Don't Sleep on These Three European Ski Destinations on Epic and Ikon

Featured Image: Lorenzo Belfrond, Courtesy of Courmayeur Mont Blanc

Everyone’s been raving about Euro Summer, but it's about time we start raving about Euro Winter. Europe is home to some of the best skiing in the world and, of course, the motherland of après. So, when you're mulling over which season pass to get this winter, don’t forget about the unique European destinations. No, I’m not just talking about Zermatt or Chamonix, we know how great they are already. I’m talking about the places many of us might skip over simply because we’ve never heard of them.

But where can you find these places? Well, mega pass companies like Epic and Ikon offer access to European ski destinations that many people never even think to check out. Most of us buy a pass based on where we live and our home mountain, which makes sense, but that can cause us to overlook the other places our pass can take us. That's why it's worth looking at the full list of destinations before committing to a pass. Maybe one year Epic works better for you and the next year Ikon does.

It's also helpful to think about whether you want to ski abroad or not. You might buy your usual pass, book a trip to Europe and then realize the resort you want to visit isn't included on your pass. While European day tickets can be cheaper than in the U.S., having access to multiple destinations through one pass can make planning an international ski trip a whole lot easier without restricting you from exploring. Plus, it's one less added cost to the overall trip when you don't have to purchase day tickets.

I know it can be intimidating to go to a foreign city that you’ve never heard of, but the reality is that many of these lesser-talked-about destinations can offer the same, if not better, experiences than their more commercialized counterparts. Whether you’re looking for freeride terrain, a glitzy Euro experience or simply a way to escape the crowds, these three resort destinations offer plenty of reasons to venture beyond the usual names.

Ikon

Valle D’Aosta, Italy: Cervino Ski Paradise, Courmayeur Mont Blanc, Espace San Bernardo (La Thuile), Monterosa Ski and Pila

Note* Seven day access with the full Ikon Pass

The Aosta Valley in northwest Italy features 19 ski areas and is nestled among some of Europe’s most famous peaks, including Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. While Ikon doesn’t offer all 19 ski areas, five are included on the pass, giving skiers plenty of opportunties to explore this spectacular corner of the Italian Alps. From skiing across international borders to diving into local northern Italian culture, the Aosta Valley offers an impressive variety of terrain and experiences.

One of the biggest draws to this valley is it's proximity to some of Europe's most famous peaks. Take Cervino Ski Paradise for example, as it shares a border with Zermatt, Switzerland, where you can actually ski between the two countries while getting spectacular views of the famous Matterhorn from either side.

Just down the valley, Monterosa Ski is also located near Switzerland but offers a completely different experience as it doesn't share a border. The resort links three ski areas providing 2,700 acres of skiable terrain, making it one of the larger destinations in the region. It's extensive off-piste and high-alpine terrain, with large bowls and backcountry gates makes it a hidden gem in the Italian Alps.

Courmayeur Mont Blanc is on the opposite side of the valley near the French border and sits beneath Mont Blanc Peak. For those that want an adventure, the resort offers a challenging route to get to the French side, as it does not have a linked slope. The route requires backcountry skiing down glacier terrain with a guide.

Skyway Monte Bianco — **Photo:** Mattia Proserpio

La Thuile is the Italian side of Espece San Bernardo as this resort also shares a border with France. La Thuile connects on snow to La Rosière in France so you don't even have to take off your skis to cross the border or go through customs. The international ski area features about 7,413 acres of terrain across 82 slopes.

The resorts located on the French side have had a major $85 million lift improvement project for the 2026/27 season. This includes three new 10-passenger gondolas at Courmayeur Mont Blanc and La Thuile, making transport more efficient for skiers and boarders.

Ski Pila is unique among these resorts because it connects directly to the old Roman city of Aosta by gondola. The ski area offers around 865 acres of skiable terrain, both on and off piste, with 70% of the mountain marked red, making it a great mountain for intermediate and advanced skiers.

It’s safe to say this valley provides more than enough options for great Italian Alps skiing, with a touch of French and Swiss influence. All of the mountains listed above have lodging and amenities at the base or at the very least near the base of the mountain so you do not have to worry about commuting to the ski area everyday.

Grandvalira Resorts, Andorra

Note* Seven day access with the full Ikon Pass

Grandvalera Andorra — **Image:** Courtesy of Grandvalira Resorts, Roger Salanova

This small country has much more to offer than being the connector between Spain and France. With towering, beautiful mountains and valleys, this country actually has more kilometers of slopes than roads. With the Ikon, you have access to three of Andorra’s ski areas: Grandvalira, Ordino Arcalís and Pal Arinsal. Each offers unique ski experiences as they are all located in different areas of Andorra.

Grandvalira is one of Europe's largest ski resorts, as a result of an earlier merger between two of Andorra's ski resorts. Grandvalira boasts 138 slopes covering 215 kilometers. The resort has seven sectors, which are connected by slopes and lifts. The resort also offers Europe's classic après-ski and à la carte resturants.

Ordino Arcalís is located northwest of Grandvalira and is the smallest of the ski areas under Grandvalira Resorts, with 1,140 acres of skiable terrain on and off-piste. But just because the resort is small doesn’t mean it can’t deliver. Due to its northern location, it receives more snowfall and retains it's snowpack better than most resorts in Andorra, allowing it to stay open longer.

