With peaceful slopes following the festive season, shorter lift queues, and plenty of fresh snowfall to enjoy, January in the Alps is a special time. It’s one of the very coldest months to travel, but it’s also one of the best-value, and there are plenty of good deals on the market. 

Value for money over January in the Alps

In January, skiers and snowboarders heading to the Alps enjoy some of the best-value on chalets and hotels of the winter season. Tour operators and chalet companies tempt skiers and snowboarders with a whole host of money-saving offers on lift passes and ski hire, and the snow is typically in wonderful condition. 

Fresh snowfall offers bumper conditions

With low temperatures and typically heavy snowfall, January is a great month to enjoy your ski holiday. Snow-lovers hitting the slopes in Jan must wrap up warm, and we recommend plenty of thin layers for better temperature regulation. But with open powder fields and groomed terrain parks to enjoy, it’s easy to forget the cold. And with regard to holiday costs, January is comparable to April in the Alps – but with far better snow conditions. 

By the time the winter ski calendar ticks round to January, the Alps have typically already enjoyed a number of weeks of snowfall. In resorts from Arabba to Zermatt, ski lifts and gondolas are fully up-and-running, whisking eager skiers and boarders to the snowy peaks. 

Beginners spend their holiday time in learner-friendly resorts like Obergurgl, La Rosière or Les Gets – mastering their first turns on the nursery slopes before progressing on to steeper terrain a little further from resort. At the other end of the spectrum, powder-loving expert skiers and boarders seek out off-piste and backcountry terrain in challenging resorts like Chamonix, Solden or Val Thorens – where the fresh snow stays untracked for longer. 

Chalets, hotels, and ski school availability

As January is a quieter month in the winter calendar, skiers and snowboarders can choose from a wonderfully wide range of ski holiday options in their preferred ski resorts of choice. The lower demand means there are more offers available, and less chance of services such as ski school running out of space. 

Where will you head this January?

Beginner-friendly resorts ideal for a January ski trip among friends or family include Les Arcs and La Plagne – which sit opposite each other in the wonderful Paradiski area. Also in France, other resorts ideal for beginners and improvers include la Rosière, Méribel, and Alpe d’Huez – though this is just the tip of the iceberg. In Italy, Cervinia is great for learners, and in Austria, Obergurgl works wonderfully well. 

For more challenging slopes and tempting off-piste terrain, Chamonix, Val d’Isere, Tignes and Val Thorens in France are outstanding, while in Austria St Anton and Solden have plenty to offer expert skiers and snowboarders. The Swiss resort of Verbier is also worthy of special mention for its challenging itinerary runs – which are marked on the piste map but never groomed or controlled.

Below, you’ll find our latest January ski deals. For more information or advice on the best resorts for your group, we’re here to help on 0203 0800 202.




Found 0 results matching your search

Refine your search on our Search Filters there were no records matching your search

Please try your search again, using different parameters, such as date, resort or country...

See all our ski deals

No chalet results