The new ski season is here and of course there are lots of new destinations, new accommodation choices and new rail and air services and routes by which to get there this winter.
There’s so much going on it’s hard to keep track of it all, but we’ve done our best, compiling the highlights below.
Italy is gaining in popularity CREDIT Val Gardena
Tour Operator Travel News
The news from tour operators this winter is very diverse, as are the many options for travel we now have from a wide range of companies wanting to take us to the Alps.
Many are though doubling down on the these of recent years, particularly Italy and Scandinavia increasing in popularity. One travel agency is predicting Italy could soon overtake Austria as the second most popular destination for Brits, after France. Canada also seems to er growing in popularity with a number of companies announcing new holiday options there.
In terms of new destinations, the specialists in less well-known French resorts linked to big areas, Peak Retreats, are adding Bride-les-Bains this winter, which is linked by gondola to Méribel and the rest of the 3 Valleys. They’re also introducing Briançon to their already huge range of more than 70 resorts, which is a historic fortified old town is a UNESCO world heritage site and part of the giant Serre Chevalier ski area.
Brides Les Bains
Inghams have also added a valley resort to their extensive programme, Interlaken in the Swiss Alps. Set between two lakes and surrounded by the iconic Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains (pictured top), the resort combines world-class winter scenery with easy access to Grindelwald’s ski area, scenic rail journeys, winter walking and traditional Swiss hospitality.
“We’re always looking for ways to give our guests more choice and flexibility, and this winter we’ve introduced some exciting additions to our programme. Interlaken is a fantastic new destination, opening up one of the most spectacular mountain regions in the Alps,” said Managing Director, John Mansell.
Meanwhile, The Ski Club of Great Britain say their new season Freshtracks programme is their biggest yet. Italy is one of the areas where they’re offering more, including a bigger Dolomites programme which they say is expanding following reduced availability during preparations for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics last season, with a wider choice of resorts and instructional holidays. Options include a Sella Ronda On Piste Instruction holiday. The full programme spans seven categories including women’s-only holidays, under-35 trips and Peak Experience holidays for skiers aged 60+.
For an interesting new offer in the budget conscious market, how about bucket list ski destination Japan? Action Outdoors, known for its high value French ski holidays, has launched its first ever Japan product. Priced from £1,214pp the holiday includes a night in a Tokyo hotel, return train transfers from Tokyo to Nagano and bus transfers to the resort of Hakuba (above), 7 nights’ accommodation in the Alps View Hotel with breakfast and dinner in Hakuba, 6 days lift pass and 6 days instruction.
Britain’s oldest surviving ski holiday company, Erna Low, which will next year celebrate 95 years since Miss Low placed an advert in The Times to organise her first ski trip, have announced a swathe of new accommodation and resort choices. Their main market continues to be France, where they have added more accommodation options, but they’ve also added more than 20 destination choices in Italy, Switzerland Bulgaria and Austria. New, or perhaps that should be ‘returning’ options in the latter include Sölden (below), where Miss Low took her first group for Christmas 1932.
Back in France, chalet rental specialist OVO Network have seven new resort choices on their programme this winter, with the onus on traditional villages including Valmeinier with 160km of runs in the Maurienne Valley’ La Grave, famous for its extreme terrain; Praz-sur-Arly in the Chamonix Valley and Arâches-la-Frasse near Les Carroz in the huge Grand Massif region.
“British skiers are increasingly seeking a more authentic mountain experience, combining great skiing with the real Alpine charm that makes a ski holiday so special. That authenticity is at the heart of what we do,” commented Chris Thompson, director of OVO Network, which say they’ve seen a 23% jump in British customers over the past three winters.
New Ways To Get To The Alps
With climate concern an ever-greater force, rail options to Europe’s mountains continue to improve.
Along with a return of the Eurostar Snow train, with a quick change in Lille en route to the French Alps, which stops in Chambéry, Albertville, Moûtiers, Aime-la-Plagne, Landry, and Bourg-Saint-Maurice to drop you close to many leading French resorts, between 19 December 2026 and 28 February 2027, there are new options this winter if you head to Amsterdam or Brussels to change trains instead.
The Travelski Night Express sleeper train returns for winter 2026–27 with two routes to the French Alps. After debuting last season with a Paris–Bourg‑Saint‑Maurice service, Travelski is adding a second train running from Amsterdam and Brussels to Bourg‑Saint‑Maurice. Both routes operate on Friday nights, returning overnight on Saturdays, giving travellers two extra ski days. Services run weekly from 18 December 2026 to 26 March 2027, and tickets are now on sale.
