Ukraine

Despite not being the most obvious choice for a skiing holiday, Ukraine is slowly making its mark on the map. The Carpathian Mountains aren't as extensive as the Alps, but they nonetheless have a good range of terrain that can keep all but the very best skiers and snowboarders out of mischief.

As with all the main ski resorts in Eastern Europe, the weekend brings hoards to the slopes. Be thankful then that you haven't paid a fortune to stand in a queue all day long. Lift passes, as with equipment hire and tuition, are all still relatively cheap here.

The main four ski resorts in the Ukraine are Slavsko, Bukovel, Tysovets and Drahobrat.

Despite the relative dumpiness of the mountains around Slavsko (the tallest is only 1,232 metres high, or 4,041 feet), the resort has a good range of terrain for all levels. Intermediates and experts will find the best runs on Mt Trostian. Nearby Mt Kremin is better suited for beginners.

If you're looking to go early or late in the season, you'll need to go higher to guarantee snow. In the Carpathians, that means going more remote. With its top lift at 1,700 metres (5,577 feet), Drahobrat sometimes has snow as late as May, but it is relatively cut off from anywhere else. The nearest village is nearly 20 kms away so staying on the mountain is your only option.

The smaller ski resorts in the Ukraine are often more a case of a few lifts dotted around the hills than a formalised structure of chairs and runs. Unlike the majority of resorts in the Alps where battalions of piste bashers work all night long to iron out those nasty lumpy bits, don't expect to wake up to perfect corduroy here. If you want it all nice and smooth, you're reliant on the heavens for an overnight blanket of powder.

Cost

Expect to pay upwards of US$100 a night for on-mountain accommodation in the better known ski resorts in the Ukraine like Slavsko or Bukovel. A six day adult lift pass will set you back about 630 Hryvnias (US$126).

Getting here

One of the best ways to get to the Carpathians is to fly to Kiev and jump on the sleeper train there. You can be in the mountains by the morning, refreshed and ready to hit the slopes.