Spain Sierra Nevada Winter Ski

Sierra Nevada, Spain · Spain

Moderate7 daysEurope~£1,200 est.

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Overview

Sierra Nevada above Granada is Europe's most southerly ski area and its strangest brag: carve above 3,000m in the morning with the Mediterranean glittering 40km away — on the clearest days the Rif mountains of Morocco line the horizon — and eat free tapas in Granada by night. The resort skiing off Veleta (3,398m) is high, sunny and reliable for its latitude, and when spring firms the snowpack, ski tourers skin from the Hoya de la Mora roadhead towards Mulhacén, at 3,479m the highest summit in mainland Spain, for long corn-snow descents. The sun is the variable to respect: south-facing slopes cycle from ice to slush fast, so time descents like a spring alpinist and carry serious sunscreen — the UV at this latitude and altitude is brutal. Weekends bring Granada's crowds; midweek the pistes empty. December to April is the season, with March-April best for touring. A week runs about £1,200 with passes and apartments far below Alpine prices — and the Alhambra is your rest day.