A Snob’s Guide to the Best Adventure Skiing in the Alps
GO WHERE THE SNOW IS…
Long before the first ski lifts, winter sports enthusiasts like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Ernest Hemingway climbed Alpine slopes on their own power, then schussed down through valleys and villages, never skiing the same piste or staying in the same hut twice. From their exploits the modern ski safari was born. And it’s having a day. These three outfitters-snow cognoscenti and logistical wizards-craft custom itineraries with an eye to the best snow conditions, terrain, lodges, and lunches (and mugs of vin chaud). For all skill levels, and a no-crowd guarantee.
SWISSKISAFARI Switzerland, France, Italy
Founder Danielle Stynes nails the alpine trifecta, accompanying guests on most trips and always with a plan A, B, and C. A 10-day tour might include runs under the Matterhorn, a few days in Zermatt and Vallée Blanche in France, and a helidrop, weather permitting, on the Italian side of Mont Blanc.
Stay: Mont Cervin Palace, Zermatt; over-the-top Hameau Albert 1er, Chamonix; and the Fior di Roccia chalet in Italy, accessible only by ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile. In the mood for a down day? Stynes is a wellness snob and has a Rolodex to match.
