Beginner Ski & Snowboard Resorts

The Best Beginner Ski & Snowboard Resorts

Whether you have never been on a set of skis before or you are just progressing from the nursery slopes the last thing a beginner wants is to be dumped onto a slope that is too difficult for them.

Not only will that damage their confidence but is also dangerous. To get better you must try harder slopes but the learning curve must be sensible and not rushed. Our resort reviews help guide beginners on their way to becoming proficient by suggesting suitable slopes for them to progress on to. Check our favourite resorts for beginners below.

Top 5 Beginner Ski & Snowboard Resorts

passo tonale

Passo Tonale

High and snow sure with plenty of cheap accommodation Passo Tonale is an appealing resort...
Passo Tonale Info

alpe duez

Alpe d'Huez

Alpe d’Huez is a big league resort rivalling the best the Alps has to offer,...
Alpe d'Huez Info

flaine

Flaine

Flaine is one of France’s premier resorts because of its excellent skiing facilities rather than...
Flaine Info

sestriere

Sestriere

Part of the huge Milky Way circuit (offering 400 kms of slopes), Sestriere is a...
Sestriere Info

cortina

Cortina d’Ampezzo

Set amongst some of the most stunning scenery you will ever see, Cortina d’Ampezzo has...
Cortina d’Ampezzo Info


passo tonale

Passo Tonale

(Resort height - 1121m - 3016m)

Passo Tonale in Italy is an appealing ski and snowboard resort ideal for beginners who are looking to progress. The resort is high and snow sure and the Presena glacier guarantees good snow, slopes are generally wide, sunny and well groomed. The link to the nearby resort of Ponte di Legno has increased Passo Tonale’s extent too.

Great for...

Snow sure Snow sure
★★★★★Beginner
★★★Intermediate
★★Advanced
★★Off-Piste
Beginners Beginners
★★★Snowboarding
★★★★★Snow Reliability
★★Apres-Ski
★★Extent
Good value Good value
★★Mountain Restaurants
★★★Scenery
★★Village Charm
★★Non-Skiers

WHY IT’S GREAT FOR BEGINNERS
Passo Tonale is a fantastic ski and snowboard resort for beginners and those who want gentle, snow sure and well groomed slopes.

The slopes are split over 3 areas and the best area for beginners stretches along the main road that passes through Passo Tonale. These slopes are served by a series of lifts and the runs are all easy blue and red runs, and all fairly short which makes Passo Tonale ideal for beginners and those looking to progress.

There are a couple of schools operating in Passo Tonale offering skiing and snowboarding tuition to all ages and abilities. The Tonale Presena Ski and Snowboarding School has group  and private lessons, the other school offering tuition is the Ski & Snowboard School Ponte di Legno Tonale, again offering group and private lessons.

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alpe duez

Alpe d'Huez

(Resort height - 1860m - 3330m)

Alpe d’Huez in France is a popular ski and snowboard resort and one of the best in the Alps. It’s great for all abilities with challenging off piste and genuine black runs, long cruisey blue and red runs and is also ideal for beginners with a specific beginners’ ski area just above the village.

Great for...

Beginners Beginners
★★★★★Beginner
★★★★★Intermediate
★★★★Advanced
★★★★Off-Piste
Extensive area Extensive area
★★★★★Snowboarding
★★★★Snow Reliability
★★★★Apres-Ski
★★★★Extent
Intermediates Intermediates
★★★★Mountain Restaurants
★★★Scenery
★★Village Charm
★★★★Non-Skiers

WHY IT’S GREAT FOR BEGINNERS
Alpe d’Huez has a great nursery area and selection of green runs directly above the village so it is ideal for beginners and first timers. You can access these runs directly from Alpe d’Huez via the 1st stage of the DMC gondola or via the Romains chair lift from the village of Les Bergers.

In the Signal sector there are blue runs that take you back down to Alpe d’Huez and these would be a great starting point for braver beginners. From here if you are feeling like exploring there are further blue and red runs that lead down to Villard-Reculas, these are more challenging and a bit longer too.

There are a few ski schools in Alpe d’Huez to choose from. The ESF (Ecole du Ski Francais) is the local French ski school, there are also a couple of ski schools geared specially for the British market. British Masterclass is one such school and the other British aimed ski school is Stance.

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flaine

Flaine

(Resort height - 700 - 2561m)

Flaine in France lies at the bottom of a big wide open bowl and offers something for everyone. It is one of France’s premier ski and snowboard resorts as has some excellent snow facilities, particularly for beginners. You can also access the nearby ski and snowboard resorts of Samoens, Morillon and Les Carroz so have a huge skiable area to explore.

Great for...

