Have you ever skied in Africa, or dodged hot ash and smoke while skiing down an active volcano? While the Swiss, Austrian, Italian and French Alps have a lot to offer, skiers and snowboarders with a touch of wanderlust will definitely enjoy the more exotic ski destinations on our amazing planet. You can find year-round skiing, budget-friendly skiing or just plain incredible experiences in these unusual ski resorts! We all love indulging in kaiserschmarrn and a rousing session of après-ski, but is it maybe time to broaden our horizons a bit? Next time you’re planning a ski holiday, consider these unusual destinations!
Mention Africa and your mind will conjure up images of safaris with the Big 5, Cape Town, the desert and maybe swimming with great white sharks. As a continent, it’s not exactly known for its snow sports scene. But you might be surprised to know that you can, in fact, go skiing in Africa. The ski areas might not be on a par with those in the Alps, but South Africa has a number of ski resorts that are open from June to September – among the most popular are Tiffindell and Afriski. Snow conditions range from a thin strip of snow down the middle of the piste, to a full-on African winter wonderland.
Aloha! Welcome to Hawaii, the land of leis, luaus, sun, surf and volcanoes. Oh, and winter sports! Yep, in February and March, the Mauna Kea volcano (4200m) sometimes receives enough snow to allow for skiing and snowboarding. This is true off-piste: there are no lifts and no slopes, so the Hawaiian Ski Club recommends driving up in a vehicle with 4-wheel drive and taking turns ferrying skiers to the top of the lifts. There are skis and snowboards for rent at the visitor’s centre, in case you forgot to bring your snow sports equipment on your tropical holiday.
© Elias Callejo - Mauna Kea
Ah, Greece, the quintessential sun destination. Turquoise waters and lazy days on the beach, coming your way! But there’s more to this summer paradise than meets the eye. Further inland, you’ll find high mountains with decent snowfall in the winter months. Skiing infrastructure is nothing compared with the Alps, but you’ll find Greek hospitality, attractive prices and fairly good slopes. The ski season here stretches from mid-December until April. There are 17 ski resorts, the largest at Mt. Parnassus with 36km of pistes! Swap the mulled wine for ouzo and the tartiflette for gyros, and when it comes to après-ski, the Greeks have you covered – they know how to throw a good party!
© Αλέξανδρος
Cyprus is another destination more typically known for its summer scene, but it’s also possible to go skiing and snowboarding in the Troodos mountains here – you might recognise the name of the highest one, Mt. Olympus. This is a popular winter sports destination, particularly among the locals, but it’s very weather-dependent so keep an eye on the snow forecast before booking your ski holiday.
© Alan Samuel - Paphos
It’s no wonder Japan produces such good skiers and snowboarders – this amazing country receives an astounding 20 metres of snow per season and boasts more than 600 ski resorts! There are plenty of runs through the trees and some fantastic off-piste terrain, thanks to the abundant snowfall. Expect friendly Japanese hospitality and modern facilities. Practise your chopstick skills before you go and you can enjoy delicious sushi and sashimi after a day on the slopes. And après-ski fans can indulge in a few karaoke sessions! The ski season in Japan runs from December through March.
© Kikuko Nakayama - Japan
Chile is the perfect choice for anyone hankering after some snow in the summer months, as this country’s seasons are the exact opposite of ours. This means that right now, their ski season is just getting started – one reason why many professional European skiers and snowboarders train in Chile every summer. Chile offers skiing on around 350km of pistes in the Andes, with slopes as high as 3670m. Portillo is the best-known but you have plenty of opportunities for a great winter sports holiday in this country. Combined with scenic mountain landscapes, ski safaris, heli-skiing and Chilean delicacies and you have the makings of the perfect ski holiday!
Morocco is home to a portion of the Atlas Mountains, whose peaks turn white in the winter and allow happy skiers and snowboarders to practise their favourite sports in the ski resorts of Oukaimeden and Ifrane. Both ski resorts have a European feel to them, albeit with the chance to ride a donkey along the Moroccan snow. Weekends can be busy – January and February are the best months to visit. You can also consider combining your ski holiday with a quick jaunt to Marrakech.
© Simon White
Have you always wanted to ski on an active volcano? This is your chance! Sicily is home to Mount Etna, the most active volcano in Europe, and it’s possible to ski here while enjoying gorgeous views of the sea! Mount Etna offers several ski resorts and different ski tours, but beware, sometimes you might ski through volcanic smoke, and on other days the skiing is closed for safety reasons. This is the real deal! December, January and February are the best months to plan your volcanic ski holiday.
© Roberto Zingales
As one of the hottest places on Earth, Dubai is probably best known for its skiing and snowboarding on sand dunes. Indeed, even with climate change, it’s very unlikely that natural snow will be falling anytime soon in this chunk of the Arabian Peninsula. But if you’re dying to get out on the slopes during your holiday in Dubai, make sure you check out one of the world’s largest indoor ski slopes, where you’ll find negative temperatures, fresh snow, multiple pistes and even penguins. A must-do if you’re in the neighbourhood! Ski clothing and equipment are available for rent because who brings their winter sports gear to Dubai?
© Alberto Gonzalez Rovira
Every year, droves of tourists head to the Turkish Riviera for the summer holidays. The sun, sea, beach and guaranteed warmth make Turkey a popular holiday paradise. So you’ll probably be surprised to hear that Turkey is also a great winter sports destination. The ski areas come in various shapes and sizes but they tend to be high-altitude, with guaranteed snow. This is the ideal destination for budget-conscious travellers or anyone looking for a ski holiday off the beaten track. Just like in summer, you’ll find attractive offers for ski holidays in Turkey.
Which destination is on your skiing bucket list?
