We know you can’t wait to ski on the world’s best snow-covered slopes. But you also don’t need to wish your time away, because most resorts offer lots of fun activities in the summer too.
If you think ski resorts turn into ghost towns at the end of the season, think twice. From mountain biking to paragliding, here is what they look like in the summer and how to make the most of it.
What’s beneath the snow?
Most ski resorts are built around small villages in the mountains, where the locals reside. While the villages are brimming with tourists during the ski season, once the season ends, the locals enjoy the area to themselves and fewer tourists.
The restaurants and the main street with shops, popular with holidaymakers, close down, but the spirit of the villages doesn’t fade away.
For the locals who live in those ski resorts all-year round, the real life begins when the ski season ends. Once the winter tourists leave, they can enjoy the beautiful surroundings of their village freely and become friends with different kinds of tourists who are there for the scenery and the bounties of the mountain.
Many of the ski villages are well-developed in the summer too and provide a different range of facilities, making use of the profound landscape. Some of them even have co-working spaces, where digital nomads flock to in the summer to enjoy the beautiful views, authentic village, and networking opportunities.
As for the slopes, they turn from a snow medley into green trails and fields, suitable for a range of summer activities.
Summer fun in the mountains
If you decide to spend your summer at a ski resort or just visit for a few days, you will never get bored. In fact, most resorts offer season passes that are also valid for the summer, so you can reap the benefits of the mountain fun all year-round.
As the snow melts, it clears the way for picturesque mountain trails to emerge. With the gondolas and ski lifts running, you can indulge in a range of outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, ATV riding, ziplining, paragliding, white water rafting, and even scenic driving.
While winter is the perfect time to go skiing, the spring and summer seasons unfold a whole new mountain world. There are many nature resorts and formations to be explored and diverse wildlife to be spotted.
Visiting the ski resorts during the summer can be extremely beneficial for those wondering how to become a ski instructor. Getting to know the ski resort before the start of the season and exploring the terrain will give you confidence and will help you navigate yourself and your students better through the mountain.
The best ski resorts for the summer months
Many ski resorts around the world have the facilities to provide summer fun. However, some are better developed than others.
Morzine Avoriaz in the French Alps, for example, offers an array of hiking trails, indoor and outdoor swimming pools with stunning views, and a range of activities for the whole family. You can hop on a summer sled, ride a horse, play golf and mini gold, and even join an orienting course. There are also exciting events in the summer for all the adventure lovers
Another ski resort that provides great facilities for a summer holiday in the Austrian Alps is Zell am See – Kaprun. Nestled between a mountain, a lake, and a glacier, the resort provides you with abundant opportunities to explore the breathtaking landscape while hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, or on your mountain bike.
For the mountain lovers, the outdoor adventure never ends. Whether it’s a run down the snowy slope or a hike in the green forest, ski resorts offer a year-round hub for merging with nature and having lots of fun.