India

With the Himalayas for a playground, India should be a more prominent skiing and snowboarding destination than it is. The sheer height of the mountains here guarantees great snow coverage and the extent of terrain is almost limitless. India is an off-pisters dream.

What's missing - for the moment at least - is the infrastructure. Hotels at ski resorts in India are limited and the lift systems can't compete with those of even the smaller resorts in Europe or North America. You're probably best off taking your own gear too. The hire equipment can be a little retro.

There are other things to consider too. In Kashmir, where some of the resorts are located, the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan means there's a prominent military presence and the slim but nonetheless ever-present possibility your heliski ride is mistaken for a gunship. Best check your insurance is up to the job before you go!

All that said, the possibility of getting up high and having miles and miles of untracked pow to carve up more than balances the books.

The gondola at Gulmarg for example, dumps you out at 4,000 metres (13,123 feet). From there you have the entire mountainside at your disposal - not to mention one hell of a view.

How many of us can say they've skied in K2's shadow?

Other ski resorts in India can be found in Garhwal and Kumaon (where there's some great glacier skiing), Uttaranchal, Kufri, Narkanda and Manali.

Best time to go is December to March.

Cost

Once you're in India, accommodation and travel is cheap, at least by European or North American standards. A one-day adult lift pass in India will cost you around 500 rupees (about US$13).

Getting here

As in China, getting to ski resorts in India can involve a bit of a trek. An internal flight from Delhi's normally required, as well as a transfer at the other end. To get to Gulmarg for example, you'll need an internal flight to Srinigar and a 60 minute taxi ride from there to the resort.