Skiing is a sporting discipline that is both entertaining and allows you to discover exceptional landscapes. For a change from the usual winter resorts in the mountains, why not opt for unusual places to indulge in your favourite winter sport? To do so, we have selected for you the top 3 most unusual destinations where you can enjoy unusual skiing experiences.
Portugal: skiing under the sun
Bordered to the south by the Atlantic Ocean, the Portuguese territory enjoys a temperate oceanic climate, giving it a mild and pleasant climate in winter. For this reason, almost throughout the winter season, the temperature in the country remains pleasantly mild and offers constant sunshine, which is conducive to various activities to be done under the winter sun. Such as hiking, days at the beach, surfing, golf, etc.
However, to everyone’s surprise, you can also go skiing in Portugal. Indeed, the resort is located at an altitude of approximately 1,900 m in the Serra da Estrella and offers several fabulous marked trails and different snowy landscapes to satisfy you throughout your stay. The area enjoys natural snow cover and temperatures as low as -20°C.
In addition, the resort is equipped with snow cannons to ensure good conditions throughout the winter season. Although the destination doesn’t have as many slopes and ski rental facilities as can be found in resorts in France or Italy, the ambition is there. It is also the original and simple side of this resort that will make your skiing experience even more interesting and memorable.
Dubai: skiing in the desert
If you think that skiing in Dubai is all about skiing on sand, you’ve got it all wrong. This Emirate will never tire of surprising and impressing us. Indeed, in Dubai you can ski on snow. This destination in the heart of the desert, with temperatures of up to 40°C, offers you an unusual skiing experience in the Mall of The Emirates.
This huge shopping mall houses a fabulous ski resort within its 1 meter thick walls. The site includes a snowpark for skiing and tobogganing, a bobsleigh run, fir tree scenery and even a chairlift. In this environment maintaining a temperature of -2 °C, you can even see a penguin pen taking advantage of the cold air.
Lesotho: skiing in Africa
For your information, Lesotho is a Kingdom constituting an enclave in the heart of South Africa. When we think of this part of the African continent, the first things that come to mind are of course the desert and the safari. However, for your greatest pleasure, you can also ski in this country.
When you go to the heights of Lesotho, at an altitude of almost 3,200 m, you will have the opportunity to ski on two very well groomed slopes. The low temperatures at night make it easier to get some artificial snow. Staying in the area will allow you to ski down almost 2 km of slopes during the three months of the southern winter, i.e. in June, July and August.
