The ultimate 2026 winter holiday guide - from backcountry skiing in Japan to beginner's delight in Aspen

First snowfalls are dusting the Alps and the ski season is gearing up for another run. Across the mountains, new hotels are putting the finishing touches to spas and suites, lifts are preparing to spin and resorts are limbering up for a winter of big-name parties and fresh adventures on the slopes.

This winter, more areas of the mountains will be possible to explore than ever (thanks to those new lifts) and old-favourite resorts will introduce exciting reasons to come back.

Whether you're planning your first family ski trip, somewhere to let the teens roam or going solo or as a couple, it really pays to plan carefully. 

From the Alps to the Pyrenees, Dolomites and the Rocky Mountains, here's where to point your skis this winter.

Boxing Day escape

Pas de la Casa, Andorra

How about a really white Christmas? Spend Boxing Day skiing the slopes of Grandvalira, in Andorra

Boxing Day falls on a Saturday this year, setting up a Christmas changeover scrum across the Alps. 

Iglu Ski is offering Sunday changeovers to Andorra, making the expansive, high-altitude slopes of Grandvalira a smart way around the bottleneck.

Add sunny, moderate-friendly skiing, lively après and reasonable prices for a laidback festive week.

Book it: Seven nights at the Magic Hotel Pas in Pas de la Casa from £988pp half-board including flights from Manchester and transfers.

Verbier, upgraded

Verbier, Switzerland

Explore the slopes of Verbier, in Switzerland, this winter, where's a new lift connection. Stay at the four-star - and very cosy-looking - Ski Lodge (pictured) 

Verbier's ski map is changing this winter. The long-awaited Telemixte Esserts-Savoleyres lift will make the connection between the main ski area and Savoleyres possible on skis rather than by bus, meaning access to La Tzoumaz, Nendaz and the wider Four Valleys is a lot easier. 

Explore it all from Norwood's new four-star Ski Lodge, whose 36 smart suites, restaurant and spa open in the heart of town this December.

Book it: Double rooms at the Ski Lodge from £460 a night B&B. 

Fly to Geneva with easyJet and, if you're travelling on the weekend, grab the new direct rail connection to Le Chable, where you can step straight on to the cable car for Verbier.

Start young

Plose, Italy

AKI Family Resort Plose in South Tyrol boasts views of the snowy mountains - and is ideal for first family ski holidays

Taking your little angels skiing for the first time can be daunting.

AKI Family Resort Plose in South Tyrol takes care of much of it for you: beginners get two hours of complimentary daily lessons on the hotel's dedicated magic carpet, ski equipment included, while free shuttles run to the gentle pistes of Plose when they're ready for bigger challenges. 

Off the slopes, there are pools, play spaces and complimentary childcare for tiny tots from one month old, while parents can quietly contemplate the beauty of the Dolomites in the spa.

Book it: Full board accommodation at AKI Family Resort Plose for two adults and two children in a Family Suite costs from £680 a night. 

Fly from Gatwick to Bolzano from £129pp with SkyAlps – children aged two and under fly free.

Easter for teens

Hinterglemm, Austria

Enjoy skiing across 168 miles of pistes in  Austria's Skicircus area this winter

Sharing one of Austria's largest linked ski areas with Saalbach, Leogang and Fieberbrunn, Hinterglemm makes a charming, manageable base for families with independent-minded youngsters.

The 270km (168 miles) of pistes encompassed by the Skicircus ski area give kids and adults freedom to explore. 

Easter brings a welcome saving for families: children aged 15 and under ski free when a parent buys a qualifying lift pass.

Book it: Seven nights' half-board at the four-star Hotel Tannenberg is from £4,495 for a family of four including return flights from Gatwick and car rental.

Ride the rails

La Plagne, France

There are 264 miles of high-altitude slopes in the Paradiski area of La Plagne

Make the journey part of the holiday with the Eurostar Snow Train: a more sustainable way to reach the Alps that rivals flying for door-to-door journey time.

Peak season services run into the Tarentaise Valley as far as Bourg-Saint-Maurice, calling at Moutiers and Aime-La-Plagne – the latter being a mere 25-minute bus transfer from La Plagne and the 425km (264 miles) of high-altitude slopes of the Paradiski area.

Book it: Seven nights at the self-catering Residence Front de Neige in Plagne Villages is from £1,008pp including return rail travel from London St Pancras and resort transfers.

Party on the slopes

Ischgl, Austria

Party on the pistes of Ischgl, in Austria, where Westlife is set to headline the Top of the Mountain Opening Concert

Get your ski legs back on form with a high-altitude long weekend in Ischgl, where the season starts with as much emphasis on partying as pistes.

Westlife headline the Top of the Mountain Opening Concert on November 28, following in the footsteps of stars including Robbie Williams, Rihanna and Elton John.

