A ski area does not always have to be challenging and complicated. Vast blue or easy red runs are just as lovely for beginners and advanced skiers. Fortunately, there are plenty of not-too-challenging ski areas in the Alps. And not just with flat runs where you have to pole your way through or boring forest trails but with pistes where you can work on your skiing technique and cruise down them in a wonderfully relaxed way. There are often some steeper variants to be found, but you can easily avoid these. This blog gives you the rundown of ten easy ski areas in the Alps.
Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn is one of Austria's largest ski areas with 270 kilometres of slopes. Especially now that the slopes are connected to those of Zell am See-Kaprun. Most of the slopes are blue and wide (140 km). You can ski all kinds of great tours, including the Saalbachronde. This 20-kilometre ski tour consists of 100% blue runs. There are also some fine blue runs that you really shouldn't miss, such as the 7 km long Jausern descent (piste 2a and 2b), piste 88 from the Asitz Mittelstation and the 7.5 km long descent Viehhofen (piste 68). You can enjoy cruising here or work on your technique.
The French ski area Le Grand Domaine is perfect for beginners. The villages of Valmorel and St François Longchamp form the ski area. The easiest runs are around Saint François Longchamp. The ski area has 165 kilometres of slopes, of which 77 kilometres are blue and 27 are green. Steeper slopes are easy to avoid so you can practice all day.
A winter holiday to Alta Badia means winter sports in the impressive mountain landscape of the UNESCO Dolomites. The ski area boasts over 130 kilometres of slopes, and if you look at the slope map, you will immediately see that most of them are blue (70 km). Red runs are also available once you have warmed up a bit. Most are wide and relatively easy. In the afternoon, you can treat yourself to a delicious Italian lunch in one of the many mountain huts and afterwards to an Aperol Spritz in the sunshine.
The 2275-metre-high Kronplatz towers high above the town of Bruneck. On this mountain, you will find a ski area with 119 kilometres of slopes, most of which are blue (58 km). This Italian ski area, which is also very child-friendly, definitely belongs to this list of easy ski areas. You ski in a beautiful mountain world, so remember to look around now and then!
The Tiroler Zugspitz Arena consists of several separate ski areas, including the Ehrwalder Alm. You will find almost 30 km of slopes here, 18 blue kilometres. Not only beginners but also families feel at home here. The Ehrwalder Alm is a real family ski area with extensive learning opportunities for children. The slopes are undulating, wide and mostly easy. Even the valley descent is fine for less experienced skiers. An absolute tip is blue run number 4. Do you want to try something different after a few days? Then choose one of the other ski areas in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, such as Berwang.
Almenwelt Lofer proves that a ski area does not always have to be extensive. The ski area is located in a beautiful landscape with a romantic feel. You can access 46 kilometres of slopes, of which 32 kilometres are blue. Beginners and families especially appreciate the slopes. There is a kiddy land for the little ones and some excellent mountain lodges where you can take a break in between.
Are you looking for an extensive ski area with plenty of easy runs? Then KitzSki is ideal. Of the over 200 kilometres of slopes, no less than 102 are blue. Most of these runs are wide and long. A good example is blue piste 25, which starts at the mountain station of the Fleckalmbahn. Especially in the morning, it is no punishment to ski this run about five times in a row!
Ski area Adelboden-Frutigen-Lenk is located in the Bernese Oberland and boasts 204 kilometres of slopes. Most of these are blue (97 kilometres). This ski area has something for every type of skier. Ideal if you go on winter sports with a mixed ski group! Most of the blue runs lie around Lenk.
Tignes-Val d'Isère is a ski area with 300 kilometres of slopes. The range is varied but dominated by blue (147 km) and green (53 km) runs. You can ski a different tour here every day on lovely wide and blue slopes. Tignes-Val d'Isère reaches a maximum altitude of 3456 metres, making it very snow-sure.
La Plagne consists of 11 small villages, each with a different character. Centre and Aime, for example, have mainly large apartment buildings, while Plagne 1800 is atmospheric with smaller chalets and flats. Together with Les Arcs, La Plagne is part of the Paradiski ski area. You can access no less than 425 kilometres of slopes here, most of which are blue (170 km). Enjoy wide blue and red runs and stunning views of the surrounding mountain world.
I grew up in Slovenia, close to the Julian Alps. Early on, my parents put me on skis and skates, and the winter sports enthusiasm hasn't left me since. I also enjoy cross-country skiing and have been a keen snowboarder for the past 20 years.
