The best ski holidays rarely begin with a map of the world, but that is more or less what the Ikon Pass now offers.
With the 2026/27 Ikon Pass on sale and more than 70 mountain destinations in the network, skiers can start thinking well beyond the traditional one-resort week. This is a pass that can take you from polished Utah corduroy to Colorado cowboy country, from Swiss long-weekend glamour to Hokkaido powder, and from spring skiing in California to winter turns in the Southern Hemisphere.
For British skiers, that variety is the real story. The pass will not suit everyone, particularly if you are planning one simple week in one Alpine resort. But for those looking at more than one trip, a long-haul ski holiday, or a winter that stretches from December through to summer, Ikon is increasingly part of the conversation.
Access varies by pass type, destination, blackout dates and reservation requirements, so skiers should check the latest Ikon Pass comparison page before booking flights or accommodation. For more background, read our earlier InTheSnow story on Ikon Pass 26/27 pricing and Patrick Thorne’s feature on the era of the mega-pass.
For curated skiing… Deer Valley, Utah
Deer Valley has always been one of North America’s most carefully managed ski experiences, and its current expansion is making it bigger without stripping away its polished character.
The Utah resort remains ski-only, still limits daily skier numbers and continues to trade on the things it has long done well: groomed pistes, strong service, smart accommodation and an unusually calm mountain rhythm for a major US resort.
For winter 2026/27, Deer Valley is adding the new Hail Peak Express lift, opening access to around 81 hectares of new skiable terrain and seven new runs. The wider expansion has taken the resort to around 1820 hectares of skiable terrain, making it one of the most significant resort developments in North America.
It will appeal to skiers who want their mountain days to run smoothly: early corduroy, efficient lifts, good lunches and that rare sense that the resort has thought through the details before you arrive.
Deer Valley resort guide and Deer Valley’s record expansion
For cowboy-core adventures… Steamboat, Colorado
Steamboat has something many purpose-built resorts can only try to imitate: an actual western town behind the ski area.
This is Colorado with ranching roots, natural hot springs, cowboy hats that are not worn ironically, and a mountain that works for a wide spread of abilities. The resort has also changed substantially in recent seasons, with the Wild Blue Gondola now fully open, improving the journey from the base area to Sunshine Peak.
That matters because Steamboat has always been about more than one signature run. Its strength is the whole feel of the place, with wide intermediate terrain, tree skiing, a warm local character and enough off-slope atmosphere to make evenings feel part of the trip rather than just a pause between ski days.
For families, groups and skiers who like a sense of place with their piste map, Steamboat is one of Ikon’s most appealing Colorado options.
For spring skiing… Mammoth Mountain, California
For skiers who feel winter always ends too soon, Mammoth Mountain is one of North America’s great late-season names.
The Californian resort rises to 3369m and is known for its long season, with skiing often continuing deep into spring. When conditions line up, Mammoth delivers the classic late-season combination: bright mornings, softening snow, quieter slopes, and a relaxed mountain-town feel that suits skiers who enjoy the sunnier side of winter.
It is also a useful reminder that spring skiing is not just a European story. Mammoth’s altitude and snowfall record make it a strong choice for skiers looking to extend the season after many Alpine resorts have closed, particularly those tempted by a California road trip.
The opening of Limelight Mammoth, close to the Village Gondola, also gives the resort a fresh high-end hotel option.
Mammoth Mountain resort guide and Mammoth spring skiing
For a long weekend… St. Moritz, Switzerland
For a short ski break with a sense of occasion, St. Moritz still has few equals.
The Swiss resort sits in the Upper Engadine, with access to major ski areas including Corviglia/Piz Nair, Corvatsch/Furtschellas, Diavolezza and Lagalb. It is a place where winter sport history, grand hotels, sharp grooming and excellent restaurants all sit together rather naturally.
This is not the value choice in the Ikon network, and nobody should pretend otherwise. But for a special long weekend, St. Moritz is compelling. You can ski well in the morning, take lunch seriously, wander through a resort that has been doing winter glamour longer than almost anywhere else, and still feel you have had a proper Alpine escape.
For going further afield… Furano, Japan
Japan remains high on many skiers’ wish lists, and Furano gives Ikon Pass holders a reason to look beyond the most familiar Hokkaido names.
The resort is split between the Furano and Kitanomine zones, with 28 trails and access towards the summit by the Furano Ropeway. The skiing has the quiet precision many visitors love about Japan: cold snow, carefully prepared pistes, beautiful scenery and a calmer feel than some of the more heavily internationalised resorts.
After skiing, Furano brings the other half of the Japanese winter experience into play, with steaming bowls of ramen, hot springs and a local culture that makes the trip feel much more than just a change of ski area.
For skiers who have already tried the Alps and North America, or those who simply want their next ski holiday to feel properly different, Furano is an enticing long-haul option.
For summer skiing… Thredbo, Australia
For UK skiers, Australia offers a simple but rather pleasing inversion: when our summer arrives, their winter is getting started.
Thredbo sits in Kosciuszko National Park and is home to Australia’s longest ski runs, along with a lively alpine village that gives it more of a resort feel than some Australian ski areas. It is a very different mountain experience to the Alps or Rockies, and skiers should be realistic about conditions, especially during warmer spells. But that is also part of the appeal.
This is skiing as part of a bigger journey: a Southern Hemisphere winter, an Australian road trip, or a way of keeping the turns going when Europe has moved on to bikes, beaches and glacier-only options.
For family-friendly fun… Tremblant, Québec
Tremblant remains one of Canada’s most approachable ski resorts for families, particularly for those who want North American service with a more European-feeling village.
The colourful pedestrian base makes the holiday easier from the start. Accommodation, cafés, restaurants, shops, ski school and lifts are all close together, which matters when children are involved and the daily logistics of gloves, helmets, lessons and lift passes begin.
The mountain itself has enough variety for mixed-ability groups, while the French-Canadian atmosphere gives Tremblant a character distinct from the western Canadian giants. Parents can ski properly, children have plenty to do, and the whole resort feels manageable rather than overwhelming.
For a South American skiing adventure… Valle Nevado, Chile
High in the Chilean Andes, Valle Nevado offers one of the most dramatic ways to keep the ski season alive.
The resort sits within easy reach of Santiago and is known for wide-open Andean slopes, big views and heli-skiing. For European skiers, it feels like a proper adventure: different light, different mountains, different food and a winter that arrives when the Alps are in summer mode.
It will not be the simplest Ikon Pass trip to organise, but that is exactly why it has such appeal. Valle Nevado suits skiers who want more than another familiar week away. It is for those who like the idea of skiing beyond the usual map.
Is The Ikon Pass Worth It For 2026/27?
The Ikon Pass will make most sense for skiers who plan ahead. If you are taking one straightforward week in one resort, local lift tickets or a package holiday pass may still be the better route. But if you are looking at several trips, combining Europe with North America, or adding Japan, Australia or South America to the winter wish list, the value can start to build quickly.
The key is to match the pass to the skier. Deer Valley suits those who like everything refined and well run. Steamboat brings western soul and broad appeal. Mammoth keeps spring skiing alive. St. Moritz does a polished Alpine weekend better than almost anywhere. Furano is for powder-curious travellers who want Japan without following the obvious crowd. Thredbo and Valle Nevado stretch the season into another hemisphere, while Tremblant remains one of the easiest long-haul family choices.
Something for every skier type, in other words, provided you choose carefully.
More details are available at ikonpass.com.