With the winter sports season well underway, one of the UK’s top ski holiday providers reveals that cross-border ski trips are booming in popularity.
They allow people to expand their horizons by seamlessly skiing between different countries, and experience an entirely new culture and country in less than an hour, in some cases.
Richard Sinclair, CEO of leading ski holiday provider SNO, says his team have witnessed a 60% increase in enquiries for cross-border ski holidays, with more skiers embracing the opportunity to ski the slopes of multiple countries in Europe on their annual trips.
Known as ‘trip chaining’ (a growing trend in the industry in recent years), travellers are keen to combine multiple stops into a single leisure trip, and Sinclair shares that skiing holidays are no exception.
“With ski conditions increasingly unpredictable, cross-border skiing expands your horizons, often doubling your chances of great skiing with access to more diverse, skiable landscapes."
“In addition, as culturally enriching travel and ticking off your bucket-list becomes a focus, cross-border skiing doesn’t limit you to just one mountain, country, or culture. It’s an opportunity to maximise one trip and weave a richer tapestry of experiences that ultimately create a more memorable and epic ski holiday.”
With exploration being the new travel mindset, this emerging ski holiday trend makes sense, with nearly half (49%) of travellers wanting to explore new destinations in the world, and 44% keen to discover more remote locations, according to recent reports.
“In the current climate, when every penny counts, it’s another reason why cross-border skiing has captured skiers’ attention. It’s a savvy way to maximise your skiing and travel, as you’re bagging two ski resorts for the price of one!”
In light of the growing popularity of cross-border ski holidays, and the ski season well underway, Richard shares his top recommendations of the best destinations to experience cross-border skiing:
Zermatt, Switzerland - Cervinia, Italy
Nestled in the Matterhorn Ski Paradise in the Alps, skiers can maximise their winter getaways by exploring two firm-favourite winter sports destinations at once - Zermatt in Switzerland and Cervinia in Italy.
The highest ski area in the world welcomes snowboarding and skiing year-round, with over 350km of pistes to explore for all levels, 52 lifts, and plenty of snow-related activities beyond winter sports. Both of these alpine havens have their own unique characters that make visiting them during one winter getaway the ‘best of both worlds’.
Zermatt charms visitors with its old-world allure. Dotted with pretty timbered houses, chocolate shops, and world-class slopes, it blends alpine culture with fantastic winter sports opportunities, and aprés ski in all forms.
In contrast, Cervinia is a relaxed, village whose charming streets can be explored leisurely, allowing you to easily stop in at hearty restaurants and boutiques when you’re not making the most of its ‘all abilities’ slopes.
To get between each destination, cross their border via the Matterhorn Glacier Ride II cable car - the highest crossing in Europe. Visitors can opt for an ‘international’ lift pass to access both resorts, making it all the more simple to plan a cross-border ski getaway.
Morzine, France - Champéry, Switzerland
Within the Portes du Soleil domain there are twelve linked resorts - eight in France and four within Switzerland - offering keen winter sports enthusiasts the opportunity to ski between both countries seamlessly.
The vast ski area has been hugely popular for decades and celebrated its 60th anniversary just last year. With over 600 kilometres of pistes to shred, visitors have plenty of choice, with something for every level.
Morzine is one of the most popular places in the French part of Portes du Soleil - a traditional French mountain spot, it’s lined with timber chalets sheltered in the mountains. Expect plenty of pubs, clubs, and off-slope activities here - more than you can shake your ski pole at!
Champéry, on the other hand, is home to cosy cafés and charming shops, loved for its quaint nature. In true Swiss fashion, a 100-year-old wooden railway runs through the town, presenting the opportunity to journey through the Rhone Valley uniquely. Not to forget the thermal baths and other unique attractions nearby, like a fairytale chateau at Aigle and thriving markets in Monthey.
Hitch a ride on the Ardent gondola to get between both resorts. Easily reachable by bus from Morzine. Or, take several chairlifts from Morzine: the Mosettes chairlift on the French side, the Les Mosettes chairlift on the Swiss side, followed by the Crosets II chairlift. From there, take the Croix de Culet cable car to reach the centre of Champéry.
Montgenèvre, France - Claviére, Italy
Known as Via Lattea, or ‘Milky Way’ in English, this renowned ski area is formed of eight resorts spread across France and Italy. It has over 400 kilometres of varied slopes in the Italian Piedmont, as well as one resort in France - Montgenèvre.
