The 18 best gay skiing weeks and weekends in the world

The sun is setting. The evenings are getting darker. The department stores are starting to play Mariah Carey, and you still have lots of places to tick off your travel list!

Fear not, there are still plenty of unique things to do across the world during winter. The number one thing we recommend: skiing! Yes, I know, you mightn't think of us as avid snow bunnies (especially Skiing Scared Stefan), but we love it. The snow. The cute resorts. The outfits. What is there to not like?

Plus, regardless of how much you've skied before, you get so much enjoyment out of it. It's like riding a bike and riding a rollercoaster all at once. And if you've never skied before, don't worry! All you need is a quick lesson and you'll have the essentials down. Well, you won't be sliding down Everest anytime soon, but you'll definitely be able to enjoy some fabulous ski.

So without further ado, we present our favourite gay skiing holidays from Europe, North America, and the rest of the world for 2020.

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How to pick the ideal skiing holiday for you

Not all gay skiing holidays are created equal. Obviously geography is going to be a major factor. So we've broken these up by general area of Europe, North America and the southern hemisphere – plus a bonus! If you're looking for a specific type of gay skiing holiday, these are the main differences we've found:

1. The biggest gay skiing events

If you want to find the most popular gay skiing weeks or weekends where you're almost guaranteed to make new friends, then you'll want to head to one of the bigger events that attract attendees in the thousands. The biggest events are also usually the ones with the gayest parties with a wide range of age-groups. A helpful summary:

• Largest gay skiing week in Europe: European Gay Ski Week
• Largest gay skiing week in North America: Aspen Gay Ski Week
• Largest gay skiing week in Australasia: Winter Pride Queenstown

2. The most affordable

What with gear, accommodation, travel costs, lift passes AND the event tickets, gay ski events can be quite pricey. Generally, the closer the gay skiing event is to you, the more you'll save on travelling costs. Most of these gay skiing events also offer excellent packages and discounts, especially if you book early. Our favourites affordable gay skiing events across the world summarised are:

• Most affordable gay skiing week in Europe: Snow Gay Weekend
• Most affordable gay skiing week in North America: Elevation Utah Gay Ski Week
• Most affordable gay skiing week in Australasia: Rainbow Mountain

3. Best for parties

While pretty much all of these gay skiing events feature at least a few parties, some of them definitely feature more gay parties than others. If you like your skiing with a nice big side of dancing, dressing up for themed parties or even partying in a pool, you will love these gay skiing holidays:

• Best gay skiing week for parties in Europe: European Snow Pride
• Best gay skiing week for parties in North America: Whistler Pride and Ski Festival
• Best gay skiing week for parties in Australasia: Winter Pride Queenstown

4. The most chill/intimate events

Maybe you want to ski and have fun but you're not looking to party the whole time. There are some gay skiing weeks which are a bit more intimate and chilled out (usually because they're slightly smaller than others), so they tend to attract an older crowd along with couples who just want to make new friends. These events will still have some parties, but you can also expect more relaxed evenings of dining, yoga, cinema and casual meetups.

• Most chill/intimate gay skiing week in Europe: Gay Ski Week Lenzerheide
• Most chill/intimate gay skiing week in North America: Elevation Tremblant Gay Ski Week
• Most chill/intimate gay skiing week in Australasia: Gay Ski Week Australia
• Most chill/intimate gay skiing week in Asia: Gay Ski Week Hakuba

5. Best for solo travellers

Travelling alone to a big event can be nerve-wracking, but nowhere is more inclusive and friendly than a gay ski week! Generally, the bigger an event is, the easier it will probably be for you to make new friends. Some of these gay skiing weeks also organise tables at dinner for solo travellers to make friends, speed-dating nights to meet someone special or room-sharing programs to match you with a roommate AND save some money.

• Best gay skiing week for solo travellers in Europe: European Gay Ski Week
• Best gay skiing week for solo travellers in North America: Aspen Gay Ski Week
• Best gay skiing week for solo travellers in Australasia: Winter Pride Queenstown

6. Best for lesbians

While many gay skiing events are mostly catered to (or at least seem to attract) gay men, there are some that make an effort to include specific parties or dinners for the lesbian snow bunnies out there. Some of these have exclusive programs for the ladies on and off the slopes.