Have you ever skied in Africa, or dodged hot ash and smoke while skiing down an active volcano? While the Swiss, Austrian, Italian and French Alps have a lot to offer, skiers and snowboarders with a touch of wanderlust will definitely enjoy the more exotic ski destinations on our amazing planet. You can find year-round skiing, budget-friendly skiing or just plain incredible experiences in these unusual ski resorts! We all love indulging in kaiserschmarrn and a rousing session of après-ski, but is it maybe time to broaden our horizons a bit? Next time you’re planning a ski holiday, consider these unusual destinations!
Mention Africa and your mind will conjure up images of safaris with the Big 5, Cape Town, the desert and maybe swimming with great white sharks. As a continent, it’s not exactly known for its snow sports scene. But you might be surprised to know that you can, in fact, go skiing in Africa. The ski areas might not be on a par with those in the Alps, but South Africa has a number of ski resorts that are open from June to September – among the most popular are Tiffindell and Afriski. Snow conditions range from a thin strip of snow down the middle of the piste, to a full-on African winter wonderland.
Aloha! Welcome to Hawaii, the land of leis, luaus, sun, surf and volcanoes. Oh, and winter sports! Yep, in February and March, the Mauna Kea volcano (4200m) sometimes receives enough snow to allow for skiing and snowboarding. This is true off-piste: there are no lifts and no slopes, so the Hawaiian Ski Club recommends driving up in a vehicle with 4-wheel drive and taking turns ferrying skiers to the top of the lifts. There are skis and snowboards for rent at the visitor’s centre, in case you forgot to bring your snow sports equipment on your tropical holiday.
© Elias Callejo - Mauna Kea
Ah, Greece, the quintessential sun destination. Turquoise waters and lazy days on the beach, coming your way! But there’s more to this summer paradise than meets the eye. Further inland, you’ll find high mountains with decent snowfall in the winter months. Skiing infrastructure is nothing compared with the Alps, but you’ll find Greek hospitality, attractive prices and fairly good slopes. The ski season here stretches from mid-December until April. There are 17 ski resorts, the largest at Mt. Parnassus with 36km of pistes! Swap the mulled wine for ouzo and the tartiflette for gyros, and when it comes to après-ski, the Greeks have you covered – they know how to throw a good party!
© Αλέξανδρος
Cyprus is another destination more typically known for its summer scene, but it’s also possible to go skiing and snowboarding in the Troodos mountains here – you might recognise the name of the highest one, Mt. Olympus. This is a popular winter sports destination, particularly among the locals, but it’s very weather-dependent so keep an eye on the snow forecast before booking your ski holiday.
© Alan Samuel - Paphos
It’s no wonder Japan produces such good skiers and snowboarders – this amazing country receives an astounding 20 metres of snow per season and boasts more than 600 ski resorts! There are plenty of runs through the trees and some fantastic off-piste terrain, thanks to the abundant snowfall. Expect friendly Japanese hospitality and modern facilities. Practise your chopstick skills before you go and you can enjoy delicious sushi and sashimi after a day on the slopes. And après-ski fans can indulge in a few karaoke sessions! The ski season in Japan runs from December through March.
© Kikuko Nakayama - Japan
Chile is the perfect choice for anyone hankering after some snow in the summer months, as this country’s seasons are the exact opposite of ours. This means that right now, their ski season is just getting started – one reason why many professional European skiers and snowboarders train in Chile every summer. Chile offers skiing on around 350km of pistes in the Andes, with slopes as high as 3670m. Portillo is the best-known but you have plenty of opportunities for a great winter sports holiday in this country. Combined with scenic mountain landscapes, ski safaris, heli-skiing and Chilean delicacies and you have the makings of the perfect ski holiday!
Morocco is home to a portion of the Atlas Mountains, whose peaks turn white in the winter and allow happy skiers and snowboarders to practise their favourite sports in the ski resorts of Oukaimeden and Ifrane. Both ski resorts have a European feel to them, albeit with the chance to ride a donkey along the Moroccan snow. Weekends can be busy – January and February are the best months to visit. You can also consider combining your ski holiday with a quick jaunt to Marrakech.
© Simon White
Have you always wanted to ski on an active volcano? This is your chance! Sicily is home to Mount Etna, the most active volcano in Europe, and it’s possible to ski here while enjoying gorgeous views of the sea! Mount Etna offers several ski resorts and different ski tours, but beware, sometimes you might ski through volcanic smoke, and on other days the skiing is closed for safety reasons. This is the real deal! December, January and February are the best months to plan your volcanic ski holiday.
© Roberto Zingales
As one of the hottest places on Earth, Dubai is probably best known for its skiing and snowboarding on sand dunes. Indeed, even with climate change, it’s very unlikely that natural snow will be falling anytime soon in this chunk of the Arabian Peninsula. But if you’re dying to get out on the slopes during your holiday in Dubai, make sure you check out one of the world’s largest indoor ski slopes, where you’ll find negative temperatures, fresh snow, multiple pistes and even penguins. A must-do if you’re in the neighbourhood! Ski clothing and equipment are available for rent because who brings their winter sports gear to Dubai?
© Alberto Gonzalez Rovira
Every year, droves of tourists head to the Turkish Riviera for the summer holidays. The sun, sea, beach and guaranteed warmth make Turkey a popular holiday paradise. So you’ll probably be surprised to hear that Turkey is also a great winter sports destination. The ski areas come in various shapes and sizes but they tend to be high-altitude, with guaranteed snow. This is the ideal destination for budget-conscious travellers or anyone looking for a ski holiday off the beaten track. Just like in summer, you’ll find attractive offers for ski holidays in Turkey.
Which destination is on your skiing bucket list?
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
