2017 is the year to step out of your comfort zone. And, whilst it may be the first month of the year freshness talking, there’s nothing like a change from routine to blow away the cobwebs.
Skiing is, in our personal opinion, one of the best ways you can spend your time and money. So, if you’re a seasoned pro (and even if you’re not), now is the time to take a chance and try out the best up and coming resorts on the circuit.
The concept of skiing in Africa may be a hard one to get your head around, particularly when you’re putting your salopettes on in the centre of one of the busiest cities in North Africa. But, just 45 miles outside of Marrakech, high up in the Atlas Mountains, sits Oukaimeden, Africa’s highest ski resort.
Its chairlift soars to the peak of the Jebel Attar, at 3,258m, and there are five stunning runs that carve down from this dizzying height. You’re a far cry from the comfort of Switzerland here, and Oukaimeden is well worth ticking off if you’re a gentleman in search of adventure.
As the self-proclaimed “Asian Mecca for winter sports”, Yongpyong in South Korea is an absolute must-visit destination for any gentleman looking to step into the extraordinary this winter.
It’s also a destination we can see picking up in popularity over the next couple of years, so you’re going to want to visit it before it suffers from an onslaught of tourists. It has already seen a spike in popularity since it hosted events during 1999 Asian Winter Games and, with 31 slopes and 15 different chairlifts, you’re guaranteed to have plenty of choice – and plenty of challenge.
Skiing in Afghanistan might seem like a far-fetched dream, but it’s actually slowly becoming one of the most highly-regarded skiing destinations in the world. The Koh-e-Baba Mountain Range is one of the most desirable places to ski in the Middle East, and sits approximately 180km west of the capital Kabul.
This is adventure at its finest and even though the luxury of resorts such as Verbier are worlds away; there’s one tiny shop hiring skis and nothing else, don’t let that stop you.
Skiing in Australia might conjure up images of fake snow and indoor slopes, but Mount Mawson in Tasmania offers quite the opposite. Located within the Mount Field National park in Southern Tasmania, the resort offers 4km of slopes, with three chairlifts at elevations of between 1,200 and 1,300m and some of the finest skiing to come out of the Southern Hemisphere.
If you’re craving fresh powder during the summer months, this is the perfect place to get it: the season runs from July to mid-September and, rather surprisingly, has fairly consistent snowfall across the Australian winter.
Mzaar Kfardebian is the largest ski area in both Lebanon and the Middle East. Situated one hour from Beirut, it’s often referred to as the “Switzerland of the Middle East”. And, although travelling to this part of the world will take much research, preparation and advice from the Tourist Board, it’s a challenge worth the undertaking.
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