Get answers to your questions about Inghams holidays
Ski
Inghams ski holidays are perfect for those who love skiing in the great outdoors. Pick your base from our handpicked collection of the best ski destinations across Europe and North America, from over 70 resorts across 8 countries: Andorra, Austria, Canada, France, Italy, Switzerland, Norway and Finland From the thrill-seekers to the après skiers, our expert team will be with you at every turn.
When choosing the perfect ski holiday destination, consider factors like ski area size and piste difficulty levels. Our resorts have been selected to suit all types or skiers – whether you're looking for somewhere lively with plenty of apres bars, local charm and family run hotels or just amazing scenery and shorter transfers. We're with you every step of the way, so get in-touch with one of our travel experts if you need help with booking your perfect ski holiday.
Browse our ski holiday deals here, including limited-time offers and early booking discounts, making your next ski holiday adventure both unforgettable and affordable. You can also make sure you're always in the know about our latest holiday discounts, news and deals by signing up to our newsletter via the sign-up page. Where will your inbox take you?
We feature resorts with the best snow records across Europe and Canada. Many are at a very high altitude, some have glacier skiing and we even have resorts close to the Arctic Circle ensuring there is always snow in sight. Some of our top snow-sure resorts would include Tignes/Val d'Isere, Cervinia, Ischgl, Zermatt, Les Arcs and Val Thorens.
Of course! Our family holidays are all about convenience and making it easy for adults and children alike. We have resorts with excellent English speaking ski schools for the children and an excellent choice of family accommodation, whether family rooms in hotels or spacious apartments. Being close to the slopes is important and resorts with swimming pools and other activities are a bonus.
The top ski resorts in Andorra are Soldeu, Arinsal and Pas de la Casa. Soldeu & Pas de la Casa are part of the Grandvalira super-ski area and Arinsal is part of Andorra's Vallnord ski region. Popular resorts, all part of great ski areas.
Our three resorts in Andorra are amongst the highest in the Pyrenees and all have skiing over 2,000 metres with well-groomed slopes throughout the ski season. Andorra is particularly known or its sunny days and is perfect for skiers and snowboarders of all levels.
Park Piolets in Soldeu is a stylish 5-star hotel on a half-board basis. Hotel Xalet Verdu is good value for money and very welcoming in Arinsal. Hotel Font d’Argent in Pas de la Casa is the centre of resort and only 1 minute’s walk to the lifts.
Though Andorra is a smaller skiing destination, they cater well for beginner skiers and young children. Ideally visiting the resort of Arinsal to start your ski journey is best, with nursery slopes at high-altitude you will have great snow to practise on. The Arinsal Ski School is English speaking and has a superb reputation for beginners.
Austria has a vast array of resorts to choose from and is well known for its ski regions. Resorts such as St Anton are popular with the more advanced skiers. Otherwise places like Saalbach and Obertauern are favoured by the more intermediate skiers.
Austria is renowned for its ski resorts due to their high-altitude, maintained runs and snow-canons so the snow coverage is good during the ski season.
There are plenty of Austrian ski resorts that consider snowboarders. Visit Mayrhofen, offering one of the biggest snow-parks with 6 distinct areas including a children’s zone.
Pick from a wide variety of choice of accommodation in Austria, home-from-home chalets like Chalet Albona, St Anton or the 5* Hotel Berghof, Lech - a luxury hotel with a private elevator to the ski lifts.
Some of the top rated resorts in Canada are Lake Louise, Banff and Mont Tremlant. However one of the most popular resorts is Whistler (which consistently wins North Americas best ski resort) due to the twin peaks of Whistler Blackcomb, connected by a gondola.
Due to Canada's northerly location, the winter snowfall across its resorts holds a good track record, so you will find plenty of snow during the ski season. Banff and Lake Louise have very fluffy dry snow as it's located so far from the sea - unbeatable on powder days.
There are many hotels to choose from when looking at a ski holiday in Canada. The Moose Hotel & Suites and The Fox Hotel & Suites in Banff - great location in the town, near to all the bars, restaurants and shops.
