Off-piste skiing is a popular form of skiing that involves skiing along unmarked, sometimes backcountry routes. It can be quite dangerous and as such is generally reserved for advanced or expert skiers. In no particular order, here are our top 10 destinations worldwide for off-piste skiing.

1. Saalbach, Austria
   With 100km of off-piste to tackle, Saalbach is great for more experienced skiers. With such a large off-piste area though, a guide for the best spots is absolutely essential. Try the north-facing Zwolferkogel for its 3km black mogul run.
2. St Anton, Austria
   Having hosted the Alpine World Championships in 2001, St. Anton has a justifiably excellent reputation for skiing, and with 180km of off-pisted trails there is plenty to try out. Look out for the terrifying descent down Valluga Peak if you’re feeling brave.
3. Chamonix, France
   Having hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924, Chamonix has a high reputation amongst ski resorts. Off-piste skiers will be delighted by the prospect of the Vallee Blanche route, a 22km descent that starts above Aiguille du Midi and circuits along some incredible scenery.
4. Lake Louise, Canada
   Lake Louise boasts unlimited off-piste adventures and is famous for its popular terrain park, full of playgrounds such as Powder Bowls: 2,500 acres of remote faces and beautiful glades. A real delight for the seasoned skier.
5. Whistler, Canada
   Whistler is a hugely popular ski resort, offering the biggest skiing area in North America. For the off-piste skier there are plenty of steep powder chutes and challenging mogul fields to contend with. For the ultimate skiing experience, try out heli-skiing for size.
6. Les Arcs, France
   Part of the huge ‘Paradiski’ area, Les Arcs offers plenty for skiers of all abilities. There are plenty of options for off-piste skiers, in particular the famous 7km black run from the top of Aiguille Rouge, covering an incredible vertical of 2000km. For the adventurous, there is the ‘Flying K’ – the Olympic high speed run allowing astounding speeds of up to 251.4km/h!
7. Les Deux Alpes, France
   One of the highest resorts in Europe, Les Deux Alpes boasts snow sure slopes at high altitudes. The off-piste trail through to La Grave is the highlight for daredevils here.
8. Tignes, France
   At 2,100m above sea level, Tignes offers plenty of off-piste opportunity, including the odd vertical drop. Due to its height, the scenery is absolutely stunning, so make sure you take a break every now and again to take it all in.
9. Verbier, Switzerland
   Verbier is ideal for off-piste skiing largely due to the accessibility of it. There’s no need to hike for hours to get to the best spots here, and with approximately 400km of off-piste terrain to explore, there’s plenty of fun to be had in Verbier.
10. Zermatt, Switzerland
    Zermatt is another firm favourite amongst daredevil skiers, situated as it is in the shadow of the enormous Matterhorn Mountain providing spectacular scenery, particularly for since Zermatt is another place to try out heli-skiing.

Eclipse Ski specialise in group and family skiing holidays, for more information please visit www.eclipseski.co.uk.