Glacier skiing: where to go

Glacier skiing allows skiers and snowboarders to access slopes on high-altitude icefields, providing dependable snow cover when lower terrain may lack coverage. Depending on the resort, these elevated slopes can be enjoyed during winter, spring, summer, and autumn, with several destinations offering options outside the typical winter calendar.

Several resorts feature dedicated glacier areas accessible directly or as excursions. In France, Tignes & Val d'Isère provides high-altitude skiing reaching up to 3,599 metres on the Grande Motte glacier, while Les Deux Alpes reaches 3,600 metres with options for guided glacier ski tours. Across Austria, Mayrhofen offers convenient connections to the year-round Hintertux Glacier Ski Area, and Sölden features early and late-season skiing from October to May across the Tiefenbach and Rettenbach glaciers.

Elsewhere across the Alps, Italy's Ponte di Legno connects up to 3,069 metres with the Presena Glacier via modern cable cars. In Germany, Garmisch-Partenkirchen hosts slopes up to 2,962 metres on the Zugspitze glacier, delivering approximately 20 km of natural snow pistes.

Glacier skiing by country

Glacier skiing in Austria (4)Glacier skiing in Switzerland (4)Glacier skiing in Italy (3)

14 destinations compared

DestinationCountryVillage altitudeMax altitudeSki areaLiftsSeasonPrice levelServices
Les Deux Alpes
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
France1,650 m3,600 m200 km40Winter, Spring, Summer€€€2
Mayrhofen
Tyrol
Austria633 m2,500 m142 km61Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn–1
Cervinia
Aosta Valley
Italy2,050 m3,883 m154 km16Winter, Summer€€€€–
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Oberbayern
Germania708 m2,962 m60 km38Winter–1
Ponte di Legno
Lombardy
Italy1,260 m3,069 m100 km30Winter, Spring, Autumn–1
Sölden
Tirol
Austria1,377 m3,340 m146 km31Winter, Spring, Autumn€€€1
Tignes & Val d'Isère
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
France1,550 m3,599 m300 km80Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn–1
Zell am See
Pinzgau
Austria770 m3,029 m138 km50Winter, Spring, Autumn–1
Saas-Fee
Saas Valley
Switzerland1,790 m3,600 m100 km22Winter, Summer––
Laax
Graubünden
Switzerland1,016 m3,018 m224 km29Winter, Summer––
Nendaz
Canton Valais
Switzerland1,252 m3,330 m412 km92Winter, Summer––
Pontresina
Canton of Grisons
Switzerland1,805 m4,049 m36 km5Winter, Summer––
Rauris
Salzburg
Austria970 m2,175 m32.5 km10Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn–1
Santa Caterina Valfurva
Valtellina valley
Italy1,738 m2,880 m35 km10Winter, Spring–1
Compare Les Deux Alpes, Mayrhofen, Cervinia

Glacier skiing in each destination

Les Deux Alpes

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Summer skiingGlacier SkiingGlacier Skiing (summer/winter)
  • Glacier Ski Tours (Guided)Winter, Summer

    Embark on guided ski tours across the Les Deux Alpes glacier, offering breathtaking panoramic views and access to unique, often untouched snowfields. These tours cater to intermediate and advanced skiers and…

  • Ski Domain Les Deux Alpes (Glacier Ski Area)Winter, Summer, Spring

    Les Deux Alpes boasts 220 km of marked pistes, featuring an exceptional range from 1300m to 3600m, thanks to its high-altitude glacier. The domain offers 42 blue, 22 red, and 13 black runs, providing diverse terrain for…

Full guide to Les Deux Alpes

Mayrhofen

Tyrol, Austria
Year-round skiing (Hintertux)Glacier skiing
  • Hintertux Glacier Ski AreaWinter, Summer, Autumn, Spring

    Austria's only year-round ski resort, located at the end of the Tuxertal valley, a short drive or bus ride from Mayrhofen. It offers exceptional snow reliability and panoramic views from altitudes up to 3,250 meters.…

Full guide to Mayrhofen

Rauris

Salzburg, Austria
  • Kitzsteinhorn Glacier Skiing Day TripWinter, Spring, Summer, Autumn

    While not directly in Rauris, the Kitzsteinhorn glacier near Kaprun offers year-round skiing and is a popular day trip destination for Rauris visitors seeking high-altitude skiing or glacier experiences. The journey…

Full guide to Rauris

Frequently asked questions

Which destination offers glacier skiing year-round?

The Hintertux Glacier Ski Area, located near Mayrhofen, operates as Austria's only year-round ski resort.

Where can you go glacier skiing in Germany?

Garmisch-Partenkirchen features Germany's highest ski resort on the Zugspitze glacier, offering around 20 km of natural snow slopes at an altitude of up to 2,962 metres.

What glacier ski areas are available in Sölden?

Sölden features the Tiefenbach and Rettenbach glacier ski areas, which provide snow reliability and skiing from October to May.

Can you ski on a glacier from Zell am See or Rauris?

Yes, both Zell am See and Rauris offer access to day trips on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier near Kaprun, which provides skiing from autumn to early summer and throughout the year.

Where can you go glacier skiing in the mountains?

Les Deux Alpes (France), Mayrhofen (Austria), Cervinia (Italy), Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germania), Ponte di Legno (Italy) and Sölden (Austria), among 14 destinations offer glacier skiing according to Alpe Match data.

Which countries offer glacier skiing?

Austria (4 destinations), Switzerland (4 destinations), Italy (3 destinations), France (2 destinations) and Germania (1 destination).

When is the season for glacier skiing?

Based on the services listed in each destination, glacier skiing is mainly available in winter, spring, summer and autumn. Dates vary every year: check with local operators.

Which glacier skiing destination reaches the highest altitude?

Pontresina, with a maximum altitude of 4,049 m.

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