Ski Safari’s Best Ski Resorts in the World

Every skier or snowboarder prioritises something different for their winter getaway, whether you're a seasoned pro on the hunt for immaculate powder, a solid intermediate seeking pristine pistes or a beginner searching for gentle slopes ideal for learning how to stop in a dignified manner.

There are some cracking spots to ski around the world. However, we have lived, breathed and skied every one of our 64 destinations, so it was only right to create a list of the top resorts from each country we offer.

No matter your preference, Ski Safari's best ski resorts will deliver for every ability and flaunt unique wow factors you won't find anywhere else.

For personal advice based on your ski holiday preferences, enquire online or call 01273 224060 to speak to our specialists.

It's where we first started operating 28 years ago and where we've sent thousands of customers since. But what makes Canada a maple leaf-shaped magnet attracting skiers from around the world?

Well, the jagged mountain scenery is a huge draw, the diverse terrain keeps skiers of all abilities happy and you're surrounded by the friendliest people on earth. It's also home to a household name that easily makes the cut for the world's best.

If you asked our customers what was the finest all-round ski resort on the planet, many would say Whistler. And they're not the only ones. The resort and its hotels have picked up numerous awards over the years, most recently winning Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Best of the Best 2023 - Best Places to Ski in the World award, and we say deservedly so.

With 8,000 acres of diverse terrain and over 200 ski runs to explore across two mountains, every level of skier is catered for. Beginners can learn their turns mid-mountain after a gondola ride up to Olympic Station, whilst intermediates can spend many pleasant hours winding their way around the vast network of groomers.

If you're an expert skier, you'll find plenty of thrills further up both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. On Blackcomb, hike up to the top of Spanky's Ladder from the Glacier Express for access to three awesome bowls (the ‘experts only’ signs are serious) and take on the epic Sudan Couloir. It looks small on the map, but believe us it's huge! Over on Whistler Mountain, make sure you get yourself up to the top of Whistler Bowl for the gnarliest terrain in the resort.

Down at the base of the two mountains are three villages; Whistler Village, Upper Village (aka Blackcomb) and Creekside, each with a good selection of accommodation, bars, restaurants and shops.

With 170 restaurants to choose from, you'll have no trouble finding hearty dishes for every pallet. The bars too are brimming with Canadian cheer - our top tip is to make a beeline for the Glacier Creek Lodge to grab a drink, unwind and watch the infamous trio of cliff jumps that can be seen from the bar.

If a crucial bit of kit breaks or you just fancy purchasing gifts for the family back in the UK, the village has over 100 shops filled with everything you need.

What our customers say about Whistler: "Simply the best resort we have ever been to for skiing. The mountains provided a great challenge for all levels of our ski group. The parks were fantastic for the freestyle skiers in the group. The village had everything we required as a group of 12 in our party. The Canadian's were the most accommodating hosts we could have hoped for." - Andrew Ashton

Our Best Resorts in Canada blog will give you more advice on skiing in Canada.

The USA has an unrivalled diversity of skiing, with a choice of over 500 resorts across the country.

From the family-friendly mountains in the East to the hairy steeps of the Wild West, some are mega resorts whose legendary status travels far and wide, while others are hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

One thing is for sure, there'll be snow... and lots of it! One resort in particular receives huge helpings every season and is a favourite amongst UK skiers.

The polished ski resort of Breckenridge, Colorado has all the skiing diversity in the USA rolled into one elite destination. With the choice of skiing five lofty mountains, huge snow dumps, a reliably long season, challenging intermediate groomers and three hundred days of sunshine to go with it, it's no wonder that Breckenridge ticks so many skiers' boxes.

There's a mixture of long, unintimidating runs for beginners and intermediates, challenging blacks on Peaks 8 and 10 for the brave and four large snow parks for the freestylers, so there really is something for every skier or boarder. The runs are all spread across five peaks and, because the elevation is a shade under 4,000m, the resort retains its high-quality snow all season long.

Breckenridge's rootin' tootin' town gives guests an authentic all-American experience with old-timey saloons and timber-clad buildings owing to its gold mining heritage.

Although the town stays true to its roots, it's kept up with the times and invested heavily to create an infrastructure that's up there with the best in the USA. A brilliant range of shops, restaurants, craft beer pubs and bars are dotted all over town.

What our customers say about Breckenridge: "Never fails to live up to expectations - something for everyone on the vast slopes. Genuine old town atmosphere with a wide range of shops, restaurants and leisure facilities. Excellent transportation system. No one will be disappointed on the slopes." - Frances Jones

Our Best Resorts in the USA blog will give you more advice on skiing in the USA.

Japan offers a winter experience like no other place you've visited. Thanks to the Siberian weather system bringing lots of light, dry powder (otherwise known as Japow), the skiing is amongst the best in the world. Sampling the country's incredible culture should be on any traveller's bucket list as well.

Luckily, we know a resort that’s home to the best snow in the world, outstanding alpine skiing and authentic Japanese culture.

Niseko is Japan's largest and best-known resort, but is most famous for the reliable dumpings of iconic powder, which Japan Product Manager Andy believes every skier needs to sample at least once in their life.

