A Promising Start to the 2025/26 Ski Season ❄️
As we step into December, the 2025/26 ski season is already off to an encouraging start across Europe. November brought a steady run of early snowfall, cold temperatures, and excellent snowmaking conditions—particularly in higher-altitude and glacier resorts that many of our school groups love.
Whether you’re travelling with us this winter or planning ahead for 2027, here’s a round-up of how November shaped the mountains and what it means for upcoming school ski trips.
🌨️ November at a Glance
November delivered exactly what we hope to see at the start of a new season:
- Consistent snowfall at altitude
- Reliable low temperatures for snowmaking
- Glacier access ensuring early openings
- Multiple resorts operating earlier than usual
This combination has created a solid early-season base—great news for school groups travelling during Christmas, February half term, or Easter.
🏔️ Early Openers & Snow-Sure Resorts
Several major Alpine resorts opened in late November, with more due to follow in early December. Here’s a closer look at how key areas performed:
Tignes, France
Always one of the season’s earliest and most reliable openers, Tignes began operating in late November. The Grande Motte glacier provided dependable early coverage, with pistes expanding as fresh snow arrived throughout the month.
Val Thorens, France
Europe’s highest major resort lived up to its reputation once again. With consistent November snowfall and excellent snowmaking, Val Thorens opened strong and continues to build on its base week by week.
Passo Tonale, Italy
Thanks to its high glacier, Passo Tonale enjoyed stable early-season conditions and regular top-ups of snow. This remains a favourite for school groups seeking early and mid-season reliability.
🎿 Resorts Opening in Early December
As temperatures continue to drop, more school-friendly resorts are now opening their lifts:
- Les Deux Alpes (France) – Excellent glacier access and one of Europe’s longest seasons.
- Obergurgl–Hochgurgl (Austria) – Among Austria’s most dependable early-season areas.
- Sölden (Austria) – Operating on both glaciers with additional terrain opening as snowfall increases.
- Laax (Switzerland) – High slopes with good early coverage and expanding lift operations.
These openings mark the moment the season truly gets underway across the Alps.
📘 What This Means for School Ski Trips
Whether your group is travelling this winter or planning a future trip, November’s conditions offer real reassurance:
- Early-season snow is developing well in key school-focused resorts.
- Christmas and February trips can expect strong base conditions, especially at higher altitudes.
- Snow-sure destinations remain the safest choice for early season school travel.
- 2027 trips are already booking up—early planning guarantees the best resorts, hotels and dates.
📅 Planning Ahead for 2027? Start Now.
We’re already taking bookings for the 2027 season, and early enquiries give you the widest choice of resorts, hotels, and travel dates. If you’re considering a future ski trip, now is the ideal time to get in touch and secure availability.
❄️ Stay Updated
We’ll continue to monitor snow conditions closely throughout December and beyond. If you’d like personalised recommendations or help planning your next school ski trip, our team is here to support you from the very first enquiry to the moment you return home.
