Vail - Colorado

Vail deserves its billing as one of the world’s premier ski resorts. It boasts the largest single ski mountain in North America, with an unrivalled range of trails.

In addition to fabulous skiing, the resort has a reputation for laid-back style and great nightlife.

The mountain face stretches over six miles from east to west, and that’s before you begin to explore seven wonderful, powder-filled “Back Bowls” on the far side of the mountain. No wonder Vail is a magnet for American skiers – and an irresistible draw for British skiers for whom only the best is good enough.

The front side of Vail Mountain – served by a superb and modern network of mainly high speed, detachable lifts - has terrain for all abilities. On the far side, Vail’s seven legendary Back Bowls are perfect when there is powder, which is more often than not. Blue Sky Basin provides a back country (mostly ungroomed) experience for intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders. And don’t forget, if you can find the time there are 4 other resorts to ski or ride courtesy of the Colorado Ticket. On mountain organization and services are again state-of-the-art, including a “traffic light” system across the mountain at the top of each major lift to enable you to avoid the crowds and maximize your skiing time. Vail is a large town with a distinctive Alpine character. The three base areas (Vail Village, Lionshead and Golden Peak) are for the most part pedestrian only, and feature a wide array of shops, plus over 75 restaurants and scores of bars and lounges. The après-ski is exceptional – check out the Red Lion in Vail Village or Garfinkel’s in Lionshead. There’s great entertainment around every corner, with live music of every kind and a street party on Wednesday nights through the pretty pedestrian walkways of Vail Village. Non-skiers can sample snowmobiling, dog sledding, hot air ballooning, tennis, swimming, sleigh rides, ice-skating and horse riding.

There is also a world-class Performing Arts Centre and at Adventure Ridge you can play all day and well into the night with ski bikes, kids snowmobile track, ice-skating, a slippery slope of rip-roaring tubing lanes and more.

ARRIVAL AIRPORT Denver

TRANSFER TIME 2 hr 30 min

LIFT TICKET from £95 per adult

SKI RENTALS from £100 per adult

TUITION from £50 per adult

Experience Vail from £685 per person. Price is based on 2 adults sharing a hotel room at the Evergreen Lodge for 7 nights, scheduled return flights and shared transfers.