Unusual Skiing Holidays Destinations
When people think of skiing holidays destinations they most often think of traditional skiing territories such as France, Austria and Switzerland. However, as regular ski holiday goers seek whiter pistes and post-recession skiers seek cheaper skiing holidays, the stalwart ski resorts are being summarily dumped by some in favour of more unusual ski holiday destinations. Here’s our round up of the some of the most unexpected.
Romania
In common with much of Eastern Europe, Romania has opened up in recent years to western tourism in general, but has also thrown up a couple of good ski resorts. The most exciting of these is Poiana Brasov in the Transylvanian mountains which offers up the opportunity to go skiing in the shadow of Bran Castle: Dracula’s purported home.
Other than stunning scenery, and potentially terrifying backdrops, Romania also offers cheap as anything skiing holidays with one-on-one ski tuition costing less per hour then group tuition in one of the more established French resorts, and a full 3 courses of hearty Romania food coming in at less than a plate of chips and a coke in Switzerland.
Iran
Iran may currently be subject to the toughest sanctions the EU has ever dished out, and may be at the heart of many fears and human rights abuses, but the skiing isn’t bad. Although in the Middle East, it is more the influence of Lawrence of Arabia and wall to wall TV coverage of two Iraq wars conducted in the desert that has forged the unbreakable link between Middle East and desert in the western mind.
In fact, the largest ski resort Dizin is located in the Alborz mountains that surround Tehran, so skiing is not even that remote. Skiing holidays in Iran used to be dogged by gender separation, but perhaps in the face of the impossibility of enforcing segregation on the side of a mountain, male/female interaction is perfectly acceptable in the Iranian mountains. And although ******* is officially still banned at this altitude, the enterprising skier can get round it without too much trouble if they are careful.
Morocco
If skiing holidays in the Middle East don’t quite do it for you, but skiing in a renowned desert country is still an ambition, Morocco may be the answer. It may seem odd to be putting on ski gear in the blazing sun of Africa, but Morocco does in fact offer skiing at the resort of Oukaimeden, 45 miles south of the city of Riad Akka in the Atlas Mountains. It is Africa’s highest ski resort.
The skiing is certainly not easy, and you will have to be careful about who you select to be your guide (there are many unofficial workers who don’t quite know what they’re doing), but if you absolutely must have a skiing holiday in a desert country, then Morocco can provide that.
