Winter holidays mean snow – but you don’t have to go to the usual European or American mountains to hit the pistes. Pack up for some sun and snow with these ski-friendly getaways in less obvious places ...

Icy delights in Iran

Why go? It’s not the most obvious candidate for winter snow, but it is the nearest – Iran is home to some simply stunning ski resort areas. With a longer ski season than most European ski destinations, Dizin enjoys snow from late November through to May due to its altitude – at 2,700 metres the base is higher than the summit of most Alpine resorts, and the highest lift goes up to 3,550m (there are a dozen lifts). Shemshak is smaller – seven ski lifts – and the highest goes to 3,050m; it tends to attract more experienced skiers because the slopes are steeper.

Note: it’s wise to check out the current visa requirements before you travel – see www.worldtravelguide.net for more information, and it can take two or three weeks to get a 30-day tourist visa.

Where to stay? Shemshak and Dizin are both set up for skiing holidaymakers with a few hotels, restaurants and chalets in the area. Hotel Shemshak, for instance, is a pretty basic but perfectly acceptable two-star lodging with indoor pool, gym, restaurant and two-bed rooms costing about AED 120 per night – assuming you can reach the hotel to book direct!
However, Tehran is within two hours’ drive of both resorts, and many travellers opt to return to the city after a day of hitting the snow – and there are plenty of reasonable hotels in the capital to choose from. (Tehran is a fairly unattractive city, but is full of friendly people, great places to eat and a stunning Persian Carpet museum.)

Much the easiest way to book a trip is through a travel agent, who can organise drivers and visas as well as accommodation.

How to get there? A tour organiser will fix up flights for you – try the two options listed – but for DIY enthusiasts Etihad has direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Tehran on Sundays and Wednesdays. A return Coral economy fare starts at AED 1,895.

Information:
www.etihadairways.com
www.persianvoyages.com
www.letsgoiran.com

Go luxe in Lebanon

Why go? Lebanon offers the perfect holiday for anyone wishing to pack history, sunshine and skiing into a visit. You can fit in skiing on snow and the water in the same day –- the snow is generally good, the Mediterranean is just about warm enough to swim in. It’s a lively, cosmopolitan place, and it’s only five and a half hours’ flying time.

Where to stay? Mount Lebanon is home to six ski resorts, all offering accommodation to suit every pocket. Faraya Mzaar is perhaps the most popular, with a wide variety of places to stay.

Perched at an altitude of 1,400 metres, the Faraya Village Club is in the perfect location for slope enthusiasts. Choose from studio chalets or duplex apartments; all accommodation is stylishly furnished and comes with stunning views of the mountains. From AED 348 per person per night for a studio for two.

The InterContinental Mzaar Mountain Resort and Spa also boasts a prime location and great amenities. This is a luxurious hotel with prices to match; there are five great restaurants, including Mexican and Italian cuisine, as well as Le Thermes du Mzaar – one of Lebanon’s leading spas. Five-star service is echoed in the rates: we were quoted AED 1,248 per person per night, including breakfast as the best available rate for a booking in January 2010.

Of course, the best deal (and indeed for all the destinations here) is probably a package. Etihad Holidays has flight-plus-accommodation deals in a variety of snow-laden locations from now until April, including flights, transfers and three nights in Faraya Mzaar from AED 3,650.

How to get there? Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi direct to Beirut for AED 1,645 return. The mountains are a couple of hours away.

Information:
www.farayavillageclub.com
www.intercontinental.com
www.etihadholidays.com
www.etihadairways.com

Marvel at Morocco

Why go? It may be an unlikely destination choice to take your skis and snow boots, but Morocco has a couple of resorts where snow is usually guaranteed and visitors can rent equipment. Don’t expect top quality skiing or facilities, but do expect to mix snow action with some of the drama and glamour of Marrakech.

Where to stay? Oukaimeden lies just south of Marrakech (75km, an easy taxi ride) in the High Atlas Mountains and usually has good snow in January and February. It’s a surreal change of scenery from sunny streets to snowy slopes.

Africa’s highest ski resort Oukaimeden sits at 2,600m; there are chairlifts to 3,258m (or you can also use a donkey). With no hotels currently available in Oukaimeden itself – it’s basically a tiny village of old houses with a few holiday homes – most skiers tend to stay in Marrakech, where there’s a lot of choice.

