Our clients are looking towards new destinations, outside Europe, for their ski holidays. Among them are Japan, Chile and Aspen.
Three very different destinations offering vastly different experiences to Europe, each for a different type of skiing holiday.
Aspen, USA
Aspen is world famous for two reasons. It’s North America’s most glamorous ski resort. And it’s a superb all-round ski resort with outstanding facilities for all.
Like Courchevel, Aspen’s fame has its origins in superb snow conditions. Rarely does a resort offer such variety for every level of skier and boarder. It’s the realm of wide-groomed trails, moguls, tree runs, powder bowls, and over 350 marked trails.
You can fly directly into Aspen from a few US cities, with Denver being another airport to consider. With its location in Colorado, in the heart of the USA, it really makes sense to combine Aspen with another one or two destinations. Travel logistics will dictate this anyway.
There are actually four Aspen ski resorts, within a 15-kilometre radius. However, they don’t connect via the slopes, so while all are accessible with the same pass, you must travel by road between them. This makes the choice of resort and hotel even more important.
Aspen Mountain has the easiest access from the delightful and fun Aspen town. It’s the resort with the best apres ski scene.
We recommend two properties. There’s Auberge Resorts Hotel Jerome, a historic property that is very authentic to Aspen. It’s quintessential Aspen and the town’s apres ski hub too.
The Little Nell is the best hotel across all four resorts and is located directly next to the ski lift. It’s more contemporary in style.
Aspen Snowmass is the better resort for skiing, especially for families, as there’s the complete diversity of terrain.
This is a newer village constructed around the base of the slopes, with most accommodations ski in, ski out. Of these, we recommend the Viceroy, comfortably the best property in Snowmass.
Aspen Highlands is fantastic for expert skiers and Buttermilk suits beginners, yet overall, Aspen Mountain and Snowmass offer better slopes and hotels.
Japan
Japan is skiing with an immersion in another culture. An adventure on the slopes and also a true Japanese experience, in atmosphere, gastronomy, tradition, everything!
The skiing is really good too. Snowfall is consistent, with large amounts of fresh powder across numerous mountains. Even a metre falling overnight is not uncommon at some Hokkaido resorts.
There’s a wide choice of resorts with varied terrain and attractions, many easily accessible by train from cities like Tokyo. In some resorts you’ll be a tourist attraction for the locals – a visit to Japan is truly a cultural exchange.
Hot springs, known as “onsens” complete the appeal, a calmer apres-ski than you’ll usually find in Europe. At some onsens you’ll find monkeys bathing amid the snow!
December to March is the main ski season in Japan, although some resorts stay open into early May. February and March are the months we recommend the most.
You can easily combine a few days of skiing with exploration around other parts of Japan, like Tokyo, Kyoto, or even the tropical beaches of Okinawa. There are many good resorts you could incorporate into your holiday.
Niseko, Hokkaido
Niseko in Hokkaido is Japan’s most famous and international ski resort. It’s legendary for the constant dumps of deep powder.
The accommodation and facilities are among the best in the country. Niseko is Japan’s largest resort yet it can also be the most crowded.
It’s suitable to all levels of skier and is one of few that can also offer great off-piste and backcountry skiing. But don’t expect so much fresh powder to fall from blue skies.
Furano in Hokkaido is a good alternative if you want a ski destination that doesn’t feel too “resortified,” especially its authentic town.
Nozawa Onsen, Nagano
A charming traditional village of cobblestone streets, temples, ryokans, hot springs and inns. Surrounded by diverse ski slopes and an abundance of snow.
Nozawa Onsen is a very Japanese experience that’s easily accessible from most parts of the country. It’s located near Nagano, only 250 kiometres from Tokyo, and you can easily do day trips to other Nagano resorts, like Madarao and Tangram.
Don’t expect a western style hotel. You stay in traditional ryokans, with tatami flooring and futon bedding. All very comfortable and integral to the experience.
There are dozens of other resorts in the Japanese Alps near Nagano, especially those in the Hakuba Valley, like Hakuba Tsugaike. We can provide you with personalised advice depending on your interests.
Chile
Nowhere rivals the Chilean Andes for heliskiing. The highest vertical relief, opportunities for first descents, and some 20,000 square kilometres of slopes with hardly any skiers.
You can ski in places where nobody has ever skied before. Chile also offers a chance to ski during the European summer, with the season from late June to October.
Backdropping a heliski adventure in Chile is Tupungato, a 6,570 metre stratovolcano easily accessible from the country’s capital Santiago. The region’s unusual topography and climate means Chile’s Andes always enjoy fresh dry snow throughout winter; i.e. lighter, more powdery snow that forms on the ground.
The two best resorts are Portillo and Corralco, both with modern ski lifts and a vast variety of runs for all abilities. Here the best available hotels are four-star standard, which is compensated by the lack of other skiers compared to Europe.
Heliski itineraries are typically tailored day to day, with the pilot and guide. Unlike heliskiing in the Alps, there aren’t many restrictions on landings, partly because there are very few other helicopters.
NOI Puma Lodge and Barraco Lodge in Puerto Varas are the best bases for a heliski adventure. Remote and stylish contemporary lodges, surrounded by rugged mountains and very deep valleys.
Our Chilean partners VM Elite are pioneers in this region and have opened various areas to skiers for the first time. From these bases you can access thousands of square kilometres of untouched, high quality ski terrain, including first descents.
In Chile, you can do more vertical metres per day than just about any other destination in the world.
We recommend late August and September, as these months are good for combining a heliski adventure with exploring other parts of South America, like Galapagos, Peru or Argentina.
Your 2024 Ski Holiday?
Where are you going for your 2024 ski holiday?
Most likely it’s already booked. Maybe it’s to your favourite ski resort.
We can help with fresh recommendations and curate a ski holiday to somewhere completely new. That could be Nagano, Aspen, Chile or somewhere else on our beautifully snowy planet.
