Where are the best ski destinations in the world? The answer to that question really depends on your definition of a great ski resort. If what you’re after is a place to partake in the amazing skiing winter sport activity while getting to explore snowy white natural landscapes and looking at endless views of breathtaking mountain ranges, you will appreciate the 10 of the most amazing ski destinations from around the world in this list.
1. Ylläs, Finland
Ylläs is the largest ski resort in Finland and one of the most popular ski destinations in Northern Europe.
There is no other Finnish ski resort that offers slopes as long or slopes that differ in altitude as much as the wonderful slopes of Ylläs. Its location is also in a unique setting between two authentic villages in Lapland, meaning that skiers can visit the slopes of two villages in one day.
2. Les 3 Vallees, France
Les Trois Vallées is a ski region in the Tarentaise Valley in Southeastern France, partly in the Vanoise National Park.
The name means The 3 Valleys because it makes possible to ski the interlinked valleys using a single ski pass. Thus, Les Trois Vallées is the largest connected ski area in the world which is linked solely by ski lifts and slopes. It claims to have about 370 mi of ski slopes.
Les Trois Vallées has 183 ski lifts, which can transport 260,000 skiers every hour.
3. Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand
Aoraki / Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand with a height of 12,218 feet. It sits in the Southern Alps, the mountain range that runs the length of the South Island – one of the most popular ski destinations, for skiers and mountain climbers alike.
The Aoraki / Mount Cook ski area consists of three summits: from south to north, the Low Peak, the Middle Peak and the High Peak.
4. Baqueira – Beret, Spain
The Baqueira-Beret ski resort is located in the heart of the Pyrenees, in the Aran and Àneu Valleys in Lleida, Catalonia, Spain.
The ski area ranges from 4,920 to 8,560 ft in elevation, and due to its reliable snow elevation, the typical ski season starts in November and runs until late April. It is the largest and most popular winter resort in Spain. It is even popular amongst the royal family and the affluent Spanish and French, could it be “the world’s finest ski resort“?
5. Matterhorn Ski Paradise, Switzerland (Iconic Ski Destinations)
Straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy, lies Matterhorn, a mountain of the Alps. It is a large pyramidal peak in the extended Monte Rosa area of the Pennine Alps, whose summit is 14,692 ft high, making it one of the highest summits in Europe.
You can enjoy skiing and snowboarding 365 days a year at the unique snow sports resort of Zermatt-Matterhorn. Thanks to its location astride the border between Switzerland and Italy, this is one of the ski destinations that buzzes with international flair. At almost 13,123 feet of altitude, Matterhorn Ski Paradise is the highest winter sports area in the Alps.
6. St Anton, Austria
St Anton is a village and ski resort in Tyrol, Austria. It lies right in the Tyrolean Alps and has aerial tramways and chairlifts up to 9,222 ft. Besides being a ski resort, it also is a popular summer resort among hikers, trekkers and mountain climbers.
7. Cerro Catedral, Argentina (South American Ski Destinations)
Cerro Catedral is a mountain located 12 miles away from San Carlos de Bariloche, and is located inside the Patagonian Nahuel Huapí National Park, Argentina.
This mountain is the biggest ski center in South America and in the Southern Hemisphere overall. The skiable area of 2.3 square miles, 75 miles of ski runs, and a lift capacity of 35,000 skiers per hour is the reason. In addition, there are a number of hotels and hostels at the foot of the mountain making this one of the greatest touristic ski destinations on the list.
8. Whistler Blackcomb, Canada
Whistler Blackcomb is a ski resort located in Whistler, BC, Canada. It is considered as the largest ski resort in North America by many.
It pioneers the Peak 2 Peak Gondola for moving between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains at the top. Whistler Blackcomb is also often the busiest ski resort, often surpassing 2 million visitors a year.
9. Milky Way, Italy – France (International Ski Destinations)
The Via Lattea, or Milky Way, is one of the popular ski destinations in the Italian and French Alps. It sits at the French-Italian border at Claviere/Montgenèvre, some 44 miles west of Turin.
It comprises of the five Piedmontese resorts of Claviere (5,775 ft), Sansicario (5,577 ft), Sauze d’Oulx (4,950 ft), Pragelato (5,000 ft) and Sestriere (6,676 ft) as well as the French resort Montgenèvre (6,102 ft).
Altogether there are more than 250 miles of ski tracks, of which 120 are with artificial snow and have a total of 70 lifts.
10. Poiana Braşov, Romania
Poiana Brasov is the most attractive ski resort in Romania as well as an important tourist center in the Prahova Valley. It is located at the foot of the Postavaru Massif, about 95 miles away from the capital city Bucharest. The ski resort is easily accessible by road, and is among the best places to visit in Romania.
