7 incredible remote ski resorts in Europe

European ski playgrounds such as Chamonix–Mont Blanc in France may grab the headlines and imaginations of winter sports lovers, but off-the-radar slopes prove that the most accessible and popular ski areas are not always the best. Spain’s remote Val d’Aran is a high-altitude skiers’ paradise, famous for its steep valleys and jagged couloirs, whereas in France’s often overlooked Pyrenees region, ski trails weave between ancient farming villages.

As a former snowboarding instructor who has tackled slopes across Europe – including in Sweden, Norway and some seriously remote ski areas in France, Italy and Switzerland – I can guarantee that travelers heading to resorts further afield will reap huge rewards, whether that means crowd-free trails or shorter lift lines and less expensive lift passes. Here are the remote resorts worth going out of your way for in Europe.

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1. Kanin–Sella Nevea, Slovenia and Italy 

Best for spectacular backdrops

The Kanin–Sella Nevea ski area straddles the border between Italy and Slovenia, and it’s known as extremely snow-sure. The ski season typically runs from November to June, and there’s fantastic backcountry terrain for those who love to venture off-piste.

The resort's 29km of slopes are best suited to beginning and intermediate skiers, who can soak up gorgeous views while exploring the resort’s well-maintained slopes – on sunny days, you’ll enjoy views as far as the Gulf of Trieste.

2. Aletsch Arena, Switzerland

Best for sunny slopes

Ski areas don’t get more stunning than Aletsch Arena, a network of snow-blanketed slopes close to Switzerland's Aletsch Glacier, the first UNESCO World Heritage site in the Alps. There are 103km of slopes located between 1845m and 2896m above sea level, and most of the accommodations are ski-in, ski-out.

It’s also one of the sunniest places in Europe to ski, with 300 days of sunshine a year and a wide range of off-piste activities that showcase the surrounding landscapes.

Planning tip: Try to visit the pretty Maria Zum Schnee chapel, built in 1697, or take a few laps around the ice rink beneath the Bettmerhorn cable car.

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3. Großglockner, Austria

Best for natural beauty

Austria’s most popular ski regions include North and South Tyrol, but for crowd-free skiing and breathtaking views, it’s hard to beat the East Tyrol region, separated from the rest of Austria by the Central Alps. It feels delightfully remote, with few major roads and just a handful of ski resorts.

Großglockner is one of Austria's largest ski areas, with 43km of trails, 55km of cross-country tracks and a ski season that lasts from December until April. Here, après-ski isn’t about knocking back Jägerbombs in slopeside bars – it’s about exploring this region on guided hikes through Hohe Tauern National Park and stargazing and eagle-spotting sessions with local naturalists.

Planning tip: This resort offers fantastic value – children under age 6 ski for free.

4. Baqueira-Beret, Spain

Best for off-piste skiing

Set in the Catalan Pyrenees, the Baqueira-Beret resort still feels wonderfully wild, although it’s admittedly more accessible than it formerly was. The Pyrenean valley was once so cut off from the rest of the country that it developed its own language and culture.

A 3-hour drive from Barcelona will deliver you to 169km of slopes that climb to 2500m above sea level. The ski region is divided into four distinct areas: Baqueira, Beret, Bonaigua and Baciver. Top trails include Escornacabres, a fantastic off-piste descent popular with adrenaline junkies.

Fun fact: The name Escornacabres translates as the “Place Where Goats Die.”

5. Narvik, Norway

Best for Arctic Circle skiing

Fancy skiing in the Arctic Circle? Head to the resort of Narvik, an alpine skiing hot spot in Norway’s sparsely populated north. Ski here and it’s likely that you’ll see the northern lights while flying down the resort’s 16 ski runs, served by six lifts. Skiing in Narvik is a slightly different experience than skiing in France or Italy. In the winter, the lack of daylight means the slopes are floodlit, and the ski area has fixed hours: 10am–4pm on weekends and 3pm–8pm on weekdays.

Planning tip: The late opening means plenty of time for off-piste activities, including a ride on the Arctic Train, Norway’s northernmost train service, which whisks passengers from Narvik to Bjørnfjell, near the border with Sweden. When it comes to lodging, try Camp 291, where you can stay in sleek glass cabins perched on the mountainside.

6. Fjätervålen, Sweden

Best for sustainability

This beautiful Swedish ski resort, set 451km north of Stockholm, has 18 slopes and a 47km network of cross-country skiing trails. The ski area is located between 683m and 1003m, but what it lacks in altitude, it makes up for in epic views. Skiing in this remote corner of Sweden, you’ll enjoy gorgeous vistas of snow-dusted forests and even have a chance of spotting the aurora borealis.

Another reason to love this resort is its sustainability ethos – all the electricity used is renewable, there are numerous charging points for electric cars, and LED lighting can be found throughout the resort.

7. Les Orres, France

Best resort in the Southern Alps

Les Orres, in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France, is proof that venturing away from the larger ski areas pays dividends. Perched 5400m above sea level, the resort is famous for its spectacular night skies and laid-back way of life. The lack of light pollution makes it a great spot for stargazing.

Les Orres boasts 100km of slopes, served by 17 lifts, and the resort is known for being incredibly snow-sure due to its north-facing position, although the Southern Alps location brings plenty of sunshine too. Come here in late March or April and you’ll likely see skiers taking to the slopes in T-shirts.