• Best gay skiing week for lesbians in Europe: European Gay Ski Week
• Best gay skiing week for lesbians in North America: Aspen Gay Ski Week
• Best gay skiing week for lesbians in Australasia: Winter Pride Queenstown

Gay Skiing Holidays in Europe

Starting off with our home continent…we Europeans love a bit of snow, so it's no surprise that there are some incredibly charming resorts dotted all across the continent. Many of these also host some fabulous gay skiing events. Some of the best ones include:

01

Snow Gay Weekend

Spain

The crowd comprises of a whole range of people, from newbies like Stefan who have never skied before, to those who could do it blindfolded like our Seby, (though we strongly advise against doing this!). There are classes that can be organised for beginners, as well as guided excursions on snowshoes for a bit of fun and enjoy the stunning scenery. There is also a range of bonus activities for you to stick your skis into with karaoke nights, bingo rounds and partying galore, there is so much to look forward to. You can even try your hand at speed-dating – you never know who you might meet. The main event is a famous ski race where experienced skiers can sign up and win fantastic prizes.

If you would like to marvel at the Sagrada Familia and experience Barcelona's exciting gay scene prior your gay skiing weekend, you can book their Snowgay Week Pack option, which includes a stay at the Axel Hotel in the gay district of Barcelona from Monday 2nd to Wednesday 5th March, followed by the 4 days Snow Gay Weekend package.

Another thing we love about the Snow Gay Weekend is that you can book your flights, accommodation and ski package all together, while also choosing a monthly payment plan to ensure you get to attend. There is a range of different hotels to choose from, suiting all budgets and styles. Their most basic package includes accommodation in full board (including wine, water and coffee), free activities, transfers to the slopes and all parties, starting from €375 per person in double occupancy.

Rainbow Gay Tours is offering our readers an exclusive 10% discount valid for any package you book for the Snow Gay Weekend. Click the button below to find out more.

02

Arosa Gay Ski Week

Switzerland

Arosa ski resort is always gay friendly and they fly their rainbow flag all year long. But during the gay ski week, more than 600 guests come together to celebrate their fabulousness in fresh powdered snow, breath-taking mountain views, friendly chats by the fire, warming mulled wine, fun parties, and great gay camaraderie. The Arosa Gay Ski Week is the getaway of dreams for those of us who like some fun in the snow.

At an altitude of 1,800 metres (5,906 feet) in the Swiss Alps, Arosa offers over 225 km (140 miles) of runs, a 50km (31 miles) free-ride area and a fun snow park for you to enjoy. It doesn't matter if you prefer to ski or snowboard, or even just sit on a sledge, you will be welcome at the Arosa Gay Ski Week. Afterwards, you can take part in lots of fabulous parties: among the highlights and not to miss parties: the Drag Ski race, the pool and the White Snowball parties.

03

European Gay Ski Week

France

Situated in the Les Arcs resort, which is made up of five villages, this trip will see you completely cut off from the world. So if you've been craving a true GAY getaway from ‘the grid' then this is no better way to do it. With 425km of pistes to ski on, Les Arcs is one of the largest ski resorts in the world. You can slide all the way from the Les Arcs area to La Plagne or you can hop on the Vanoise tram and experience the French Alps from high above.

If you're a beginner skier, you have nothing to fear. European Gay Ski Week also boasts of having Europe's only gay ski school, where you can join beginner to expert classes for skiing and snowboarding. Thanks to their talented pool of hot ski instructors, you'll become a professional in no time!

What we also love about the resort is how everything is in walking distance from each other. You can float around between the restaurant, bar, resort and your bedroom with minimal effort. There is a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets from shared to 5 stars luxury.

After skiing, usually from 4-5 pm, there is “Apres Ski” taking place at the base of the ski area which is always fun. This is where all the hotties hang out for a drink or two with some cool music and live DJs. For evening entertainment, there will be fantastic cabaret performances, decadent dinners and a huge variety of parties (pool party anyone?). So make sure to bring your dancing shoes (and swimming gear!) as well as your skis…

04

Gay Ski Week Lenzerheide

Switzerland

Classes occur almost daily and cover a wide range of ground. We love this as it can get a bit tedious seeing the same side of the mountain all the time. With Lenzerheide, you get to experience so much the Swiss mountain range has to offer. Be aware that you do need to book your spot on each course though.

There are also skiing opportunities outside the lessons, for those who are experts or feel confident to take on what they learned during the ski course. This week is also great for foodies, with plenty of delicious group meals including a fondue evening, a high tea and decadent dinners. Evening entertainment includes a disco night and a pool party. For more chilled-out activities you can join a yoga class, attend the movie night or relax with a massage on hammam night in the Hotel Schweizerhof's sauna.

