A Piste of the Action

Take the family to Vemdalen, Sweden

It’s the age-old problem: keeping the entire family happy on holiday. Well, now you can. Head to Vemdalen, west Sweden, and you’ll find reliable snow and quiet slopes that are perfect for families and nervous newbies, as well as tougher runs that will also work for the more advanced. Three ski areas are covered by one lift pass and linked by an easy ski bus ride, keeping everything simple and, hopefully, relatively seamless. New for this season is a ski school specifically for three to nine year olds, while Sameland is a new family friendly experience that teaches children – and their parents – about the role played by the Sami people, the indigenous Finno-Ugric group who live in the area. It’s a chance to pat some reindeer, learn all about the Sami way of life and try a home-cooked meal in one of their houses. As learning goes, it sure beats algebra in our book.

Take the food as seriously as the slopes in Italy

If you look forward to your next meal more than your next descent, then Italy’s Dolomites may be for you. Even better, the Alta Badia region’s Gourmet Ski Safari (which starts from 11 December) is a great chance to sample the fantastic flavours of the Michelin-starred chefs who are whipping up haute slope-side dishes (and you may even get the chance to chat to them). In a similar vein, Sommeliers on the Slopes (which runs between February and March 2017) includes wine-tasting with a ski guide and a sommelier.

Swap après ski for fat biking in La Plagne, France

Fat biking has made a name for itself on the dunes of the desert, but hurtling down a snowy slope comes with the benefit of not having to wash sand out of your eyes, ears, nose and – ahem – other places. Après ski isn’t a huge deal in La Plagne, so after a day on the slopes you’re best off whizzing down them in another format – namely on a bike with giant tyres. You’ll be kitted out with a helmet and gear, and take on the slopes in a whole new way. If speeding down mountains is your kind of fun, along with the area’s 225km of marked runs you’ll also find yourself in the home of one of the most famous bobsleigh tracks in the entire world. With 19 turns and a top speed of 90mph, it’s just another way to make a speedy descent down the mountain. Last one to the bottom’s a big fat, er… bike?