School ski trips can be tough to organise. You need to choose a reliable destination that is both affordable for parents and lots of fun for your budding winter sport enthusiasts.
While Spain might not be the first European destination that pops into your mind when you are thinking about skiing destinations, I suggest that you consider it as an option. Sierra Nevada is regarded as Spain’s premier winter resort and La Masella is a stunning Pyrenees location, and both deserve a mention when it comes to winter holiday hotspots. They should definitely be considered as an alternative to the more popular Alpine destinations.
Sierra Nevada
Sierra Nevada is the most southern ski resort in the whole of Europe, however, that doesn’t mean that the snow situation is unreliable. With lifts taking you up 3,300m, this stunning resort has dependable conditions and also enjoys plenty of sunny skies and powdery skiing days.
This resort is particularly suited to school ski trips because it has plenty of options for beginners and intermediates. The mild conditions make learning the sport safe and lots of fun. Pistes are wide and sweeping and are very inviting for youngsters learning to ski for the first time. There are lots of options for more advanced skiers too.
La Masella
Well known as Europe’s sunniest ski resort, La Masella is part of the Alp 2500, the largest ski area in Catalonia. The north-facing slopes mean that this spot boasts near perfect conditions, and yet the resort is less crowded and much less expensive than many Alpine destinations.
La Molina, part of La Masella, is an ideal destination for beginners, as the slopes are long, wide and gentle. Here your youngsters will have the opportunity to grow their confidence and enjoy the sport at their own pace. La Masella also has some wonderful tree-lined runs that are well suited to the more experienced student, and the resort has several excellent progression runs that lead right back to its doors.
The great news for organisers of school ski trips is that these two Spanish resorts are snow-sure. Even when the real thing starts to melt, there is an artificial snowmaking system ready and waiting. The lifts are high-tech, modern, and speedy too.
Organising the Snowy Fun
If you are thinking of Spain for your next school ski trip, why not contact a specialist educational travel tour operator to help you sort out the details? Expert teams will be on hand to make sure every aspect of your trip is organised – then all you have to do is focus on getting your students and their parents excited and looking forward to their next winter adventure.
Students will get so much out of a winter sports holiday and will have lots of opportunities to grow in confidence both physically and socially; choose Sierra Nevada or La Masella and you will not be disappointed.
John Gardiner is the Managing Director of The School Travel Company, a tour operator specialising in educational travel for school and youth groups. Whether you’re planning school ski trips to Europe or North America, day trips in the UK or educational tours abroad, you can trust the value of their itineraries, which can be ready-made or specifically designed to suit the needs of your group.
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