The room design pulls together vibes of Scandanavian minimalism and modern comforts. Whilst you can choose from a basic room, we recommend splurging and getting a Nostalchic apartment. It truly deserves its name as it expertly combines both chic furnishings with a throwback-to-simpler-times vibe. There's even a plasma screen TV, so after a long day of skiing down those snowy hills, you and a partner can just curl up on your bed and enjoy some home viewing.

05

Skeive Ski Scandinavian Ski Pride

Norway

Next year's theme is ‘Back to Basics', where all things simple and minimalistic will be celebrated. One of the cool parts about Skeive Ski is that it is inclusive of both LGBTQ folks as well as their friends and family. There are apres ski events each day, along with a pool party and discounted drinks at night. The best part of the whole weekend has got to be the Pride ski, where many attendees wear fabulous costumes or wave their giant rainbow flags on the slopes!

The festival pass can get you in on loads of cool events and also gives you discounts at the Fyri Resort Hemsedal. There are other gay friendly accommodation options that start from around €381 for the whole weekend, but you do need to organise all travel and hotels for yourself. We think this one is probably perfect for anyone who wants to experience skiing in Norway in a very intimate and friendly environment.

06

European Snow Pride

France

People legitimately treat this as a normal Pride parade, so expect to see lots of gorgeous men dancing around in their underwear in the snow. There are lots of parties taking place each night, including a pop party, rodeo themed party, a 90s party, multiple pool parties and even some raunchy sex/fetish parties! More than 300 people attended in 2019, so this is definitely a good place to make new friends and have fun.

There are packages you can book including accommodation, event pass and ski pass, or you can just book your accommodation separately. The resort itself sports a beautiful lagoon, swimming pool and spa, so you'll have lots of opportunities to relax after being on the slopes all day. There is also a sports centre. With loads of stigma around sports being a homophobic industry, this entire festival is dedicated to proving how sports can be a communal and inclusive space for all to enjoy.

07

Gay Snowhappening

Austria

At the end of the day, you don't have to go back to a boring old hotel room (though we must say, these hotel rooms sure are pretty swanky). Nope, the package offers up a string of fabulous evening events to keep you in high spirits. The drag queen hosts, Melly and Matania, who were especially plucked right from the streets of Berlin, are full of energy and delicious wit. Be on your toes at all times!

With skiing, snowshoeing, races and even a ‘Fox Hunt', this is sure to be one fun week. Entertainment highlights include the karaoke night, where anyone can be a Mariah or a Whitney for the evening, multiple parties, a spa night and even fireworks one evening. If you haven't had your share of skiing during the day there's also a night-time ski and toboggan run. This isn't a huge event, but you're sure to make plenty of new friends during all the fun activities!

Gay Skiing Holidays in North America

Skiing in North America! Of course, Canada immediately springs to mind. But there are other packages available in the USA as well, which are definitely worth checking out.

08

Aspen Gay Ski Week

Colorado, USA

Prepare to take on the incredible Aspen Highlands – a 12,500-foot mountain, meaning there is plenty of ground to play with. If you dare, take on the Highland Bowl – an off-piste thrill-ride – with a steep descent that spans down 45-degree pitches. Ski and snowboard enthusiasts will be able to join lessons or guided excursions or just shred those slopes solo. Just don't miss out on the downhill costume competition where you will see the most fabulous outfits as contestants race down the slope to their choice of music. Outside of skiing, there are options to do yoga and relax in the spa.

They also have so many events planned for each evening, for a variety of tastes. Whether you prefer fine dining in a fancy restaurant, getting down at a party, watching some comedy or enjoying some fashion and art, you will have no shortage of options. The parties, in particular, are incredible, with multiple dance parties, a white party, 90s party and a pool party! While many of these events are dominated by the guys, this one makes sure the ladies are being catered to as well, with special women's-only cocktail nights and dinners.

09

Winter Rendezvous Gay Ski Week

Vermont, USA

The resort provides spectacular skiing, not only on one mountain but two! That's right, both Spruce Peak and Mount Mansfield are available for tackling. The area gets an average annual snowfall of 333 inches. There are plenty of opportunities to ski or snowboard, along with options for going snowshoeing, ice-skating and even dog-sledding. If you want a break, the resort spa is divine or you could pay a visit to the local Ben & Jerry's Factory!

