Where to Ski Solo and Why Five unmissable solo ski routes for your tick list this Winter

Some people go on singles ski holidays for the chance to go skiing alone, enjoying their own space. For others, it's a social opportunity to meet new people and share the mountain. But in most cases, both categories of solo skiers share the same goal: an independent ski adventure. That can be something just for your group alone to experience, or something for just you to experience alone.

In either scenario, many of the same ski routes stand out as the places for solo skiers to go this winter. And we have compiled them into one list of unmissable singles ski routes.

These ski routes can be something just for your group alone to experience, or something for just you to experience alone...

1: The Vertical Kilometre (Red and Blue) Morzine - Les Gets

When it comes to racking up descent metres in one seamless run, there's nowhere better to go in the Les Gets / Morzine area than what is unofficially known as The Vertical Kilometre. Hop on the 'La Pointe' chairlift and stay on all the way up to the summit at 2019m, the towering Pointe de Nyon. Halfway up, you will see a hop-off station. Don't use this early exit, but look out for the impressive snow scultures created most days by the lift operator.

Begin your winding and narrow descent from the Pointe de Nyon along the Aigle Rouge and stay right to join the 'Raverettes' blue slope. Take the Pâquérages to your left before joining Lièvre for the final descent. Most people miss off the final kilometre or so, but it's well worth staying the course. You will likely be the only skier around on the final stages of the descent, leaving you to enjoy the piste in splendid isolation. At the bottom, just walk across the carpark and get the Nyon cable car back up.

This video shows the narrow, twisting start of the Vertical Kilometre.

2: Les Melezes (Red) Les Gets

Just over the back of the famous Les Gets 'Bowl', Les Melezes provides two kilometres of quiet and varied skiing covering a total descent of 400m. Although by no means hard to reach or even far away from the village, Les Melezes is largely overlooked by the vast majority of Les Gets visitors, making it a dream slope for anybody who wants to escape the crowd and ski solo for a while. If you're enjoying the escape, why not stop at the piste-side cafe/bar 'La Païka' for a drink or a lazy lunch? (You can see this at 2:05 of the video below, situated on the right-hand side.)

Best of all, this underrated red is served by the high-speed and (usually) reliable six-man Perrieres Express chair lift which conveys you right back to the top. Be sure to do a few laps before heading back into The Bowl to catch up with the ski group.

The open expanse of Les Melezes red run in Les Gets

3: Pointe de Ripaille into Champery (Red) Champery, Switzerland

If you're looking to use your full-area Portes du Soleil liftpass, now is your chance - we're going to Switzerland. Expect to take two things from this amazing descent. First, a feeling of total solitude as you ski through a silent and half-forgotten valley entirely on your own. Second, unbeatable dinner-time bragging rights: you will definitely be the only person in your chalet (including the hosts) to have even heard of this amazing slope! So quiet, you will forget there's a thriving ski resort nearby.

Go beyond Avoriaz towards Champéry until you reach the point on your Avoriaz pistemap as 'Le Chereuse'. From here, take the Ripaille drag lifts to the top and turn left onto the Grand Paradis - Ripaille red run. We are officially off the map! Soak in the silence and be sure to get a quick selfie in this, the quietest skiable valley in the Portes du Soleil. This is what single ski holidays are all about!

Important disclaimer for snowboarders. A certain amount of ski-polling is required making this route, according to the world snowboarding guide, "painful for snowboarders... long, flat and you're walking." Single skiers will enjoy the setting but boarders, you've been warned.

4: Marmottes and Lièvre, Mont Chery (Red) Les Gets

The back of Mont Chery is one of the quietest and most underrated areas in all of the Les Gets / Morzine ski area. It attracts a handful of discerning off-piste skiers and boarders, but on these two red (or their neighbouring blacks) you are likely to be skiing on your own, especially in the mornings.

Lièvre takes you off the side of Mont Chery on a varied, tree-lined adventure all to yourself. On a solo ski trip, this might be one to save for when you're skiing with the rest of the group. It's so quiet here that, if you took a tumble, you could be waiting a long time before anyone noticed.

Marmottes is a sweeping arc which carries you toward the Mouflon black which you will join for its final descent. Don't worry - there are no moguls on this final stretch and it is no steeper than the red you have already conquered. As you reach the bottom, enjoy a coffee in a sure-to-be-empty cafe and head up the Chevreuil chairlift. Maybe take the Mouflon black from the top this time, if you're feeling brave?

The sweeping descent of the Marmottes red run off the back of Mont Chery

5: Coupe du Monde (Black) Avoriaz

Start at the top of this challenging, three-kilometre black and just keep rolling all the way to the bottom of the Prodain Express chair lift. Feel the burn! As a black run, this is definitely one for experienced skiers only, but it is quiet enough for most of the day to make it a stand-out for solos.

Avoid this descent late in the day, when it is used as a commuter route back to the resort and chalets below. But, during the morning in particular, this will provide some technical challenges and a fantastic escape from the crowd.

We have written an in depth guide to solo ski holidays which details all aspects and tells you exactly what they are like. You will find it here.

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