The Hindu Business Line : Head for those skiing resorts

Many of Europe's skiing resorts can be approached by road, with the bigger ones having direct air connections from major cities. They have plenty to offer even to non-skiing enthusiasts.

When it comes to skiing, the overcrowded Swiss slopes are a hot destination for many, but there are people who are increasingly choosing the mountain ranges in other European countries for better skiing and value for money.

Europe's skiing resorts are approachable by road and the bigger ones have direct air connections from major cities. They are also equipped with simple and deluxe facilities. However, due to a heavy rush it is always advisable to book them in advance. For first timers, the best advice would be to avail of the all-inclusive package of one to two weeks, which most tourist companies offer.

The European skiing season starts from December and ends in the first week of May. However, it is better to avoid skiing in Europe during Christmas and New Year as there are long lift lines and the weather conditions also do not positively ensure snow.

Take your pick from some of the best non-Swiss resorts in Europe described below.

Val d'Isere (France): Val d'Isere has had good reputation since the medieval Dukes of Savoy chose the place for their hunting holidays. This resort town built around a quaint 16th-century church lies on the Col de l'Iseran, the highest pass in the Alps; the base elevation is 6,068 ft.

Chamonix (France): The presence of towering Mont-Blanc has made Chamonix, with a base elevation of 1,000 metres, the most famous resort in the French Alps (which are connected to Courmayeur in Italy by the Tunnel du Mont-Blanc). The snowscapes amid the spires and glaciers of a whole range of 13,120-ft mountains are spectacular, and the telepherique ride to the Aiguille du Midi, with or without skis, is one of the greatest European experiences.

The lively nightlife, the fine French cuisine and the busy casino all make the resort a delight for any visitor.

Kitzbuehel (Austria): Don't be put off by the comparatively low altitude (800 metres). The region is a famous snow bowl that often has better ski conditions. Kitzbuehel is colourful, animated and international. The town is a kind of Tyrolean showpiece with white peaks rising behind brightly painted buildings. Cable cars and chair lifts connect its ski areas with four neighbouring towns to give you fantastic skiing possibilities. If you prefer less glitter, lodge a little down the road at the charming St Johan-in-Tyrol, convenient to all the Kitzbuehel's facilities.

Obergurgl (Austria): One of the highest villages in the Alps, Obergurgl is far less known as a ski resort and is more of a mountaineering centre. Located at the end of the 50-km Oetzal Road (off the main Innsbruck highway), it has a pleasant Shangri-La quality. The 6,232-ft base elevation means both later sunlight and higher wind, and you will return to the flatland sporting a healthy-looking bronze. There are many restaurants and hotels to suit any budget.

Zuers-Lech (Austria): Lech, a friendly, sunny mountain village on the shores of the River Lech, and Zuers, which emerged as a sort of hotel colony when skiing boomed in the Voralberg, offers excellent, lift-linked slopes and broad snowfields. There is a wonderful run all the way down to St Anton, and you can make the return trip on the bright yellow Austrian postal bus. With a base elevation of 4,756 ft, this is a good area to try in early winter and late spring as well.

Starye Smokovec (Slovakia): Eastern Europe's best skiing is found at the heart of the high Tatras Mountain, in a region full of deep woods, frozen lakes, and craggy peaks. For skiing, there are jumps and slalom runs and long, gentle cross-country trails. The base elevation is 1,000 metres, and with the mood being pastoral and low key, you won't feel out of place in the last season's gear here. Moreover, it is quite inexpensive and one can spend a good week here.

Garmish-Partenkirchen (Germany): Americans discovered this Alpine ski resort with a 2,296-ft base elevation, back in the 1950s. The area is not only good for skiing but is also a great place for family vacations, offering a good many eye-catching tourist spots. The town itself is large, modern and busy, and there is a whole range of winter sports activities, including curling and bobsledding, to engage the visitor. High above is the 9,840-ft Zugspitze, Germany's tallest mountain, whose peak, miraculously, is accessible by cog railway and cable car. There is a fine assortment of lifts and trails for every grade of skier, and the facilities are scrupulously maintained.

Reit im Winkl (Germany): Once again this is more of a family winter resort. Yet, with 19 tows and three chair lifts fanned out over a cluster of broad plateaus and mild peaks, it is suitable for beginners and intermediates alike. There is a four-km toboggan trail, with a smaller version for children, and a fleet of horse-drawn sleighs for drives in the country.

Cortina D'Ampezzo (Italy): The country's number one ski-resort, which attracts a stylish, predominantly Italian, crowd. It is now one of the best-equipped ski-towns in the Alps. One of its specialty pursuits is ice-skating in the huge open shell of its Winter Olympic Stadium, which you can have to yourself on virtually anytime except during the Christmas/New Year rush. A lift network that links a series of high passes allows you to cover a great deal of terrain without ever doubling back, and a powerful sun is always there even in February and March to remind you that the Mediterranean is only a few hours away.

Livigno (Italy): The characteristic wooden houses of this curious, little-known village is strung out for about 12 km of a valley near the Italian and Swiss frontiers. Not so long ago, these broad snowfields, the pretty lake, the gentle landscape and the limitless horizon were the sole preserve of the cross-country skiers. Now, there's downhill skiing as well. The region's development has been enthusiastic though not excessive, and the area offers several hostelries and a number of attractive slopes with a base elevation of 6,068 ft.

Cogne (Italy): If you like less strenuous cross-country skiing then there is no better place than Hotel Bellevue at Cogne, a small village in its own Alpine valley near the Roman town of Asosta. Every room at the Bellevue is a showcase of local craft furniture; even the toys in the hotel crèche are antiques. The Cogne valley has some of the best-known cross-country trails in Italy. From the Hotel doorstep, skiers glide and skate along, following the valley floor up into the Gran Paradise National Park, where ibex are often seen sunning themselves on the lower slopes of Italy's highest mountain. Downhill skiers are allowed in, but must commute to Aosta's excellent local ski resort, Pila, half an hour away.

Fjords of Oslo (Norway): Ski jumping originated near Oslo in 1879. The Holmenkollen Ski Jump, which can be seen from most parts of Oslo, has been a landmark since it was built in 1952 for the Winter Olympics. The jumping tower is 184 ft high and its summit is 1,350 ft above the fjord overlooking Oslo. There is a ski museum inside the take-off structure.

Even if you don't become an expert skier with some of the world's best ski resorts at your disposal, don't worry, as there are plenty of activities around to keep you busy. Skiingresorts are ideal to rediscover your senses, so let your numbed nose thaw out after a trip on the slope. Catch your breath while trekking up a mountain — simply to enjoy the view. Or watch some fabulous performances by famous film stars and top international celebrities. Soak yourself in miles of snow, ride a horse, take a ski-lift or hold your heart aboard a helicopter to your first hell-ski run.

Fact file

How to get there: A Schengen Visa permits travel to all the destinations mentioned above. All major tourist offices of the respective countries have detailed information and a special combined pass for trains and buses up to the slopes is available.

Tips: Weekdays from February to April are the most affordable. Make sure you choose the all-inclusive packages. For a family trip, German and Austrian resorts provide all round entertainment including sightseeing in nearby tourist places. Skiing gears are available on rent. Do not forget to carry sun screen lotion, hand gloves, woollen skiing caps and as many number of woollen socks.

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