Winter is fast approaching, bringing with it a mixture of blustery winds and cold, wet weather. Therefore, it’s the perfect time to think about escaping the UK and embarking on a snowy adventure filled with picture-postcard scenery, adrenaline-raising winter sports and warm mugs of coca.
Indeed, with a wealth of tempting skiing destinations located just a few hours away, it’s easy to take a refreshing break before the festive season gets into swing. Not only that, but because Europe’s home to a great selection of mountain ranges, including the Alps, Pyrenees and Carpathians, there’s a huge choice of destinations to explore.
Renowned for its comprehensive range of winter sports facilities and excellent skiing and snowboarding opportunities, France is one of the most popular European countries to head to in the colder seasons. In fact, according to the Association of Independent Tour Operators, the Val d’Isère resort ranks second in the list of the top ten best skiing destinations in the world, behind Canada’s Whistler.
Lying just five minutes from the Italian border, Val d’Isère is cited as having some of the greatest lift-served off-piste runs on the planet. Characterised by its chalet architecture, it’s often considered to be one of the most stunning ski resorts, offering up a number of tempting ski runs and beautiful powdery snow.
Tignes, located near to Val d’Isère is also considered to be a top winter sports destination. Boasting a funicular train which carries skiers through the mountain, its immense terrain receives a large amount of snow. There’s also a selection of vibrant après-ski activities to indulge in, including some very lively bars.
Equally enticing is the Courchevel resort in the Savoie region of the Alps. The largest linked skiing area globally, it’s a hot favourite with the Parisian jet-set. There are four villages to choose from when you get there; consequently there’s a wide range of activities to discover besides the winter sports.
When thinking about how to reach your resort, there are a number of options, including flying and driving. However, due to its simplicity, many people recommend getting the train, since it offers a hassle-free alternative to dealing with airports and fussy travel arrangements. There are also are a number of trains which travel directly between the UK and Europe’s top skiing destinations.
In addition to providing an easy way to access such places as France, Germany and Italy, the train can also save a lot of time having to check in at the airport, for example, or waiting for your baggage to arrive. Moreover, because many of them are carbon neutral, you can be safe in the knowledge that you’re helping to reduce your carbon footprint.
So, with winter just around the corner, it’s the ideal time to escape to the mountains. Due to the vast collection of enticing ski resorts and different ways to travel to Europe, like taking the train, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to making your mind up about what to do.