You don't have to go abroad and pay exorbitant sums to get great skiing. In this issue, you will learn about 13 ski resorts in Russia that the average tourist can afford.

Issue price: air ticket Moscow - Gorno-Altaysk - 16,000 rubles (round trip), accommodation in a 2-3-star hotel - from 1900 rubles per day, ski pass for a day - 500 rubles.

Why exactly here: Belokurikha is called “Siberian Switzerland” for a reason. By the picturesque mountain landscapes and the healing qualities of the Altai air, the resort is almost as good as the citadel of the alpine peaks. Here, as on the Swiss slopes, there are no sudden changes in temperature, winters - windless and snowy - allow skiing from December to March, and the sun shines longer and more intensely (about 260 days a year) than in the resorts of the Caucasus and Crimea. Belokurikha has seven comfortable and safe tracks of varying complexity with a total length of more than 25 kilometers, three of them (Katun, Altai-West, Severny) are equipped with night lighting. There is a ski school on the territory of the resort, in which almost all instructors are candidates for a master of sports in alpine skiing or a master of international class.

Pros: well-groomed trails equipped with artificial snowmaking systems, a developed infrastructure with a chain of shops, restaurants, equipment rental points, an own extreme park with a launch pad, two plastic-coated boxes, a quarter pipe, jib rails and several jumps of varying difficulty for snowboarders and advanced skiers. There is also a "baby lift" - a lift for children and beginners.

Issue price: a bus ticket Moscow - Yaroslavl - from 1400 rubles round trip, a standard double room in a hotel - from 1150 rubles, a ski pass for six hours - 400 rubles.

Why exactly here: two gentle and simple Shaksha tracks with a height difference of 43 meters are suitable for family vacation and those who are just getting on skis. There is also a good infrastructure designed for kids and teenagers: a baby lift, a tubing track, a children's ski area, sports equipment rental and special training courses for young skiers. Evening skiing is provided with lighting, and on days with little snow, an artificial snowmaking system is activated. For advanced skaters, there is an additional slope dotted with hillocks and ravines, which is located outside the complex. Slope length - 180 meters, slope angle - 24 degrees.

Pros: strong snowboarding school, inexpensive coach services (1000 rubles / hour), 50 percent discount on equipment and a ski pass for children.

The price of the issue: a ticket for the Sapsan train - from 1400 rubles, an air ticket Moscow - St. Petersburg - from 4000 rubles, a standard double room in a hotel - 2500 rubles per day, a ski pass for a day - 1100 rubles.

Why exactly here: this ski resort cannot boast of picturesque mountain landscapes, but it has a set of a wide variety of tracks for skiers and snowboarders of various skill levels. Total in the resort 10 ski slopes with a total length of more than 6 km: three red and four black, the Mogula track - with artificial hillocks and jumps, as well as two tracks for beginners. The resort has a RedLake Exteme Park with an extreme track and snowboard park, a ski acrobatics stadium, cross-country skiing tracks and cheesecake skiing. All slopes are equipped with night lighting and artificial snowmaking systems. You can safely come here with small children. With its steep slopes, a baby lift and a strong coaching staff, it is very easy to put your child on skis or snowboards.

Pros: organization of children's leisure time, which includes a children's ski school, a playground and a club, a single ski pass for all lifts, smooth and well-groomed slopes, a strong coaching staff.

How to get there: by bus # K898 from the Parnas metro station, or by train from Finland Station to Sosnovo. Further - by bus No. 645, 646.

Price issue: air ticket Moscow - Yekaterinburg - from 10,000 rubles round trip, standard double room in a hotel - from 3,610 rubles per day, ski pass for five hours - 800 rubles.

Why exactly here: Mount Belaya is considered one of the most beautiful in the Middle Urals. It got its name not by chance: for nine months of the year its slopes are covered with snow-white fluffy snow. There are five different trails (two red, two blue, one green) with evening lighting, which are suitable for both beginners and advanced riders. You can stay right in the hotel complex located on the territory of the ski center. After riding alpine skiing people play paintball, ride snowmobiles and ice skates.

Pros: mountain slopes well lit, trails work both in the morning and in the evening; good infrastructure, inexpensive group classes with trainers.

Issue price: air ticket Moscow - Arkhangelsk - from 9,500 rubles, standard double room in a hotel - from 1,500 rubles per day, ski pass per day - 1,300 rubles.

Why exactly here: not only beginners and families with children, but also advanced alpine skiing and snowboarding lovers increasingly come to ski on the slopes of the Malinovka ski complex. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, due to the northern location of the center, there is always a stable snow cover on its routes, and the season lasts until the end of April. Secondly, prices in Malinovka are significantly lower than at other resorts. Although the ski has only two slopes with a total length of 480-520 meters and a vertical drop of 76-96 meters, for the pros there is a rather interesting red slope and a snowboard park with steep peaks - three jumps and jibbing pieces.

