We've been passionate about skiing and boarding for 76 years. Whatever your level, our exciting range of resorts and packages is bound to offer something just right for you and at Inghams, we pride ourselves on helping you make your holiday as carefree as possible.

Learn to Ski - your chance to take up a fantastic winter sport

Once you've hit the slopes we know you'll be hooked! Don't worry if you haven't done it before. We have developed some great packages for first timers as we know what you need - we've all been beginners in the past.

Our 'Learn to' packages are designed to help you plan your first time on the slopes. We're confident you'll return with a sense of achievement, a new set of friends and a yearning to get your next trip booked as soon as possible!

Learn to Ski - Getting started

If you are skiing or snowboarding for the first time, there are a few things to consider before booking your holiday:

• Hire rather than buy skis and boots, as setting yourself up with the right kit can not only be expensive but it's a good idea to have more knowledge about what you need once you have already skiied. Hiring also means you can change your kit at your resort if it doesn't suit you and you'll know with practice more what you need.
• Book professional ski or board lessons in advance so you learn the right techniques from the start. It will get you off to a flying start and progressing correctly, with less likely injury, and much more quickly. You also get a guaranteed place in Ski School.
• Choose the right resort - the best resorts for beginners are those with a good selection of nursery slopes as well as gentle green and blue pistes - often blues with a bit more of a gradient are better to learn to board.
• Don't go in peak weeks (Christmas, New Year, February half term and Easter) when the slopes are less crowded and prices are generally lower.

Booking your Learn to Ski or Snowboard package...

Whether you're skiing or boarding, our "learn to ski" first time deals for absolute beginners give you the complete ski pack (equipment hire, lessons and life pass), all pre-bookable prior to departure from the UK, offering great value for money and enabling you to arrive in resort with minimal organisation required.

We use some of the best ski rental shops in our resorts and you'll learn, improve and have fun with other novices too. All under the expert eyes of our English-speaking instructors!

We carefully pick ideal resorts for first timers with a good mix of nursery slopes and gentle pistes. So once you've mastered the basics you can keep improving.

Most packages include:

• Skis / board, poles and boots
• Lift pass (excluding Austria)
• Tuition

Prices for learn to ski packs, equipment hire, ski school and lift passes are available to see on your ski resort's pages.

... when you book your holiday online

When booking online, you will be presented through the booking process with the resort-relevant options so you can book your ski packs at the same time as booking your holiday.

... after you've booked your holiday

Alternatively, ski pack options can be added after your holiday booking by calling our reservations department on 020 8780 4455 or requesting them online on the ski pack request form.

If ski packs are added after you confirm your holiday, you will be charged the price quoted by our reservations system valid at the time the ski packs (not the holiday) are booked. Some ski pack items/prices are subject to change.

... when you arrive in resort

You can also book the pass of your choice when you arrive at your resort with our local representative.

However you book, the representatives in resort will help get your lift pass, ski equipment and ski lesson information to you to make it as easy as possible!

What to expect - A typical first day 

• 7am     Breakfast - have a hearty breakfast to set you up for the day.
• 8am     Get kitted out - meet your Representative at the ski hire shop to pick up your ski/board & boots for the week.
• 9am     Head to the slopes and the ski school meeting point.
• 10am   You will be allocated into groups to begin your first ski lesson!
• 1pm     Stop for lunch and a rest at a mountain restaurant.
• 2pm     If you have afternoon classes, continue your lessons. If not, you can practice what you’ve learnt in the morning,
              or maybe go for a swim or enjoy a spa  treatment to relax.
• 4pm     Ski lifts close for the day.
• 4-7pm  Time to enjoy some well deserved après-ski. Store your skis overnight in lockers in the ski hire shop by the slopes
              or in your hotel’s ski room.
• 8pm     Dinner at your hotel or chalet and a chance to swap stories with fellow skiers.
• 10pm   Early to bed to rest your aching muscles, or head out to enjoy the nightlife!

This is an example only – varies according to resort.

Our Top 10 - Best resorts for Beginners

Ski & Board School

Separate classes are available for beginners and other grades. Tuition prices generally refer to 3, 4, 5 or 6 consecutive days. The number of hours’ tuition per day is given in the relevant ski pack information on the ski resort's pages. Other variations may be available locally, but we pre-sell what we consider the most popular options.

Some ski schools do not operate on a Sunday, therefore when travelling on a Saturday, one day’s ski school may be missed. However, we still advise that you pre-book a 6 day ticket, as the price we have negotiated is often cheaper than booking 5 one-day sessions locally. In some resorts the difference is made up by offering our clients a longer class duration.

Ski schools in some Austrian and Swiss resorts are closed on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Ski schools may also close early at the end of the season due to insufficient numbers. We regret that no refund is available for these days, though some ski schools lengthen the duration of lessons on other days. Please enquire locally.

Ski school grading

For France and the Valais region of Switzerland, please indicate at the time of booking the standard of ski/snowboard school you wish to join (e.g. beginner, lower intermediate, upper intermediate, advanced) by booking the appropriate level where offered.

Interchanging Ski & Snowboard School

In most resorts in Austria ski school is interchangeable with snowboard school (changeover on Wednesday).

"Learn to" Ski & Board Packs

Learn to Ski, Board or Cross-country packs must be pre-booked in the UK and are available to complete beginners only, unless otherwise stated. Those who have had one lesson or more on a dry slope or indoor slope are no longer regarded as complete beginners by ski schools and will be refused on the course.

Children should not be booked onto adult packs as these are not suitable for children. In both these cases no refund will be given and supplements may be payable locally. The minimum age for children to join ski school varies from resort to resort.

