Five Skiing Destinations Most Europeans May Not Have Considered

When Europeans want to ski they usually head to France, Italy, Austria and so on, and those places certainly have some great skiing; they are also outrageously over-priced and over-skied and a bit samey. So next time you fancy a swish down the piste why not look for somewhere a bit more unconventional and, for a European (if that’s what you are) a bit more quirky. The following snow fields in Africa, the Middle East and Asia are just a few places you might like to check out.

LEBANON

Troubled little Lebanon, which was for a while the Middle Eastern playground of the rich and famous, prides itself in being able to provide a morning on the slopes followed by an afternoon on a Mediterranean beach. The high Lebanon Mountains rise steeply from the narrow coastal plain and the nearest ski resort to Beirut is only an hour’s drive away.

It was in the 1930s that skiing became fashionable in this corner of what Europeans refer to as the Middle East. By the 1950s the sport had greatly increased in popularity so ski lifts were introduced, firstly in the Cedars resort, then elsewhere. Currently there are 6 resorts, but away from the slopes cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are well developed alternatives, with trails heading away into fascinating countryside. The season generally stretches from December to April.

Faraya Mzaar is the most popular resort close to Beirut, and benefits from good support services. Skiers and snowboarders from all over the world use the slopes here. The top of Mzaar sits at 2465 metres above the Mediterranean, and offers spectacular views of the capital, the Bekaa Valley and Mount Hermon. The après-ski is pretty good too.

The Cedars is a resort a bit further from Beirut, about 2 hours by car, and sits at around 2000 metres. A good site for beginners, but advanced skiers will not be disappointed either. The Cedars also offers off-piste skiing and other down hill thrills, as well as snowmobile trips. The season here lasts a bit longer than at Faraya Mzaar, and new chairlifts have recently been installed.

A good link to check out is www.skileb.com.

LESOTHO

This little mountainous Kingdom attracts skiers from South Africa, the country which surrounds it on all sides. South Africa doesn’t have much in the way of snow itself, so it’s handy to have such an obliging neighbour, and the rich South Africans are a welcome source of income.

A resort called Afri-ski (!) first welcomed clients in 2005, running the season from June to August, but that could be extended to last well into November, weather and clients permitting. The resort was able to attract some 3000 clients that year and the numbers have grown year on year. It sits at 3222 metres above sea level in the northern part of the Maluti Mountains, and the entire country has an altitude of over 1000 metres. Novices and experts are welcomed and both are well catered for.

Among the selling points for Afri-ski is the fact that the resort is Austrian managed, and they seem to be fairly well equipped. There is a 1 Km slope, ski-lifts, grooming equipment and child care facilities. Again the après-ski seems to be up to standard.

If you have any energy, time and money left, there are many other activities to entertain. The breathtaking scenery can be enjoyed as you paraglide or hand glide across the countryside; pony trekking is available, as are mountain climbing, mountain biking and bird watching. This has to be a really refreshing change from the Alps of Europe.

IRAN

Iran? Why not? Okay, so George W Bush may not feel comfortable sharing a ski lift with Mr Ahmadinejad, but I hear he’s not much of a skier anyway. However I also hear that the skiing is rather excellent.

There are two main resorts, although there are other slopes available as well that have not been exploited commercially and they no doubt have their attraction.

Fifty years ago Shemshak was established, and it offers skiing and snowboarding to the higher end of the expertise spectrum. Go here to see the best Iranian skiers do their stuff. Just an hour outside Tehran the resort is well equipped with lifts and J Bar stations.

Coming on stream in 1969 is the other popular resort, Dizin, which reaches an altitude of 3600 metres and attracts most of the foreign skiers, being blessed with better support facilities. Dizin is slightly further from the capital, but offers better social facilities and après-ski.

MOROCCO

Again, explode the popular myth and you’ll feel at home with the idea of skiing in this seemingly unlikely destination. The sand and the camels may never be far away, but the mountains rise steeply from the sands of the Sahara and lie under a good depth of nicely packed, blindingly white snow.

Oukaïmeden is a ski resort in the south of the country, 50 miles from Marrakesh, which attracts a lot of rich Moroccans. The ski lift lies at 3286 metres above the Atlantic (donkey is a viable and quirky alternative) and the season lasts for the winter months around January. Equipment is available for hire though the quality may not be the highest, as are guides.

Closer to Fes and Meknes is the area of Mischliffen close to the town of Ifrane. Facilities here are definitely not of European standard, though the extremely low number of skiers may well compensate.

Cross country skiing throughout the mountainous region is possible, but again it’s best to bring your own equipment including even tents since the huts on offer are often derelict.

INDIA

India, is awash with ski facilities comparatively speaking. Gulmard, Manali, Kufri, Narkanda and Auli are some of the more popular resorts, all lying in the North of the country heading up into the Himalayas. The quality and availability of facilities and support services varies, but a good time is guaranteed. Nepal is just next door but provides nothing more exciting than India, and the skiing can of course be combined with so many other activities. And it’s cold. Of all the places I have travelled I remember India being the coldest of them all!

Other countries that offer excellent skiing opportunities that are often over-looked by Europeans include Turkey, Greece, Armenia, Argentina ….. let me know what you find when you get back, because we have no ski resorts in wind-battrered Ireland.