The 10 Best Ski Resorts in the World You Need to Visit

Not a lot of people appreciate the fact that a winter vacation pursuing Alpine adventures can be as exciting and fun as a tropical beach vacation. As a matter of fact, some even find the thrills of a snowy ski resort far more thrilling and adrenaline-stimulating than most of the other activities that you would want to follow on your pleasure trips.

So for those who love to ski on snowy slopes like there is no tomorrow, here is the list of the 10 best ski resorts in the world.

1. Cortina d’ Ampezzo, Italy

One of the most famous and oldest ski resorts of the world, Cortina is dubbed the “Pearl of the Dolomites” for its exceptional scenic beauty. With reasonable accommodation, you will find active markets in your vicinity and the culture here would make your choice totally worth it. The quintessential Alpine resort, Cortina has been the filming location of the first Pink Panther film and has also hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics.

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2. Kitzbuhel, Austria

Austria is one of the foremost destination when it comes to Alpine activities and probably no resort gets as much as Kitzbuhel. Dubbed the liveliest ski resort in Europe, Kitzbuhel has no less than 168 km of skiing slope and 40 km of cross country skiing terrain. With a dense network of 56 cableways, there is no surprise that the ‘Pearl of the Alps’ is the home of the annual ski race world cup.

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3. Lech Zurs, Austria

Lech Zurs is one of the most beautiful Alpine skiing resorts that you can find in the country. Popular with royalty and celebrity, Lech Zurs is also known for a famous skiing school and chairlifts. The mountainside resort is one of the most important ski resorts in the entire Alpine region, and is known for its backcountry skiing opportunities.

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4. Courchevel, France

Courchevel is one of the trendiest and most dignified ski resorts in Europe. Courchevel is expensive thanks to the frequent visits of the rich and famous and the place is a showcase of the top designer brands in the world. The resort is located in the Savoie region of the French Alps, and is home to more than a dozen world class and award winning hotels. But Courchevel is not just known for luxury and glamour, it is of great interest to skiers around the world, since its couloirs are known to offer the hardest black runs anywhere.

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5. Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada

One of the most popular Canadian resorts, Fairmont Tremblant could offer you great luxury and adventure brought together in a package of convenience. The resort, featuring a number of award-winning five star lodging options among many other, is just an hour and a half’s drive away from Quebec’s capital Montreal. The resort is a skier’s paradise with 95 ski trails, offering you a lot to explore. A great attraction of the resort is the Casino de Mont-Tremblant.

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6. Blackcomb Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

One of the most spectacular and famous ski resorts around the world, Whistler has had the honors of hosting the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The spectacular landscape around Whistler is because of its location at the base of the Blackcomb Mountains. The resort is known for its world class accommodation and luxurious amenities. As for the skiing action, it offers 17 miles of breathtaking cross country with 200 marked run trails.

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7. Zermatt, Switzerland

While Switzerland would be a lot of people’s top choice for a ski vacation, Zermatt is the best resort in the country that they would be looking to hit. Thanks to its pristine and peaceful traffic-free environment, it can prove to be a great winter getaway. With five star accommodation and a breathtaking scenic environment by the side of Matterhorn Mountain, Zermatt is one of the foremost skiing resorts in the world. Another reason why it is such a great skiing location is its abundant snowfall rate. The Paradise Glacier here is the continent’s highest point reachable by cable car and offers a panoramic view of the Alps.

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8. Crans-Montana, Switzerland

Crans-Montana is one of the most beautiful ski resorts in Europe and is known for its style and luxury. Located right in the middle of the Swiss Alps, this resort actually attracts quite a lot of sunshine, and has been gravitating a number of celebrities over the years as well. As for the skiing action, the resort boasts 140 km of pistes and 12 km of cross country skiing tracks. The resort is known for the 2,750m high Plaine Morte Glacier and has hosted the 1987 skiing world championship.

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9. Aspen, Colorado, USA

Colorado is known for its alpine adventure attractions and there is no better destination in the state than Aspen. The resort earned its global reputation for its scenic beauty during  the World Alpine Ski Championship in 1950. A favorite of the Hollywood celebrities, Aspen is noted for the variety in its skiing slopes that welcome novice to expert level skiers equally. Known for luxurious but expensive lodging, resisting Aspen would be hard if you are a fool for rubbing shoulders with celebrities.

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10. Lake Placid, New York, USA

If you are up for a more laid back skiing vacation, then Lake Placid could be the right place for you. The resort offers excellent downhill and cross country skiing terrain that could entice any skiing enthusiast. The town of Lake Placid hosted the 1980 Winter Olympics and is also a great attraction for Alpine sports and cultural activities. You may not find the most luxurious accommodation here, but it certainly will be cozy with the right kind of environment.

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