Recent images of bare slopes at lower altitude ski resorts have many concerned about the remainder of the ski season in the Alps.
In the popular French village of Megeve, at 1,110 meters (3,640 feet), no snow could be seen on webcams.
It’s a dire situation for lower-tier resorts, with temperatures reaching 16C in Megeve, although a weather front arriving this week is expected to bring fresh snow, according to Weathertoski.co.uk.
With snow melting in lower altitude resorts, where you choose to ski at the end of the season has never been more important
That said, most of the snow is expected to be above 1,500 m (4,920 ft).
That’s why where you choose to ski at the end of the season has never been more important. Here we’ve rounded up some of the highest (and most snow-safe) resorts.
VERY UP IN FRANCE
Val Thorens is the highest ski village in France, with reliable snow cover and slopes connected to the Three Valleys ski resort. Expect plenty of skiing until the resort closes on May 5. The slopes reach 3,230 m (10,600 ft).
Reserve: Seven nights at the Tourotel in Val Thorens from £891pp self-catering on 6 April, including Stansted-Geneva Jet2 flights and transfers (heidi.com).
AUSTRIAN ALTITUDE
Attraction: Obergurgl, in Austria’s highest parish, is famous for its good snow in April
Within the highest parish in Austria, Obergurgl is famous for its good snow until April, its wide slopes suitable for all levels and its famous and extravagant apres ski, especially in the raucous Nederhutte bar. The slopes rise to 3,080 m (10,100 ft).
Reserve: Seven nights at Apartmenthouse Madeleine from £995pp self-catering on 6 April, including flights and transfers from Edinburgh-Innsbruck (cristalski.es).
SWISS SNOW BANKER
Swanky Zermatt is a must visit at least once in your life. The town is quite low, but the slopes reach 3,820 m (12,530 ft), the highest slopes in Europe. Webcams showed thick snow at resorts this week. The elevators are open until April 23.
Reserve: Seven nights at Chalet Hotel Schonegg from £1,449pp half board on April 6, including flights and transfers between Manchester and Geneva (inghams.co.uk).
DREAM OF THE FRENCH GLACIER
The French resort of Tigne currently has a good snow base of 100 cm on the lowest slopes and up to 380 cm on the highest slopes.
The Tignes resort is another French high resort, with a glacier and extensive slopes suitable mainly for intermediate and higher levels. Currently there is a good snow base of 100 cm on the lower slopes and up to 380 cm on the higher parts. The highest point is at 3,455 m (11,340 ft).
Reserve: Seven nights at Chalet Hotel L’Ecrin from £1,199 per person on a chalet basis on 7 April, including flights and Gatwick-Grenoble transfers (markwarner.es).
SUPER RELIABLE SAAS-FEmy
Enjoy this charming high-altitude Swiss resort featuring lifts rising to 3,500m (11,480ft). Much of the ski area is above 2,500 m (8,200 ft), so you can count on decent snow conditions late in the season.
Reserve: Seven nights at the Alpenperle Hotel, central Saas-Fee, from £1,341pp B&B on 6 April, including flights and transfers from Stansted-Milan (heidi.com).
OBERTAUERN FEATURED
Obertauern in Austria, “snow safe” thanks to two weather fronts bringing fresh snow
This Austrian season has two weather fronts that bring snow from the north and west.
So although the highest slopes are 2,315 m (7,600 ft), it is “safe snow.” The complex, where The Beatles filmed scenes for Help! 1965, is open until May 1.
Reserve: Seven nights at the Steiner Hotel from £1,654pp full board on March 16, including flights and transfers between East Midlands and Salzburg (igluski.com).
PERFECT TRACKS IN THE ITALIAN ALPS
One foot was in Italy and the other in Switzerland. It was very high, at 3,480 m (11,417 ft), and there was a lot of snow.
From this meeting point of countries on the Theodul Glacier you could see the ‘Toblerone’ peak of the Matterhorn rising above the Swiss town of Zermatt to the north and Cervinia in Italy to the south.
This must be one of the best borders in Europe, not only because of the splendid view of the Matterhorn. You also have a cozy wooden ‘refuge’ complete with a small restaurant/bar. A heavenly place to rest tired limbs.
Above, the peak of the Matterhorn, which straddles Switzerland and Italy.
The slopes remain open in Zermatt until April 21 (with year-round glacier skiing) and in Cervinia until May 5. Both are perfect for late season trips.
Zermatt is best known for its boutique hotels and designer shops. Cervinia is a quieter Italian neighbor. It is the highest ski town in Italy at 2,050 m (6,730 ft), hidden in the Aosta Valley.
It has cobblestone streets full of attractive restaurants and bars. Compared to dazzling Zermatt, this is realistic value in the Alps.
And the best thing at this moment? There is a lot of snow out there.
- Seven nights at the VRetreats spa hotel in Cervinia, Italy, from £1,689pp half board on March 16, including flights and transfers (inghams.co.uk). More information: cervinia.it.
