Where to Ski in December

Much like late-season skiing, there are some great advantages to hitting the mountains early - shorter lift lines, less crowded slopes and typically, more availability. Plus, there are further perks for those who opt for a pre-Christmas holiday.

It's early season, and staff are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, which enhances the friendly vibe around the resorts. The rental equipment will be fresh out of the box, and you're likely to find great offers for your holiday. And not forgetting, you’ll enjoy a bit of pre-Christmas twinkle as the lights start going up at the beginning of the month.

The trick to skiing early in the season is finding a resort that guarantees a crucial ingredient: December snow. Luckily, our ski specialists have compiled a list of the best resorts to ski in December.

Eager to be the first on the slopes this year? Get the (snow)ball rolling and call one of our ski specialists on 01273 224060 or enquire online.

Less than two hours from Oslo is a tranquil resort that's relatively unknown to the UK ski market. Like most ski areas in Norway, Norefjell's terrain is well-suited for beginners and improvers but also offers steeper runs for more confident skiers.

If you fancy some time away from the slopes, there's no better place to relax than the 4*+ Norefjell Ski & Spa. Having personally stayed there, I can confidently tell you the hotel facilities are some of the best in Norway and offer something for the whole family.

The 4*+ Norefjell Ski & Spa is an outstanding hotel boasting facilities that'll keep you living a life of luxury. It'll bring a smile to your face when you think back to enjoying a glass of bubbly in the outdoor infinity pool whilst being showered with snowflakes. It does for me!

The kids will always be entertained with an indoor climbing wall, air hockey table, pool table and a large indoor swimming pool.

"A beautiful calm resort away from the heavy crowds. The [Norefjell] Ski & Spa Hotel was perfect for our family stay - we stayed happily cocooned in the hotel during the evenings with the swimming pool and saunas at our disposal." - Amruta Lacy-Colson

Myrkdalen is a brilliant hidden gem, tucked between mountains in the stunning fjord lands of Western Norway, and is one of the snowiest and most snow-sure resorts in Norway. Just over two hours from the city of Bergen, Myrkdalen is a modern resort, easy to reach yet still largely unknown. This is something you can use to your advantage, as slopes are wonderfully quiet in December.

For new skiers and families who are just finding their ski legs, Myrkdalen is perfect! It has an excellent ski school and some of the friendliest ski instructors we’ve met. Night skiing is open two nights a week, and if you wish to expand your ski area beyond Myrkdalen, your lift pass covers Voss too (under 30km south), which you’ll likely pass through anyway, to or from Myrkdalen. With 25 December on the horizon, you might not be quite ready to hear the ‘C word’ just yet, but it’s hard to deny the enchanting and magical feeling that travelling between Bergen and Myrkdalen evokes.

The ski-in ski-out 4* Myrkdalen Hotel sits at the base of the mountain, conveniently located next to the rental shop and ski school meeting point. The hotel offers rooms and suites to suit different group sizes and needs, and has three excellent restaurants: a la carte, stone-baked pizza and fondue.

“Ski School staff were brilliant, even stopping to help me and my daughter on the slopes in the middle of another lesson. [The] resort was small but had plenty for us all to do. There was one whole set of runs we never got to. Lift staff were lovely.” - Kitt Stones

For a group of first-timers, rusty skiers, or even those more experienced, Kvitfjell's range of gentle and more challenging terrain provides a great mix for everyone to enjoy. This family-friendly resort receives consistent snowfall from late autumn and is regularly one of the first resorts to open for skiing each winter - even as early as November.

For more confident skiers, there are several dedicated off-piste areas in Kvitfjell where you can get in your first powder turns of the season. There's the highly rated Olympiabakken course, which hosts the World Cup each year.

When there's a group of you staying together on a skiing holiday - friends or family - the accommodation has to be practical and comfortable, and that's precisely what the 4* GudbrandsGard Hotel is. There's minimal fuss, with the rental shop located on-site and the ski school on the hotel's doorstep, so you and the kids can enjoy more time skiing and less time faffing!

"Kvitfjell is a perfect family resort. It's incredibly quiet and it has plenty to keep you entertained for a week's skiing. The pistes are mostly intermediate with open groomed runs, but because it's so quiet you can really enjoy fast carving if you are a more experienced skier. It means families can ski together on most runs" - Andrew D

It's no secret that Whistler is one of the best ski resorts in the world. However, not everyone knows about the generous amounts of early-season snowfall it receives each year. November provides a solid foundation layer of snow, averaging over two metres across the month. Perfectly timed for the lifts' opening!

Naturally, Whistler's reputation attracts a lot of visitors eager to experience its exceptional qualities first hand. To enhance your skiing time at one of Canada's most highly regarded winter playgrounds, visit before Christmas and avoid the crowds and lift queues.

Ideal for couples, the 4* Summit Lodge Boutique Hotel is a boutique retreat located in Whistler Village, five minutes from bars, restaurants and the lifts. The Summit's high standards have made it extremely popular amongst Ski Safari guests, and it's a team favourite too.

