Top seven European snowsure resorts for Easter

15th March 2010

Tignes, France

Top seven European snowsure resorts for Easter

It may not be the prettiest of ski resorts (Sorry guys it's not), but Tignes has a real soft spot in our hearts mainly 'cos it so high - slopes between 1,550m-3,450m, which makes it one of the most snow-sure resorts in the Alps. You can expect good snow cover, even on runs down to the village, as late as May, and there's also year-round skiing  on the Grande Motte glacier (excluding brief closures mid-May to mid-June, and from September to October). Tignes is linked to Val d'Isère creating the MASSIVE Espace Killy ski circuit.

Saas Fee, Switzerland

Car-free "sweet" little village, lined with chocolate-box chalets and surrounded by a ring of 4,000m-high peaks, is often hailed as "the prettiest ski village in Europe". Saas Fee is also one of the most reliable resorts in Switzerland for late-season snow, with most of its runs above 2,500m and north-facing. It also has a glacier ski area, which is open most of the year.

Obergurgl, Austria

In general, Austria isn't the first place you would consider for late-season snow due to lower altitudes. However, Obergurgl is one of the exceptions; it is Austria's highest resort, with slopes between 1,795m-3,080m, arguably the most reliable of Europe's non-glacier resorts.

Cervinia, Italy

With slopes reaching as high as 3,480m, Cervinia is one of the highest resorts in Europe and despite a lot of afternoon sun you can expect superb snow conditions late in the season. Grooming is excellent, too, and it has miles of long, cruising pistes that are unbeatable for intermediates. It's linked with Zermatt in Switzerland, and it is possible to cruise between the two countries from November until the start of May.

Val Thorens, France

At 2,300m, this car-free, purpose-built resort is the highest in Europe, with more than 140km of its pistes above 3,000m. With most of these north-facing, it is unrivalled for late season snow - you can expect excellent conditions right through to the end of April. The resort, which is part of the vast Trois Vallées ski area, is so confident about snow reliability that it offers a snow guarantee that at least 70% of its lifts will be open, with free skiing days on a future visit if this guarantee is not met.

Zermatt, Switzerland

Like its Italian neighbour Cervina, conditions in Zermatt are usually excellent well into April. The car-free resort, which has some of the best gourmet mountain restaurants in the Alps, also boasts some of the highest slopes in Europe: 85% of the resort's ski area is above 2,000m. The predominantly north-facing slopes can be bitterly cold in December/January, but by April you can expect plenty of sunshine, with slopes in as good condition as they are midwinter.

Kaprun, Austria

Like Obergurgl, Kaprun is another snow-sure Austrian resort. Together with neighbouring Zell am See, it offers 130km of pistes, 50km of which are found on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, where snow is guaranteed 365 days a year.

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