When you head off for your winter mountain break, it’s likely that either skiing or snowboarding is the main thing on your mind. However, most ski resorts offer a wealth of other activities that you can enjoy on bad weather days, in the evenings, or simply because you fancy a change from whizzing down the mountain.
“More and more people are coming to us who want to do more than just skiing,” says Gilles Meyer, chef de village (resort manager) at Club Med Les Arcs Panorama resort in the French Alps. “It’s been a real trend over the past five years. They come to ski, but they also want to enjoy moments and experiences that aren’t skiing.”
So if you’re looking to give the slopes the slip for an afternoon, here are seven alternative activities to try.
Dog sledding
Meet the musher and their huskies or Alaskan malamutes and enjoy an exhilarating ride through a beautiful landscape pulled by these highly-trained and lovable dogs. “It’s a nice experience for the whole family. It’s a very green activity and suitable for everyone – you can even take your baby,” says Meyer.
Snow mountain biking
Riding a “fat bike”, with extra-wide tyres to help keep your grip on the snow, means mountain biking is no longer strictly a summer activity. Suitable for just about anyone who can ride a bike, some resorts also offer snow mountain e-biking to make going uphill just as easy as coming down.
Go to a yoga class
Yoga can help with your strength, balance and confidence on the slopes and is both an excellent way to prepare for the day ahead, as well as wind down at the end of it. Many Club Med resorts offer yoga classes several times a day as part of their all-inclusive package.
Go to the spa
The mountains are the perfect place to enjoy a spa experience, whether you’ve been out on the slopes and want to ease your aching muscles, or are simply looking to relax. Some have hot tubs or heated pools, where you can comfortably be outside in the water even as the snow falls. “People love to have a body treatment after skiing. We have 13 spa treatment cabins here in Les Arcs,” Meyer says.
Ice skating
Most resorts have an outdoor rink, and some have an indoor one too, making skating an excellent all-weather activity. Skates are available for hire, and many venues offer portable supports to make it easier for even small children to have a go. Some resorts also offer lessons if you or your children want to have a go at figure skating, and in some places you can even skate on a natural lake or pond.
Enjoy a wine tasting session
Many areas with good skiing also produce interesting wine. Even if they don’t, some restaurants and bars offer sessions for people who want to learn more about wine, led by a sommelier. At Club Med, the wine-tasting sessions are led by a sommelier in a dedicated area of the cosy gourmet lounges. Sessions throughout the week focus on local wines, French wines and wines from around the world.
Nordic walking and snowshoeing
Even if you don’t want to ski or snowboard, there are still plenty of ways to get out on the mountain and enjoy the scenery. For Nordic walking, all you need is some decent walking boots and some special walking poles – it’s a great way to keep fit and get out in the fresh air. Snowshoeing is usually a slower-paced option. “Snowshoeing is for people who want to be outside in nature, seeing the animals, to walk and to relax. You can be in the powder and it’s nice and easy for everyone,” says Meyer.
Club Med, founded in 1950, is the pioneer of the all-inclusive concept, offering nearly 70 premium resorts in stunning locations around the world including North and South America, Caribbean, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Mediterranean.