Pros: evening trail lighting, training slope, free lighted jogging trails in the forest, tubing park. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, Malinovka offers a wide range of active entertainment: ice skating rink, roller ski competitions, snowmobiling, ice hockey in the open area.

Issue price: air ticket Moscow - Ufa - from 6,000 rubles (round trip), hotel room - from 1,000 rubles per day, ski pass for six hours - 600 rubles.

Why exactly here: Zavyalikha is located in the South Urals, near the village of Trekhgorny Chelyabinsk region, and includes 10 well-prepared tracks of varying degrees of difficulty (three have FIS certificate and lighting) with elevation differences of 150-430 meters and a length of 2200-2980 meters. On the territory of the complex there is an extreme snow park for desperate skiers and snowboarders, there is a BOARD-cross track and five lifts, including the only six-seat chair lift in Russia. There are also 15 km of cross-country skiing trails for children, educational trails and a cross-country ski trail. Once a year, Zavyalikha becomes the venue for competitions for the Russian Cup in snowboarding.

Pros: comfortable lifts with a high carrying capacity, which eliminates queues, a ski school, infrastructure for kids, including a baby lift, ski courses and a children's track.

Issue price: air ticket Moscow - Petrozavodsk - 10,000 rubles (round trip), hotel in Petrozavodsk - from 1,200 rubles per day, rent of a house in the village of Pinguba, which is as close as possible to the ski slopes - from 3,500 rubles per day, ski pass for 4 hours - 500 rubles.

Why exactly here: the Karelian resort of Yalgora, opened in 2013, is not yet very popular among Russian skiers. For this reason, there is practically no crowds here, housing is cheaper, and the tracks are smooth and free. Another attractive feature of Yalgora, located on the coast Lake Onega, - a unique terrain, which is often compared with Kamchatka. The resort has three slopes of varying difficulty with a vertical drop of up to 100 meters, a red and black slope, a training slope for beginners and children, ski run, chair and belt (for beginner skaters) lifts, rental point, ski and children's sports schools.

Pros: the opportunity to combine skiing with visiting attractions such as the island of Suisari and Kizhi, the Kivach waterfall, the abandoned village of Pegrema. Other important advantages of Yalgora are a long skiing season (from November to April), long slopes and gentle slopes, which are ideal for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels, and a strong coaching staff.

Issue price: double room in the hotel - from 2000 rubles per day, ski pass for the day - 700 rubles.

Why exactly here: Yakhroma is a popular ski resort in the Moscow region, which is 46 kilometers from the capital. There are four slopes equipped here, which make it possible to ski comfortably not only for beginners, but also for experienced skiers. For children and beginner skaters, a training track is suitable, and those who are confident in skiing or boarding will like tracks 3A and 3B with a fairly strong drop in the upper part of the slope and a smooth roll-out. These tracks host slalom competitions, including the Russian Cup. Off-piste skiing here is also quite interesting: track 4B ("Lesnaya") is suitable for skiers and snowboarders with a high level of training.

Pros: lighting of the slopes at night, a good ski school for children and adults, a lot of slopes for all levels of training, well-developed entertainment and sports infrastructure.

How to get there: by car along Dmitrovskoe highway, by train - from Savelovsky railway station to the Yakhroma station, then by minibus.

Issue price: air ticket Moscow - Mineralnye Vody - from 6,000 rubles (round trip), standard double room - from 1,500 rubles per day, ski pass per day - 1,400 rubles.

Why exactly here: 12 Dombai slopes (five of them are the main ones) with a total length of 25 kilometers are suitable for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels. The upper part of the southwestern slope of Mount Mussa-Achitara is good for beginners and lovers of calm skiing. Pros should choose the lower part of the slope, where there are several red and black runs with sharp drops and uneven terrain. Fans of virgin skiing will appreciate several off-piste routes on the northern slope with an exit to the Gonachkhir gorge or to the Teberda-Dombay route and a heli-ski service. The resort has a ski school for adults (children's ski courses are provided) and a rental office.

Pros: clean mountain air, an extensive excursion program in the vicinity of Dombayskaya glade, well-prepared and planned routes, well-developed infrastructure.

Price issue: air ticket Moscow - Sochi - from 5500 rubles round trip, hotel room - from 1500 rubles per day, ski pass for the day - 1800 rubles. For those who prefer to travel by train, Russian Railways offers a special New Year's tariff "Skier", which includes free transportation luggage and any winter equipment. Prices start at 4999 rubles for a compartment ticket on the Moscow - Adler route.

