Guides
When to go
Short, data-led guides to the questions that decide a ski trip: how early is too early, how late is too late, and which hemisphere to chase in August.
1–15 December
Early December: go high or go west
Natural snow is a gamble almost everywhere in the first half of December. Here is where the odds are best, and where you are relying on snowmaking.
1–15 April
Late season: who still has snow in April
Early April is the most dependable fortnight of the northern season for natural snow. The real question is how far down the mountain it reaches.
16–31 August
The southern winter: New Zealand, Australia or South America?
Late August is the peak of the southern season. New Zealand is dependable, the Andes are deeper, and Australia is a natural-snow gamble.
1–15 March
Low-altitude resorts: when they’re worth it
Resorts with villages below 1,000 m offer short transfers and real towns, but natural snow comes late. Timing is everything.