There's nothing quite like it. Kicking up a fan of snow as you surf in a turn that's more liquid than solid; more glide than crunch. Some people remember their first powder day better than they remember their firstborn.

But, with the spectre of climate change and snow receding on all corners of the globe, skiers and snowboarders are having to search further afield, to destinations at rarefied heights or lofty latitudes, to search out perfect powder. We've detailed four of our favourites. 

The best powder skiing for winter 2024/25

Tignes, France

Perched at a lofty 6,900ft elevation, with the highest point reaching a vertigo-inducing 11,300ft, Tignes is one of France’s most dependable ski destinations and home to some of the best powder terrain. You’ll make the most of the piste if you’ve got strong legs and the chutzpah to tackle the testing reds and vertiginous blacks. The off-piste terrain is equally challenging and thigh burning, with a selection of steep couloirs around La Grande Balme and La Petite Balme and rocky outcrops at the valley’s southern end. The bacon on the tartiflette for skiing in Tignes has to be the Grande Motte glacier, offering gasp-worthy descents.

Niseko, Japan

With the second-highest average snowfalls of any resort in the world, Niseko is a ski resort on Japan’s north island of Hokkaido, where bad snow is as likely as an unrelaxing onsen. Receiving storm after storm from Siberia that travels over the Sea of Japan, Niseko locks in a whopping average of 49ft of usually dry, light powder snow yearly. The 34 miles of piste here are powder playgrounds of short runs interspersed with trees and the odd backcountry gate to punishing pistes. Floodlighting after dark means you can keep skiing once the sun sets, although you’ll likely catch us slurping soba and sipping sake after dark. 

Lofoten, Norway

With no ski ‘resort’ to speak of, Lofoten’s unique topography which sees mountains rise up directly from the beach and few other snowseekers makes it a backcountry skiers dream. Don those skins and prepare to work for it, though. Due to few lift systems, most skiing is hard-earned by climbing up the mountains, ripping off the grips and seeing immediate reward as you ski down through steep declines, gentle bowls and tree-lined stretches all the while carving through untouched powder, with spectacular views of the ocean beyond. For those interested in a slightly ‘easier’ experience, there are two locations with button lifts – Kongstind and Stamsund, but the best way to make the most of this unique region is to do as the locals do, find a roadside car park and let your body power you up the hill.

Chamonix, France

While it may be most known for its high prices, legendary aprés and swanky shops, Chamonix has another secret going for it – some of the best powder in Europe. Sitting at the foot of the Mont Blanc massif, with world-renowned off-piste access and 90% of its terrain sitting above 3,000 feet, skiers travel from across the globe to access the resort’s backcountry terrain and its smooth, weightless turns and pristine slopes that have few other skiers to manoeuvre around. While the pisted slopes remain crowded, hire a guide and take yourself off the beaten track to see why Chamonix is consistently ranked as one of the best powder destinations in Europe and around the world.