"The two mountains offered endless fun. We enjoyed tree runs and deep powdered bowls. The town was fun, buzzy and beautifully Christmassy, with plenty of food options, bars and experiences." - Charlie Killingbeck

The town is vibrant, the December snow is sure, and the scenery is second to none. Banff is a bustling base town that spoils you for choice, with options to ski Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise. The area is awash with eye-catching December events, including a craft beer festival, Christmas at the Castle and a Hot Chocolate Trail.

For those with ice skaters in the group, this is their opportunity to glide across the most beautiful ice rink in the world, Lake Louise. Surrounded by sensational mountain scenery and well-maintained, we can't believe the lake is free to skate on. If you need a pair of skates, rentals are available at Chateau Ski Rentals.

There's no better place to observe the rugged scenery surrounding the town than from the 4* Mount Royal Hotel's rooftop hot tub lounge. Banff also offers a ski shuttle service, which stops off at the back of the hotel, making your stay even more convenient.

"Absolutely stunning scenery and amazing skiing with 3 mountains to choose from. I’ve been there 11 times you can’t beat it." - Samantha Anderson

While we're in the UK listening to endless repeats of Mariah Carey for two months straight, across the pond, Breckenridge is pulling out all the stops in early December to create an authentic festive feeling outside of the Christmas week.

In the first week of December, hundreds of Santa look-alikes race through the main street, which is lined with over 25,000 twinkling holiday lights. On 09 December, the family-friendly party 'Ullr Fest' is held to praise the Norse god of snow in hopes of a powder-filled ski season (which Breckenridge always gets!). Visiting in early December is a wonderful festive experience, without the peak season Christmas prices.

Comfortable and catering for small or large families, 3*+ The Village is an excellent choice when travelling with kids. The condos are ski-in, ski-out, and conveniently located next to the children's ski school and creche.

"Never fails to live up to expectations - something for everyone on the vast slopes. Genuine old town atmosphere with a wide range of shops, restaurants and leisure facilities. Excellent transportation system. No one will be disappointed on the slopes." - Frances Jones

Picture this: you're the first of your friends to hit the slopes this season. While they're getting rained on in the UK, you've just clicked into your skis and have acres of snow-covered terrain in front of you on opening day at Aspen Snowmass.

Home to four vast ski areas in the heart of the Colorado Rockies, Aspen Snowmass promises to deliver fresh snow right off the bat and is suited to intermediate and advanced skiers in need of a powder fix as early as possible.

For enthusiastic skiers and snowboarders, your passion for the slopes deserves to be rewarded with a luxury ski-in ski-out hotel. The 5* Limelight Hotel Snowmass offers great value, and after a day of tackling the steeps, you can drop your gear in the ski storage and head straight to the pool and spa to unwind.

"Snowmass far exceeded our expectations! The snow and pistes were excellent and almost empty during our entire visit. Customer service in the resort was great, including free coffee/hot apple juice in the mornings, free s’mores, Ambassadors who were available twice a day for free guiding, and lift crews were friendly and helpful. The resort is really well laid out and had everything we needed." - Tracy Stonehouse

For most, skiing in Japan is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so you'll want to get the timing right. Early December is an excellent time to visit Niseko if you're looking to save money and experience it in a quieter period. You'll find good snow, and although the powder doesn't reach its deepest until January to February, there's still plenty to carve through. The weather is a little milder, with clearer skies, making the picturesque backdrop of Mt. Yotei even more visible and the skiing extremely pleasant. (If Niseko's renowned powder is what you're on the hunt for, we would recommend waiting until the colder months of January and February.)

If lessons are top of your priority list, you'll have no trouble getting one at a time which suits you, with the resort being particularly quiet at this period in the season. Additionally, a peaceful resort also results in you being able to enjoy fresh tracks with fewer people.

It's a reasonably long journey to Japan, so it's worth staying in a hotel you know is going to tick all the boxes. Having won the World's Best Ski Boutique Hotel on several occasions at the World Ski Awards, 4*+ The Vale Niseko combines luxury and convenience with an overarching modern feel. The hotel is ski-in ski-out and a short walk to the main village, all of which makes for a comfortable, stress-free stay.

"Excellent resort. First-class skiing. Off-piste skiing is great. Short or non-existent queues for ski lifts. Great views of the neighbouring volcano." - Nicholas Farnell

We've all been guilty of repeatedly refreshing a resort's weather page the week before a ski holiday, checking, re-checking, and hoping for good snow conditions. Fear not - Rusutsu is usually covered in a thick layer of snow by December, which has consistently been the case for the last few seasons. In the rare event of poor snow conditions on the Rusutsu's slopes, the resort organises a shuttle bus for its guests to areas of the mountain with the best snow conditions that aren't connected by open lifts and runs.

To really explore Rusutsu, the best hotel to stay at is the 3*+ Rusutsu Resort Hotel. Positioned on the slopes of the West Mountain, the East Gondola is close by and swiftly carries you to the East Mountain. The hotel has all the facilities you'll need to stay entertained after skiing, including hot springs and an indoor wave pool.

"Fabulous skiing [in Rusutsu], so much space. A quirky resort but with lots of choices." - Steven Jones

Our team are just as eager as you to get skiing as soon as the resorts open. We regularly ski in early December, so for personal advice or a tailor-made price, enquire online or call us on 01273 224060.

Or if you’re still getting ideas, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram for more tips and advice from our team, plus the latest photos and stories from our customers.