Why exactly here: this is one of the best ski resorts in Russia. People come here to see the Olympic legacy and try out various and well-prepared tracks. It should be understood that Krasnaya Polyana is a collective resort. It consists of three ski resorts (Gornaya Karusel, GTZ Gazprom and Rosa Khutor), each of which has its own audience. The most respectable is considered to be the year-round resort "Rosa Khutor" with a developed infrastructure, chain hotels and a large selection of tracks aimed at both beginners and experienced riders. Another nice feature of Rosa Khutor is the extreme park, where the World and European Cups in snowboarding and freestyle were held. A single ski pass allows you to ride at any of the three resorts.

Pros: modern ski slopes of various difficulty levels, new lifts, hotels and hotel complexes for every taste, a large selection of après-ski entertainment, the Egorka kids club, international ski schools with instructors from Russia, France, Austria, Switzerland.

Issue price: air ticket Moscow - Ufa - from 8000 rubles (round trip), a standard double room in a hotel - from 1500 rubles, a ski pass for three hours - 600-750 rubles.

Why exactly here: today Abzakovo is one of the most well-equipped ski resorts not only in the Urals, but also in Russia. There are 15 tracks of varying difficulty - red, green and blue - with a total length of more than 18 kilometers. There is also a children's slope with a minimum slope, a snow park with a half-pipe and four tracks for slalom and giant slalom, certified by the international organization FIS. All tracks are equipped with night lighting and artificial snowmaking systems.

Pros: Inexpensive service and accommodation, a range of simpler, family-friendly trails, the longest ski season on the territory of the Urals - from November to May, developed infrastructure, additional cross-country skiing trails, a large selection of après-ski entertainment.

Issue price: air ticket Moscow - Murmansk - 7000 rubles, rent of an apartment - from 1500 rubles per day, ski pass for a day - 1100 rubles.

Why exactly here: Khibiny is one of the oldest ski resorts with the most picturesque and interesting slopes in Russia. It consists of four ski areas (North Slope, Kukisvumchorr, Big Wood, Kolasportland) and a snow park. Most of them are intended for advanced skiers and freeride enthusiasts. However, there are also green trails and training slopes in the Khibiny. There is also a mogul slope, freestyle jumps, 70 and 90-meter jump jumps, an ice rink, a 14-km flat track and a ski stadium. An important advantage of the Khibiny is its long ski season, which lasts until the end of spring. On some slopes, snow lies all year round.

Pros: wonderful nature Kola Peninsula, the opportunity to see the Northern Lights (if you go in December), trails for various categories of skiers, the duration and abundance of snow cover, affordable prices for housing and services.

Issue price: air ticket Moscow - Novokuznetsk - from 15,000 rubles (round trip), a standard double room in a hotel - from 1000 rubles per day, a ski pass for a day - from 500 rubles.

Why exactly here: the ski complex has 14 slopes (two green, four blue, six red and two black) with a total length of 3900 meters. All tracks comply with the international FIS standard. Various competitions are regularly held here - for example, the stage of the Russian championship in alpine skiing and snowboarding. In Sheregesh there are slopes of any degree of difficulty - from training to high-speed. Usually, the pros conquer the upper part of the Zelena Mountain slope, where there are black and red tracks, and beginners run around the slopes of the Bear Mountain. For children in Sheregesh there is a ski school and a ski nursery "Nevalyashka".

In addition, Sheregesh is a great place for freeride lovers. Active off-piste skiing is facilitated by dry, "flying" snow, abundant snow cover, the thickness of which reaches 120 cm, and a very long ski season - from November to May. For freeriders, the resort offers heli-skiing and heli-board services: transfers to the starting point by snowmobile, helicopter or on foot. The only drawback for off-piste lovers is the lack of a general ski pass for the lifts, so you have to either choose or buy single lifts.

Pros: a large selection of trails (some have night lighting), guaranteed snow cover, highly qualified instructors. The complex is suitable for those who want to ski for the first time. This is facilitated by comfortable training tracks, gentle slopes and drag lifts. Skiing can be supplemented with a visit to the spa, ice rink, restaurants and a karaoke bar.

Sutochno.ru presents you the best ski resorts Russia. Our rating contains all the most important: where to go, what conditions are created for rest and where you can stay.


Sheregesh

This ski resort is located in the Kemerovo region, on the slopes of Zelenaya Mountain. The complex is well developed and equipped, the snow here is always dry and lush, so it does not stick to the skis, and the tracks keep their shape perfectly. The temperature during the skiing season is kept within the range of -10 ... -15 ° С.

How to get there: first to Kemerovo, Novosibirsk or Novokuznetsk, from there by bus to Tashtagol (from 3 to 14 hours), then again by bus to Sheregesh (20 minutes).

When the season: from mid-November to late May.

Who is this resort for: for both beginners and experienced.

