The Alps: an ideal destination for ski-touring.

The Alps is where the modern ski-mountaineering was started and developed. The mountain valleys have been inhabited since many centuries ago, which explains why we find so many villages also at high altitude, and even small cities at lower elevation.

At the beginning of the industrial area, the Alps suffered an initial trend of abandonment, since the working population was moving to the major  cities or abroad for living. However, thanks to the ski tourism, this trend was stopped and even inverted later on. Nowadayas most  people in the mountan valleys of the Alps enjoy a good standard of living and the quality of services in the tourism industry is rather high.

Ski lifts and pistes are present in many valleys, but there are still a great amount of areas rather wild, with no lifts and very few visitors during the winter.
The Alps are a ski touring paradise. You will find all kinds of terrain (forest, open slopes, glaciers, steep couloirs) and the possibility to perform challenging traverses  from valley to valley, thanks to the great availability of access roads and mountain huts.

In the vast alpine region, which country should we choose for our ski touring vacation ?

We anticipate that all countries around the Alps offer great skiing and the possibility to enjoy the best skiing experience. Yet, there are some differences or peculiarities, that may suggest you to decide this year to visit a country, and maybe next year to visit another one.

Here below are some consideration and criteria  to be possibly taken into account as to choose the destination which best suits your needs.
Be aware that we only mention the peculiar features of each country; we do not mention some obvious parameters that are equal and at top level for all countries, such as:  presence of modern and efficient lifts, availability of local qualified mountain guides, ample choice of all categories accomodation; efficient mountain rescue in case of need.

Austria

Accomodation: here we possibly find the best quality/price ratio. Most hotels and guesthouses are small size and family owned with a good standard of services even in 1 or 2 stars hotels.
Mountain huts: austrian huts are in average the best ones in the Alps and featuring a good  quality/price ratio, except those close to major ski resorts which may be expensive; many huts offer services similar to the ones found in hotels (hot showers, etc.)
Food: austrian cuisine is good quality but lacks a bit of variety. Great beers.
Mountain terrain: great variety , but lacks the highest 4000+ peaks of France, Italy, and Switzerland; due to the density of mountain population and lifts, is less easy to find wild areas with untouched slopes.
Heliski: allowed in some few spots.

France

Accomodation: you find all kind of accomodation choice, but be careful with the quality of 1 or 2 stars hotels which may occasionally be rather poor.
Mountain huts: you may find great huts but also some with less cared rooms and meals.
Food: french cuisine is famous, yet not easy to find in tourist areas or in normal (not luxury) restaurants. Great wines.
Lifts: are generally modern and very fast, due to local regulations which allow high running speeds.
Mountain terrain: great and various as in Italy and Switzerland.
Special mention: Chamonix gathers the largest climbing and skiing community in the world.
Another special mention: the IGN 1:25ooo topographic maps are (to our opinion) the best maps all over for mountaineering activities.
Heliski: not allowed.

Italy

Accomodation: same consideration as  for France, except the north-eastern regions (South Tyrol and Trentino) where standards are like Austria’s.
Mountain huts: same as for France, but with more positive notes on the meals provided, which are often of excellent quality yet cheap.
Food: no doubt the best cuisine available, with an exceptional variety by regions, at a reasonable cost. Also great wines.
Lifts: not a high density (except the Dolomites area) and sometimes a bit old.
Mountain terrain: a great variety as in France and Switzerland, but obviously on a more extended areas (whole alpine range from west to east); easier to find wild areas.
Heliski: allowed in some few spots.

Slovenia

Accomodation: generally may be considered not at same standards and variety of choice of the other three countries, but quickly improving.
Mountain huts: quite good standards and cheap.
Food: some very good meals  at reasonable cost. Great game dishes.
Lifts: there are a few major ski resorts and well equipped.
Mountain terrain: obviously less choice than in the other three countries (lacks high elevations and glaciers), but  there are some good spots for technical ski-mountaineering and steep skiing; features many wild and little visited areas.
Heliski: allowed in some few spots.

Switzerland

Accomodation: generally good standard also in 1 or 2 stars hotels, but very or extremely expensive.
Mountain huts: good quality of services, almost like in Austria, but expensive.
Food: same considerations as for Austria but sorry, and again, prices are very high for non-swiss residents.
Mountain terrain: great and Berner Oberland featuring the largest alpine glacier area; however in some regions is not easy to find wilderness and untouched slopes.
Special mention: great CNS 1:25ooo topographic maps of the whole territory, also available for consultation on line.
Roads: the best network in the Alps and easy access also in winter;  even small villages can be
reached by public transport;  toll-free highways.
Heliski: allowed in some few spots.

Conclusion: do you have a favourite country ? Perhaps not, since all are jewel destinations for ski mountaineering and freeride.  Our best suggestion is to visit them all and just enjoy world class skiing !