Glacier Skiing in Europe
Gone are the days when people used to wait for the winter season to plan their ski holidays. Thanks to the Alp’s towering and glaciated peaks, more than 50 ski resorts in europe are now offering all-year-round glacier skiing in Europe.What Is Glacier Skiing?
Not surprisingly, the Glaciers prevents the snow from melting completely. The glaciers cold temperatures below the creates a "snow-foundation" which lasts throughout the year. Glacier skiing in Europe doesn’t always mean skiing on ice; some ski resorts even offer limited powder stashed trails for skiing even in the summer. As a result, Olympic athletes and contenders train and prepare for the games in glacier ski resorts during the summer. Most of the slopes on glaciers are ideal for intermediate and advanced skiers. Glacier skiing in Europe is not limited to skiing in summer, it is also meant for those who like to challenge themselves in winter. Europe is home to some of the finest ski and snowboarding resorts on glaciers. You should definitely try out glacier skiing if; you’re on a budget, missed out a winter ski trip or if you just want to witness how your favourite winter athletes train during the summer. Here are top 10 European glaciers to visit:1. Hintertux Glacier

The glaciers of Gefrorene-Wand-Kees (Tuxer Ferner) located in Austria’s Zillertal Alps is famously known to tourists as Hintertux Glaciers.
Hintertux Glacier Ski Resort, with a peak of 3,250 m, offers excellent deep snow and a 60 km of skiing terrain, mostly suitable for intermediate skiers. There are 18 chair lifts and cable cars in total and 2 Sunkid Moving Carpets that transport visitors and tourists up to the glaciers.
Being one of the ski resorts offering summer glacier skiing in Europe and one of the only two resorts open whole year round in the world, it tends to attract a wide majority of both local and international tourists. The best thing about the resort, in addition to its mountaineering and hiking program, is it is home to a snowboarding park boasting Europe’s highest twin-cable gondola and World Cup half-pipe.
2. Kitzsteinhorn Glacier

The highest ski mountain in Salzburg offering a snow-sure and expansive terrain, Kitzsteinhorn is also Austria’s very first glacial ski area.
Kitzsteinhorn Glacier has a total of 41 km of skiing and snowboarding slopes serviced by 17 modern lifts. The marked trails are predominantly for intermediates with several wide trails for beginners. There are five routes for snowboarders and some off-piste terrain, bowls and half-pipes for experts.
The ski resort is also home to some of the most epic après-ski and restaurants including the relaxing and luxurious pools and saunas of Tauern spa complex. Gilpfewalt, a panoramic viewing platform constructed on the southern side of the resort’s peak, provides breathtaking views of the snow-capped peaks of the High Tauern Mountains.
3.Tignes Glacier

The Tignes Glacier/credit:Adobe
The resort’s 3,680 hectares of terrain is composed of 480 hectares of marked trails and 3,000 hectares of off-piste areas mostly located on the Bellaverde side of the mountain. Tignes has 78 lifts in total and 300 km of groomed pistes comprised of 20 green, 67 blue, 41 red and 26 black runs.
4. SaaS-Fee

It has numerous nursery slopes for kids and beginners, a freestyle park operating since 1996, winter activities like paragliding and ice skating, and panoramic mountain restaurants including the famous Metro Alpin Restaurant (world’s highest revolving restaurant).
5. Zermatt

Zermatt is endowed with generous amount of snow all year round and has 34 up-to-date ski lifts. With over 210 km of marked pistes and over 1000 hectares of off-piste terrain, Zermat is one of the largest ski resorts that offers glacier skiing in Europe.
A famous tourist destination not only for ski enthusiasts, Zermatt provides a huge selection of winter and summer activities including winter hiking, sledding, snowshoeing and ice climbing. The ski paradise has over 50 bars and restaurants that are sprawled over Zermatt’s village offering outstanding and luxurious after-ski activities and nightlife.
6. Dachstein

7. Les Deux Alpes

It has a total of 200 km slopes and 95 marked pistes composed mainly of beginner trails and one of Europe’s steepest and longest trail starting from the top of the glacier to its base. Les Deux Alpes also offers 1000 hectares of off-piste area, a superior Terrain Park and a remarkable night skiing slope at the center of the resort.
8. Cervinia

Cervinia ski resort has a lift system made up of 19 ski lifts and 72 ski runs including some cross country trails and three children ski areas. The highest snowpark in Europe can also be found at the resort.
9. Sölden

10. Mölltal

Moelltal Glacier, Austria/credit:Shutterstock
The slopes of Moelltal can be reached by its 9 ski lifts. From the Flatach valley, Mölltal Express, one of the world’s longest underground funicular can also take skiers and snowboarders to the lower slopes (2,200 m) of the glacier.