Since 2015, Ordino Arcalís has been a stop on the Freeride World Tour. Its off-piste terrain offers steep faces and some of the most privileged natural environments, as UNESCO declared it a Biosphere Reserve in 2020. If you're an advanced skier looking for some freeride-level skiing, I’d head to Ordino Arcalís.

The third resort is Pal Arinsal, located directly south of Ordino Arcalís. This resort connects two resorts, Pal and Arinsal, that were originally separate when they were founded and now offer over 1,500 skiable acres together. There are 49 slopes, as well as three freeride areas, one freestyle area and a skimo World Cup slope. Most of the groomed slopes are rated for intermediate skiers. Pal Arinsal is the closest resort to Andorra’s capital, making it an attractive option for those who want to experience an Andorran city and ski slope in the same trip.

To get to Andorra, you can fly into France or Spain, then rent a car and drive to the resorts. Ordino Arcalís is the only resort on this list without hotels directly on the mountain. But there are many in the surrounding valley.

Megève Ski Area, France

Note* Seven day access with the full Ikon Pass

Megève, France — **Photo:** Courtesy of Megève Tourism, Gabriel Zacharski

Known as the French alternative to the luxurious St. Moritz, Megève is one of Europe's oldest ski areas, combining glitz with small-town, medieval French alpine charm. Located in the Haute-Savoie region of the French Alps, it is part of the iconic Portes du Mont-Blanc ski area, which connects Megève to Combloux and La Giettaz and offers about 1,000 acres of skiable terrain. With over 100 lifts and 200 slopes, there is a lot of terrain to choose from, especially with the interconnected mountains.

Critics note the mountain is an intermediate paradise, with some advanced terrain scattered around. The town itself is lined with cobblestone streets, designer stores and even a Four Seasons Hotel. But these designer stores and 5-star hotels don't take away from the town's authentic French charm, and you can stay outside the village if you don’t want to pay luxury prices, since transportation around the area is reliable.

Another attractive feature is that this mountain is about an hour from Geneva Airport by car, making it more accessible compared to some European ski towns. The resort has no ski-in/ski-out lodging options but the village is very close to the base and the public transit is very accessible from town to the base. If you want the Euro glitz without losing the french culture, head to Megève, France.

Epic

Silvretta Montafon, Austria

Note* Five day access with full Epic Pass

While Silvretta might not ring a bell for the average skier, competitive freeride skiers know it as a premier freeride skiing region, having hosted the Freeride World Tour (FWT) Challenger Series and FWT Junior events. Located in Austria's Vorarlberg region, this mountain is designed for sporty skiers who enjoy a challenge. The mountain has roughly 790 acres of skiable terrain, including a terrain park, multiple race slopes and cross-country trails. The freeride terrain makes up about 17 miles of that total and the mountain is also home to the longest downhill run in Vorarlberg.

The best way to get there from America is to fly into Zurich, then take the two- to two-and-a-half-hour train straight to the resort area. Or, of course, you can also rent a car. You can stay at multiple lodging options either directly at or near the base station entry point in the valley. Like here in America, January through February are peak times to ski because they offer reliable snow, but March can sometimes be the sweet spot and help you beat the crowds.

Andermatt-Sedrum-Disentis, Switzerland

Note* Unlimited access with full Epic Pass

Among Europeans, this resort is known as the largest ski area in Central Switzerland, but among Americans it doesn’t match the hype of Zermatt and St. Moritz in terms of name recognition. The mountains combined offer 15,000 acres of total skiable terrain, 33 lifts and peaks close to 10,000 feet. This doesn't include its backcountry and freeride skiing, though, as this mountain has some of the best off-piste touring in the Alps, which can be accessed via cable cars or lifts with a short hike up, followed by a long powder run on the way down.

Like some of the resorts mentioned above, this resort also combines multiple mountains into one, expanding your adventure. Andermatt offers more advanced, freeride-style terrain and deep powder; Disentis gives you a variety of winter sports activities and fun on-piste runs; and Sedrun offers a more classic Euro experience with wide pistes, spacious restaurant terraces with panoramic views of the Alps, and, hopefully, some fun aprés action. Each mountain offers its own lodgings at the base, with Andermatt having a few more luxurious options if that’s the vibe you're going for.

Zillertal, Austria

Note* Five day access with full Epic Pass

Known for its high-alpine skiing and optimal snow conditions throughout the majority of the season, this resort gives you world-class European skiing and snow. Zillertal combines four major ski regions across two of Austria's provinces, Tyrol and Salzburg, offering more than 540 kilometers (around 340 miles) of groomed piste terrain and more than 180 lifts. At the Hintertuxer Glacier, you will find ski routes for fresh tracks and at the ski area of Hochfügen you will find freeride terrain.

The four regions also feature famous slopestyle parks like PenkenPark and Betterpark Hintertux, with multiple jump lines, large kickers, rails and halfpipes. The closest airport to Zillertal is Innsbruck, just 31 miles from the valley. Flying into Innsbruck usually requires a transfer, as there are no direct flights from the Americas. If you want a more direct option, you can fly into Munich and take a train or rent a car to get to the valley. The ski mountains have multiple hotels at the base, so commuting from lodging isn't a concern.