The five-star Kenzi Menara Palace is most certainly fit for a king. Overlooking the historic city walls and the Agdal royal gardens, the hotel enjoys an unrivalled location with a strong Moroccan style to the interior design and top French chefs in its restaurants. This is undoubtedly an indulgent way to holiday – though the AED 878 per person per night, based on a premium room overlooking the gardens, seems a decent price for this quality.

Save a few of your dirhams in an equally charming alternative; Riad Aguerzame is right in the middle of town, located in the medina and close to Moulay Idriss's Palace. It’s a charming guesthouse with just four rooms and a brilliant owner/host called Antoine, a haven of peace and calm from the bustle of Marrakech and a perfect introduction to the city. AED 395 per person per night.

How to get there? Etihad flies direct to Casablanca from AED 3,385. Marrakech is another 240km, and while you can find an internal flight, it’s usually best to haggle for a taxi. Or use the train – there’s a mainline station at Casablanca airport for direct trains to Marrakech, a journey of around four hours.

Information:
www.etihadairways.com
www.kenzi-hotels.com
www.riad-aguerzame.com
www.oncf.ma

Take to the slopes in Turkey

Why go? Like Lebanon, Turkey is not traditionally considered a snow destination because of its Mediterranean shoreline and a reputation for sun-and-sea tourism. But like Lebanon, it’s basically a mountainous country; and it has developed several inland resorts for skiing. Some of the best are only a couple of hours from Istanbul. The most popular is Uludag, reachable by cable car or road from Bursa, which itself is a city about 90km south of Istanbul. The ski centre is at 2,453 metres, with snow from December to as late as May. Uludag has 27 hotels and over 3,000 beds, plus the usual restaurants, cafés and bars. Most of the hotels can organise transport to and from Istanbul airport.

Where to stay? Situated in the stunning National Park, the Grand Yazici Hotel is the perfect place for a winter wonderland break. Two restaurants, a patisserie, heated swimming pool, Turkish bath and fitness centre – plus a variety of winter sports activities, of course, including tuition – make this perfect for a well-rounded winter trip. AED 1,028 buys one night in a standard double room with full board during January. Children under six go free, those aged from seven to 12 are half price.

The Atasu is an economical option, with rooms from AED 300 per person per night (check carefully – rates in Uludag can double at peak times, like the end of January). Amenities include ski and snowboard rental.

How to get there? Turkish Airlines flies direct from Abu Dhabi to Istanbul for AED 1,659 return.

Information:
www.turkishairlines.com
www.grandyazicihotel.com
www.uludaghotels.com

Midwinter at the Mall

Why go? If you’re itching to dig your toes into some snow rather than sand, but your budget or your schedule mean you’re not heading to cooler climes this winter, then it’s got to be a trip to Dubai. As the UAE’s first ever indoor ski resort, Ski Dubai offers all the fun of a winter wonderland ... only indoors, and just up the road. It’s typical Dubai: a little quirky, imbued with the anything-is-possible spirit. The 22,500 square metre slope is maintained at -1 to -2oC, and it has five varied runs for all levels of ski and board users – the longest being 400 metres with a fall of over 60m. There’s a snow park and chair lifts, a freestyle zone, and the Avalanche café at the midway station (complete with ‘views’ of the slope). For real snow in the UAE, it’s an unbeatable fun day out.

A Slope Pass includes jacket, trousers, boots, skis or boards, poles and helmets for children. Two hours costs AED 180 for adults, AED 150 for children; a full day is AED 300 or AED 240 respectively.

Where to stay? With the Mall of the Emirates only a 90-minute drive from Abu Dhabi, Ski Dubai is a great place for a day out. But if you fancy making a weekend of it or showing friends and family around, then blow the budget with a short stay at the Kempinski hotel – part of the Mall of the Emirates complex and right next to the ski slope.

Check into one of the hotel’s ‘ski chalets’. All have views of the slope, all have their own service pantry and dining area. Best available rate is AED 1,620 per person per night, but ask about ski package deals; for instance, AED 1,732 pays for a ‘resident package’ which includes a AED 150 credit to be used in Sezzam restaurant, two Slope passes, and 25 percent off a full body treatment at Softouch spa. The package is available Thursday, Friday and Saturday only.

How to get there? By car. There’s plenty of parking at the Mall, but if you take the obvious route along Sheikh Zayed Road you’ll pass under a Salik tollgate. You can navigate off the main road (with some difficulty) if you really want to avoid the toll; or you can leave your car in the car park at Nakheel Harbour station and ride the metro to the Mall – parking is free for people using the metro.

Information:
www.skidxb.com
www.kempinski.com/en/dubai

Charlie Kennedy

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