SWEDEN: A CUT ABOVE THE ORDINARY

A ski holiday in Sweden will provide you with a winter adventure a cut above the ordinary.

Soft powder, beautiful pistes and activities galore are not hard to find in a winter wonderland like Sweden. There is an abundant range of ski resorts to suit all levels from the timid beginner to the adrenalin fuelled off-piste.

Almost without excpetion, every resort has a stamp of guaranteed snow, and while the favourites are still Åre, Sälen, and Idre, if you have a curious nature and imagination to explore further afield, you are bound to discover experience to be had that few other resorts can match.

Sweden's largest and most renowned resort is Åre, with 111 runs and 41 lifts. This diverse Northern Alpine resort offers everything from awe-inspiring black pistes and highly challenging off-piste slopes to an abundance of easy skiing runs for children and beginners.

In addition to skiing in Sweden, resorts such as Åre, also offer a wide range of other activities, such as snowmobile safaris, dog sleighing, ice fall climbing, ice fishing and much, much more, which make for an adventure packed family holiday.

Closer to Stockholm, you'll find Sälen. This resort offers 111 pistes and 83 lifts, and can be reached from the capital by road in less than seven hours. There is enough space in Sälen to allow families with children and fun-seekers alike to enjoy their very different holidays side-by-side. Every need is catered for with special areas for the smallest child, heaps of green slopes, as well as an easy lift system for the inexperienced.

Fun Parks and snowboard areas for boarders who literally live for that next jump, plenty of blue and red slopes for people sitting around the medium level, and finally, harsh black runs for skiers and boarders who are in complete control or have a bet on with their mates.

Now, remember before we mentioned the person who may be a bit more curious than the average joe, well for these adventure seeking spirits, Kittelfjäll, is almost unbeatable. The area is considered to be a snow paradise, known as much for its heli-ski as it is for its pistes.

Trips will take to the skies from around late-January. You can also kick your feet up for a day and channel your "inner cowboy" with a western style horse riding trip, test your snow scooter driving skills, or even try a spot of mountaineering.

The terrain in Kittelfjäll looks a little like this: around 5% beginner runs, 0% intermediate, around 24% advanced and a whopping 71% expert.

Now many may say that Sweden as a ski holiday destination doesn't necessarily boast the conditions to match the Alps down on the continent, and they are probably right, however, this country does have a charm and another take on winter sports that is all it's own and few others can match, certainly if not always on the snow, than most definitely off it.