This week-long event also includes lots of different parties to socialise after a day on the slopes. There's a pool party, karaoke party and blowout party with a DJ for getting your dance on, as well as comedy nights. This is the only gay ski event we've seen which includes a huge bonfire cocktail event, plus you can join a drag bingo night for a rip-roaring time. We think this is an excellent choice if you want a good mix of snow activities beyond just skiing, as well as parties and socialising.

10

Whistler Pride and Ski Festival

BC, Canada

If you book your accommodation at the host Aava Whistler Hotel then you pay for the hotel and your festival pass in one. You need to book your lift pass and travel arrangements separately though. Exploring the Whistler Mountain with a guided snowboarding group is the best way to dive right into the action. You'll meet with a fun and diverse group of people at the top of the mountain, and enjoy a day of snowboarding. To top it all, you'll go for a fancy lunch in the rustic Roundhouse Lounge.

If you're feeling like giving something back, we definitely encourage you to take part in the W.A.G. (Whistler Animals Galore Society) charity ski race. All kinds of skiers and snowboarders are welcome, with varying experiences able to join in. The Pride Ski parade is probably the highlight of the week, with fun costumes and rainbow flags everywhere you look on the slopes! There are also a LOT of parties during the week from pool parties to FURROCIOUS: the leather, uniform, gear and more party! If you want a quieter evening there's game nights, film screenings, spa evenings and comedy nights as well.

11

Elevation Tremblant Gay Ski Week

Quebec, Canada

Outside of skiing or snowboarding, you can explore the town, go snowmobiling, zip-lining, snowshoeing, ice-climbing and even sledding with adorable huskies. This is definitely a good choice for the athletic thrill-seekers out there! You do need to organise your accommodation and travel separately from the event tickets, but there will be affordable packages available at the host hotels. You can also choose from high-end luxury condos to more budget accommodation to ensure you get to experience this fun event.

Elevation Tremblant attracts hundreds of gay guys and girls but is more focused on the snow fun than partying. That is not to say there aren't opportunities to dance the night away though, as there are some awesome parties over the duration of the weekend. Each party has it's own fun theme, so you'll need to bring outfits for the neon party and a cute onesie for the apres onesie ski!

12

Telluride Gay Ski Week

Colorado, USA

Regardless of your skiing experience, it never hurts to give it a go. All you are risking is missing out on a fabulous time. Along with the daily skiing and snowboarding meetups, you can enjoy ‘chairlift warmers' at the Telluride Distilling Company Hangover Lounge. There are plenty of nighttime entertainment options, lots of parties, karaoke, drag performances, a spa/pool day and a concert featuring Joshua Radin & Lissie! While price details are not available just yet (watch this space) there will be discounts for everything, from the accommodation, to lift passes to ski gear and even transport with a gay friendly shuttle service from all area airports.

For fans of all things movies and Hollywood, you may have noticed that this occurs during the Oscars ceremony. Fear not, for the resort has you covered, with a themed night, complete with fancy dress, great drinks and a screening of the show. Afterwards, feel free to decide amongst yourself, who is Best Skiier? They also have a Britney themed night so you can ditch those skis one more time (or just for the evening) and dance to all her greatest hits. And if you want to support a good cause, make sure you attend the AIDS Benefit Gala Fashion Show which includes a live auction.

13

Elevation Utah Gay Ski Week

Utah, USA

With excellent packages for accommodation, discounts for travel and ski passes, plus the fact that it's technically only a long weekend, this is also one of the most affordable gay ski events in North America. The week commits you to having a seriously fun time, and you'll leave the resort with more friends than when you walked in. There is a wide range of lodgings for you to book your stay, from old cabin-style rooms to fabulously modern dwellings that are furnished for the gods. Whatever your mood (and budget) fancies really!

The weekend always kicks off with a welcome party – the chance to drink, dance, and meet your fellow guests. Don't worry, that is not the only partying you will do. The rest of the schedule is jam-packed with apres ski and party nights. A few famous faces have been known to pop out here and there as well, such as Lance Bass from N*Sync fame and Shangela from ‘RuPaul's Drag Race' – Halleloo!!!

14

Elevation Mammoth Gay Ski Week

California, USA

The week's organisers pride themselves on offering an alternative to the partying and binge-drinking lifestyle that LGBTQ people are typically associated with. Don't get us wrong, there are still plenty of parties during the week, but the focus is on exploring the great outdoors. They give a call out for laidback, unpretentious and fun guests to join them as they explore the great Californian High Sierras. Evening entertainment also includes a ten-pin bowling night and comedy with fabulous drag queens.

