30 Jul How to plan a winter ski safari in the Alps

Believe it or not, our winter season gets underway in August. This is when we start to plan our winter ski safaris. A perfect trip is in the detail and the details make all the difference. Here is our five point lowdown on ensuring the small details are just right.

1. Start planning early

We start early because we want to talk to the hotels and tweak the details to make your trip perfect. After summer the hotels close down and take a well-deserved holiday before winter begins. While being great for them, this also means we cannot get them on the phone. All high end travellers know that perfecting those small details has to involve face-to-face time or at least a phone call. Hence, starting a couple of months early is the best way to plan a winter ski safari.

2. Take your time

We have learnt from experience that when you plan a winter ski safari combining more than one country, you need time. No good trip involves spending more time in transport than on skis. I know this sound obvious. But some resorts are more time-consuming to get to than others, especially in winter. We factor in how long it takes to get from A to B in real time, when combining countries in one trip. And we ask ourselves questions. Does this allow us time for skiing on the way? Do the weather conditions affect this transfer, and do we have a plan B in case this happens? This is why the conceptual phase of trip-planning is so important.

3. Work with the elements

Some like to think that we are in control of nature. That all of our road works, tunnels and controlled water ways somehow put us on top of the environment. We say: think again. This spring, a combination of late, heavy snowfall and then continuous rainfall saw our rivers taking over and forming mudslides on the roads which changed the lay of the land, literally. Here lies the huge advantage of living in the region where you work: we see which areas are more prone to tricky, weather-based situations. When planning a winter ski safari, the elements absolutely must always be in the back our minds. That’s why we always plan for the worst case scenario and have a plan B up our sleeves. Perhaps this is why our trips have run smoothly for many years. Accounting for all potential obstacles means that on the trip we can focus on you and finding the best snow possible.

4. Keep trips long enough

In the winter our ski safaris are a week long, and a recent request reminded us why. I received a request to ski for two days in one place and then two days in the next. Without knowing the terrain, it is impossible to understand why this request is not viable. Imagine it takes more than half a day to get to the ski station where our guests want to start skiing. Then, it would take more than half a day to get to the next place they wanted to ski. With lifts closing around 4.30pm, allowing enough time to get into our gear and to the lift, this would mean that we would spend most of the time in transport and not skiing. This is why we do not do short trips in the winter time.

5. One eye on the tiny details

We want you to enjoy the skiing and the charm of each place you visit. To do this we need to really calculate all the logistics down to the tiniest detail. For example, getting out of the taxi and into the electric taxi takes time, getting your bags and equipment ready to go takes time. Especially in winter. Nobody wants to be rushing because they feel as though they might miss some skiing.  

To the untrained eye, knowing how to plan a winter ski safari may seem straightforward. But decades of experience have taught us otherwise. Alongside enthusiasm, you need a hefty dose of mountain wisdom to find the best snow on the best mountains on any given day. Not to mention dining, sleeping and exploring in style in between. If you’re up for an unforgettable ski safari this winter, contact us. You’ll be safe in our wise hands.

Warm Regards from the mountains,

Danielle