Posts Tagged ‘banff’
The 10 Best Winter Activities in Alberta
With such world-class ski resorts, you’d be forgiven for thinking skiing and snowboarding were the only winter activities on the menu in Alberta. But this beautiful Canadian province is packed with opportunity.
Whether you’re stargazing in Jasper, treating yourself to spa day in Banff or dog sledding in Lake Louise, Alberta offers up the chance for adventure and indulgence in equal measure.
Whet your appetite with a sneak peek at our choice of the best winter activities away from the slopes:
Go stargazing
Jasper National Park – Dark Sky Preserve
Alberta boasts some of the largest dark sky preserves in the world. Protected from artificial light pollution, Jasper’s vast national park is the perfect place to gaze at the constellations. During the winter months, there’s also a good chance you may witness one of the most breath-taking phenomena in the world: the Northern Lights.
The Jasper Dark Sky Festival is held every autumn. It’s a fantastic celebration of stargazing, hosting informative workshops and events for all ages. Read the rest of this entry »
Ski Holidays 2019 with Ski Independence
Best Ski Holidays in 2019
The 2018/19 winter season is upon us, so what better time to let us plan your 2019 ski holiday?
As the UK’s leading tailor-made ski specialist, our experienced team will take the time to fine-tune every element of your ski holiday, from flights and accommodation to ski schools and restaurant reservations. Choose from hand-picked ski destinations around the world and make 2019 your best year on the slopes yet. We’ve carefully chosen an outstanding mix of world-class ski resorts to appeal to British skiers in:
- France: home to some of the most extensive ski areas in the world, it’s no surprise that France is Europe’s number one ski destination.
- Canada: superb skiing, an enviable snow record, staggering scenery and ski resorts with something for everyone.
- The USA: uncrowded slopes, amazing powder snow, first-class lodging and unparalleled customer service, wherever you ski.
- Switzerland: Switzerland exudes charm and our clients love the laid-back yet refined atmosphere of our featured resorts.
- Austria: excellent hospitality, a warm and friendly welcome, lively après-ski and luxurious spa centres.
- Italy: extensive terrain, good snow records, fabulous food & drink and some of the most stunning scenery in Europe
- Japan: Japan’s outstanding success as a ski destination can be summed up in one simple word – snow. You really have to ski it to believe it!
“The booking of our ski holiday for 2019 was handled very efficiently by the Ski Independence staff and we look forward to our winter break. The staff were very friendly, welcoming and obviously knew their ski centres!” Steven, November 2018.
La Clusaz (image: David Machet)
Featured Ski Destinations for 2019
New for 2018/19 – Ski Independence Update
Find out all about what’s new for 2018/19!
We’re excited to announce that the brand new Ski Independence brochure has arrived, bookings are rolling in and early booking offers are high in demand.
Now is the best time to book and to give you some inspiration here’s an overview of what’s new for our European & North American programmes.
>> Order your copy of our Winter 2018/19 brochure now
Europe
Les Gets is a hotspot for families with its French charm and easy access to the huge Portes du Soleil ski area. Read the rest of this entry »
8 Unique Ski Experiences to Try This Winter
Great alternatives to your usual après-ski
Dancing in your ski boots, soaking in the outdoor hot tub, indulging in hot chocolate & freshly baked treats, sipping cold beers on a sunny terrace – all highly recommended after a day on the mountain! Après-ski is a ski holiday must, but the range of unique activities and alternative ski experiences on offer is now bigger and better than ever, so whether you’re looking for an alternative to traditional après-ski or for a different way to spend your day on the slopes, check out our pick of the latest and greatest in unique ski experiences.
1. Sample the Dolomites’ finest cuisine on a Gourmet Ski Safari
Alta Badia is the place to be for anyone who loves eating and drinking as much as they love skiing! This is thanks to its Sciare con Gusto programme (roughly translated as “skiing with flavour”) which is a series of events throughout the season combining passion for winter sports with delicious cuisine. With the stunning scenery of the Dolomites and unrivalled local hospitality, this is simply not to be missed.
Gourmet Ski Safari (image: Alta Badia Tourism)
Ski from one mountain hut to another, sampling a different dish designed by top Michelin-starred chefs in each one, as part of the Gourmet Ski Safari; this year’s theme was childhood favourites so traditional dishes executed to perfection were the order of the day. Book a place on a Sommelier on the Slopes event if you want to taste some of the best local wines in the company of a ski guide and local wine expert. Just remember you need to ski down the mountain at the end of the day! If you like to be first up on the slopes you can also enjoy breakfast on the slopes at the Las Vegas Lodge – take a snow cat up the mountain and sample the best local products from the Alto Adige region. To top it all off, you’ll be on the slopes before the lifts have even opened!
Catherine, Senior Ski Product Support
>> We recommend: the fabulous 5-star Hotel Rosa Alpina in San Cassiano, just a 5 minute drive from the Alta Badia ski area.
2. Get closer to the locals in Jackson Hole
Ski Alberta; the recipe for a Perfect Ski Holiday
What’s the recipe for the perfect ski holiday? Maybe a sprinkle of snow, a big heap of terrain, a soupcon of sunshine, a pinch of stunning scenery, and a dollop of après-ski? Alberta has all the ingredients to make the skiing equivalent of a Michelin star meal!
Pristine Mount Norquay Powder (photo by Dan Evans)
The Perfect Ski Holiday ingredient #1: Powder
Alberta Road Trip 2015
Jasper, Banff and Lake Louise make an excellent multi-centre holiday that offers so much more than just skiing, with jaw-dropping scenery, wildlife, walks and more – here’s a round-up of my recent trip…
Banff, Alberta Road Trip 2015
Winter 2014/15 #WinterIsHere
Great news! If you haven’t already heard, the snow has well and truly arrived in the Alps and North America. #WinterIsHere is trending on Twitter and we wanted to share a few recent images and videos to inspire you for Winter 2014/15.
- Vail, Breckenridge and Beaver Creek in Colorado are now all open and there’s been enough snow that Vail’s back bowls should be open for the Thanksgiving weekend celebrations.
There’s still time to buy your Epic Season Pass, giving you access to all these resorts and more, if you’re quick! >> Book online here
Great shot from Vail – so much powder!
- 12 inches of new snow in Breckenridge, here’s a clip of the skiing on offer on Peak 9:
Inside Track – Ski Bucket List; David
Having started his love affair with winter sports on the slopes of Scotland (both real snow and dry slopes!), David spent several seasons living and working in Austria and he is a big fan of this small and charming country. A qualified snowboarding instructor, David knows all about the great slopes, pretty resorts and plentiful après-ski on offer in the Austrian Alps but he’s also ventured further afar in recent years and counts Whistler and Banff as two of the top ski destinations in the world. Read on for David’s Ski Bucket List. Read the rest of this entry »
Banff and Lake Louise 2014 Competition Winner
After running a contest last autumn offering entrants the chance to win a 5-star ski holiday to Alberta in Canada, winner of our Banff and Lake Louise 2014 Competition, Mark, has been in touch with a quick run-down of his trip together with a few of his photos.
Banff and Lake Louise 2014
We had a fantastic time – the organisation was top draw from start to end and went without a hitch. A fabulous prize – enjoyed every second of it! Read the rest of this entry »
Snow Update 14 January 2014
With reports of vast amounts of snow in Canada, the USA and Europe, we wanted to share the good news with you! Here’s a short snow update for some of our featured ski resorts in the USA, Canada, France and Switzerland. Read the rest of this entry »