France has a vast amount of ski resorts due to its terrain offering some amazing destinations. One of the main draws to France are the large ski areas and great resorts, the main 4 being the Three Valleys having 600km of slopes, Tignes-Val d'Isere area having 300km, Paradiski with 425km and then Portes du Soleil having 600km.
The mountains across France frequently get good snow coverage year after year during the ski season. With some of the highest altitude ski resorts in Europe, the snow conditions in France are one of the best throughout the ski season.
There are! Many French resorts cater for snowboarders. In particular, Avoriaz is renowned for snowboarding and there are 4 snow-parks to choose from and around 30 snowparks across the whole of the Portes du Soleil ski area.
Chalets are a popular option in France, offering full chalet service. In Tignes, Chalet Les Arolles is in an ideal location close to resort and the beginners ski area. In Val d’Isere, Hotel & Spa Le Savoie is based in the resort centre and a favourite with guests.
France has many resorts that are ideal for beginner skiers, with ample green and blue runs, dedicated children zones, highly-recommended ski schools and practice areas. A popular destination is La Rosiere.
Italy has some amazing resorts with beautiful landscapes to choose from - between Sauze d'Oulx, Corvara, Champoluc and Selva - you are spoiled for choice. Plus, Corvara and Selva are in the UNESCO world heritage site of the Dolomites, making them very popular choices.
Italy's northern resorts have consistent snowfall records every year and the resorts are well maintained, often with snow-canon coverage as well.
Livigno - hosting 2026 Winter Olypmic Games freestyle events. Madonna di Campiglio & Canazei.
The options are almost endless here. The popular Col Alto in Corvara is great for adults with an extensive wellness area or there is the Hotel De Champoluc in Champoluc, perfect for families with children of all ages.
Switzerland is a hot-spot for skiers, with popular ski resorts such as Zermatt, known for the iconic Matterhorn and high-altitude skiing, Nendaz in the vast 4 Vallées ski area, famed for it's fresh powder snow and Davos-Klosters for it's excellent varied terrain.
Switzerland snow conditions are rated highly repeatedly, with most resorts being close to or over 3000m high in altitude, you are likely to always have a snow-sure holiday. With high-altitude resorts and glacier skiing in places like Engelberg, Zermatt and Saas Fee, Switzerland has an excellent snow record.
Yes, there are plenty of resorts for snowboarders. A favourite is Saas Fee due to being the home of the British snowboarding team and having a huge freestyle snow-park. Advanced boarders will also love the 4 Vallées with its vast freeride zones.
Choose from a range of hotels and apartments in our Swiss resorts. For wellness and relaxation after a day on the slopes the Hilton Garden Inn in Davos and the Le Mirabeau Hotel & Spa in Zermatt are popular options. Perhaps you would like to try a hotel with a bit of luxury? If so, a stay at the 5 star Walliserhof Grand Hotel in Saas Fee or Grand Hotel Belvedere in Wengen are great choices.
For the best experience for beginners and families in Switzerland, resorts like Wengen, Grindelwald, and Saas-Fee are top choices due to their excellent beginner slopes, English speaking ski schools, gentle slopes and family-friendly amenities.
Warm, waterproof clothing. We have a special guide for skiers and snowboarders on what to wear for your first ski trip- Quick Guide: What to wear for skiing. Lots of thin layers underneath your waterproof layers are the safest bet, because skiing and snowboarding are sports and you will warm up during the day!
There are lots of things you would need to pack for skiing holiday that you wouldn’t pack for a regular holiday. We’ve written up a list of useful items to pack in your suitcase that can be viewed here.
It’s an age old argument that echoes off the mountains to this day…which is better? Skiing or snowboarding? It really comes down to preference as well as your levels of fitness, and there certainly is no telling whether one sport is easier to learn than another! On your first day you will find both equally challenging. If you’re not sure which sport you’ll prefer, you can always book a taster day on a UK dry slope or snow centre before you commit to a course of lessons in your chosen resort.