“Skiers travelling from the UK can connect to either route by taking a Eurostar to Paris or Brussels. You can book the Travelski train as a ticket-only option or as part of a Travelski package with transfer, accommodation and ski pass included. The Eurostar must be booked separately,” explained Daniel Elkan of ski holiday by rail specialists SnowCarbon.co.uk which also offers plenty of advice on rail travel to other parts of Europe.
The service is operated by Travelski, owned by Compagnie des Alpes. Awareness in the UK remains limited, partly because the sleeper‑train website is only available in French and Travelski does not actively market the service to British skiers.
Although rail travel is gradually growing in popularity, flying continues to dominate travel to the mountains and airlines are already announcing lots of new routes for the winter after this one, 27-28. There are plenty of new options this winter too though.
Examples include Crystal Ski Holidays expanding its Norway offering with a new TUI Airways flight from Birmingham Airport to Oslo Gardermoen, running from Sunday 13 December 2026 until 14 February 2027, opening up easier access to some of the country’s most family‑friendly ski resorts.
easyJet has announced a number of new routes this inter including direct services to Kittilä in Lapland, just 10 miles from Finland’s largest ski area, Levi (above). The new twice weekly services are from Luton and Liverpool airports. There’s also a new Newcastle to Barcelona service for those looking for routes to the Pyrenees and from Newquay to Geneva.
There’s also a new Jet2.com route launching to Innsbruck from London Stansted from 19 December to 10 April 2027, adding to the airline’s existing ski destinations from Stansted to Chambery, Geneva, Grenoble and Salzburg.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said, “We are seeing continued demand for our ski programme and our ski flights have been selling well,” noting business was up 30% compared to Winter 25/26.
Argentiere glacier
Fresh Accommodation Options
Plenty of new chalets, apartments and hotels are being launched this season.
SkiWeekends has added two new ski-in/ski-out catered chalets in Argentière in the Chamonix Valley for winter 2026/27, both located at the foot of the Grands Montets ski area where a major lift replacement begins operating trhgis winter. Chalet Hideaway 1 sleeps 6-8 guests and has a hot tub, Chalet Hideaway 2 sleeps 10-14 guests across five bedrooms, with an outdoor jacuzzi, indoor sauna and plunge pool. Both chalets are available either by the room or for sole occupancy, with flexible stays of 3, 4, 6 or 7 nights. The location provides quick access to the Grands Montets lifts, with the shops, bars and restaurants of Argentière less than a 10-minute walk away. The chalets are also next to the Panda Club children’s ski area, making them suitable for families with younger skiers.
Pierre & Vacances is adding four premium residences in Switzerland. Located in Thyon, Zinal, Vercorin and Meiringen, the residences provide access to a range of Swiss ski destinations, from the extensive terrain of the 4 Vallées to traditional Valais villages and family-focused resorts. The new collection is led by Thyon and Zinal, two resorts that combine substantial ski domains with distinctive local character.
Pierre-Vacances-Premium-Residences-Switzerland
Skiworld, the UK’s largest ski chalet operator with a portfolio of 71 catered chalets for 26/27, are still offering six-day catering as part of their chalet board service, unlike some who have reduced to five days. All ten of the resorts where Skiworld’s chalets are located are designated snow-sure with the company purposely operating in resorts where the slopes rise well over 2,000 metres (and up to 3,200m).
Skiworld’s new additions this winter are Chalet Riva and Little Riva, located right in Plagne Villages at a snow-sure 2,100m. They sit just metres from the Aollets chairlift with direct access to Plagne Centre and Bellecôte. Also new is Chalet Sachette in Tignes Les Brévières, a traditional alpine property blending historic character with modern comfort, situated just steps from the main lift at 1,800m.
Ski Beat is approaching its 40th year of offering fully hosted slope-side ski chalets in seven of France’s top ten, high altitude ski resorts. Their new ski chalets are Chalet Florence in Plagne 1800, a traditional Alpine chalet in the heart of the vast Paradiski area, and one of Ski Beat’s largest chalets, sleeping up to 15 guests. For those taking the entire chalet, one place is offered free.
Company Managing Director Laura Hazell (pictured below) says, “Our chalet hosts have always provided nutritious and hearty breakfasts, afternoon tea, and three-course evening meals with wine, but one trend we have seen in four decades is a huge increase in guests choosing our vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free alternatives. We were one of the first ski chalet companies to really embrace this.”
Overall, this winter’s travel landscape feels more expansive than ever, with operators widening their horizons, travellers embracing new regions and rail routes gaining momentum alongside fresh flight options. From authentic Alpine villages to long‑haul adventures and innovative sleeper trains, the season is defined by ever greater choice and travel flexibility.
