Where is it? Northern Sweden Why go? The country’s biggest ski area
Åre has the biggest area of linked slopes in Sweden, strung out along a frozen lake. It also has some of the country’s most challenging terrain plus a boardercross course, halfpipe, a big terrain park and two smaller ones. However it suits beginners, intermediates and families best.
Attractive little town the dinky lakeside town is made up of old, coloured wooden buildings and larger modern additions. as well as accommodation in town, there is lots spread out along the valley, with a concentration near the duved area of slopes, all connected by bus.
Very family-friendly Kids under eight get free lift passes if they wear helmets and the ski school
has an excellent reputation for teaching kids and speaking English. and it’s normal for families to take their children along to the lively après sessions as the lifts close. Expect to be dancing next to six and seven year olds.
Lots to do as well as downhill Åre has a vast amount of cross-country skiing trails, both on prepared tracks and unprepared trails marked with red crosses – some trails are floodlit too. Plus there are lots of other winter activities to try, including dog or reindeer sled rides, skating, curling, ice fishing, tobogganing, ice driving, snowmobiling (with amazing views), ice climbing and paragliding.
But… > lots of t-bars, few fast chairlifts. > Exposed upper mountain prone to closure because of bad weather. > Few challenges for experts.
Best for intermediates and novices the slopes are interestingly varied and reasonably snowsure since most are north facing. the altitude reaches a respectable 2800m and a lot of the runs are above 2000m. a few seasons ago a new six-pack chair and a connecting fast quad were built in lanslebourg to link the local slopes with those of termignon, down the valley. For intermediates there are
Val Cenis
Where is it? Haute Maurienne, France Why go? Affordable with traditional villages
Two quiet, traditional mountain villages share a fair sized and reasonably snowsure area of slopes tucked away off the Maurienne valley. Val Cenis is separated by
a high pass, which is closed in winter, from much more famous Val d’Isère and its prices are fairly low compared with those of its more illustrious neighbour.
Unspoilt villages the road that Val cenis is on is a dead end in winter. First you come to lanslebourg, which is strung out along the road and has no real focus, then it’s lanslevillard, which is more captivating and rustic. Each village has modest two-star hotels and lanslebourg three three-stars too. lifts go up into the ski area from both bases, so it’s convenient to stay in either.
plenty of cruising runs, including long top-to-bottom options of up to 1400m vertical. there are good nursery areas at valley level and easy greens to progress to.
But… > little to challenge experts except off piste.
> Villages are separate with no central focus.