Like the other Elevation events, you need to book your event pass, ski pass, travel and accommodation separately, although there will be discounts for the gay ski week attendees. The highlight of the week though is the Rainbow Run, where skiers dress in their rainbow best and parade down the Mammoth mountain flying their flags with Pride! On the last day, you'll get to farewell all your new friends over a delicious brunch, the perfect bittersweet ending to a wonderful week.

Gay Skiing Holidays in the Southern Hemisphere

Plenty of skiing holidays can be found where you least expect them… Don't just think of skiing as a place confined to the Alps and Scandanavia, the Southern Hemisphere is also bursting with opportunities!

15

Winter Pride Queenstown

Queenstown, New Zealand

As well as general ski/snowboarding opportunities you can take part in fun on-mountain events like a charity ski race, a pride flag slope parade and costume ski days for wearing outfits like onesies or dressing up as superheroes. If you need a break from the cold, there are also off-mountain events like hiking, long lunches, cocktail parties and cabaret wars. You can even go for a jet boat ride or white water rafting, this is the adventure tourism capital of the world after all…

Winter Pride Queenstown is also popular with the ladies, especially since there's a special ladies night just for the girls. The calendar is absolutely packed with parties and other events like karaoke, speed-dating or a cocktail-making class. From ‘Queenstown's Got Talent' to game nights with your fellow festival-goers, there is always something fun and fabulous happening. We recommend getting the Winter Pride MAXI pass if you want to attend all the parties and events, although you can also get weekend passes if you are short on time or money. You will need to book your accommodation separately, but the festival partners offer deals for attendees of the event.

16

Gay Ski Week Australia

Victoria, Australia

Celebrating all things diversity, the week is filled with activities to help you make new friends and new memories. With fabulous lodgings all close to the event itself, you can choose your own type of accommodation or book a package which also includes transport and gear rental. Since the next event isn't until late in the year, you will need to check back for prices when they're available. The best thing about this kind of trip is that you don't feel obliged to stay anywhere or participate in all the activities.

While this is a small event that attracts a range of ages, couples and singles, there are still plenty of exciting things to do after you've been on the slopes. There's only one official big party but you can still have fun on the drag pub crawl, attend drag bingo, watch queer films, cabaret night and a spa afternoon. During the day some of the more unique activities include a scavenger hunt, and a fabulous rainbow run!

17

Rainbow Mountain

NSW, Australia

Borrowing all the great talents from Sydney to keep you entertained, the week is as much of a party as it is about skiing. You might even convince one of the drag performers to go out skiing down a mountain in full drag! There are plenty of performances to enjoy, along with karaoke nights, drag shows, cabaret, discos and a pool party to keep you up all night. If you prefer a more chilled-out vibe you can also just hang out at the fireside drinks and drag.

While dates, prices and accommodation packages for 2020 haven't been finalised yet, we can make some assumptions based on the 2019 event. You can choose to purchase event passes only or event and ski lift packages (in Australian dollars). Accommodation needs to be booked separately but there are also a wide range of options for very affordable prices. This is probably the most affordable gay skiing event in the southern hemisphere, you know, once you've booked those flights to Australia!

Bonus Gay Skiing Holiday in Asia!

Just when you thought you'd run out of places to go skiing, we go ahead and uncover a gay skiing event in Asia…

18

Gay Ski Week Hakuba

Hakuba, Japan

With 2, 5, 7 and even 9-day packages available, you're sure to find something that suits your budget. The packages include everything from your accommodation with daily breakfast to the ski pass and transport to all events. Tackle the Hakuba Valley, with its sparkling snowcaps, colourful skies and picture-perfect villages. We particularly love how this package highlights the beauty of the Japanese Alps, which are impressive in their own right. As the event is so new it's still quite small, but perfect for those craving a more intimate and perhaps romantic getaway with like-minded friends.

During the day you'll be able to go skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling on the slopes or even join a tour to nearby Matsumoto Castle. At night there are plenty of fun activities to enjoy, like a drag race, trivia night, pub crawl, parties and a sushi train dinner. The Hakuba ski resort is also only about an hour and a half from the Jigokudani Monkey Park, where you can see some of the famous Japanese snow monkeys!

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