Yes- you are on a mountain surrounded by snow! But one of the nice things about skiing is that you do not feel the cold. The cold dry climate on top of the mountains is very different from the usual cold wet that we experience in England, and can sometimes even trick you into thinking it is warm. Plus, you will be exercising so your body temperature will naturally warm you up. Dress properly and you’ll stay toasty for the duration of your stay. Get clued up on what to wear with our handy Quick Guide: What to wear for skiing.
It wildly varies depending on country, resort, hotel and more. You will want to factor in lift passes, ski hire, lessons as well as food and drink for the duration of your stay. Whether you’re on a budget, or you’re looking for luxury we have some fantastic deals for our customers, so why not drop us a message on social media (Facebook) or give our friendly team a call on: 01483 319 507 and we can give you plenty of advice.
It varies from place to place but the European Alps are usually adequately covered with snow for the lifts to open from December- April. However, much depends on many different weather circumstances.
Most certainly are! Mountain restaurants, bars and cabins are part of the whole skiing and snowboarding culture and you’ll most certainly hear the phrase ‘après ski’ being thrown around in resort! Tradition has it that after a long day of skiing and snowboarding, everyone heads to the bar for a drink and bite to eat. Over here at Inghams we see it as being a well earned treat after a day on the slopes!
If this is your first time, we advise you not to spent lots of money on brand new equipment. Amongst many reasons, as a beginner you might not fully know whether you’ll prefer skiing or snowboarding, and then you don’t want lots of non-returnable equipment on your hands! It is cheaper, easier and just as fun to rent your equipment in the resort and hand it back at the end of your trip.
You can rent skis, boots and poles for skiers. Boots and snowboards for snowboarders. Helmets are also available to rent and we recommend our guests to take this opportunity. There are three different grades of adult skis/boards available to rent: Blue, Red and Black, as explained in our guide. Check with your insurance policies before you rent the most expensive equipment there is (Black). All is explained in our handy Quick Guide: Ski and snowboard equipment explained (coming soon!).
Helmets are absolutely crucial regardless of your skiing and snowboarding ability (and in some places they are becoming a compulsory requirement). For skiing, you will need not need any additional protection like shin pads or elbow guards, however snowboarders may want to rent or purchase their own impact shorts and knee protectors (wrist guards are also a beneficial addition if you are feeling extra cautious). Another form of ‘protection’ that often gets forgotten about is the humble sun cream. Bright sun at high altitudes is reflected off the white snow and any exposed skin can easily get burnt.
If you have never skied or snowboarded before, then yes you will need to arrange lessons. If you can link your turns and snow-ploughs, control your speed and come to a controlled stop, you have made it past the very beginner level. Whether or not you feel that you need lessons after that is up to you, but if you want to improve your technique and advance to more difficult pistes, it is advisable that you seek the help of a professional ski instructor before punching above your weight.
Much depends! If you are skiing as part of a group, you might want to go somewhere for mixed abilities, as we’ve outlined in our guide to resorts for groups (coming soon!). Complete beginners can look here for some of the best resorts for beginners, and families might want somewhere with an excellent ski school but with good opportunities for Mum and Dad as well. Perhaps you’re just in it for the après, but don’t worry, we have you covered too!
The beginner slopes have the mildest of inclines and are short, so the chances of sliding away out of control are very slim! Professional instructors and ski patrol are on hands at all times to make sure that the nursery slopes remain calm and safe places for beginners to practice. As you advance, the slopes become more challenging. Make sure you feel confident enough before advancing onto a different colour slope. If you want to find out some more on how the slopes are classified in European and American resort, you can read out Quick Guide: piste and slope classification, and signs to watch out for around the resort (coming soon!).