Snow sure Snow sure
★★★★★Beginner
★★★★★Intermediate
★★★★Advanced
★★Off-Piste
Beginners Beginners
★★★★Snowboarding
★★★★Snow Reliability
★★Apres-Ski
★★★Extent
Intermediates Intermediates
★★Mountain Restaurants
★★★Scenery
★★Village Charm
★★Non-Skiers

WHY IT’S GREAT FOR BEGINNERS
Flaine has a variety of nursery slopes that are situated close to the village ideal for beginners, there are also other green and blue runs nearby when you are ready to progress further afield.

The gondola in the centre of Flaine whisks you up to the top of the bowl, here you can access a variety of blue runs including the Serpentine, Belzebuth, Zeolite and Cristal for some comfortable skiing. If your legs still have the energy you can also try out the Les Cascades (a long 14km blue run) that takes you down to the village of Sixt, from here you will need to catch the bus back to Samoens.

Also the Desert Blanc chairlift gives you access to more blue runs that take you back down to Flaine. The nearby slopes of Morillon, Samoens, and Les Carroz are all fairly extensive and should also be explored if you have the time.

There are a number of ski schools serving Flaine including the ESF (Ecole du ski Francais) and the ESI (Ecole de Ski Internationale) they offer ski and boarding lessons for both children and adults, group lessons and private lessons too.

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sestriere

Sestriere

(Resort height - 1350m - 2823m)

Sestriere in Italy is a high, snow sure ski and snowboard resort and is part of the vast Milky Way circuit, which opens up 400 kms of slopes, taking in Sauze d’Oulx and Sansicario. Sestriere hosted some of the 2006 Winter Olympic events so improvements to the resort have been made in recent years. The resort is known for appealing to intermediate skiers but beginners are also very well catered for.

Great for...

Beginners Beginners
★★★★Beginner
★★★★★Intermediate
★★★Advanced
★★★Off-Piste
Extensive area Extensive area
★★★Snowboarding
★★★★Snow Reliability
★★★Apres-Ski
★★★★★Extent
Intermediates Intermediates
★★★Mountain Restaurants
★★★Scenery
★★Village Charm
★★★Non-Skiers

WHY IT’S GREAT FOR BEGINNERS
The slopes are split over 2 areas – Sises and Motta. Sises caters well for beginners as it has some nursery slopes along with some gentle blues to progress on to. Higher up there are more red runs but lower down the mountain you will discover a few blue runs to practice on. You can access Motta from Sises via blue runs but Motta is more challenging so best to explore when you’ve mastered a few basics.

There are a couple of ski schools in Sestriere offering skiing and snowboarding tuition to all ages and abilities. Ski School Sestriere offer group and private lessons, Ski School Vialattea again offer group and private lessons in skiing, boarding and freeriding.

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cortina

Cortina d’Ampezzo

(Resort height - 1224m - 3243m)

Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy is a charming ski and snowboard resort with some of the most beautiful scenery you will see. It caters for most abilities and is ideal for beginners with some long cruisey blues to explore.

Great for...

Village charm Village charm
★★★★Beginner
★★★★Intermediate
★★★Advanced
★★★Off-Piste
Intermediates Intermediates
★★★Snowboarding
★★★★Snow Reliability
★★★Apres-Ski
★★★Extent
Scenic Scenic
★★★Mountain Restaurants
★★★★★Scenery
★★★★★Village Charm
★★★★Non-Skiers

WHY IT’S GREAT FOR BEGINNERS
The largest area in Cortina d’Ampezzo is Pomedes, accessed directly from the village. Beginners will love this area as it consists mainly of long confidence building blue runs that can be explored after progressing from the nursery slopes.

Tofana is also worth exploring which is the highest area in Cortina d’Ampezzo and also Mietres too which has its own selection of blue runs.

If you are looking for ski or boarding tuition then you do need to make sure you request an English speaking instructor when you book. There are a few schools to choose from including the Cristallo Ski School and the Azzurra Ski School, both offer group and private lessons and some instructors are ex professionals too.

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Beginner Ski & Snowboard Resorts

alpe duez

Alpe d’Huez

Alpe d’Huez is a big league resort rivalling the best the Alps has to offer,...
Alpe d’Huez Info

avoriaz

Avoriaz

Avoriaz is located right in the centre of the Portes du Soleil and is perched...
Avoriaz Info

cervinia

Cervinia

Cervinia is Italy’s highest resort and sits under the watchful eye of the Matterhorn. It...
Cervinia Info

cortina

Cortina d’Ampezzo

Set amongst some of the most stunning scenery you will ever see, Cortina d’Ampezzo has...
Cortina d’Ampezzo Info

courchevel

Courchevel

Courchevel is one of the most glamorous alpine skiing resorts with stunning hotels, restaurants and...
Courchevel Info

crans montana

Crans Montana

If you love cruising, enjoying skiing in the sun and want a mixture of open...
Crans Montana Info

