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Snowboarding in the fringes of Europe offers some exciting locations to explore. Head east or to the Pyrenees for cost-effective mountain resorts that provide an abundant cultural experience.
Published December 5, 2023
6 minutes checked out
This short article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK)
As alternatives for the standard chalet ski break have decreased and rates increased, venturing to Europe’s far corners and beyond for a ski break can gain benefits. Expenses are frequently lower, while high-end lodging can be also priced to budget options in traditional European ski resorts. As being potentially more affordable, snowboarding in area off the beaten track can provide a rich cultural experience, plus better flight paths, less crowded slopes, sunnier days, and a friendlier welcome.
Short-haul ski locations easily evoke France, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy, with budget options in Andorra and Bulgaria. You’ll find decent-sized resorts in maybe unexpected European corners. Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany’s Bavarian Alps is home to the country’s highest mountain, Zugspitzplatt, at 2,720 meters, offering 40 miles of runs, while in the Allgäu area, there are 186 miles of downhill, with the small town of Oberstdorf a great base. In Spain, along with the Sierra Nevada, other outstanding ski areas include Baqueira-Beret (now provided by Crystal Ski), Formigal, and La Molina/Masella, which last March hosted the FIS Para Snowboard World Championships. Elsewhere, on the northern edges of Europe, you can enjoy amazing sea views while ski touring in areas as diverse as Iceland’s Troll Peninsula and the fjords of Greenland.
(You can ski down an inactive volcano in this Turkish town)
Beginners and families looking for a small, friendly ski area might save hundreds of pounds by choosing any one of a wide range of small ski resorts in countries such as Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Or how about Greece? It may come as a surprise to know that the largest resort here, Parnassos, has a decent 21 miles of pistes.
Unless you’re skilled in traveling independently and comfortable with the possibility of dealing with flight cancellations, missed transfers, and no-show shuttles, consider booking a package ski trip. These are easier than ever to find to the less-conventional destinations. As Slovenia and Spain, Crystal Ski also introduced Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2022, or for the more adventurous, Mountain Tracks (part of the Ski Club of Great Britain) offers ski touring in easy-to-reach but alternative places, from Mount Etna to the Black Sea.
A lot of these destinations are also benefiting from new infrastructure. Spain is upgrading numerous areas: Sierra Nevada has been the subject of heavy investment in recent years, while La Molina is installing a six-person chairlift and Cerler plans to install a gondola from base to top that carries 15 skiers in each cabin.
Over in eastern Europe, in Slovakia, a new 15-man gondola opened at the world and European Cup host resort of Jasná in December 2022,