Trails: 15 tracks with a total length of 23 kilometers. There are 4 difficulty levels. Experienced skiers ride upstairs, here the sections are the most difficult. Closer to the foot it becomes easier. If you are a downhill master, there are two slopes for you with an incline of up to 45 degrees.

Equipment rental: for 1 hour - 200 rubles, for 8 hours - 700 rubles. 14 rental locations are evenly located throughout the resort.

Belokurikha

This resort is located in the Altai Territory, here you can relax against the backdrop of mountains,. The sun shines often, and there is practically no wind, so it is comfortable to ride here, despite the fact that in winter the air temperature reaches -20 ° C. The thickness of the natural snow cover is about 1.5 meters. The conditions for skiing are good, the resort often hosts competitions in alpine skiing.

How to get there: by train or plane to Novosibirsk or Barnaul (as well as by train to Biysk), and then a direct bus flight to Belokurikha.

When the season: late November - early April.

Who is this resort for: for everyone who loves downhill skiing in Russia.

Trails: there are 5 equipped slopes and the total length of the slopes is about 7 kilometers. The longest slope is 2.5 kilometers, the height difference is 500 meters. For those who like difficult trails, the Tserkovka descent is suitable. If you are not skating very well, you should go to the "Grace" track, it is simpler. For family vacations, "Katun" is suitable, where the height difference is only 180 meters.

Equipment rental: about 100 rubles per hour.

Kirovsk

Kirovsk is on the high lines in the rating of ski resorts in Russia. Is in Murmansk region, thanks to which you can ride here almost all year round... In early December, the polar night begins here, so guests of the resort not only go downhill skiing, but also enjoy the northern lights, as well as the picturesque landscapes of the Khibiny.

How to get there: first by plane or by train to the city of Apatity, then by regular bus to the resort.

When the season: from December to May, however, there is snow on the peaks even in summer.

Who is this resort for: for beginners and professionals.

Trails: in Kirovsk there are 28 equipped slopes, which in total stretch for 30 kilometers. The difference in height is from 400 to 600 meters. For beginners there are 3 slopes, for amateurs and professionals - 10. There are also 5 slopes of increased difficulty. There are chairlifts and drag lifts.

Equipment rental: the cost depends on which ski area you go to, but the prices are quite low.

Krasnaya Polyana

Krasnaya Polyana is located near Sochi, not far from the Black Sea coast, and thanks to this, it is quite easy to get here. The complex was involved in the 2014 Winter Olympics, so the infrastructure here is at a high level. In addition to Krasnaya Polyana itself, the resort includes the village of Esto-Sadok and several sports complexes: Gornaya Karusel, Gazprom (Laura) and Rosa Khutor. In addition to skiing, in the resort you can relax in bars, restaurants and nightclubs, as well as watch.

How to get there: by plane or train to Sochi, then change to the Sochi - Krasnaya Polyana train. You can also get from Sochi and Adler to Krasnaya Polyana by car.

When the season: from mid-December to mid-April.

Who is this resort for: for both experienced and beginners.

Trails: the largest complex is Rosa Khutor, where all types of tracks are available and you can practice freeriding. The "Laura" complex is positioned as a family one and will please newcomers more. "Mountain Carousel" is suitable for beginners and pros, there are opportunities for freeriding.

Equipment rental: works both in villages and directly on highways. The average price for a set of skis or a snowboard is 1200 rubles.

Dombay

It is located in Karachay-Cherkessia, on the slopes of the Caucasus. Dombai glade is incredibly beautiful, and in addition to skiing, you can admire the panoramas of the neighboring mountains, forests and gorges. In the list of ski resorts in Russia, Dombai is in good standing: it is actively developing, Russian and international competitions are held here.

How to get there: by plane to Mineralnye Vody, or by train to the same Minvod, Cherkessk, Nalchik or Nevinnomyssk. Then take a bus from these cities to Dombai.

When the season: from late November to early April.

Who is this resort for: for both pros and beginners.

Trails: 12 slopes with a total length of approximately 20 kilometers. For beginner skiers - gentle and straight slopes, for those who are more daring - more difficult slopes, and for professionals - slopes with sharp turns and sharp elevation changes.

Equipment rental: there are many rental points - both in the village and in all parts of the slopes. The kit costs an average of 500 rubles per day.

Beloretsk

Ski resort Beloretsk is located in Bashkortostan. The slopes for skiing are arranged on Mount Mratkino, which is one of the highest in the South Urals. There is a lot of snow, the air is clean, and the height difference is small. Ski slopes surrounded by a beautiful pine forest.

How to get there: by plane or train to Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk or Ufa, then by bus to Beloretsk.

When the season: from December to April.

Who is this resort for: for beginners and advanced riders.

