Travel Notes: Ski Edition
GET INSPIRED FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP: Mont Blanc Lines by Alex Buisse and Natalie Berry
Photographer and alpinist Alex Buisse has travelled all over the Mont Blanc massif to capture images of all the major mountain faces and trace the classic climbing and skiing lines. In this new coffee table book and guide, readers can learn about the major mountain faces and trace the classic climbing and skiing lines – ideal if you want to take your skiing to the next level. As well as Mont Blanc, it also features other Alpine icons, including the north faces of the Grandes Jorasses and the Droites, the Aiguille du Midi, and the Grand Capucin.
Visit Waterstones.com
TRAVEL TO THE SWISS ALPS: Faern
Faern is a new collection of lifestyle resorts in the Swiss Alps and later this year, two hotels will open: Faern Arosa Altein in the beautiful town of Arosa with 225km of ski slopes to explore, and Faern Crans-Montana in Valaisia, just 150m from the ski lifts. Ideal for families, Faern Arosa has its own heated ski boot room, a spa, and chic 70s-inspired bedrooms with views of the mountains; while Faern Valaisia also has a spa, plus indoor and outdoor pools, a sundeck and solarium. Both hotels also offer all-day dining and have on-site restaurants and bars for unwinding after a day on the slopes.
Visit FaernResorts.com
RUDI WYHILDAL
ENJOY A FOOD FESTIVAL: Wein Am Berg
Austria’s top food and wine festival Wein am Berg will take place from Monday 20th to Thursday 23rd April 2023. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the festival attracts some of the country’s best sommeliers, wine growers and international chefs from the region for a weekend of food and wine tastings. The festival will be hosted at the five-star Das Central Hotel and Europe’s highest gourmet restaurant, ice Q – you might recognise it from the James Bond film, Spectre. Skiers will get the chance to hit the slopes with world champions and former Olympians, while non-skiers can enjoy wine tastings at the restaurant. You can even try a bespoke pinot noir created especially for the event, made from grapes collected across Italy, Germany, and Austria.
Visit WeinAmBerg.at
WATCH THE PROS IN ACTION: 2023 Alpine World Ski Championships
From Monday 6th to Thursday 23rd February, the 2023 Alpine World Ski Championships will be held in Méribel and Courchevel. One of the most important winter sporting events in the world will bring together the best male and female athletes from around the globe, including pro skiers Marco Odermatt, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde and Matthias Mayer. Skiers can also book experiences in both resorts, including ski routes around the ten best views in Les 3 Vallées’, and family-friendly activities like pony trekking in the snow.
Visit Les3Vallees.com
UNSPLASH/NICOLAI BERNTSEN
UNSPLASH/WORLD MAGIC
HEAD TO AN AUSTRIAN RESORT: Tui Ski Express Night Train
Travel operator Tui has created a new sleeper train which runs from Amsterdam through to the Austrian Alps. Ideal if you want to combine a city break in the Dutch capital with a ski trip, the route will run every Friday to Austrian ski resorts from December until March 2023. Guests will leave Amsterdam in the evening and wake up in the mountains on Saturday morning. The best part? Unlike airlines which charge you to travel with ski and snowboard equipment, there will be no additional luggage costs for the overnight rail service. To hop aboard, travellers will need to book the train as part of a Tui package holiday lasting at least ten days – but you’ll receive a complimentary six-day ski pass to hit the slopes as soon as you arrive.
Visit TuiGroup.com
PLAN AN EPIC GROUP TRIP: Chalet Cesa de Louf
Cesa de Louf is an ultra-luxury chalet in Arabba in the Italian Dolomites. Made for special group trips, the property sleeps up to 20 guests with five suites and mezzanine bedrooms spread over three floors. Set on a vast estate with acres of woodland to explore, confident skiers can enjoy ski in, ski out facilities, while beginners can practise their skills on the small, private ski slope with a rope tow lift. Built from natural stone and ancient wood, the chalet itself is an ancient farmhouse comprised of two buildings, both of which have been carefully restored and refurbished with modern luxuries. Balconies and terraces surround the chalet, offering panoramic mountain views – the perfect place to relax on sunny afternoons, or stargaze using the chalet’s telescope. The property also has a cinema room, a spa with a jacuzzi, sauna and hammam, and a private heliport.
Visit MyPrivateVillas.com
GET AN ADRENALIN RUSH: Alaïa Bay Switzerland
Alaïa Bay is the Alps’ first and only in-land surfing destination. Having opened its doors last summer, the wave pool is open year-round, including during the winter for those brave enough to enter the water. The first of its kind in Europe, the venue is located at Sion in Switzerland – and it’s suitable for beginners and pros alike, as two parts of the pool simulate waves for varying abilities. Before a 90-minute session, you’ll be given a winter wet suit, plus boots, gloves and a hood for extra insulation. If you want to stay on site, the modern Alaïa Lodge is a 30-minute drive from the pool and just a short walk from Crans-Montana resort.
Visit AlaiaBay.ch/en
SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS: The Aurora Zone
The Aurora Zone specialises in bucket-list trips in Finland, Sweden, Iceland and Norway. Whether you want to see the Northern Lights or plan an unforgettable winter holiday, there’s something for everyone. For the upcoming season, there are several new package holidays to choose from, including camping adventures in Sweden and shorts tours in Iceland. For the ultimate ski trip, we love the sound of the downhill skiing and Aurora experience in Finland which includes return flights from London, four nights at a top resort, transfers, meals, equipment hire, two one-day lift passes to Iso Syöte downhill ski resort, Aurora hunting by snowmobile, and a Northern Lights hunt on snowshoes.
Visit TheAuroraZone.com
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