When people think of skiing, the Alps, Rockies and Dolomites usually spring to mind. But go beyond the conventional ski resorts of France, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, and there's more offbeat locations with distinctive cultures and cuisines to explore.
While they’re certainly not on the scale of the France’s sprawling ski domains – think 3 Vallees, Paradiski and Portes du Soleil – they offer a completely difference experience.
The mountainous countries of the Caucasus and Turkey’s Anatolia region have skiing at altitude to rival that of the Alps and at a fraction of the cost. Many are within an easy drive from major cities, which means busy slopes at the weekend when locals come out for the day. Come during the week and you’ll have the pistes pretty much to yourself. Here are a few to put on your radar this winter.
Georgia
Gudauri is Georgia’s biggest ski resort. Getty Images
Combine a visit to Georgia’s beguiling capital, Tbilisi, with a ski holiday in Gudauri, the country’s biggest ski resort, about two hours’ drive north. Here in the Great Caucasus, from December to April, you’ll have 75km of pistes, some for beginners, but mostly for intermediates. It’s the freeriders, though, who will love the large area of powdery terrain off-piste at an altitude of 3,330 metres.
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