Trails: the total length of 5 local tracks is about 5 kilometers, the height difference does not exceed 300 meters. The easiest one is for riding with children, its length is 300 meters. The most difficult section is the 1250 meter giant slalom track. The resort has 4 lifts - both drag and chairlifts. The routes have good lighting, the snow is dense, and, if necessary, evens out.

Equipment rental: from 140 rubles per hour.

Lipakha

IN Perm region there is a beautiful and snowy resort of Gubakha. Here, in the southern part of the Northern Urals, there are a variety of trails for everyone who likes to ski.

How to get there: by any means of transport to Solikamsk or Perm, then by train or bus to Gubakha.

When the season: from early December to mid-April.

Who is this resort for: for all lovers of ski holidays, including those who love difficult trails.

Trails: 17 tracks with a total of 20 km. The vertical drop is 300 m, the longest track is 2600 m. There are tracks of any difficulty, including slalom, giant slalom, downhill and freeride.

Equipment rental:a set for 1 hour costs 400 rubles, for a day - 700 rubles.

Khvalynsk

Khvalynsk is located in the Saratov region. The ski resort is located here on the Volga Upland, at its highest point (379 m above sea level). This area is distinguished by relict pine forests, clean air and beautiful landscapes.

How to get there: by any transport to Saratov, and then by bus to Khvalynsk. You can also take a train to the railway stations Syzran, Balakovo or Vozrozhdenie, and then by road to Khvalynsk.

When the season: starts in mid-December and ends at the end of March.

Who is this resort for: for lovers of ski holidays with different levels of training.

Trails: 3 tracks of varying difficulty - for both experienced and beginners. The total length is 2.7 km, and the vertical drop is 180 m. The longest track is 1.2 km. There is artificial snowmaking and conditions for evening skiing. There are 3 drag lifts in operation.

When the season: mid-November - end of April.

Who is this resort for: both for sophisticated skiers and for beginners in this business.

Trails: the resort has 13 tracks, the total length of which is more than 15 km. The longest track is 2100 m, and the height difference is 475 meters. There are 7 lifts available. The resort is equipped with artificial snowmaking and lighting systems. There are also cross-country ski trails - their length is 5 and 10 km.

Equipment rental: a ski kit costs from 350 rubles per hour and from 1000 rubles per day.

Now I wanted some more budgetary alternative, otherwise the previous article turned out to be quite "bourgeois".

I know ski enthusiasts who go skiing in Chamonix and Courchevel with a suitcase full of cuts of sausage and other dry food, so as not to spend money there, because they fly to these luxury regions not because of "show-off", but because of steep (in every sense of the word) tracks. If you are not skiing since 6 years old, you are not going to freeride from helicopters, but you just want to ski with your soul without straining too much, soak up the spa, relax in good hotel overlooking the mountains and at the same time not spending much money, then the information below is for you.

In Europe, there are inexpensive ski resorts in the Alps, the Tatras, and the Balkans, we will try to briefly, but succinctly tell about them now. It will be about Slovenia, Montenegro, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria.

Ski resorts in Slovenia

Little Slovenia, like its more promoted neighbors Austria and Italy, has magnificent mountains - its entire northeastern part is covered by the Julian Alps, which are located in the Triglav National Reserve. And naturally, thanks to this, there are also ski resorts in Slovenia, they are neatly lined up along the border with the "queen of trails" Austria. There are quite a few of them - Maribor, Kranjska Gora, Bohinj, Vogel. Let's dwell on the largest one - Maribor.

Maribor, Slovenia

Maribor (Maribor Pohorje)

The place, you know, is not easy - the World Cup in Alpine Skiing among women is held here every year, and this already speaks of a certain level.

Pohorje is a mountainous area with slopes, located on the outskirts of the town of Maribor, which is the second largest in the country (after the capital of Ljubljana) and is very pretty in itself, with a large number of bars and cafes. This is if we talk about après ski.

And now about the skis themselves: The total length of the tracks in Pohorje Maribor is 33 kilometers. The vast majority of green slopes - 21 km (for beginners, note and joy), a small area with red slopes - 8 km and very few black ones - only 3 km. And also, it was here, in Maribor, that the first in Slovenia (sounds not very epic, but still) illuminated trail for night skiing was opened. Its length is 4.5 km.

The current prices for ski passes can be found at.

Do not rush to think that you will get bored here quickly, no matter how it is, in Maribor there are still:

  • Long (20 km long) cross-country ski trail.
  • Sledding area.
  • Pohorje Snow Park on the slope of Mount Habakuk with equipment for snowboarding and ski freestyle.
  • Spa centers. Yes, yes, Maribor is one of the ski resorts in Slovenia with thermal springs... The largest such center is called Terme Maribor.