If this is your first trip then we highly recommend staying in one of Inghams’ Chalets. Navigating ski resorts can be a bit alienating at first, but in a Chalet all meals will be served, you can come and go as you please and there are warm, comfortable living rooms and bedrooms waiting for you when you get back. A home away from home, if you will! Our Inghams reps will also be on hand to offer some expert advice on the resort, things to do, amenities, and fun excursions to be had. You’ll probably enjoy the close proximity to the ski lifts that many of our Chalets have as well, but if you’ve opted for somewhere further afield then in many places you can make the most of the ski lockers at the base of the mountain to save yourself the strain of carrying your skis to and from the slopes every day.
Some resorts have free lifts for beginners, but these are very short, slow lifts scattered across the base of the mountain and only access green runs. If you want to advance beyond the beginner lifts, you will need a lift pass.
Safe usage of the lifts around the resort (whether they’re a gondola, chair lift or drag lift) will be covered under the watchful eye of an instructor in your lessons. Gondolas can be accessed by foot.
In some cases, yes. Especially the stations that are accessed by gondola, it is possible for pedestrians to travel by foot to the mountain restaurants. Do your research into the resort that you are visiting, because pedestrian restrictions differ from resort to resort.
You will need to have a winter sports travel insurance policy in place before you head off skiing. We have outlined everything you need to know about winter sports travel insurance on our Ski Insurance page, and in our handy Quick Guide: Ski Insurance Explained guide.
For the quick answer- many basic travel insurance policies deliberately exclude cover for any winter sports related injuries or incidents (including the theft of expensive skis and snowboards). This is because there is a much higher chance that you will suffer an injury (that might lead to medical treatment, hospital stays and evacuation back to the UK) doing winter sports than you would in another holiday scenario. For more information, please read the information we have provided on what our Ski Insurance policy holds, and if it’s all new to you, then our Quick Guide: Ski Insurance Explained may come in handy!
Depends on the nature of your injury, but, as any doctor would say, it is highly advisable that you don’t physically assert yourself if you are unwell. But, this said, everyone is different so check with your doctor. Skiing and snowboarding are strenuous activities and while you might feel mentally up for the task, your insurance policy might not allow you to take part in skiing/snowboarding/certain activities if you have a reoccurring injury, condition or illness.
There is a popular saying... get fit to ski, don’t ski to get fit! If you’re looking for a work out to kept strengthen your key muscles before you jet out skiing, then why not brush up with our nifty Insider’s Guide: The ultimate pre-ski workout.
In some places, children as young as the age of 3 are allowed in kindergarten ski schools. But generally, about 4-5 is a good age to get your children on the snow in ski schools. No matter how competent a skier or snowboarder you are yourself, it is strongly advised that children should be instructed to ski and snowboard on nursery slopes with trained professional who with ensure their safety and that they are learning the correct techniques.
Children should wear ski helmets, and in many places this is the law or they will not be allowed on the pistes. However, the helmet is the most important part of their ensemble, any additional protection is optional. Children and pre-teens learning to snowboard may benefit from elbow, knee and wrist protectors, as well as impact shorts. Another form of ‘protection’ that often gets forgotten about is the humble sun cream. Bright sun at high altitudes is reflected off the white snow and any exposed skin can easily get burnt. Children will especially benefit from a high SPF factor of sun cream because their skin is quite delicate.
You will find in lots of places that many ski schools don’t offer snowboard tuition until your children are around 7-8 years of age. This is because snowboarding takes a fair amount of core strength as well as body coordination between the feet and legs and shoulders. It’s been noted that children often excel in skiing from a young age but will struggle with snowboarding until they are older. So start your little ones off with skiing until they have developed the basics.
You can of course stop for a lunch time tipple or enjoy a glass with your dinner, but the general rule is once you have finished skiing or snowboarding for the day or once the lifts have shut for that day.
Europe is renowned for being the best place to visit if you want to enjoy Après ski to its fullest.
Of course, this is really the highlight, be it a nightclub, background pub music or live music filling the air.
This is hugely down to personal preference but there is general belief that snowboarding is easier to learn than skiing. It is also a common known fact that snowboarding gear is generally more comfortable than skiing (mainly the boots).
