Temperatures are finally dropping and that chill in the air means only one thing: it’s almost ski season. Whether you enjoy hitting the slopes or are more about the scene (we see you, après-all-day bunnies and hot tub junkies), there’s an epic ski trip for every type of traveler to enjoy this winter. From new posh mountainside hotels to once-in-a-lifetime around-the-world journeys to heli-skiing adventures in uncharted terrain, here are 9 unforgettable ways to swoosh and carve through this season.
-
Go Night Skiing in St. Moritz, Switzerland
Image Credit: Photo: Courtesy of Carlton St. Mortiz Get the world-famous Corvatsch all to yourself when you book a VIP Snow Night through the five-star Carlton St. Moritz. The mountain usually closes at nightfall (except for a public night ski every Friday), but any other night of the week, it’s all yours until 1 a.m., with the VIP package. If you prefer skiing in daylight, the hotel can reserve you a private master class with Marc Girardelli, a five-time Ski World Cup winner and a thirteen-time medal winner at the Ski World Championships and the Winter Olympic Games. The Carlton takes care of non-skiers as well, wowing them with a scenic helicopter flight over the Alps or a paragliding adventure above it all. Less daring activities include a horse-pulled sleigh ride, a cooking class with head chef of Michelin-starred restaurant Da Vittorio – St. Moritz, and a wine tasting in the hotel’s well-stocked cellar.
-
Bond with Bode in Big Sky, Montana
Image Credit: Photo: Courtesy of Spanish Peaks Ever wanted to be neighbors with an Olympian? Now’s your chance, if you’re ready to buy or rent a home in the stunning Montana mountains. This winter, six-time Olympic ski medalist Bode Miller and his wife, Morgan, are moving to Big Sky, partnering with premier luxury real estate communities Spanish Peaks and Moonlight Basin, along with their private clubs. The Millers will set up a posh new home in Spanish Peaks and Bode will help run family ski races and member events like snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, and downhill skiing. Not convinced? Montage has chosen Spanish Peaks as the site of its latest luxury mountain resort and residences, opening in 2021—so get in while you can.
-
Heli-Ski Across the Nepalese Himalayas
Image Credit: Photo: Courtesy Himalayan Heliski If you’re going to helicopter out to a remote mountaintop in order to schuss down it, you may as well go all out and head to the Himalayas. Available for the first time to North Americans through Ski.com, Himalayan Heliski brings guests to Nepal, where a pilot and guides will lead intrepid skiers across the legendary mountain range and provide experiences that include five runs per day, visits to heli-accessed monasteries, heli-biking, and culturally immersive visits to local villages—along with lodging, meals, and helicopter transportation to and from Kathmandu International Airport.
-
Freestyle Under the Aurora in Finland
Image Credit: Photo: Courtesy of Design Hotel Levi Ever swished down the slopes as the Northern Lights danced above you? This winter, you can. In December, Finnish Lapland will welcome a brand new, ultra-stylish Scandinavian-inspired hotel right in the middle of its largest ski destination, Levi Ski Resort. Design Hotel Levi will bring 77 deluxe rooms to the Arctic region, along with a focus on contemporary Finnish design; artwork comes courtesy of Finnish sculptor Essi Korva and photographer Kaisa Sirén, whose large-scale nature prints grace some walls in the Nordic-chic rooms. Located at the foot of the slopes in the heart of Levi Village, the hotel is the posher sibling to Levi Hotel Spa Resort, and guests will have access to that larger hotel’s facilities including five restaurants, a sprawling spa with various pools, saunas, and Jacuzzis, and a kids club complete with bowling alley.
-
Go On An Around the World Ski Tour
Image Credit: Photo: Courtesy of Scott Dunn Five countries, three continents, 34 days: Ski glaciers, pristine powder, and everything in between on Scott Dunn’s brand new Round the World Ski Tour—the ultimate bucket-list trip for any avid skier. Hit the world’s most iconic ski destinations, including Zermatt, Niseko, Whistler, British Columbia backcountry, Aspen, and Iceland, with stops in cities like Vancouver and Tokyo, meals at Michelin-starred restaurants, and stays at luxury hotels including Aman Tokyo, Four Seasons Resort Whistler, and the Little Nell. The unforgettable experience will also include heli-skiing, helicopter tours of glaciers, ice caves, and the Matterhorn, visits to an igloo village, and adventures like snowmobiling and paragliding.
