Every year, visitors throng to Niseko to see the amazing powder snow that has since earned it a reputation as one of Asia’s leading winter travel destinations. But the fun doesn’t stop there; head to the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, deep into Niseko Hirafu village, to enjoy the world-famous Niseko ski fields.
Whether it’s joining an adventure of off-trail skiing in Niseko during winter or taking up the challenge of a mountain bike tour from Sapporo, this beautiful winter wonderland ca
Photos: David Paul Appell
Nearly 20 years ago I visited Norge for the first time – on a press trip sponsored by Visit Norway to capital Oslo, historic second city Bergen, and a Hurtigruten cruise to the fjords and up to far-northern Svalbard. It was all beautiful, of course, but it was in summertime, and over this past Christmas and New Year´s I had to privilege of coming back in winter. Naturally, it was a whole different – and a chilling yet in many ways even more enchanting – experience.
PickPik
Winter may now already be on its way out, but if this one’s for anyone already thinking of next season. A couple of months ago, in preparation for a whirl through the winter wonderland above Norway’s Arctic Circle, I realized that the usual winter togs that serve me well enough in Spain just weren’t going to cut it in serious snow, ice, and temperatures forecasted to drop as low as 5⁼ Fahrenheit (-15⁼ Celsius). So I educated myself about what new cold-weather clothes gear I would need
by Felice Hardy
Did you know that you can ski in 274 countries - even including Hawaii and South Africa? The skiing countries of the world certainly do vary a lot, but if you're yearning for world-class winter sports outside cute, classic little chocolate-box villages with friendly family-run hotels and chalet-style architecture like the gingerbread house out of Hansel and Gretel - and perhaps cosy, gemütlich mountain eateries serving heart-warming comfort food - the Austrian Alps are yo
Nestled amidst the Switzerland´s majestic Bernese Alps an hour´s drive from Bern and just under two from Zurich, this charming Alpine village with a permanent population of around 3,800 is a paradise for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. With its breathtaking landscapes, exciting activities, and charming Swiss village ambiance, this destination offers an unforgettable experience. In this complete guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about Grindelwald-First.
The villag
I daresay snow sport will come to no one's mind when contemplating the fascinating North African country of Morocco. But more adventurous types might know that the high, craggy Atlas Mountains sweep across a goodly swath of this country, giving rise not just to a robust trekking and climbing scene, but even some pretty good skiing and snowboarding, with the season running January to early April - and what's more, even within convenient distance of Marr
by Felice Hardy
Die Schweiz/La Suisse is where it all began. For example, ski holidays first took hold in St. Moritz and ski racing in the Mürren-Wengen area, while Davos was where one of the Alps‘ first ski lifts was constructed and the first skis were imported from Norway.
The railway has been of utmost importance to Switzerland skiing, since people took their first turns on snow in the 19th century, and even today, rail can often be the quickest and most effi
