New Year Skiing
Ski out the old year then welcome in the new, surrounded by mountains - we can’t think of a better way to spend New Year’s week!
New Year Ski Resorts
There are dozens of ways to spend New Year’s Eve in ski resorts: drinking wine by your chalet’s log fire, dancing in your moonboots, dressed up for a posh soiree, devouring Alpine cuisine, hitting the hay early for a skiing-filled January 1st… So however you want to spend your evening, there’s bound to be somewhere to suit.
Torchlight descents and firework displays are the most commonly found festivities in ski resorts on December 31st – usually organised by the ski school and tourist office.
If you want to escape the hype at home, quiet resorts that mark the occasion with a mere sparkler or two (if that), might be just what you’re looking for. Have a chalet or apartment to yourselves and how you spend the 31st December is entirely up to you.
At the other end of the scale, plenty of resorts can see you celebrating ‘til the cows come home with stonking firework displays (sometimes several), open air DJ parties and themed events in local bars. For more on the best of the best hogmanay ski destinations, check out our list of the Top 10 New Year’s Ski Resorts which really push the boat out for NYE.
We love resorts with quirky traditions (like Klosters with its piglet race) and some put on prestigious events (like the Philharmonie Salzburg concert in Zell am See). The best family destinations give children a chance to celebrate without straying too far from their usual bedtimes – Morzine’s main firework display tends to take place in the early evening rather than midnight and a lot of the American resorts have child and teen friendly parties before it gets too late.
If you want the week to be just as festive as Christmas itself (if not more), some towns and resorts with Christmas markets keep their stalls stocked into January. Last time we checked, Seefeld’s ended on New Year’s Day, with Cortina’s continuing for a week after that. For the most Christmassy New Year’s that can be, have a look at our Lapland holidays where you can ski in Santa’s homeland, meet the man himself and take a reindeer sleigh ride. You might even catch the ultimate New Year’s Eve light show – the Northern Lights.
New Year Snow
Of course, it’s about the skiing as much as the celebrations - if you want to start the year schussing on the best snow possible, pick one of our most snow sure resorts. These have some or all of the following: high altitudes, skiable glaciers, great December snowfall, extensive snow cannon coverage, pistes facing all directions and lots of ‘em (the south facing ones will be the sunniest). Some resorts run an early gondola for skiers who want to watch the sunrise and make first tracks on New Year’s Day (Niseko’s one of the pioneers of this), and it makes for a truly spectacular start to the year.
Late December / early January tends to be one of the coldest parts of the season, so layer up with thermals and fleeces and get good quality gloves to keep you snug.
New Year Ski Packages
Our packages over New Year’s week 2024/2025 are your ticket to the action, including the world's prettiest, snowiest and most fun resorts.
There’s all sorts of ski accommodation for New Year skiers: Want a big party on your doorstep? Hotels with their own nightclubs (like the Madlein in Ischgl, home to PACHA) will see you dancing ‘til dawn, moments from your room. Adopting the New Year, New You mentality? Pick a spa hotel or a luxury chalet with its own spa and welcome January completely rejuvenated. Away with the brood? Book out a chalet for sole occupancy and share it with just your nearest and dearest.
Most of our catered chalets mark the occasion with a celebratory slap up supper, while half board hotels often host gala dinners for guests. If you’re self-catering, you can choose between a New Year’s Eve set menu in one of the local restaurants (you’ll want to book these well in advance) and cooking up your own celebratory meal at home.
If you know where you want to go skiing this new year, select your resort from the search above to see what’s available. If you need some pointers, drop us a line and let us know what kind of thing you’re looking for. With departures from more UK regional airports than anyone else, a wide selection of self-drive holidays and train options too, we can be sure of finding you just the right holiday.
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