-
Find Fresh Hotels in the French Alps
Image Credit: Photo: Courtesy Four Seasons France is getting a slew of new hotels this December, with three exciting luxury hotels opening in three different parts of the French Alps. Following the 2017 debut of the Four Seasons Hotel Megève, the brand is launching its companion, Les Chalets du Mont d’Arbois, Megève, A Four Seasons Hotel, housed in the Edmond de Rothschild family’s completely renovated historic five-star hotel at the foot of the ski slopes of Mont d’Arbois. The new incarnation consists of three chalets: Chalet Noémie and Chalet Alice can be bought out to accommodate large groups, while Chalet Eve features 25 rooms and suites, the one-Michelin-starred Prima Restaurant, and a Bamford spa with an indoor/outdoor pool.
Over in Meribel, the ski-in, ski-out Le Coucou Meribel, a Small Luxury Hotel, opens with 55 contemporary-designed rooms built into the mountainside. Pierre Yovanovitch’s chic interiors run from the rooms to the two restaurants and spa, but skiers will mainly relish having 330 pistes at their feet. And finally, the Mademoiselle Val d’Isere from the Airelles brand brings a palace-inspired hotel to the center of the valley. Along with 27 rooms, nine suites, and five penthouses that come with a dedicated butler, the hotel features a spacious spa by Guerlain with a pool, wet room, and hammam, a ski equipment shop, two restaurants, a lounge and cigar room, and a Kid’s Kingdom complete with a cheerful nanny.
-
Ski a New Mountain Every Day in France and Italy
Image Credit: Photo: Courtesy of Eleven Experience Straddling the Italy-France border with proximity to seven ski resorts, Eleven Experience’s off-piste Chalet Hibou houses seven lavish rooms with en-suite bathrooms, as well as an outdoor hot tub, sauna, and steam room. From a base here, guests can ski a different resort in the French and Italian Alps every day, including world-class Sainte-Foy, Val d’Isère, Tignes, Les Arcs, and La Rosière; you’ll also have access to three heli-ski bases. Lift tickets, guided on- and off-piste skiing, and transportation are included in your stay, as is a private chef. Take a break from skiing with snowshoeing, ice climbing, and cross-country skiing, which are also included.
-
Explore the Canadian Wilderness by Helicopter
Image Credit: Photo: Courtesy of CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures/ The Public Works Glide across glaciers and carve through remote glades with CMH and their helicopter fleet. The Canadian company’s storied Bobbie Burns Lodge will unveil a complete redesign when it reopens this December, revealing both a renovation of existing accommodations and a brand new wing with four additional rooms. The luxe lodge is hidden in the Purcell Mountains, 54 miles from the nearest town, and boasts access to 42,000 acres of pure, snowy backcountry known for its massive vertical and high-alpine glacier terrain. A new four-person private heli-skiing program is being added to the available trips this season, meaning more access to this stunning part of the world.
-
Ski the New Snowmass
Image Credit: Photo: Courtesy of Snowmass Snowmass Village has spent the last few years investing in major upgrades and this December sees the opening of the third phase. Launching this year are two new ski-in, ski-out luxury condo properties with Inspirato (including One Snowmass), new restaurants, retail shops, and the Collective, a hub for community events that houses a restaurant, bar, and lounge that will feature entertainment, speakers, and live music. Book your stay at the Viceroy Snowmass, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the Private Jet Package—a $45,000 experience that includes roundtrip private jet travel with evoJets, accommodations in a luxe one-bedroom residence, a personal concierge, spa treatments for two, a private ski guide and lift tickets, a morning hot air balloon ride, dog-sledding, and dinner for two at TORO Kitchen & Lounge.
