In most ski resorts, the season starts in December, but that does not mean that there is a lot of snow and all slopes are open by then. Even though winter officially begins that month, it is not always wintery everywhere yet. Do you want to be assured of enough snow and great slopes? This article gives you an overview of snow-sure ski resorts in December.
Winter officially starts in December, but there is no guarantee that there will already be enough snow and that all ski resort slopes will be open. Suppose you want snow-assured skiing in December, for instance, during Christmas. In that case, it is best to choose either a glacier ski area, a ski area with many slopes above 2000 metres or a ski area that is snow-assured thanks to its natural location. You can't go wrong with a glacier, but there are also other options. Are you curious about where you can ski in December with guaranteed snow? Read on!
At the end of Austria's Ötztal valley lie the villages of Hochgurgl and Obergurgl, which share a ski area with over 110 km of slopes. Due to the villages' high altitude and the ski area reaching over 3,000 metres, Gurgl is one of the first non-glacier ski areas to open its first lifts and slopes as early as November. You are guaranteed enough snow here by December to enjoy some great skiing.
The well-known and popular ski village Val Thorens is located at 2300 metres, making it the highest-located winter sports village in Europe. Thanks to the village's high altitude (above the tree line) and ski area, the winter sports season here is long. The snow is above average from the beginning of the season in November until the beginning of May. 'Valtho's' ski area has some 150 km of slopes, but it is part of the 600 km area of Les Trois Vallées.
Zermatt is not the cheapest destination in this list of snow-sure ski resorts for a winter sports holiday in December. Still, the car-free Swiss village is undoubtedly unique. You can only get to the snowy resort by train, which lies at the foot of Switzerland's most famous mountain, the Matterhorn. When all slopes are open, you ski on over 350 kilometres of pistes.
Situated at over 1,600 metres, Obertauern opens its first lifts and slopes as early as November each year. Thanks to its high, natural location, this ski resort is one of the snowiest in the Alps. Therefore, around Christmas and New Year, 90% of the total area is often already open. In Obertauern, you can have fun on over 100 kilometres of slopes, many of which start right in front of your accommodation.
The ski season of the cross-border ski area Silvretta Arena Ischgl - Samnaun starts at the end of November. This ski area has slopes in Austria but also in Switzerland. Ninety per cent of them are above 2000 metres, making this one of the ski areas where you can ski snow-sure in December. From Ischgl and Samnaun, you can ski the most beautiful tours, such as the Schmugglerrunde.
Livigno is located in a broad valley at an altitude of over 1,800 metres. It can snow heavily and be quite cold in Livigno. Ideal conditions for a snowy winter sports holiday in December! On more than 115 km of slopes, there is often more than 50 cm of snow at the beginning of the season. The lively Italian village is also tax-free and offers good shopping in over 200 shops.
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is also a snow-sure destination for a winter sports holiday in December. It owes this to its slopes that reach an altitude of 2820 metres. Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is among the best child-friendly ski resorts in the Alps. Ideal for a winter holiday with children during the Christmas holidays! Among other things, you will find two extensive children's parks, fun slopes and exciting activities. Children can often take ski lessons in their mother tongue.
We close this list of ski resorts where you can ski snow-sure in December with Ski Arlberg. With over 300 km of slopes, this is one of Austria's largest interconnected ski areas. Thanks to its natural location and slopes reaching 2,811 metres, you're in the right place as far as snow is concerned. Ski Arlberg gets an above-average amount of snow every year, making the start of the season primarily white. This is why places like St Anton am Arlberg and Lech am Arlberg are so popular.
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.
