divided into three sections - Lech, Zürs and Oberlech and is considered the best in the Arlberg ski area for freeriders and athletes who ski with confidence.
The season in the region lasts almost six months - from mid-November to early May. The abundance of snow makes skiing comfortable and enjoyable, and a large number of sunny days during the winter allows you to get real pleasure from the rest.
The distance to the airport in Innsbruck is just over 100 kilometers. The cost of a night in a 2 * hotel is from 80 to 100 euros. The resort has many "fives", which makes it the fiefdom of wealthy European retirees.
Even higher are the starting points on the tracks of the Austrian Obergurgl - 1900 and more meters above sea level
The resort is located in the Otztal Valley 85 km from Innsbruck Airport. You can get to the slopes by a regular bus. A single skiing region is united by a cable car and more than 100 km of trails of varying degrees of difficulty are offered to tourists - from "blue" to "black". A fan park is equipped for boarders with all the necessary elements to hone their skills.
The resort is famous for its opportunities for sightseeing holidays. After skiing, guests enjoy walks in the Otztal Biosphere Reserve. The local architectural landmark is the highest church in the country. It was built at an altitude of 1930 meters above sea level.
