Asia
Sleep in yurts and ski through the wilds of Kyrgyzstan
Campers, ski tourers and full-on adventurers, here’s a trip for you. New for 2017, Snoworks has introduced a big old touring adventure through the ski sites of Kyrgzstan. It’s certainly no Val D’Isere – this place is so far off the map you might have to Google it (the neighbouring countries are Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China, FYI).
You’ll be ski-touring your way through the Tian Shan mountains, part of the old Silk Road between the Mediterranean and Asia. The slopes will be accessed via snowmobiles and at night you’ll be resting up in a traditional yurt camp – which is a hell of a lot better than a two-man tent from Millets, we’d say.Competent, experienced skiers only, please. If there’s ever a time to know your limits, this is certainly one of them.
Travel details: Snoworks offers a ten-night trip from £2,325pp including six-and-a-half days of ski-touring with local guides, all accommodation, lunch and evening meals, snoworks.co.uk
Holiday like Prince Harry in Shymbulak, Kazakhstan
We’ve always been a fan of Prince Harry’s holiday choices – you can’t fault that naked romp in the Vegas hot tub, can you? While the Royals head to the likes of Courchevel for their annual ski trips, in 2014 Harry went for something more intrepid – Kazhakstan. Ok, so he may have had the use of a helicopter to get around in, but even without a chopper you’ll find Shymbulak, in the south of the country, offers decent off-piste skiing, sun on your face and the glitzy nightclubs of the capital just 25 minutes away (or you could rest up in the on-site four-star hotel).
Travel details: Regent Holidays offers a five-night trip from £1,295 per person including flights, accommodation and some activities, regent-holidays.co.uk
Get a far-flung culture hit in Japan
Dry, light powder, 48km of pistes, onsens (essentially soothing pools of hot water) and sake? The Niseko resort in Japan is one of the most famous ski and snowboard destinations in the country. Travel between December and March and you’ll be treated to some absolutely incredible powder, the biggest average snowfall in Japan and the opportunity for excellent backcountry jaunts. Then there’s the food – a warming nabe hotpot chock-full of noodles, veg and meat.
With Inside Japan tours you can extend your trip with a couple of nights in Tokyo, where you can shop till you drop in the gadget shops or eat unidentifiable meat on sticks in pavement-side bars. The perfect twin after a few nights spent in the country’s mountains.
Travel details: Inside Japan Tours offers a self-guided adventure from £1,890 for eight nights, insidejapantours.com
North America
Blow some cash in Las Vegas, USA
No, we’re not having a laugh. Not this time anyway. If you can’t resist the lure of the neon lights, slot machines and roulette tables of the Strip, but want a face full of powder too (we’re talking skiing, remember) then head to Utah and Nevada.
Ski Safari’s self-drive trip will have you checking out the immaculate piste skiing and powder bowls of Utah before an optional add-on of Vegas, where you’ll swap padded jackets for casino-crawling gear. Fun, but an absolute packing nightmare, no doubt.
Travel details: Ski Safari offers a 14-night trip from £1,535 including flights, accommodation and car hire. Ski hire and lift passes are extra, skisafari.com
Party at the Snowbombing festival in British Columbia, Canada
What happens when Europe’s biggest ski festival and Coors Light get together and up sticks to Canada? A massive music fest on the slopes of Sun Peaks Resort, British Columbia, silly.
Taking place from 6-10 April, the full-on event is sure to feature the same key elements that Snowbombing Europe has become famous for – slope-side pool parties, elaborately designed stages, debauchery. The usual.
The party bus of big acts is yet to be announced, but last year’s festival (featuring the likes of the Prodigy and Andy C) has set our hopes high – 2,152m high to be exact. Expect gladed areas, bumps, steeps, long cruisers and alpine bowls – perfect for post-fest recovery.
Travel details: Prices TBC, snowbombingcanada.com; WestJet offers return flights to Calgary from £400, westjet.com
Ski with Eddie the Eagle in Kicking Horse, Canada
If you’re old enough to remember 1988 (hey, Dad!) then you’re sure to recall Eddie the Eagle, who leapt to fame and became a household name in the Calgary Winter Olympic Games. If you’re a tad younger you’ll hopefully remember last year’s film about him, and if that’s not enough there’s now a ski tour, too.
Your host is Eddie himself, who’ll be guiding you through the on-piste and off-piste action of Kicking Horse, Lake Louise and Revelstoke – taking on some of Canada’s best runs – with a visit to the site of the Winter Olympic Games, too.
Travel details: Seven nights including accommodation, hosted dinner, skiing, some meals and transfers from £2,595 kickinghorsepowdertours.com
Need more ski inspiration this snowseason? Read our guide to Europe's best ski breaks right here