Please note: Ski packs do not form part of your holiday package.

Ski & Board Saver Packs

Special ski packs are available in most resorts and these represent considerable financial savings over separate items. 

Please note: Ski packs do not form part of your holiday package.

Children

We pre-sell children's ski pack facilities in most of our resorts and special reductions are given in most cases. We advise that bookings for under 6's are made locally as, in the case of ski hire and ski school, special prices generally exist. In some resorts lift companies often allow children to ski free of charge. The age limits for children vary from country to country and are given for each facility in the 'notes' column of the Ski Pack panel for each resort (proof of age may be requested locally).

The age of your child given at the time of booking should be the age he/she will be at the time of your last day on holiday - not the age at the time of booking. See resort pages for details of our ski kindergarten packages for younger children.

Helmets

We recommend the use of ski helmets in all resorts. These are provided free in Andorra, Lapland and many resorts in France, Austria, Italy and Switzerland when renting equipment (see resort pages for details). In Italy, Slovenia and parts of Austria (Salzburg and Upper Austria) it is compulsory for children (up to 13yrs inclusive in Italy, up to 14yrs inclusive in Slovenia, up to 15yrs inclusive in Austria) to wear a helmet on the slopes.

How to add ski packs at a later date to your holiday booking

If ski packs or excursions are not booked when you confirm your holiday, you will be charged the price quoted by our reservations system valid at the time the ski packs (not the holiday) are booked. Some ski pack items/prices are subject to change.

Alternatively, ski pack options can be added after your holiday booking by calling our reservations department on 020 8780 4455 or requesting them online on the ski pack request form.

Booking Notes

2-for-1 Offers

Where 2-for-1 offers are featured in your resort, these should be booked against one person for two items. These offers represent two people for the price of one - not two courses or two weeks for the price of one.

14 Night Holidays - Europe

Clients booking a 14 night holiday but requiring ski pack facilities for 1 week only should book locally through our resort representatives.

USA and Canada

In the USA and Canada we offer any duration of ski packs you require (minimum 6 days). Our ski pack prices refer to a minimum 6 days' duration with a 'one day add-on' for additional days required.

Terms and Conditions

All prices for pre-bookable items are shown in the relevant price panel on the resort pages. If ski packs or excursions are not booked when you confirm your holiday, you will be charged the price quoted by our reservations system valid at the time the ski packs (not the holiday) are booked. Some ski pack items/offers in this brochure may not be available in subsequent editions and prices are subject to change. Pre-booked ski packs do not form part of your package holiday contract with us and we do not accept responsibility for any service which is provided by the supplier as part of the ski pack. See booking conditions.

Cancellation in resort

No refund will be considered if you decide in your resort not to use any pre-booked ski pack items. In the case of illness or an accident, you must obtain a medical certificate to claim from your insurer when you return home. Refunds are not considered by Inghams on your return from holiday.

See booking terms and conditions for further information.

Cross-country skiing

Cross-country skiing (known as “langlauf” in Austria and “ski de fond” in France) is easy to learn and a great way to enjoy the scenery at your own pace. It is a gentler way to take in the fresh pine scents, the sparkle of a frozen lake and the tranquillity of winter in the mountains, and can be enjoyed whatever your fitness level.

Learn to cross-country

Cross-country skiing is easy to learn as well as a great way to enjoy the scenery at your own pace. It's a gentler way to take in the fresh pine scents, the sparkle of frozen lakes and the sheer tranquility and beauty of winter in the mountains.

Our exciting 'Learn to Cross-country' beginner packages are available in Seefeld (Austria), Kandersteg (Switzerland), Levi, Saariselkä and Ylläs (Lapland).

Top cross country skiing resorts are here. Smaller resorts include Austria - Mayrhofen (30km)  Andorra - Soldeu (5km) USA - Brekenridge (32km) & Jackson Hole (23km)

Cross-country Skiing in Seefeld, Austria

Austria's leading resort and one of the largest cross-country areas in Europe, with over 260km of trails. From nursery area to Olympic track Seefeld's trails offer something for everyone. With many trails snowsure due to the use of snow cannons and free use of the trails with the Seefeld guest card, it really is a cross country paradise.

• The trails link 5 different villages: Seefeld, Leutasch, Mosern, Reith and Scharnitz
• 154km of classic trails and 112km of skating trails
• Grades, easy, medium, difficult
• Height difference: 1180 - 1550 km
• Specialised cross country ski school
• Biathlon courses available
• A 3km trail is floodlit Monday to Friday
• Seefeld has twice hosted Winter Olympics

Cross-country Skiing in Kandersteg, Switzerland

Cross country in Kandersteg wonderful possibilities with the beautifully maintained trails taking you through forest and pass streams all around Kanderstag, as well as up at Oeschinen with its frozen lake, and Sunnbuel. Some of the trails are easily picked up from all our hotels. A paradise in which to learn.

Cross country - 95km (50km of Nordic trails and 45km of skating trails in and around the village, including 8km of slopes at Sunnbuel.

Cross-country Skiing in Lapland

Cross country in Levi - Simply the best for all ability levels with refreshment huts and unlimited trails.

Cross country in Saariselka -  A cross-country enthusiast's paradise with mile after mile of well-marked trails through scenic Artic wilderness. Several are iit at night.

Cross country in Yllas - Excellent for all ability levels with refreshment huts and unlimited trails in wonderful scenery.

Cross-country skiing offer

For cross-country skiers, we offer FREE cross-country snowshoe and cross country equipment hire at many cabins in the resort of Ylläs in Lapland. See the Ylläs resort page for more information.

Top Cross-country skiing resorts