The skiing and snowboarding season has already begun, and many are wondering how to combine business with pleasure: ski on well-equipped slopes, but not overpay for tickets and hotels. OneTwoTrip has selected for you several ski resorts in Russia and abroad that are optimal in terms of price and quality of skiing. Go ahead, collect your equipment and pack your bags! If you want to get to the place comfortably and ride this season, we recommend buying tickets and booking hotels now.
“Abzakovo”, Ural
The ski resort, which combines reasonable prices and pistes for both amateurs and professionals, is located 60 km from Magnitogorsk. Residents of this city have long chosen Abzakovo, and a few years ago a modern ski complex was built here, and skiers and snowboarders from all over Russia flocked to the Urals. The season lasts from late November to early May.
Training and recovery camps of Russian biathlon and alpine skiing teams and stages of the Russian Cup are regularly held in Abzakovo. There are 13 trails in Abzakovo, the total length is 18 km. There are no black ones, 4 red ones, the rest are blue and green. 8 tracks are equipped with snow cannons, so there will be snow in any weather. During high season, night skiing is organized every day.
In addition to the ski slopes, guests can enjoy a snowmobile track, an ice skating rink, a biathlon shooting range, a winter fun park and the Aquarium water park.
Flight to Magnitogorsk from Moscow: from 8,653 ₽ per person
Train from Magnitogorsk to Novoabzakovo station: from 554 ₽ per person one way
Accommodation: from 6,600 ₽ per person for 7 nights
Ski pass for 6 days: 6,400 ₽
Photo: rossfree.com
“Elbrus region”, Caucasus
This is one of the largest and most popular ski resorts in Russia, which will delight skiers and snowboarders not only with high-quality slopes, but also with reasonable prices. Both beginners and riders with many years of riding experience come here. The ski complex includes two mountain slopes – Elbrus and Cheget. The ski season here lasts from November to May, and in some areas there is snow all year round.
Elbrus has mostly wide and flat blue slopes with short red sections. For beginners, it is better to go to the Azau clearing, where a high-quality green track has been prepared. Officially, “Elbrus Azau” has 7 tracks with a total length of 11 km, but in reality it is one continuous track on the slope of Mount Elbrus, which is suitable for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels.
Cheget is a place for extreme sports enthusiasts and professionals. The long and steep route is considered one of the most difficult in the world. There are huge opportunities for freeride and backcountry. The slopes run through a pine forest. On the northern slope there are Cheget hillocks – natural formations, skiing on which helps develop balance and improve control over skis. Snowboarders are recommended to ride on the southern slope of Cheget, where the slopes are wider but no less steep. In total, there are 15 routes on Cheget with elevation changes from 2100 to 3050 meters.
Flight to Nalchik from Moscow: from 4,282 ₽ per person
Taxi from the airport: from 3500 ₽ one way
Accommodation: from 13,800 ₽ per person for 7 nights
Ski pass for 6 days: 9,100 ₽
Bansko, Bulgaria
In Bulgaria you can not only relax on the beach in summer, but also have good skiing in winter. In the southwest of the country, in the Balkans, ski tourism is well developed. The most prestigious and ancient ski resort here is Bansko.
It was Bansko in 2016 that was named the most budget resort in the world by the English portal AOL. It is located at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, 12 km from the small town after which the resort is named. The ski season in Bansko is open from December to May. There are quite a lot of trails – 16, total length 70 km. Both beginners are welcome here – 4 green tracks are open for them – and professionals (7 red, 2 black tracks). The elevation difference is 1810 m.
There are many instructors in Bansko who are ready to put anyone on skis or snowboards; there are also excellent ski schools here. You can safely go here with those who don’t like skiing at all – a spa complex is open for them. There is a kindergarten for children.
In addition to Bansko, pay attention to other resorts in Bulgaria: Borovets, Pamporovo, Vitosha.