Where to stay in Maribor, hotels

  • A very good option, located in the heart of Maribor Pohorje, literally one step away from one of the ski lifts. The hotel features a small spa, restaurant, bar and free parking.
  • with a huge spa area: with indoor and outdoor thermal pools and saunas. This hotel is 100 meters from the main ski lifts.

Bovec (small bonus to the story about Maribor)

Another interesting and popular (in narrow circles) place is the Bovec ski resort. There is a small total length of pistes, only 15 km, but the biggest difference in altitude among all Slovenian ski areas - 1,800 meters and pistes at 2,200 meters (some of them overlook the Adriatic Sea).

And yes, just for reference, in Sölden, Austria, a 7-day ski pass costs € 316. Of course, the trails there are much more diverse / serious and there are more of them (this is not discussed), but if you are just starting out, but already want to go to the Alps, do you need Austrian diversity if there is Slovenian Bovec. Also the Alps for only 130-150 euros per week.

Minuses

As I wrote above, there are very few black tracks here.

Ski resorts in Montenegro

We are used to talking about this Balkan country mainly in the spirit of recreation on the Adriatic Sea, lovely coastal towns, bathed in the sun. On the coast here, even in January, in the saddest scenario, the temperature does not drop below 10 degrees C, but on average it is about 17C. But, it is worth driving 2.5 hours inland, towards the border with Serbia, and you find yourself in a completely different world, in landscapes more reminiscent of either cold Iceland, if we are talking about the Durmitor Nature Reserve, or the Urals or Siberia with their spruce snowy forests, if we are talking about the Biogradska Gora Nature Reserve. It is on the territory of these two reserves that two Montenegrin ski resorts are located - Zabljak in Durmitor and Kolasin on Biogradska Gora.

Winter in Montenegro

And here is a paradox - natural data for organizing a ski center are much better in Durmitor, but despite this, it was Kolashin with its modest elevation differences (only 500m) that became one of the most comfortable and developed ski resorts in all the Balkans. They were directly engaged in it, and as far as I know, they continue to be engaged and invest. Let's tell you more about both places.

Kolashin

When I studied the reviews of other travelers about Kolashin, I was very struck by how from 2012 to 2017 the opinion of ski lovers about this place changed, from the dismissive "boring slide for locals" to "perhaps the best tracks in the Balkans."

The resort is developing, acquiring new features and every year it becomes more and more like a serious ski center. Here are the numbers:

In total, there are 14 tracks with a total length of 30 km, of which 5 are blue, 7 are red and 2 are black.

There are 6 lifts, including a new modern elevator with a capacity of up to 5500 people per hour and another pleasantness - a special baby lift. Artificial snowmaking cannons are working (by the way, on Kolashin's website, I will give a link below, there are webcams from the slopes, by which you can check the level of snow cover).

In addition to the slopes, the resort has a cross-country ski area, several restaurants at the foot of the resort and a ski school.

Here, in Kolasin, you can order a Ski-Doo snowmobile safari in the Biogradska Gora nature reserve.

Where to stay in Kolasin

The best and so to speak the most fashionable hotel in Kolashin is considered. A very worthy place - such a classic hotel in the mountains, with wooden rooms, a fireplace in the restaurant, a sauna to relax after a day on the slopes and a panoramic view of the mountains.

At the Four Points Hotel, Kolasin

Zabljak

The main advantage of Zabljak is, of course, the Durmitor reserve itself, with its incredibly picturesque canyon of the Tara River, the Djurzhevich Bridge, and the Black Lake. And outwardly, Zabljak itself is pretty pretty, like a European ski town: hotels in the form of chalets, bars with an après-ski atmosphere.

But here on the highways everything is pretty poor: 2 blue and one red, all of them are located in the area of \u200b\u200bMount Savin Kuk (one of the highest in Montenegro).

There are only two lifts here, there is another one that leads almost to the top of the mountain, but according to reviews it often does not work (when we arrived, it did not work either).

The advantages are that these 2 blue slopes are wide and long, well suited for beginners and the cost here is even lower than in Kolasin (understandably, the infrastructure is worse) - 13 euros per day. It is possible to rent equipment for 8 euros.

Durmitor landscapes

In Zabljak there is one very cute one, we recommend it in almost every article about Montenegro 🙂 It is small, with very comfortable modern rooms, a sauna and a delicious restaurant with a fireplace.

Minuses

On the red tracks of Kolashin, you need to be careful, stones can come across, and in Zabljak there are no snow cannons and therefore its tracks are very dependent on the weather. We arrived one weekend - everything was in the snow, beauty, returned a week later with a snowboard, and that's all - the snow decided to melt 🙂

Ski resorts in Slovakia

There is someone who, but Slovakia is not very fond of tourists, neither in the summer, nor even more so in the winter. But in vain. Part of the territory of this small country is covered by the Tatras. In these mountains there are a lot of lakes, rivers, noisy waterfalls, rocky peaks (the most high point - Mount Gerlakhovsky Shtit, 2665 meters). In winter, several ski resorts function here, the largest of which are Tatranska Lomnica (just at the foot of the Gerlakhovsky Shtit), Smokovci, Jasna, Vratna. Let's take a closer look at the last two.

