Winter Ski & Snow
For the serious slope-skimmers and winter wonderland wanderers.
For the serious slope-skimmers and winter wonderland wanderers.
The swell of pride watching your rosy-cheeked little one glide down the nursery slopes, the stunned joy as they open the door to a festive elf, the playful arguments over who gets the last dip of fondu. Everyone’s definition of a winter holiday is different, but it can’t be denied, there’s nothing quite like filling lungs with crisp air while the sun turns the ground to tinsel.
When the boots are on and the goggles are at the ready, that’s when it hits – the rush of the slopes. There’s a plethora of resorts with versatile conditions and lengthy seasons for those later school holidays.
Some resorts, however, go the extra mile. Take uptown Courchevel, where even toddlers can have their first taster at the castle-style ski kindergarten, easy-going Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis whose range of runs appeal to all levels, and Whistler where Olympic standard slopes prove just as good for little legs as for athletes.
Away from the slopes, you can still enjoy the glacial landscape. In Finnish Lapland, a charming and magical meeting with Father Christmas begins with a reindeer-drawn sleigh along a fairy tale path, taking you right to the heart of the forest.
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Austria
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Canada
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France
Once in a
lifetime
Once in a
lifetime
Immersed in forests and folklore, the vast estate of Octola Private Wilderness takes you away from the crowds for a mesmerising treat as enchanting as any child – or any grown-up for that matter – could wish for. From the moment you arrive (perhaps by reindeer-drawn sleigh) it’s clear that this isn’t a hotel, a resort or even a lodge, but the most private of private homes that can be exclusively yours, where everything is within the expansive reindeer-roamed grounds.
For those who wish hard enough, Father Christmas is waiting in his hidden hut deep in the private forest for an exclusive meeting. Afterwards, there’s lunch cooked by an open fire at a Lappish kota, where the reindeer herder shares fascinating stories about Sámi culture. Teenagers seeking an alternative thrill will forever remember the day you took them zipping across the frosty landscape on snowmobiles or husky sleds. From the Michelin-level chefs to the wilderness guides, Octola’s dedicated team are all local and ready to tailor the day’s activities based on your mood.
Once in a lifetime - Issue 5
Nordic
wonderland
Nordic
wonderland
In a pristine white wilderness, just eight kilometres from Rovaniemi, you’ll find luxury pod-style rooms and suites raised on stilts. The wall-to-wall windows provide a- natural Insta-feed of the snow-clad forest and ever changing Aurora skies. Breathe in the nature that surrounds you, cosseted in fur and toasting marshmallows, before you set out on the plentiful ways to truly get to know and connect with the region.
With about as many reindeers in Lapland as there are people, learn more about the antlered icon at a local farm and watch the herders at work. Before whizzing through the forest on a family husky safari, keeping an eye out for the rabbits that dart across the snow-carpeted ground. While slowing the pace down but not retreating indoors just yet, there’s sledges and ski shoes on offer to explore the area closer to the warmth of the treehouses.
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Switzerland
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We customise every trip to you and our quotes are bespoke. We’re here to offer advice, recommendations and answer your questions.
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