Top 5 Winter Festivals at Ski Resorts

Posted on December 22, 2023

Skiing and snowboarding are both exhilarating sports that offer the chance to carve your way through snowy landscapes and are loved by many. But, when you fuse the thrill of racing down slopes with the joy of vibrant festivals and lively celebrations, well that’s a match made in heaven.

Winter ski festivals are the embodiment of this and provide the best of both worlds, with the excitement of the slopes intertwining with the festival spirit perfectly. These festivals held at some of the world’s most renowned ski resorts, are a blend of thrilling adventure and partying.

If you’re looking to experience the joy of skiing whilst dancing the night away on snowy peaks with break-taking mountain terrain all around, then this guide is for you.

So, as we step into 2024 and the world of ski resorts and winter festivals beckons, we will explore some of the top winter ski festivals for 2024, where the mountains come alive with sport, culture and music!

Rise Festival

Located in the charming ski resort of Les Deux Alpes in France, Rise Festival is an action-packed, six nights and seven days’ worth of skiing and partying. And 2024 will be a memorable year and one not to miss, as it marks the festival’s 10th birthday. So, if you want to end the year having an epic time away with your friends, keep the 7th- 14th of December free! 

For the skier and snowboarders hitting the slopes regularly, the location will not disappoint; Les Deux Alpes sits at 1,650 metres and is the second oldest and most loved ski resort in France behind Chamonix. The resort offers over 200km of runs, catering to beginners and seasoned pros. With the mix of slopes, there is something for everyone. 

All of the stages at Rise Festival are accessible by foot, so if you’re less of a skier or snowboarder and joining for just the music, the festival has got you covered, with an exciting line-up, guaranteed to keep you grooving for the entire week. Alongside the music, there is lots of other activities to keep you occupied, such as snow yoga and adrenaline-fuelled activities like a helicopter ride across the mountains to witness the scenic views – sounds fun, right?

There are plenty of options for travelling to Les Deux Alpes. For flying, Geneva is located closest to the ski resort, followed by Lyon and Grenoble airport. For all airports, you can book a transfer to and from the festival to make your journey as smooth as possible. If you prefer to travel by land, Rise Festival have partnered with National Express, offering return journey from multiple locations in the UK straight to Les Deux Alpes. 

Snowbombing

Set against the backdrop of the Austrian Alps, located on the Austrian ski resort of Mayrhofen, Snowbombing is a fusion of winter sports and world class music. Expect exhilarating days on the slopes followed by unforgettable nights of music on the peaks. Held annually in the spring, Snowbombing will be taking place between the 8th – 13th of April 2024.

Mayrhofen boasts around 136km of ski slopes to practice or show off your skills on, with altitudes range from 630 to 2,500 metres. Mayrhofen, is famous for its insanely steep Harakiri piste and large snow park so if you’re feeling confident, give them a try.

Snowbombing includes unique venues like mountain stages, igloo raves, and pool parties, offering a diverse music experience. If you fancy a break from the music and skiing, Snowbombing also provide fun activities such as mountain top brunch, comedy & talks and Snowlympic games, learn more here.

Mayrhofen and Snowbombing festival’s closest airport is Innsbruck Airport, just over an hour away. Other nearby airports include Salzburg and Munich, but there are also train connections to Mayrhofen from various cities providing you with different options.

Polaris Festival

Verbier, Switzerland, hosts the Polaris Festival, a perfect mix of Swiss elegance and electronic music. Experience the thrill of skiing in the Four Valleys with breathtaking views whilst listening to great music. Polaris Festival takes places on November 17th – 25th, 2024.

Verbier ski resort known for its great night life and après, has lots of bars and nightclubs to enjoy in the evening, or if you’re just looking to get some good slopes in, your be happy to know Verbier is part of the Four Valleys ski area, with over 400km of ski slopes and peaks reaching 3,330 metres, how much can you cover?

If you enjoy electronic music then Polaris Festival is the place for you, whilst also providing stunning mountain views and amazing stages at high-altitude locations.

Verbier ski resort and Polaris Festival’s nearest airports is Sion Airport which is just over an hour away and Geneva Airport which is just over two. However, there is also a train station in Le Chable, which is only a 25-minute transfer away, so plenty of options to choose from.

Tomorrowland Winter

Alpe d’Huez ski resort in France, transforms into a winter paradise for Tomorrowland Winter, an extension of the famous Tomorrowland music festival. Enjoy great slopes and music on the 16th – 23rd March 2024.

