While Ski Dubai’s slopes are in easy reach of UAE residents, there’s nothing quite like the real thing. Luckily, we’re also a plane-ride away from some of the best skiing in Europe and the Middle East, with plenty to keep any level of skier occupied – be it the slopes of Lebanon or the newer ski scene of Azerbaijan. Whether you’re an expert trying to push yourself out of your comfort zone or travelling with a family of first-time skiers, there’s a wide range of must-visit ski areas for this season.
Faraya, Lebanon
In the district of Keserwan, one hour from Beirut, the village of Faraya lies at the foot of the Middle East's largest ski resort, Mzaar Kfardebian. Formerly known as Faraya Mzaar, Kfardebian overlooks the Matn District and offers panoramic views of Mount Lebanon. Getting there is easy from the UAE, with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com), offering direct flights to Beirut from Dh950 per person. From there, it's a one-hour drive to Faraya.
There are 42 trails to choose from, for all ability levels, with the highest altitude 2,240 metres. The trails are spread across 80 kilometres of groomed tracks, and a number of services are available for skiers, both in and around the resort, plus a variety of hotels and chalets. The InterContinental Mzaar Mountain Resort and Spa (www.ihg.com/intercontinental), a few steps from the slopes, costs from US$200 (Dh735) per night; the cheap and cheerful San Antonio Hotel is priced at $55 (Dh202) per night.
There are also several restaurants and cafes, whether you're looking for Lebanese mezze or a more Alpine-style dining option. First-time skiers (or those who want to upgrade their current gear) can purchase or rent equipment from several shops within the resort and around Faraya village. Lift passes at Kfardebian cost from $27 (Dh99) per adult on weekdays and $47 (Dh173) on weekends (www.skimzaar.com).
Azerbaijan
The country that sits at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia is undergoing something of a tourism overhaul. The country’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism aims to raise foreign-visitor levels to five million people per year by 2020 – up from about two million last year. Though Azerbaijan is relatively new to the ski scene, what it has to offer is worth the visit.
The flight from the UAE to Baku takes about three hours, and return flights with FlyDubai cost from Dh1,000 per person, including taxes. The Shahdag Mountain Resort (www.shahdagmountainresort.com), the first and most popular of the country's two ski resorts, offers 19 easy to navigate pistes, with an altitude of 2,500 metres, and state-of-the-art chair lifts. Rooms at the Pik Palace Shahdag, the resort's luxury hotel, cost from 158 Azerbaijani manat (Dh555) per person, per night, including taxes.
Visitors can buy or rent equipment, while beginners can book instructors. A number of cafes and restaurants can also be found around the resort. Shahdag is three hours north of Baku, which is accessible by car. Day tickets cost €22 (Dh87) per adult.
Tatras, Slovakia
Slovakia’s Tatras Mountains, which are divvied up into the High and Low regions, are among the highest ranges in the Carpathian Mountains. The High Tatras are home to more than 20 ski resorts, including the highest ski village in the area, Štrbské Pleso. The resort is popular for its cross-country trails, with its highest peak measuring 2,093 metres tall. Tatranská Lomnica, which sits on the country’s second-highest mountain, offers modern lifts and easy-to-navigate pistes.
The Low Tatras, meanwhile, feature 21 resorts. Park Snow in Donovaly is ideal for extreme freestyle skiers, and offers a slew of rails and jumps along with floodlit slopes, allowing for night skiing. Jasná Nizke Tatry, another must-see, is Slovakia’s largest ski resort, and caters to beginners and experienced skiers. Though getting to this region is a bit of a mission – it’s a six-hour direct flight to Bratislava with FlyDubai, and costs from Dh2,725, followed by a three-hour car ride – the journey is well worth it.
The Tatras ski resorts are far more affordable than the French or Austrian Alps. The Chalets Jasná de Luxe (www.tmrhotels.com), for example, offers a package for groups of two or four that includes accommodation, ski passes, breakfast and entry into the spa for €72 (Dh284) per person, per night, including taxes. Those who prefer to book separately, there's a variety of accommodation, restaurant and equipment-rental options in and around each resort.
Grand Massif, France
The Alps offer numerous ski experiences, from the see-and- be-seen to hard-core or family-friendly. Grand Massif, the fourth largest ski-linked area in France, comprises five ski resorts that accommodate all levels. Flaine, Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoëns and Sixt feature 148 pistes, along with freestyle and off-piste options.
Flaine, the highest resort in Grand Massif, reaches an altitude of 2,500 metres, and offers 64 runs, ski lessons for all ages and plenty of packages that include accommodation, meals and lift passes. Flaine even caters for history buffs, with several historical monuments and artworks by Picasso and Dubuffet dotted around the area.
Les Carroz is the easiest to reach of the five resorts. Ten minutes from nearest the motorway exit, it labels itself a ski resort tailored for families, featuring entertainment, games and introductory sessions for children.
Sixt, meanwhile, has been dubbed the nature reserve of Grand Massif – thanks to the presence of chamois, ibex and birds of prey – and offers nine different pistes, many ideal for beginners. Grand Massif can be reached from the UAE via direct flights to Geneva with Etihad (www.etihad.com), which cost from Dh4,935 per person, including taxes, followed by an 80-minute drive. At Flaine, it's free to leave your vehicle in the Vernant car park, then take the Lac chairlift or free ski shuttle bus to the resort.
Julian Alps, Slovenia
Though Slovenia's resorts are smaller than those in France, Switzerland and Austria, this Central European country still serves up a traditional skiing experience. The Julian Alps, spanning from Slovenia into Italy, offers 12 ski resorts, mainly tailored to beginners or intermediate skiers. One of the more popular resorts, Vogel Bohinj (www.vogel.si/winter), features 19 trails and activities such as paragliding and airboarding. Visitors can book into one of the many chalets and apartments on site or purchase a day ticket, which costs from €29 (Dh114) per adult. Flying into Ljubljana Jože Pucnik Airport from Abu Dhabi, via Belgrade, takes about eight hours with Etihad (from Dh3,815 per person, including taxes), then it's an 80-minute drive to Vogel Bohinj.
Kranjska Gora (www.kranjska-gora.si/en) – in the Upper Sava Valley, between the Julian Alps and Karavanke Alps – is suitable for those attempting to improve their ability level on the resort's alpine or slalom trails. There are many inns and restaurants, plus a range of accommodation, from apartments to hotels and cottages. Day tickets cost from €29 (Dh114) per person.
Salzburger Sportwelt, Austria
Though this region of Austria is perhaps best known for its role as the backdrop for the film The Sound of Music, it's also home to eight different ski resorts. These destinations are suitable for just about everyone, from thrill-seekers to those with children in tow. Even non-skiers will find plenty to keep themselves busy, with options from winter hikes to cultural activities.
Flachau offers a mix of easy-to-manage and demanding trails, while St Johann-Alpendorf has plenty to do on and off the slopes, with spas, toboggan runs and a small-town feel. Altenmarkt-Zauchensee offers a children's area, while also catering to the more extreme skier. Accommodation ranges from charming inns to pricier apartment rentals, many a stone's throw from the slopes. Equipment shops are available at each of the resorts, and there are plenty of eateries. The travel time from the UAE to Vienna is six hours direct with Etihad (from Dh3,495 per person, including taxes). This is followed by a 50-minute flight to Salzburg with Austrian Airlines (www.austrian.com) or a three-and-a-half-hour drive. Some hotels will arrange for a pick-up for visitors arriving into Salzburg by plane (www.salzburgersportwelt.com).
alane@thenational.ae
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