YOU COULD GO TO Niseko again. But why settle for free refills of JAPOW when you could go off-off-piste to discover the variety of other ski resorts across Asia? If it’s an intrepid adventure you want, here’s a good case for steering clear of the bigger resorts.
“We’re getting a sense of ‘been there, done that’ when it comes to skiing in the usual destinations,” says Dan Sherman from Ski.com, a ski travel agency with more than 50 mountain travel experts. “People are interested in exploring farther to find new, unique and authentic ski experiences.”
The following list features subduction zone–fueled onsen, ski-friendly yurts, walkable Great Wall hikes, and snow leopard terrain. Strap on your moon boots and ski goggles and bookmark these lesser-known ski spots in Asia, for a chance to explore some of the continent’s unheard-of micro resorts and secret slopes.
Capital Cool
Sky Resort in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Skiing in Mongolia. Photo by Takeshi Kitayama
Have you tried skiing in Asia’s lesser-known capitals? Just 13 kilometers away from Mongolia’s bustling capital of Ulaanbaatar and located in Gorkhi Terelj National Park atop the 2,261-meter high Bogd Khan Mountain is the country’s sole ski are, Sky Resort. Built from a scrapped golf course in 2008 with nine trails, six kilometers of piste and four lifts, it’s open from November to March/April, snow depending, and offers downhill skiing, snowboarding, sledding, snow tubing, and even night skiing, plus a shop to rent gear and sign up for lessons.
It wouldn’t be a visit to Mongolia without a yurt (locally called ger), and the resort’s Asem Ger is ideal for private events while the adjacent Hun Theatre, also a yurt, stages regular performances of traditional Mongolian dancing and cultural performances.
Magic Rock Tourist Camp is a collection of gers, some with fireplaces, and offers vegetarian and Halal cuisine. But to break free of yurts, check into the Shangri La Hotel Ulan Bator, a 20-minute drive from the slopes. Its three night Nomadic Winter package includes a day trip to Terelj National Park, and a choice of dog sledding or lift passes, including skis, gear rental, health insurance, an English guide, transport, and a traditional Mongolian lunch. Afterwards, head to the hotel’s indoor swimming pool, sauna, and steam room, ideal for lactic legs.
Marbled beef and Moon Boots
Mt. Rokkō Snow Park in Hyogo, Kobe, Japan
ROKKO Cablecare. Photo by 663highland
In Japan, good things often come in small packages, and this is especially true for Kobe’s Mt. Rokkō Snow Park. A great spot for beginner skiers, with a ski school, gear rentals, and a half kilometer of piste, plus three lifts, including one exclusively reserved for sledding. The area is drivable but best accessed via the incredibly scenic Rokko-Arima Ropeway, a magnificent 12-minute ride over the evergreens and cascading waterfalls of the steep Rokko Mountains, just 15 minutes from the city center of Kobe.
But this is Japan, so you know you can always count on excellent aprés amenities like onsen and food, in this case marbled Kobe wagyu sukiyaki, fresh sashimi from the nearby Kobe Port, and locally brewed taruzake, sake aged in cedar casks, a Kobe specialty. Walkable from the ropeway is Tocen Goshoboh, an elegant ryokan in the mountain village of Arima Onsen which dates back to the 12th-century Kamakura era who’s pure, iron and salt rich kinsen waters (gold colored), comes from an offshore abduction zone 80 kilometers deep.
Kashmir Cozy
Gulmarg and Khyber Himalayan ski resorts, in India
Kashmir, Gulmarg in India. Photo by imadclicks
Skiing in Gulmarg. Photo by Colin Tsoi
Hop aboard the world’s highest gondola to the summit of snowy Mount Apharwat at 3,979 meters at India’s Gulmarg Ski Resort, home to 25 kilometers of piste, six lifts, numerous wildlife trails, and the mystical frozen Drung Waterfall. Located in the northernmost region of Kashmir near the Pakistani border and home to snow leopards, Himalayan black bear, musk deer, golden eagles, this off-the-radar resort is optimal for powder shredders looking for fluffy, untapped piste or back country naturalists seeking rare wildlife encounters.
The elegant, 85-room Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa, perched at an elevation of 2,690 meters, can arrange ski tours, heli-skiing, and snowmobile treks, while its spa’s pool, sauna and steam rooms let you decompress after a day hitting the piste with L’Occitane treatments, not to mention six restaurants where you can carb up on saffron Dahi kebab and truffled fries for another day in the snow.
Stans and Skis
Shymbulak, Kazakhstan
Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty
Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty
If skiing the Stans is good enough for Prince Harry—spotted piste-bashing here in 2014—it’s good enough for you. Just 30 minutes from Almaty city center in the Tian Shan range of southern Kazakhstan, Shymbulak is the largest ski resort in Central Asia with 20 kilometers of piste and eight lifts whisking you up to lofty elevations as high as 3,200 meters.
Backcountry skiing is especially rewarding here, with private heliskiing opening up isolated valleys, where every run is a chance to carve fresh tracks in the Stan Steppes. After a day exploring, head to the 145-room Ritz-Carlton, Almaty for a glass of Kazakkhan Riesling and some crispy empanada-like chebureki at its 30th-floor Sky Lounge and Bar. The hotel’s ski butlers can also help you schlep your gear, while the spa’s Balinese massages moisturizing body wraps and whirlpool help soothe your body after a day on the cold, dry piste.
Great Piste of China
Nanshan Ski Resort in Beijing, China
Beijing Nanshan. Photo by CHen ZHao
Nestled in the snow-capped mountains of China’s Miyun District located in 90 minutes form the city center in northeast Beijing where the Great Wall rollercoasters over undulating hills and mountains, Nanshan Ski Resort offs up 7.5 kilometers of piste and 16 lifts making this micro resort a welcome break from Beijing’s grey grind. Not one of the hosts of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, this is a smaller resort better suited for shorter ski days. The Vangen Spa Hotel is known for its 20-minute walkable proximity to the Panlong Mountain section of the Great Wall, not to mention thermal baths in each guestroom, ideal for sore legs whether from skiing or walking the wall.
BOOK YOUR STAY AT THE RITZ-CARLTON, ALMATY VIA BOOKING.COM
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Written By
Adam H. Graham
Adam H. Graham lives in Zürich, Switzerland though he spend much of his time on the road reporting on ..Read Morestories. He has traveled to and reported on over 90 countries. He specializes in travel writing, but also report on design, food, contemporary art, architecture, urbanism, and nature. Read Less
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