Travel: Ski The Snowy Heights

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Caroline Dierckx runs the rule over just a few of the excellent ski destinations that await you.

For many years the mountain has offered a dazzling choice of amazing activities for everyone! So, of course, the ski and ‘powder’ lovers will have a great time, but also those who, at their own pace, will enjoy the benefits that each destination offers its visitors. From skiing, of course, to snowshoeing, from gastronomy to wellness, from sled dogs to bicycles, to festive events! This year once more the resorts have gone all out to make sure you enjoy new experiences.Together has pinned some of them on your winter board…

Savoie Mont Blanc: In the heart of Savoie Mont-Blanc, nestled in the Alps between the Aravis, Beaufortain and Mont Blanc ranges, you will find the four preserved villages of the Val d’Arly, which will welcome you for rich and unforgettable moments among their inhabitants. Discover an intact and authentic heritage, enjoy large ski areas, let yourself be surprised by a chamois, taste the flavours of the soil. We love: the Village of Notre Dame de Bellecombe, which is at the heart of Espace Diamant and its 192km of snow-covered slopes. Stroll through this charming village with old-world charm, where you can sip hot chocolate far from the hustle and bustle of cities. www.valdarly-montblanc.com

Morzine: There’s lots of news from Morzine this winter: new slopes; remodelled fun parks; lots of new accommodation; exciting events, such as a European women’s ski cup; new activities, including torchlight snowshoe walks in the woods with mulled wine, and escape games. We like: green initiatives and portraits of some of the locals that make Morzine the place that it is – a truly charming village, with a rich heritage that offers so much more than simply skiing and snowboarding. www.morzine-avoriaz.com

Station Les Arcs: 1 destination, 5 sites! The Arc 2000 site is dominated by the Aiguille Rouge, with a summit of Les Arcs (3,226m), the high point of the Free ride. Arc 1950 Le Village is a small 5-star nugget in the heart of Les Arcs. A pedestrian village at the foot of the lifts, upscale accommodation and access to wellness areas for all residences – a must! Arc 1800 is composed of four pedestrian villages on the edge of the forest. The site offers a wide range of après-ski and arctic festivity opportunities at Arc 1600, the Les Arcs architectural ‘lab’, where it all began. Directly connected to the brand-new funicular with a design look and eco- responsible (works 100% with electricity) at the Bourg-Saint-Maurice TGV station. The latter is the capital of Haute-Tarentaise and is the ‘base camp Les Arcs’. You can be on the slopes in seven minutes with the funicular. We love: La Folie Douce, which arrives in Les Arcs from December 14, 2019. More info: www.lafoliedouce.com www.lesarcs.com

Tignes: Tignes is the first ski area in the world to have obtained the Green Globe certification for its lifts with low ecological impact. Tignes boasts the view from the Glacier de la Grande Motte, perched at over 3,032m altitude. From there, the skiers – confirmed or otherwise – start on a legendary blue track, to the assault the 570m difference in altitude that separates them from the finish line. As for accommodation, there is a nice novelty for luxury enthusiasts in the Chalet ‘Le Kaya’, on the top floor of the contemporary building Semper Vivens in Tignes le Lac. It offers a myriad of services for an upscale holiday. We like: an unusual activity reserved for the most adventurous – ice diving, a discipline provided by the highest diving school in Europe… you couldn’t make it up! www.tignes.net