Top 10 Snow Sport Resorts 2015-2016

It may still be the middle of August but it won't be too long until ski season is upon us and thousands of people will be looking at where is best to get away for this year's ski break and hopefully bump shoulders with the world champions on the slopes. Whether you are a family of amateurs looking for the best catered ski resorts or a seasoned professional in training for a tournament, Europe has something to offer skiers of every age and ability. Here's a list of what we think are the top 10 resorts for skiing holidays in 2015 and 2016 that will challenge everyone from the complete novice to the experienced veteran.

Val Thorens, France

This small town is home to the highest resort in Europe with an altitude of 2,300 feet. The resort itself is very new combining the best of skiing with the best luxury accommodation and catering of families and single adults.

St Anton, Austria

This alpine town provides a haven for alpine skiers. With over 200 miles of ski runs and 440 of cross country terrain St Anton has a mixture of terrain that will challenge skiers of any ability and regularly runs professional skiing tournaments. Their resorts themselves are very luxurious offering saunas and outdoor Jacuzzis to guests.

La Grave, France

This mountain town is famous for its notoriously challenging steep skiing across kilometres of glaciers, cliffs, and no-fall zones and as such is now the place to go for big-mountain purists. The small town only has around 500 permanent inhabitants with only a few pubs and so is very intimate in terms of its nightlife. With only one chairlift, no ski patrol and no marked runs it is one for the mountain skiing purists.

Kitzbuhel, Austria

This small town is home to one of the most prestigious and challenging downhill races on the World Cup circuit. Around 80,000 fans pack themselves onto the slopes each January to see some of the biggest names in the sport cross the finish line.

Alagna, Italy

This northern Italian farm town offers 115 miles of big-mountain ski run going across back-country terrain and glaciers. Again this is one for the more experienced and serious skiers, not those who expect a leisurely afternoon on the slopes.

Verbier, Switzerland

This French speaking town has a wealth of ski lifts that make its 254 miles of slope easily accessible for all. The resorts have world class amenities making it one to bring the family to.

Megeve, France

Megeve is renowned for its quality snow cover and stunning views of the 445km high Mount-Blanc range. With a range of terrains of varying difficulty it caters for all levels of ability form beginner to professional.

Saalbach Hinterglemm, Austria

This Austrian resort is home to over 200km of ski run and with 55 modern ski lifts the slopes are easily accessible for all. Its floodlit slopes mean you area able to carry on skiing well into the hours of darkness.

Tignes, France

Home to the Grande Motte glacier this resort has an extra-large ski area of over 300km of slopes across an altitude raising to 1900m. The slopes themselves enable you to ski from the top of the glacier right down to the centre of the resort.

Are, Sweden

Are is northern Europe's most advanced and diverse alpine resort offering services for far more extreme versions of the sport such as heli-skiing for those brave enough to jump from a helicopter.