Advice: for a trip to Bulgarian resorts, choose February or March; in other months there may be problems with snow.
Flight to Sofia from Moscow: from 10,132 ₽ per person
Accommodation in Bansko: from 5,472 ₽ per person for 7 nights
Ski pass for 6 days: 174 €
Car rental for 7 days: from 1,408 ₽ per day for a station wagon
Špindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic
The country is famous not only for the beautiful Prague and health tours to Karlovy Vary – the mountains are also good here. The slopes at the resorts of the Czech Republic are gentle, the weather is stable, so lovers of not too extreme skiing and families with children come here. At the same time, you can combine business with pleasure – take a car and drive around the country, since it is small.
One of the most famous resorts in the Czech Republic is Spindleruv Mlyn. It is located northeast of Prague at an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level and is located on the territory of the Krkonose Nature Park. Skiing season – from December to April.
There are two large ski slopes on the territory – St. Peter and Medvedin. The first is located on a mountain with the same name, and here you will find 11 tracks for every taste – adults, children, cross-country and a separate track for snowboarders with ramps and jumps. The total length is 13 km. If you are tired of skiing, welcome to the sledding descent. Or you can take cross-country skiing – there are more than 70 km of ski tracks in the forest.
Medvedin ski slope is located at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level. There are smaller tracks here, only 7, of which 1 is black and 5 are red. There is also a track for snowboarders. The total length of the slopes is about 11 km.
There is a bus between St. Peter and Medvedin, which is free for skiers.
Pay attention to other ski resorts in the Czech Republic – Krkonose, Rokytnice nad Izerou, Ore Mountains, Harrachov, Liberec.
Flight to Prague from Moscow: from 11,860 ₽ per person
Accommodation in Spindleruv Mlyn: from 11,603 ₽ per person for 7 nights
Ski pass for 6 days: 173 €
Car rental for 7 days: from 1,127 ₽ per day for a station wagon
Kranjska Gora, Slovenia
Slovenia has the same Alps as Italy and Austria, and that says a lot. In addition, Slovenian resorts are well equipped; they carefully monitor the quality of the slopes and the level of service, while prices are significantly lower than in neighboring countries that are more popular with skiers.
One of the most popular ski resorts in the country is Kranjska Gora. This resort is best suited for beginner skiers and families with children. Kranjska Gora is located literally a few kilometers from the Italian and Austrian borders at an altitude of 810 meters above sea level. You can get here directly from Brnik airport (this is where you fly when Ljubljana is your destination),
you only need to travel 60 km. Ski season – from December to mid-March.
The resort includes three ski centers: Kranjska Gora, Podkoren and Planica. There are a total of 21 trails with a length of 31 km. Mostly blue slopes await skiers – there are 13 of them, but there are also 2 black ones. Planica is home to one of the largest ski jumps, where the World Jumping Championships take place. Night illuminated trails are open until 22:00. If you get tired of alpine skiing, you can always change it to cross-country skiing – there are 40 km of good skiing in the vicinity.
If you want a little more extreme skiing, choose Maribor Pohorje – the largest ski resort in Slovenia. This is where the Alpine Skiing World Cup has been taking place for more than 30 years. Here you will also find the longest illuminated piste in Europe – 4.5 km of pure pleasure for skiers and snowboarders.
Pay attention to other Slovenian resorts: Bovec, Rogla and Terme Zrece, Krvavec, Cerkno, Bohinj.
Flight to Ljubljana from Moscow: from 16,848 ₽ per person
Accommodation in Kranjska Gora: from 14,697 ₽ per person for 7 nights
Accommodation in Maribor: from 5,697 ₽ per person for 7 nights
Ski pass for 6 days: 155 € (Kranjska Gora),
158 € (Maribor Pohorje)
Car rental for 7 days: from 1,454 ₽ per day for a station wagon
* Prices for flights, accommodation and train tickets are indicated at the time of writing. The cost indicated in the material and the final price may vary.
