Skiing in South Africa and Morocco

Ever skied in South Africa? And Morocco? Here is a guide to places you never thought of: South Africa, Japan, Argentina and Morocco.

Argentina. The Argentine Andes have several notable ski resorts, with snow from June to October. The landscape is breathtaking thanks to the altitude. Bariloche is considered one of the best ski resorts in South America, but also Valle de Las Lenas, Ushuaia, San Martin de los Andes, La Angostura, Chubut, Copahue Park and Mendoza meet the highest expectations. The Penitentes ski resort, with its 2.580 metres above the sea level, offers 28 slopes spread over 300 hectares. It is near the Aconcagua, part of the Seven Summits (the highest mountains of each of the seven continents) and the highest peak outside Asia.

South Africa. Snow comes first in the Southern Hemisphere. You will be able to enjoy the white cover of Tiffindell ski resort already by the end of May. It was first established to give South Africans the opportunity to ski near their homes. Today the resort has grown substantially, challenging even the most expert skiers. And while the lack of snow is becoming a concern worldwide, Tiffindell has nothing to worry about: last year it saw over 7 metres of snow!

Morocco. For those of you who consider Marrakech a getaway from the cold, looking for winter sun, here are some news: you can have both! The Oukaimeden ski resort is about 40 miles from Marrakech and ninety minutes from the beach. It is part of the High Atlas Mountains which are usually covered with snow in January and February. It is cheap and uncrowded: the ski pass costs 10 Euros, and being largely unknown, you won't have to wait in line at the chairlift.

Japan. Every day, from December to April, trains leave from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain and a symbol of the country. Hakuba resort in Nagano is also very famous for being the host of the 1998 Winter Olympics. But many probably don't know that there are over 600 ski resorts in Japan, the largest number considering the size of the country. The northern island of Hokkaido is the perfect destination for those in search of spectacular deep powder and off-piste runs. Moreover, Japanese hotels in the ski resorts are modern and often located near natural hot springs. Exactly what you need after a long day on the slopes.

Spain is blessed by the sun, and at the same time, criss-crossed by mountain ranges in the north, in the middle, and to the surprise of some, also in the south. The Sierra Nevada is one of Spain's most renowned ski destinations, with over 65 km of ski slopes. It is a major attraction due to its proximity to the sea and to the Alhambra, the best preserved palace of the Arab world. Famous for being the chosen resort of the Spanish royal family, Baqueira-Beret is also beautiful and sunny and has a good snow record. Some pistes have been recently modernised, and offer a wide range of uncrowded blues and reds for intermediate skiers.