Vratna

One of the largest ski resorts in Slovakia in the Lower Tatras on the territory of the Malaya Fatra reserve. The European Cup stage in parallel slalom was held here (and I consider the holding of major sporting events one of the signs of a good infrastructure of the resort).

Lifts Vratny

The total length of tracks is 17 km, of which 8 km blue trails, 2 km of red and 6 km of black + 1 km bonus of very easy green track.

In total, there are 5 ski areas on the territory of Vratny: Paseki (popular for families, there are simple sections of slopes, there is a ski school and a restaurant), Prislop (here are medium difficulty slopes, the best area in Vratny for snowboarders and a picturesque view of the Malaya Fatra ridge + panorama valleys), Bread (area with black slopes and panoramic restaurant "Panorama"), Poludnevy Grun (the most "diverse" area, there are blue, black, and red slopes + a restaurant in a cozy chalet), Oshchepkova Mulda (northern area with difficult tracks).

Vratny trails

In addition to the ski slopes in Vratna, there are areas for freeriding, the Freestyle Snowpark (located in the Paseki area), spa hotels with panoramic views.

Where to stay in Vratna

Our choice is a 3-star hotel in the Paseki area. Its main advantage is a good spa. There is an infinity pool overlooking the snow-capped peaks and spruce forests of Mala Fatra, a Finnish sauna, a fitness room and a massage area.

Restaurant in the Boboty hotel

Yasna

In fact, it was Jasna that was recognized as the best ski resort in Slovakia, but we put it in second place, because the price of a ski pass for a week is quite high - up to 250 euros for a week in high season. But at the same time, restaurants and hotels are quite budgetary.

Jasna has 50 km of pistes: 20.5 km of blue, 17.8 km of red and 7.3 km of black + there are 4.5 km of cross-country trails, 12 freeride zones and one snow park in the Otupne zone.

In addition to the trails, there is a cable car park (something like a panda park) Tarzania and children's park MAXiland.

Minuses

Sometimes there are quite a lot of people in both resorts (the local population, they know that their resorts are good and much cheaper than the Alpine ones 🙂).

Ski resorts in the Czech Republic

Czech Republic is not only about beer and red tile roofs of postcard cities. Here, near the border with Poland, there is a mountain range "Giant Mountains" and on its territory one of the best inexpensive ski resorts in Europe - Spindleruv Mlyn (oh, the great and mighty Czech language J).

Spindleruv Mlyn

The resort includes 4 ski areas (Medvedin-Gornye Misechki, St. Peter-Gromovka, Stokh and Labska), the total length of the tracks is 25 km (interestingly, this is exactly what they write on the official website, but if you add up the length of each track separately (also are indicated on the site), you get 23.4 km, but let's forgive this "rounding", perhaps it implies additional zones).

Spindleruv Mlyn spa landscapes

Now in more detail: 13.7 km of red slopes, 2.7 km of black and 7 km of blue. There is an area for night skiing and a freestyle snowpark.

In the town itself there are many restaurants and cafes where you can eat boar knee, and drink beer or mulled wine. In addition to the ski slopes, there are also areas for sledging and a snow tubing track (descending from a snow slide on special rubber rings, fun and safe). Still all travel sites write about the local Aquapark, which "will give an unforgettable experience for the whole family," but 100% of the tourists who visited there are negative reviews - there are few slides, it smells strongly of bleach, and, in principle, it's sad, so spend better time for outdoor entertainment.

Minuses

A large number of people, because of which there are often queues for the lifts and the slopes quickly roll off. During snowfalls, black and sometimes red tracks are often closed.

Where to stay in Spindleruv Mlyn, hotels

We continue to promote our theory that if you really come to the mountains, then you should not want to enjoy them, not only on the slopes, but also falling asleep and waking up, therefore, in the Czech ski resort, we selected a hotel with panoramic views from almost each window -.

Swimming pool at the Orea Horal hotel

The hotel is located within walking distance from the ski lifts, has an excellent view pool, sauna, jacuzzi, Turkish bath and children's play area.

Ski resort in Romania - Poiana Brasov

In the Romanian Carpathians, there are not only castles of gloomy rulers with oddities known to the whole world, but there is also one very good ski resort - Poiana Brasov. A place among the picturesque harsh mountains and fluffy coniferous forests with the ancient city of Brasov nearby and with friendly Romanian staff who are trying very hard to make your stay here, a holiday of the European level.

