BANFF

Start the winter off with an early season fix of the white stuff in Canada. With its three areas – Sunshine Village, Norquay and Lake Louise – set amid spectacular high-mountain scenery and a great early season snow record, Banff is the ideal choice.

The snow record is so good that the areas normally open in November and Lake Louise (where we’ll be on a couple of days) hosts World Cup races every November. Sunshine Village (which we’ll also visit) averages over 9m of snow each season. We also hope to visit the nearby powder paradise of Kicking Horse.

We’ve negotiated an unbeatable deal with Ski Independence for direct flights from Heathrow to Calgary and with top hotel, the Caribou Lodge, a short stroll from Banff’s buzzing town centre. Hotel facilities include a spa, steam room, indoor whirlpool, après bar, restaurant and free wifi. The seven-night trip costs just £1198.

Departure date 7 December 2010.

PLUS!

- Ski or ride with Britain’s best-ever Olympic downhiller Martin Bell.
- Free mountain orientation by locals.
- Free guiding by members of the magazine team and Ski Independence staff.
- Free welcome party.
- Great prizes.
- Cut-price lift passes and kit hire

To make a booking or for more info, call Annika at Ski Independence on 0131 243 8096 or email annika@ski-i.com.

ASPEN & TELLURIDE

This 10-day trip is not to be missed. We’ll be staying at two of Colorado’s most magical resorts, Aspen and Telluride, which were silver and gold mining boom towns and have now been restored to their former glory.

The slopes at both resorts are fabulous. Aspen has four mountains, each with its own character and varied terrain. Telluride has it all, room chutes and bowls to gladed tree runs and cruising pistes with fantastic views.

We’ve negotiated a superb deal with Ski Independence, including flights from Heathrow to Aspen, returning from Montrose airport near Telluride, and private transfers. We’ll stay at the Hotel Aspen on Main Street, a short stroll from bars and restaurants. And then at luxurious ski-in/
ski-out Peaks Resort & Spa in Telluride Mountain Village (with many bars and restaurants and linked to the old town by a free gondola). Both hotels have pools and hot tubs. The 10-day trip is just £1998 for b&b. A tailor-made trip like this would normally cost about £2500.

Departure date 12 February 2011.

PLUS!

- Ski or ride with Britain’s best-ever Olympic downhiller Martin Bell.
- Free mountain orientation by locals.
- Free guiding by members of the magazine team and Ski Independence staff.
- Free welcome party.
- Great prizes.
- Cut-price lift passes and kit hire

To make a booking or for more info, call Annika at Ski Independence on 0131 243 8096 or email annika@ski-i.com.

VAL D'ISERE

Finish the season in one of France’s highest and most extensive resorts from the bargain price of £449..

Snowsure Val d'Isère is great, as regulars on our trips will testify. There’s a chance of fresh powder as well as wonderful spring snow off piste, plus cruising on the 300km of well-groomed pistes under sunny skies.

We’ve negotiated a fantastic deal with Le Ski and booked all nine of their Val d’Isère chalets. All bedrooms are ensuite and eight of the chalets have access to an outdoor hot tub – an unusual feature in European resorts.

Seven nights’ accommodation and six nights’ chalet board (breakfast, tea and dinner including wine) with flights and transfers cost from just £449 to £609 depending on the chalet you choose
(high season price is £1559).

Departure date 24 April 2011.

PLUS!

- Discounted off-piste guiding with Top Ski
- Free half-day lesson with coaches from British-run school New Generation.
- Free test of the latest equipment with specialist rental shop Snowberry.
- Free guiding by members of the magazine and Le Ski staff.
- Free picnic or barbecue and drinks party
- Great prizes.

To make a booking or discuss this holiday in more detail, give Le Ski a call on 01484 548996 or email mail@leski.com