There are four interlinked areas to explore with manicured groomers for every level and the night skiing schedule keeps runs in Hirafu open until 9 pm. The extended evening skiing gives time during the day to explore Strawberry Fields and other exceptional tree runs as well as powder bowls. You can ski from dawn 'till dusk here! To experience the best areas of Japan's untracked powder, plan a day with Niseko Weiss Powder Cats and spend the day exploring the backcountry.

Off the mountain, there's plenty to immerse yourself in. A daily visit pre or post-skiing to one of Niseko's many natural hot springs is a must. The town's bars and restaurants will delight foodies. You'll find everything from sushi counters and izakayas (Japanese pubs) to gourmet restaurants.

Niseko is ideal for your first visit to Japan as there are homely 'Western' touches to help you avoid feeling like you've been thrown in at the cultural deep end. You'll find English menus in the restaurants, Western-style bedding in the hotels and English-speaking staff around the resort. We can't recommend this spectacular destination enough.

What our customers say about Niseko: "We LOVED Niseko Hirafu. We had lots of fun visiting the bars and restaurants and it was the perfect choice for us. And then there was the skiing…!! It pretty much did not stop snowing the whole time we were there, and we have never skied powder like it."  Cara Fotheringham

Our Best Resorts in Japan blog will give you more advice on skiing in Japan.

Perfect for beginners and intermediates, Norway's confidence-boosting terrain is a world-class skiing option which is very close to the UK.

It's a nailed-on favourite for those in our team with children because of the award-winning ski schools, the convenient layout of the ski villages and a superb variety of non-skiing activities.

Having won Norway's Best Ski Resort from 2019-2023 in the World Ski Awards, Geilo easily makes the grade for the best ski resorts in the world.

Children will thrive on the gentle terrain under the supervision of knowledgeable ski-school instructors, whilst parents can spend quality time zipping down the pristine corduroy runs further up the mountain. Need a break from skiing? Enjoy a treatment in the peace and quiet of the 4*+ Vestlia Resort's spa.

Geilo sits between two well-known Norwegian cities and our top tip is to use the Oslo to Bergen railway line as your mode of transport to the resort.

The train has dedicated family carriages and offers spectacular views of Norway's fjord region before rolling right into the centre of Geilo. The village itself is easy to navigate and you're never far away from the nearest chairlift, ski school or rental shop.

When the kids aren't having a ball on the slopes, there's an abundance of child-friendly activities such as swimming pools, large soft play areas and a bowling alley. If that's not enough family fun, there's always dog sledding or fat biking. Geilo is a brilliant destination to create lasting memories on a family ski holiday!

What our customers say about Geilo: "A very special family ski holiday. Flew into Bergen and then took the scenic train to Geilo. Spectacular scenery on the way. Good quality equipment is available for hire and there's a really friendly and professional ski school. Plenty of snow. We had an afternoon husky sledding which I strongly recommend. Also worth trying cross-country skiing. Would definitely visit again" - Jayesh Makan

Our Best Resorts in Norway blog will give you more advice on skiing in Norway.

Every aspect of a Swedish ski holiday is of the highest quality and it's something the locals are very proud of. The slopes are squeaky clean, the lifts are modern and the pine wood saunas will have you feeling completely rejuvenated.

As well as tremendous skiing, a trip to Sweden's vast winter wilderness is your best bet for seeing the Northern lights wiggle their way across the night sky.

Åre is Sweden's biggest and finest resort with a packed trophy cabinet from years of success at the World Ski Awards to back it up. There are over 1,000 acres of terrain to get stuck into and the slopes remain largely uncrowded, even during peak dates, ticking a massive box for any group tied to those holidays.

Sweden Product Manager, Andy Hemingway suggests beginners will find the best runs in Björnen, while Duved offers excellent rolling slopes for intermediates. A top recommendation for strong skiers is to hire a guide to ensure you discover the best spots when venturing off-piste.

The activities you can do off the slopes are another reason Åre is amongst the world's best. The lakeside town has everything needed to entertain couples, groups and families. Kids will love scooting down zip wires and a tour around a chocolate factory, whilst adults can enjoy a trip to a local distillery and live music at the weekends.

The fifty-odd restaurants in the resort are reliably good, from the burgers at Broken to fine dining at Supper. If you need to satisfy your sweet tooth, we recommend taking a stroll to Creperie & Logi and ordering a Nutella Crêpe!

What our customers say about Åre: "Are was absolutely stunning. Definitely the most beautiful place we have ever skied. Plus the pistes were amazingly quiet given it was Feb half term for UK schools and Scandinavian schools were off as well." - Angela Lloyd-Jones

Our best resorts in Sweden blog will give you more advice on skiing in Sweden.

Ski Safari's best resorts in the world were all hand-picked by our ski specialists who have skied, lived and breathed these destinations.

To find out more information about any of the resorts above, speak to a specialist by calling us on 01273 224060. Alternatively, you can enquire online and we'll be in touch with a tailor-made price.

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