The snow-sure Silvretta Arena offers 239km (149 miles) of skiing across the Austrian-Swiss border to Samnaun, with Ischgl's infamous apres taking over when the lifts close.

Book it: Seven nights' at the Sport & Genusshotel Silvretta costs from £2,470pp B&B including return Gatwick flights and private transfers.

Three valleys value 

Les Menuires, France

Head to Les Menuires (pictured) where a new hotel, Fahrenheit Seven, opens this December

New arrival Fahrenheit Seven brings a splash of its retro hotel glamour to Les Menuires this December, complete with ski-in/ski-out access, an indoor pool and lively restaurants. 

The fun-loving brand's new Preyerand location puts the full 600km (373 miles) pistes of the Three Valleys at your ski tips, offering excellent value in this stellar ski area.

Book it: Doubles at Fahrenheit Seven from £255 B&B. Fly to Geneva from London from £61 return, with shared transfers to Les Menuires from £36pp one-way.

The new Austria

Nassfeld, Austria

Fancy putting ski to slope somewhere different? Nassfeld is a little-known spot in Austria yet to be discovered by Brits

Nassfeld, the biggest ski area in Carinthia, has somehow flown below the British radar even though it packs in 110km (68 miles) of pistes, with sun-drenched intermediate descents and a signature 4.7-mile-long red run all the way down to the valley.

Its location on the Italian border adds another dimension, offering gemutlich (cosy) Austrian mountain huts and Italian dolce vita on the same ski day. 

Iglu Ski introduces Nassfeld for the first time this winter, putting this substantial but little-known corner of Austria firmly within reach of British skiers.

Book it: Seven nights at the Falkensteiner Hotel Sonnenalpe cost from £1,304pp full-board including flights from Heathrow and transfers.

Klosters for insiders

Klosters, Switzerland

Klosters, in Switzerland, is a great spot for skiers and non-skiers, if hot chocolate and spa treatments are more your thing

PT Ski has arranged ski holidays to Klosters for decades, earning insider knowledge that enables them to sniff out quiet lifts, empty pistes and tranquil mountain restaurants during peak times.

Guests enjoy complimentary ski hosting with founder James Palmer-Tomkinson, while his wife Sos leads winter walks for non-skiers.

Dedicated programmes keep kids and teenagers entertained, including teen off-piste sessions, while the concierge sorts out restaurants, mountain guides, spa treatments and sleigh rides.

Book it: Seven nights for a family of four in a family room at the Silvretta Parkhotel costs from £6,725 B&B including complimentary ski hosting, guided walks and concierge service.

Eighty & fabulous

Courchevel, France

The ski resort of Courchevel goes back 80 years and offers coudrouy pistes 

Courchevel was created as one of France's earliest purpose-built ski resorts 80 years ago this winter.

Opening this December in Courchevel 1850, Maisons Pariente's Hotel Saint Roch brings 37 rooms and suites, a Tata Harper spa and a restaurant created with Parisian caviar house Prunier.

Beyond the glossy new arrival, Courchevel's enduring appeal is access to the vast Three Valleys ski area, superbly groomed pistes and one of the Alps' most formidable dining and people-watching scenes.

Book it: Doubles at Hotel Saint Roch cost from £1,114 B&B. Fly to Geneva from London from £61 return, with shared transfers to Courchevel from £39pp one-way.

Deep dive Japan

Myoko, Japan

Myoko is a beautiful and lesser-known skiing region in Japan - skiers can access hot springs too

Pair Tokyo's rich cultural scene with serious Japow (Japanese powder snow) in Myoko, a little-known region just over two hours from the capital by bullet and local train.

Specialist operator Kammui takes skiers into this deeply traditional area, which averages 15m of annual snow, opening up its five resorts and extensive backcountry with experienced local guides.

Between days bouncing over powder pillows and through silver birch forests, seek out centuries-old hidden onsen hot springs, sip sake brewed with mountain water or make your own skis with a craftsman – then take them out on the mountain.

Book it: Kammui offers a four-night guided trip into Myoko from £2,450pp including accommodation in a hot-spring ryokan, three days of guided backcountry skiing or snowboarding, private mountain transfers, breakfast and lunch, and cultural experiences.

First timers

Aspen, US

Newbies can find a new beginner programme in Aspen across the Pond, where the wide open bowls are perfect for newbies

A new beginner programme in Aspen comes with quite the incentive to master your first turns.

Book a Three-Day First Time package combining small-group tuition, lift passes and ski hire and, once you've completed the course, you'll unlock complimentary skiing and equipment hire for the rest of the season.

That means unlimited time to practise across Aspen Snowmass's four mountains and 5,700-plus acres.

Book it: Book Three-Day First Time tuition packages at aspensnowmass.com. Ten nights at The Limelight Aspen costs from £6,076pp B&B including return flights to Aspen from Heathrow and shared transfers.