Panorama of Poiana Brasov resort

The total length of the tracks is 14 kilometers, of which 5 kilometers are blue, 5 kilometers are red and 4 kilometers are black.

There are several trampolines. In Poiana Brasov, snow cannons are very active, because the weather is such a weather, it can get warm, but the minimum required layer of artificial snow will always be.

Ski pass prices can be viewed at. Remember that in Romania it is not the euro, but its own currency - the lei.

In this ski resort, you can not only ski, but also go horseback riding, soak up the spa, or book a tour of the country at the tourist center (located in the Brasov Town Hall).

Hotel in Poiana Brasov

In Brasov, it was definitely out of competition - a modern, stylish, piece of Austria or Switzerland among the Romanian mountains.

At the Teleferic Hotel

I honestly did not expect that there could be such hotels in Romania (I underestimated, so to speak, I apologize). The hotel is within walking distance of the ski lifts and has a large spa center.

Minuses

In Poiana Brasov, it is not uncommon for there to be heavy fog and snowfalls, in which skiing becomes dangerous.

Ski resorts in Bulgaria

The last in our list of European countries where you can go skiing inexpensively is Bulgaria. And you know, there are many good ski centers here - Borovets, Pamporovo, Vitosha, Bansko. Let's dwell on the latter.

Bansko

It is a mountainous region that includes several ski areas: Shiligarniki (main), Chalin Valog (mostly with difficult tracks), Todorka and Balkaniada. The slopes are located quite far from each other, but there is a bus between them, free for ski pass owners.

The total length of trails in Bansko is 47 kilometers, of which 20 km are blue, 24 km are red and 3 km are black. In addition, there is an area for cross-country skiing - Banderishka Polyana, with a length of about 8 km.

There are quite a lot of lifts - 14, but they are sorely lacking due to a large number skiers, Bansko is one of the most popular ski resorts in Eastern Europe (if not the most popular). There are especially many people here in the first two weeks of February (the time of European holidays) and, of course, on New Year's.

Bansko

People come here mainly to hone their skills, work out with instructors (in Bansko it is inexpensive and very productive), so there are many training groups and beginners on the slopes.

In the vicinity of Bansko there are thermal centers - in the townships of Banya (here is the speaking name J) and Dobrinishte. And you can spend your evenings in the picturesque Bulgarian taverns.

Minuses

Queues at the ski lifts. They can be very long and tiring in season. On one of the forums, a certain cheerful and resourceful skier shared her way of avoiding the queue - taking a taxi to the Chalin Walog zone (it's not too expensive), there it is already freer than at the very bottom.

Where to stay in Bansko, hotels

Here the choice fell on an apprat hotel - a quiet place not far from the ski lifts with several swimming pools (one of them is open and heated), a sauna, a hammam, free guarded parking and Russian-speaking staff.

Conclusion

We hope that many of the places that we have talked about here have become a discovery for you and you will decide to try out on yourself these so far inexpensive, but already well-equipped European ski resorts.

The portal for travelers Travel.ru has compiled a rating of the most inexpensive foreign resorts for winter holidays.

When calculating the budget for one person, the cost of living in a three-star hotel, the cost of dining in a cafe, the price of a ski pass and the price of a spa visit were taken into account.

The most inexpensive foreign named ski resorts in Eastern Europe - Bosnia, Romania and Croatia. Tourists can plan their budget at the rate of 50-90 euros per day.

The most expensive for travelers there are resorts in France, Switzerland and the USA, where you will have to spend from 250 to 350 euros per day.

The top 10 foreign ski resorts include:

Jahorina, Bosnia (budget € 50 per person)

Poiana Brasov, Romania (55 euros)

Platak, Croatia (77 euros)

Strbske Pleso, Slovakia (78 euros)

Harrachov, Czech Republic (80 euros)

Sleme, Croatia (81 euros)

Kopaonik, Serbia (83 euros)

Zakopane, Poland (86 euros)

Slovenia (87 euros)

Pamporovo, Bulgaria (89 euros)

The most expensive are the French ski resorts Courchevel (351 euros), Val Thorens (budget 258 euros) and Méribel (274 euros), Swiss St. Moritz (276 euros) and American Aspen (280 euros).

Top 50 foreign ski resorts
and their budget (per person per day, euros)

1. Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina - 50

2. Poiana Brasov, Romania - 55

3. Platak, Croatia - 77

4. Strbske Pleso, Slovakia - 78

5. Harrachov, Czech Republic - 80

6.Sleme, Croatia - 81

7. Kopaonik, Serbia - 83

8. Zakopane, Poland - 86

9. Bohinj, Slovenia - 87

10. Pamporovo, Bulgaria - 89

11. Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic - 90

12. Bansko, Bulgaria - 92

13. Encamp, Andorra - 111