Soak in some French culture beyond the beauty Italian ski area of Via Lattea with a visit to Montgenévre. With varied terrain, it is one of France’s oldest resorts that remains well connected to some of Italy’s best ski villages, including Cesana and Claviére.
The resort has 65 kilometres of ski runs and was the site of the first international ski race back in 1907. It maintains its old charm, with a laid-back atmosphere where you can cruise pistes while enjoying good food and company during a ski break. Montgenèvre experiences heavy snowfall, and is the easiest of the Franco-Italian alpine passes, making it perfect for ski getaways.
The Monts de La Lune ski area within Via Lattea has 110 kilometres of slopes in itself, and a hugely convenient way to explore France and Italy, as it covers both Montgenèvre and Claviére. You can opt for ski passes for the Monts de La Lune, making it even more easy to cross into both countries during a ski getaway.
Claviere boasts a traditional alpine atmosphere, with pistes for all abilities and a friendly setting with a lively aprés ski scene. It’s a popular spot for families, with good childcare options and ample dining choices to suit all tastes and preferences.
Ischgl, Austria - Samnaun, Switzerland
The Silvretta Arena, just below 3,000 metres above sea level, is spread between Ischgl in Austria and Samnaun in Switzerland. Within the coolest months of the year, Ischgl is the Tyrol region’s best ski resort. Samnaun is a charming Swiss village, within a duty-free shopping zone for travellers who can’t help but indulge in some retail therapy during a getaway.
The Arena is the third-largest ski area in Tyrol, with over 230 kilometres of slopes and 46 lifts. Particularly popular with accomplished skiers and snowboarders who have experienced their fair share of ski getaways, it has more advanced options that challenge and excite visitors.
Skiers can take the Höllkarbahn chairlift - the longest of the the arena’s chairlifts - to the area where you can conveniently ski down to Samnaun from Ischgl. Or, visitors can make the most of the Sasshalunbahn to reach Samnaun, offering access to some of the best off-piste skiing in the Ischgl area.
Other than being a charming Swiss village, Samnaun is home to fantastic attractions. The political centre of Samnaun, known as Compatsch, is home to a spa, 15th-century Gothic church, and theatre where skiers can soak in some culture when they’re not on the slopes. And nearby, just one kilometre away from Dorf in Samnaun, the world’s first double-decker tramway can be found too!
Ischgl boasts stunning mountain views, with modern luxuries that have upgraded this old farming village to be a thing of the future - filled with nightclubs, smart hotels, and chic bars.
It’s aprés ski scene is second only to St. Anton in Austria, and as one of the country’s highest altitude resorts, it’s the perfect place to ski in pristine snow across 240 kilometres of pistes. Its 44 high-speed lifts are state of the art too, making getting around all the more comfortable.
La Rosière, France - La Thuile, Italy
On the Little Saint Bernard Pass lies La Rosière in French Savoy, alongside La Thuille in the Aosta Valley of Italy. Forming part of the ‘Espace San Bernado’, as locals call it, the network between both ski resorts encompasses 160 kilometres of pistes, with exceptional mountain landscapes and a brilliant view of Mont Blanc.
La Rosière is best known for its fantastic opportunities for beginners to learn the ropes of winter sports. This quiet French resort’s tranquil atmosphere is perfect for going steady on the slopes. Its traffic-free streets are home to eateries serving the finest French mountain cuisine, as well as plenty of diverse ski areas for everyone - from snow zones to jungle gyms.
La Thuille equally is a peaceful environment in its quaint resort, which has evolved to encompass an original old alpine village with a purpose-built resort, to incorporate modern comforts. Dating back to the Roman era, there’s much transition and authentic culture in La Thuille to be discovered.
The Aosta Valley is one of the few ski areas that still allows heliskiing in Italy, so it’s a fantastic destination to visit if you want to broaden your skiing horizons and experiences.
It’s actually possible to get between both of these ski resorts in as little as 45 minutes, according to PlanetSKI, which takes a series of lifts to cross into Italy from France, with great views of Mont Blanc en route.
SNO is one of the UK’s leading and fastest-growing ski holiday providers. Offering ski getaways to destinations across Europe and worldwide, its team of experts is able to recommend the best destinations to embrace cross-border skiing. You can find more information on the company’s website here