Most European and Canadian resorts are open from November to May - ideally the peak times to go would be December to April. However, if you are going in November - we would suggest Lapland/Finland as it is close to the Arctic Circle, if you are are going in May, we would suggest high-altitude resorts, ideally with Glaciers.
Not at all, it's all about the choosing the right destination. This is why we have selected to offer holidays to Lapland (Finland) for this time year. Being so close to the arctic circle, their level of snowfall is higher than a lot of Europe and it also has a longer period of time during the year that snow falls there.
Being November, the weather doesn't frequently change as much as it does later in the season (from sunshine to snowing), however in Lapland, as it is so close to the arctic circle, it is a very cold place and though the sun does shine in the day time we would recommend wrapping up warm and wearing lots of layers.
January is in the middle of the ski season so there tends to be the highest levels of fresh snow fall, so even the lower resorts tend to be well covered for that month.
It is usually a little quieter after the busy festive periods, so avid skiers like to go in January time to avoid longer queues at the chair lifts (or bars).
February is a great time to ski, usually the worst of the winter weather has passed so the days are a bit longer and warmer and the weather is a bit more predictable. It is also a good time for families to go as half-term falls in this month.
February is generally known as a good time for snow as there has been a few months build up of snow fall prior, so the slopes are well covered. It's also early enough in the season that the snow hasn't started to be melt, or be compacted. There is still often gentle snowfalls so fresh snow is still typical to see.
Yes in some resorts. Our experts hand pick high altitude resorts so you can find a variety of destinations still under a blanket of snow in March.
Though there are still plenty of resorts open at this time of year, you may find some of the resorts (usually the lower altitude ones) closed or with limited offerings. It is best to opt for a high altitude resort to get the best snow fall.
It is slightly warmer in the mountains come March time, so you can certainly get away with slightly less layers or a lighter jacket. It is best to pack your usual items though just in case there is a day of heavy snowfall, making it feel colder.
The weather tends to be warmer, the sun is out for longer and the resorts tend to be a bit quieter and of course our high altitude resorts still have plenty of snow so it's a great option to go in April.
As an avid skier, you may know that April is still considered part of ski season. Surprisingly there is often 'spring snow storms' in high altitude resorts, meaning you can often wake up to a fresh blanket of snow. It's also good to note that glacier skiing is a great option at this time of year too.
Yes, if the resort is open for skiing then you will find the local shops, restaurants and cafes will be open as well to accommodate the visiting tourists.
On this page, we have selected some of the best options for resorts when skiing with your family, including younger children. Please also visit our Ski Holidays for Families page for more resort options.
The best thing about the ski resorts we have selected here is that we have checked for child-friendly slopes, nursery slopes, fun parks, and ski schools. We have also selected resorts that offer other activities such as the cinema, bowling, or ice skating, ensuring your family can have a fun-filled week on and off the slopes.
We have selected a range of hotels and chalets here and also on our Ski Holidays for Families page that are child-friendly, so you can feel at ease throughout your stay. Ideally, you want to look for family-friendly hotels, with larger rooms that can sleep up to 4 or 5 and possibly that offer additional facilities such as a pool or a games room.
Easter time in resorts is geared up for families, the resorts often offer additional family friendly activities and of course most host an Easter Egg hunt.
Easter, or April, is still a great time to go on a skiing holiday - with warmer weather and longer days of sunshine, it is perfect for little ones to get out and give it a go without getting too cold or for beginners to practice in.
Yes of course, see our all inclusive ski holidays page for some ideas.
We certainly do, use our search bar at the top of the page to find your perfect holiday. Also do read our Valentine's Insider's Guide on how to make it an extra special trip.
This of course is slightly down to personal preference. At Inghams, we offer either longer ski breaks (7 nights) across all our resorts or short ski breaks to Switzerland.
To book self-drive, you must call to book on 01483 319 558.
It depends on which date you travel and the type and time of your channel crossing.
Yes, the ferry crossing from Dover to Calais is included and we can arrange a Le Shuttle (formerly known as Eurotunnel) crossing as well.