Alpe d’Huez offers extensive skiing with over 250km of slopes, from 1,250 – 3,330 metres so make sure you have the suncream ready if you plan to go down the highest runs, trust us! Did you know that Alpe d’Huez ski resort is know for the 21-hairpin bends that sweep the climb from bottom to top, which is an iconic cycling climb?

Tomorrowland Winter offers some amazing stages that are sure to offer a great winter atmosphere, with one even being at the highest point of the resort! With over 100+ artists performing there is sure to be good music to match all needs.

Grenoble Alpes-Isere is the closest airport to the resort, with both bus and taxi services available and only a 90-minute drive away, so getting to the resort shouldn’t be a problem.

SNOWBOXX

Snowboxx, located in the ski resort of Avoriaz, in the French Alps is a stunning location to enjoy skiing, snowboarding and of course great music! Snowboxx 2024 will be taking place on the 16th – 23rd March, so get it in your diary.

Avoriaz is a car free resort with ski-in and ski-out accommodations so great if you don’t fancy carrying all your gear for long distances. Part of the Portes du Soleil ski area, giving skiers access to over 600km of picturesque slopes, climbing to 2,466 metres. Avoriaz is also famous for its legendary Swiss Wall slope, deemed as the hardest ski slope in the world, so if you’re feeling adventurous then maybe that accomplishment is the one for you?

Snowboxx offers an unforgettable time making memories whilst dancing to great music from some of the best musicians and acts around the globe and skiing at the world’s largest ski area, but that’s not all! Snowboxx offer other activities such as bingo, an indoor waterpark, sledge racing and much more, check them all out here.

Avoriaz ski resort’s closest airport is Geneva, being around 95km away, so transfers shouldn’t be too expensive if booked in advance and be fairly quick. Avoriaz does not have a train line, but trains from Paris stop at Cluses and Thonon-Les-Bains, which are 42km and 45km away.

We hope after reading this, you’re as excited for all these amazing winter festivals as we are. With plenty of stunning ski resorts, amazing ski runs and of course great music festivals and nightlife our 2024 is looking jam-packed with winter fun. Make sure to book tickets as early as possible to avoid disappointment if the festivals sell out, which we’re sure they will quickly, and ensure you help to protect your trip with Holidaysafe travel insurance by getting a quote here. Now let’s roll on 2024 and fill it with good snow and music!

Sources

www.rise-festival.co.uk

snowbombing.com

polarisfestival.ch

www.tomorrowland.com/en/winter

www.snowboxx.com

Sunshine Saturday 2024

Posted on November 29, 2023

Sunshine Saturday is one of the busiest times of the year when it comes to booking a holiday. Why may that be, you may ask? Well, Sunshine Saturday is typically when travel agents and tour operators offer discounted holidays for the year ahead, allowing British holidaymakers to bag themselves a bargain break for less.

While getting a great deal on your next holiday can feel like a win, it’s really important that you protect your upcoming break with suitable travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked.

Without having a suitable travel insurance policy in place, you could be liable for any costs if something was to go wrong before or during your trip. For example, if you were advised by a medical practitioner not to travel due to a new illness, and you didn’t have travel insurance in place, it would be unlikely that you could claim the cost of your holiday back. Additionally, if you were to fall ill while you were abroad and need emergency medical assistance, you would be liable for any associated medical costs.

Having travel insurance protection in place as soon as you book offers peace of mind that you and your trip are covered. And what better way to start a holiday than knowing you and your loved ones are protected?

Sunshine Saturday falls on Saturday January 6th in 2024. However, it is likely that travel agents and tour operators will be offering discounts and deals over the festive period, all the way up to the end of January.

We’re pleased to announce that Holidaysafe will also be taking part in the Sunshine Saturday event and offering our customers the chance to save on their travel insurance, if they buy a policy with Holidaysafe before February 27th 2024. Just use the code ‘SUNSHINE24’ to get 20% Ɨ off by clicking here!

Keep your eyes peeled as we will be sharing further details of our Sunshine Saturday offering very soon…

Ɨ Please note, online prices automatically include a 15% discount against our Customer Service Centre prices. The code ‘SUNSHINE24’ entitles you to an additional 5% off your policy, and is a discount from the base price, not including the additional cost of optional extensions or any additional medical premium. The discount code expires 28/02/2024.

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