Skiing in November is cheaper and more convenient than in the high season. Many stations open only in December, but those located on a glacier or at high altitude are ready to welcome you as early as early November. November is the low season, which means that prices for hotels and ski passes will be lower, and there will be no queues at all at the ski lifts and reception points. If you can’t wait to start skiing without waiting for the New Year holidays, then we have prepared a list of the best resorts in Europe with early snow.
1. Tignes in France
The ski resort of Tignes lies in the highlands, near the Grand Motte glacier, surrounded by mountains 3030-3600 meters high. Thanks to the glacier and high altitude, snow falls in Tignes as early as October. On steep and wide slopes there are 20 kilometers of slopes, of which two are blue (suitable even for beginners),
two red and one black. The resort has schools for adults and children, where children are introduced to snowboarding from the age of 2.5 years. There is a snowpark with one of the largest and fastest half-pipes in the world and freeride tracks. In addition to bars, clubs and restaurants, in Tignes you can dive under the ice of the lake and jump from the bajji.
The season opened on September 29
Ski pass price for 1 day: 33 euros for adults, 27 euros for children until November 23, from November 24 to December 21 – 45 euros for adults and 36 euros for children.
Resort website: tignes.net
2. Solden in Austria
Sölden is located in the Tyrolean Ötztal valley, where 40 kilometers of excellent pistes run between the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers. The slopes in Sölden are long, with a difference in altitude, most of them are of simple and medium difficulty. Experienced skiers prefer the Gaislachkogl high-speed piste. For snowboarders there is a separate park with jumps, rails, fun boxes and a half-pipe. In addition to skiing, snowboarding and mountaineering, the resort offers hiking, snowmobile rental, sledding and bowling alleys. For entertainment, there is a cinema, swimming pools with a sauna, skating rinks, clubs, restaurants and bars.
Season opening: November 15
Ski pass price for 1 day: 53 euros for adults, 30 euros for children.
Resort website: soelden.com
3. Zermatt in Switzerland
Photo: Dong liu/Shutterstock.com
Zermatt, surrounded by the mountain peaks Dufour (4,654 m) and Matterhorn (4,478 m),
one of the ten best alpine resorts. The ski area is divided into 3 ski sectors with 200 kilometers of slopes of all difficulty levels; Each sector has its own lift system. Most of the slopes are red and black, with sharp changes in altitude. In addition to ski slopes, Zermatt has mogul, cross-country ski and toboggan tracks. On the Théodule glacier there is Gravity Park Zermatt – the largest snow park in Europe, with rails, kickers and a two-hundred-meter super-pipe. After skiing, you can go to swimming pools with saunas and steam baths, tennis courts, discos and restaurants.
Season opened on October 27
Ski pass price for 1 day: 75 euros for adults, 38 euros for children.
Resort website: zermatt.ch
4. Val Thorens in France
Val Thorens, the highest ski resort in Europe, is located at an altitude of 2300-3300 meters. Of the 150 kilometers of trails, 77 kilometers are blue, 59 kilometers are red and 14 kilometers are black. In Val Thorens there is a unique 500-meter Fun Slope track with obstacles – tunnels, bridges and spirals, a snow park with jumps and a quarter pipe, trails for night skiing and cross-country skiing. The resort is very popular among freeride lovers due to its huge virgin fields in the area of the Thorens and Boucher glaciers. Val Thorens has a lot of entertainment: aqua clubs with swimming pools and Jacuzzis, tennis courts, golf and basketball courts, restaurants and discos.
Season opening: November 17
Ski pass price for 1 day: 44 euros for adults and 35 euros for children.
Resort website: valthorens.com
5. Åre in Sweden
Åre is Sweden’s largest ski resort, with 100 kilometers of slopes, a height difference of 900 meters (374-1274 m) and 40 lifts, many of which are high-speed. The resort consists of four separate villages, between which there is a free bus. There are 5 black pistes at the resort, 39 red pistes, 39 blue pistes, and 12 green pistes. Many pistes are well lit and open for night skiing. Cross country and alpine skiing is allowed on the green slopes. All slopes are open to snowboarders, and there is also a fun park and snocross. Also in Åre you can skydive, hang glider, ride a dog sled and fish under the ice of Lake Oreshen.
Season opening: November 24
Ski pass price for 1 day: 45 euros for adults, 35 euros for children.
Resort website: skistar.com
6. Cervinia in Italy
Cervinia is a high-altitude resort on the southern slope of the beautiful Matterhorn mountain (4478 m) with 146 kilometers of slopes and 23 lifts. The elevation difference is 1438 meters (2050-3488 m). Most of the tracks are red and blue. For experienced skiers there are several black runs, the most difficult of which is Bardonei. Cervinia’s blue pistes attract many tourists due to the fact that they cover almost all slopes, allowing beginners to ride throughout the resort. For freestylers and snowboarders there is the Indian Park with rails and kickers, for karting fans there is the On Ice karting track with two ice tracks. Cervinia has excellent restaurants, bars, nightclubs, bowling alleys and a swimming pool.
Season opened on October 28
Ski pass price for 1 day: 43 euros for adults, 31 euros for children.
Resort website: cervinia.it
Convenient hotel website – OneTwoTrip.
