For many, skiing is a big financial burden and serious work, so most skiers want to spend their winter vacation in one of the famous, large, snow-supplied winter sports centers. The rest of us are different, we like to go to unknown places, the experiences of places and people are more important to us, but if the experience is spiced with a pinch of adventure, so much the better! If we hit the slopes of the next few ski resorts, we will definitely be the stars of this winter, maybe not because of the kilometers traveled, but definitely because of the stories we will bring home.
Hermon, Israel
It is true that sending tourists to the Middle East is not exactly advisable, but the Holy Land is an exception. Despite the tense political situation, Israel is a country that attracts crowds of visitors, and the reasons for visiting are religious, historical, sociological and, less often, skiing. But the country, which most people imagine as a desert, also has a colder side. In the north of the country, on the Golan Heights, favorable conditions for skiing develop in the winter months.
Mount Hermon is the only ski center in Israel, with ski slopes at an altitude of 1,600 to 2,140 meters above sea level. The ski season is short, as it lasts only from January to March, and in the winter months around 300,000 visitors flock to the snow, while in the summer months the center is a sports and recreation center in which around 40,000 active holidaymakers move in the fresh mountain air. Skiers can enjoy approximately 28 kilometers of ski tracks, eleven ski lifts, a ski school and a ski equipment rental shop. Two tracks have been confirmed by the International Ski Federation as suitable for the biggest competitions, while the other slopes would be classified as children's training grounds by the major skiing nations, but the fun is important, and there is no shortage of it, as visitors can also have fun on a snow slide or toboggan run.
www.skihemron.co.il
Tiffindell, Republic of South Africa
When winter begins in the southern hemisphere, one of the few African ski centers, Tiffindell, also comes to life. After a thorough renovation of the center, it was reopened last June, and the winter season lasts there until September. The ski center at an altitude of 2,720 meters was opened in 1993 and from modest beginnings it has developed into a center with artificial snowmaking facilities, cable cars, a restaurant and a ski equipment shop. There aren't many ski slopes, 1.3 kilometers in total, but they count the organization of the South African national ski and snowboard competition among their successes, which is understandable, since they are the only ski center in the Republic of South Africa. Apparently, skiing in South Africa is as exotic as a safari in Tyrol, the small ski resort with accommodation capacity for about 150 guests advertises its offer as a place for a family holiday, where the family can pile and build a snowman, take a ride on a snow slide, the Ice Station bar on the ski slope is the highest "pub" in the Republic of South Africa.
www.tiffindell.co.za
Pas de la Casa, Andorra
One of Europe's smallest countries and a popular shopping spot for anyone who thinks a duty-free zone is a reason to splurge, it also boasts the highest ski resort in the Pyrenees. Pas de la Casa, or Pas for short, is located at 2,000 meters above sea level, just a few hundred meters from the French border, and the highest chairlift will take us to a height of 2,640 meters. From the installation of the first chairlifts in 1957 to the present day, the Grandvalira ski region has opened up, mainly by connecting the center of Pase de la Casa with the neighboring centers of Soldeu, El Tarter, Canillo and Encamp, which offers 210 kilometers of ski slopes.
Life in Grandvalira doesn't end when the lifts stop operating, the ski region is famous as the Ibiza of the Pyrenees and quite a few bars don't close until late in the morning. Tired night owls who can't get on their skis the next day can enjoy car rides on icy surfaces, paintball and other manly things.
www.pasdelacasa-andorra.com
Dizin, Shemshak and Tocal, Iran
Planning a visit to a Middle Eastern country is a bit like a lottery, but despite constant threats to attack one of the worst enemies of the United States of America and a member of the "axis of evil", Iran remains a peaceful country whose cultural and natural riches are surpassed only by the sincere hospitality of its people. Although in the country it is necessary to obey some laws of the Islamic Republic (alcohol is prohibited, women must wear a headscarf), Iran has been attracting a large number of Slovenians for years, from seasonal tourists to mountaineers and skiers. Iran's most popular ski resorts lie in the Albrus mountain range, only about two hours' drive from Tehran. Dizin (the largest) and Šemšak are among the most popular, while Točal is the closest to the capital. Dizin is Iran's highest ski resort, and it lies at an altitude of 2,650 meters, and the lifts rise to as much as 3,600 meters, which ensures excellent snow conditions for the ski resort, while Šemšak is located at an altitude of 2,250 meters and although it cannot be compared to the alpine mega ski resorts, it is considered the most cosmopolitan Iranian ski resort. Which, of course, does not mean that we will be able to order mulled wine, bombardina or a similar concoction, known from western ski resorts, in the cafes on the ski resort, but the apple approximation of beer also quenches thirst. You also need to prepare for the culture shock that the Islamic Republic's strict regulations present to Westerners. On most ski resorts, men and women are forbidden to ski together, some ski resorts have special tracks for different genders, or one track is partitioned off, men can meander down one part, and women down the other. Even the lines on the chairlifts are divided, which is not a bad thing, because the women's lines are always much shorter.
Brezovica, Kosovo
Jahorina, Popova Šapka, Kopaonik are "out", the new winter mecca for those who are nostalgic for the south is Kosovo, or for skiers, the Brezovica center. The ski center on the slopes of Šar Planina began to be developed in the 1950s, and during the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo in 1984, Brezovica was chosen as an alternative ski course, in case the competitions on Jahorina and Bjelašnica could not be held. Later, the ski resort was largely neglected, gradually developing only in the last few years. The main attraction of the center is that it has guaranteed snow from mid-November to almost May, and on average there are as many as 128 skiing days in the season.
Although the number of routes is still insignificant compared to larger European centers, the current nine routes, from 300 to 3,500 meters long, are far from the final number, with investments in recent years, the center is expanding, both in terms of surface area and catering and accommodation offer and even the organization of some important competitions in the region. It is certain that Brezovica will soon be on the program of Slovenian agencies that offer skiing with plenty of fun.
www.brezovicaresort.com
Slopes of the Great Atlas, Morocco
Africa's largest and highest ski center lies on the slopes of the Great Atlas in Morocco. Oukaimeden is a village that, only with a lot of imagination, resembles alpine villages with a highly developed ski infrastructure. Although there are a few hotels in the village, snow is not guaranteed, so it is better to stay in Marrakesh, about 80 kilometers away, and go on a ski trip for a day. The layout and markings of the trails cannot be compared to Europe, but when there is enough snow, it is fun to take a slow cable car to an altitude of 3,258 meters and enjoy a wonderful view of the Atlas Mountains.
The ski center boasts a ski school, a rental shop, not exactly the latest ski equipment, and restaurants, so that a day spent on one of the twenty trails, five of which are worth mentioning, while the rest would be easier to run than cross-ski, really satisfies those , who cannot do without at least a little snow. The most fun part of skiing in Morocco is the morning walk through Marrakesh in short sleeves and ski equipment.
www.visitmorocco.com
