You want to go skiing and enjoy a beautiful Alpine holiday, you go to France. That seems to be the constant suggestion, anyway.
There’s no doubt that France has plenty to offer fans of conventional winter holidays. The Alpine ranges are stunning; the skiing is difficult; the chalets are perfect and well-established. However, sometimes, you might just want to try something different.
If it’s snow fun that you’re seeking, then you’re not just limited to France. In fact, you’re not just limited to the Northern Hemisphere summer. Curious to find out more? Read on…
#1 – Lesotho
Image showing someone your snow holiday photographs and then explaining they were taken in Africa; the look of sheer disbelief on the faces of your friends and family is not to be missed out on. While few of us associate the continent of Africa with snow, there’s plenty to be enjoyed. The landlocked country of Lesotho is the pick of the bunch, thanks to the presence of AfriSki.
Found in the Maluti Mountains, AfriSki is an all-in-one complex that sits at nearly 10,000 feet above sea level. The stunning scenery and one-kilometre slope should offer plenty for ski fans to enjoy.
Fun Fact About Lesotho: Lesotho is the only country in the world to be landlocked entirely by another country (South Africa).
#2 – Andorra
Andorra is one of the lesser-known European countries in general, never mind when it comes to skiing. However, the location of this landlocked country should give you some clues: it’s close to the Pyrenees mountain range, meaning there’s plenty for snow lovers to enjoy in the area. Andorra ski holidays are perfectly picturesque, featuring some of the most stunning mountain views in all of Europe.
Fun Fact About Andorra: Andorrans enjoy the highest life expectancy in the world, so there’s definitely something good in the air that will benefit your holiday!
#3 – New Zealand, Coronet Peak
Along with Lesotho, another choice from the southern hemisphere that means you can be delighting in a snowy winter holiday in July. New Zealand is an active geological area, with plenty of volcanoes and glorious mountain scenery to take advantage of. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that there’s plenty of winter sports fun to be had, too.
Coronet Peak is arguably the best place in the country for this kind of holiday. Located in Queenstown, the peak reaches an elevation of 1,187m — so there’s plenty for ski lovers to enjoy. The peak season is in the middle of the winter, so the Northern Hemisphere summer — perfect if you fancy a change from the usual “sand and cocktails” summer holiday.
Fun Fact About New Zealand: New Zealand’s population is one of the lowest of recognized countries, standing at around 4 million. That means the population only exceeds Luxembourg and Iceland.
So if it’s snow and skiing that you want, there’s plenty of choice from all over the globe. No matter what the time of year, there’s a destination just waiting for you to explore it.