davos

Davos

Davos’ slopes (which it shares with Klosters) not only provide extensive skiing but also a...
Davos Info

flaine

Flaine

Flaine is one of France’s premier resorts because of its excellent skiing facilities rather than...
Flaine Info

grindelwald

Grindelwald

With beautiful scenery, 3 decent sized ski areas, (2 of which are shared with Wengen)...
Grindelwald Info

ischgl

Ischgl

Ischgl is an Austrian resort that is not only high and snow sure but offers...
Ischgl Info

kitzbuhel

Kitzbuhel

Think of Kitzbuhel and the one thing that often comes to mind is the annual...
Kitzbuhel Info

klosters

Klosters

Klosters shares its slopes with Davos and provides a huge and expansive ski area to...
Klosters Info

la plagne

La Plagne

La Plagne is a huge and extensive ski area made even bigger as it is...
La Plagne Info

la thuile

La Thuile

La Thuile is a small village with a decent sized skiing area with the added...
La Thuile Info

les arcs

Les Arcs

One of the most popular alpine resorts, Les Arcs scores highly in all areas and...
Les Arcs Info

les deux alpes

Les Deux Alpes

Les Deux Alpes is one of France’s best and most well known resorts. It has...
Les Deux Alpes Info

livigno

Livigno

Set in an isolated bleak valley Livigno may not be everyone’s first choice on their...
Livigno Info

madonna

Madonna di Campiglio

With reasonably snow sure slopes, some lovely long intermediate terrain, and new lifts linking the...
Madonna di Campiglio Info

mayrhofen

Mayrhofen

Mayrhofen is a popular favourite with the British mainly due to its reasonable accommodation prices...
Mayrhofen Info

meribel

Meribel

Meribel is one of the true mega resorts and part of the world famous Three...
Meribel Info

morzine

Morzine

Morzine is a picturesque village that shares its slopes with Les Gets and is linked...
Morzine Info

obergurgl hochgurgl

Obergurgl & Hochgurgl

Set at the end of the Otz valley Obergurgl and Hochgurgl are famed for being...
Obergurgl & Hochgurgl Info

obertauern

Obertauern

Obertauern, located in the Saltzburg ski region, is a little known gem and once you’ve...
Obertauern Info

passo tonale

Passo Tonale

High and snow sure with plenty of cheap accommodation Passo Tonale is an appealing resort...
Passo Tonale Info

saalbach

Saalbach Hinterglemm

Saalbach-Hinterglemm is a ski area in a valley that is comprised of 2 villages (Saalbach...
Saalbach Hinterglemm Info

saas fee

Saas Fee

With spectacular scenery, a charming traffic free village, snow sure skiing, an impressive vertical, and...
Saas Fee Info

schladming

Schladming

Set over 4 mountains, Schladming is one of Austria’s most well known resorts which has...
Schladming Info

selva

Selva Val Gardena

Part of the huge world famous Sella Ronda circuit (offering 1200 kms of slopes) and...
Selva Val Gardena Info

serre chevalier

Serre Chevalier

Serre Chevalier’s slopes are located above villages from which the 4 main areas can be...
Serre Chevalier Info

sestriere

Sestriere

Part of the huge Milky Way circuit (offering 400 kms of slopes), Sestriere is a...
Sestriere Info

solden

Solden

Solden with its 2 glaciers, close proximity to Obergurgl, guaranteed snow from November and jolly...
Solden Info

tignes

Tignes

High, snow sure, and forming the Espace Killy ski region (300 kms of slopes) with...
Tignes Info

val disere

Val d’Isere

Great skiing, great snow, great atmosphere and great nightlife – what more could you want...
Val d’Isere Info

val thorens

Val Thorens

Val Thorens is a major league resort and part of the famous linked Three Valleys...
Val Thorens Info

villars

Villars

With a good selection of intermediate runs, the opportunity of some off piste for experts,...
Villars Info

wengen

Wengen

Set in the Junfrau region of Switzerland, Wengen is situated in an absolutely wonderful area...
Wengen Info

Other Skiing Resorts by Ability

Intermediate Ski & Snowboard Resorts

Best Intermediate Resorts

Not all intermediate skiers are the same – fact! Some intermediates are just off the beginner slopes and understandably nervous or timid of any blue runs. Other intermediates may be totally confident on all blue and red runs and have...

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Advanced Ski & Snowboard Resorts

Best Advanced Resorts

There are some very tidy skiers out there who quite rightly and understandably want to be challenged by the best the mountain has to offer. For some, off piste is the only way forward and they delight in getting off...

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Mixed Ability Ski & Snowboard Resorts

Best Mixed Ability Resorts

When in a big group there is nothing worse than when beginners are forced onto difficult slopes as there are a lack of easy pistes for them to progress on to. Likewise it’s not much fun for advanced skiers to...

Read more