Fairmont Banff Springs
Ski Trails, Snow Tales and Alpine Escapes
Leaning in to the cold and snow of winter is the best way to enjoy the season. Whether you're heading to the high altitudes of Colorado or the European Alps, make sure to acclimate, especially if altitude affects you. Or consider Banff, Alberta, the alpine town sits at an easier breathing altitude (4,500 feet), making it a lot more fun strap on a pair of skates at Lake Louise, which freezes into an enormous winter wonderland banked by the Rockies.
Top: The Fairmont Château Lake Louise | Bottom: Yellowstone
For those eager to race through the great outdoors, West Yellowstone offers a natural winter wonderland ideal for snowmobiling. Thousands of thrilling miles of groomed trails and powder fields await, with stops at the national park’s Old Faithful Geyser Basin a must.
When it comes to skiing, first ask yourself how you like to spend a day in the mountains? If it’s chasing powder stashes and navigating the steep and deep until last chair – consider Whistler Blackcomb, North America’s largest resort with 8,171 acres of terrain. Let us arrange a guide to lead you to the mountain's prime spots, ensuring you skip those tedious lift lines. If you like more leisurely ski days, just about any European resort is your go-to.
Top: Whistler Blackcomb | Bottom Left: Zermatt | Bottom Right: Fire & Ice, Courchevel, France
In Zermatt, enjoy breathtaking vistas and indulge in local delicacies like crispy rosti. Ski into the mid-mountain Riffelalp Hotel for fondue with its grand views of the Matterhorn (non-skiing companions can meet you via the Gornergrat cog railway). And don’t miss the chance to ski from Zermatt, Switzerland into Cervinia, Italy for lunch. Why not?
And mountain lovers who excel at the après-scene will appreciate the fine living of Courchevel, France – so why not arrive at the Alps on the new Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a Belmond Train, which starts running overnight ski trains from Paris in December.
It’s easy to embrace winter when you know where to go.