La Rosiere, France - Offering partnerships with quality ski schools offering group or private lessons. Good selection of family friendly stays including hotels, chalets or apartments. Off-slope fun, from a cinema, bowling to ice skating.
Tignes, France - Top rated ski schools to chose from, mainly located by the start of the slopes. A beginners area near the resort and lots of cruisy, wide runs further up. Lots of space for fun afternoons of tobogganing or sledging.
Champoluc, Italy - 3 ski areas with one lift pass so you can explore all beginner areas. Pre-bookable ski schools in resort. Perfect for slightly more advanced or older children who want to explore on and off the slopes.
Val d'Isere, France - In resort nursery slopes come with free lifts for the little ones. Dedicated beginners area at the top of Solaise lift. Perfect mix of family friendly accommodations, offering apartments, hotels and chalets.
Les 2 Alpes, France - Great for all skiing & snowboarding levels and lively nighlife.
St Anton, Austria - Vast array of additional winter activities.
Canazei, Italy - Perfect all round resort, from spas, museums, and shopping.
Voss, Norway - Lively, local culture and beautiful Lake Fjord surroundings.
Montgenèvre is set on the French-Italian boarder and has plenty of quieter slopes. This area is often uncrowded due to the fact it is part of the Milky Way ski area, so skier and snowboarders are spread out across the vast 400km slopes.
One of the smallest resorts in Europe, Filzmoos has around 13km of pistes. It is not far from some larger resorts if you do want to seek out more hustle and bustle, however if you are looking for a smaller, easier ski resort then this is the perfect place.
Livigno is high on the list when is comes to affordability due to the fact it is a tax-free region. Which is great news for us skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts - with classic Italian pizzas & pastas at a lower price for the same quality.
Mont Tremblant is one of the lower altitude ski resorts that can be found - this is ideal if do not enjoy the weather conditions at higher altitude and if you are a beginner skier looking for the more gentle or laidback slopes.
Avoriaz in France is great for famillies - Small, family friendly, purpose built ski resort
Corvara in Italy in ideal for couples - Fantastic local cuisine and drinks
Saas Fee in Switzerland is perfect for groups - A lot of variety with all levels of runs, off-piste and snow-parks
Hochgurgl is good for singles - Connected to other ski areas for lots of exploring, plus lots of winter activities
Zermatt offers an impressive high altitude of 3,820m, making it a top destination for decent March snow conditions.
With a high altitude of 3,200m, Val Thorens provides snowy pistes well into March and beyond.
A high altitude of 2,730m, Banff is certainly worth considering for some March skiing.
Cervinia is one of the slightly lower of altitude of just over 2000m but the great thing is it's access - slopes connecting to Zermatt, nearby glaciers.
With a high altitude up to 3456m, Tignes offers a good snow record.
Reaching an altitude of up to 3,080m, Obergurgl is ideal for late season.
Saas fee boasts an altitude of up to 3,500m so you can be sure that this resort will offer you a snowy destination.
Banff has a resort altitude of an incredible 1,383 metres high so is a top choice for April.
Free lift passes for children 8 years of age and under in Tignes & Val d'Isere, France.
Ample nursery slopes and highly rated ski school in Selva, Italy.
A selection of family ski areas and a fun park in Zell am See, Austria.
Morzine, France - awarded Families Plus label for their excellent dedication towards families regards accommodation, ski schools and additional activities.
Kronplatz, Italy - children specific ski areas so they can relax and practice at their own pace with no pressure of busy slopes.
Obergurgl, Austria - family parks and fun slopes so your little ones can play and have fun and build up their skills in a safe environment.
Arinsal, Andorra - dedicated family and new skier areas so you can ski together without worrying about too many other speedy skiers on the slopes.
Lake Louise, Canada - special 'Minute Maid Wilderness Adventure Park' for practicing, playing and having fun in the snow.
Flaine, France - three free ski lifts around the base so beginners can practice before buying a lift pass to venture out further.