Pop Quiz: Name a country that has a ski resort. Most people are quick to name the US, Canada, or one of the plethora of European destinations. Many will also look to Australia and New Zealand in the summer months, or perhaps the famous indoor ski resort in Dubai. While skiing has been a worldwide phenomenon for many decades, there are numerous countries that you probably had no idea offer skiing. Here are 5 random countries that feature outdoor ski resorts with actual snow:
Morocco
IT’S GONNA TAKE A LOT TO DRAG ME AWAY FROM YOU! While Toto might bless the rains down in Africa, they *should* bless the snow in Africa. Although Morocco isn’t the only country in this enormous continent to offer skiing, it perhaps is the most unexpected. Most tourists head to the bustling marketplace in Marrakesh, known for its hot temps and surrounded mostly by sand. Marrakesh can almost be considered a ski town, as it offers skiing at Oukaïmeden just 70km away (that’s about 43.5 miles for you Americans). Oukaïmeden has one double chairlift and six j-bars, which is surprisingly more lifts than many of the small resorts on the mega ski passes.
Israel
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s ski resort. No journey to the Holy Land is complete without hitting the slopes. Getting to the resort at Mount Hermon will be a religious pilgrimage in itself, as it is at least a 5 hour drive from Tel Aviv. Visitors will can keep themselves busy with 10 different lift options and 400m of vertical drop. Let us pray for no lift lines and good snow. Mazel Tov!
Liechtenstein
As a country that sits in the alps between Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein’s location isn’t the source of the ski resort surprise. Liechtenstein is a surprising skiing destination because many people outside of Europe have no idea this country even exists. It is the 6th smallest country in the world with a population just under 40,000 people and a total area of 62 square miles. The biggest resort in this country is Malbun, which offers three high-speed chairlifts and two t-bars.
North Korea
While South Korea is a better-known winter destination after hosting the 2018 Olympics, North Korea has a few resort options as well. In an effort by Kim Jong Un to increase tourism to North Korea, Masikryong Ski Resort became the first public resort for the country in 2014. While the underwhelming 9 runs might not draw in diehard skiers, the luxury accommodations available here still attract many visitors. Should I say more about this resort? Probably not, I like living.
Iraq
Apparently the US wars for oil were a front for claiming new ski resorts! Although Bush didn’t mention it in any press conferences, Iraq does have a ski resort. Korek Mountain Resort sits just a little south of the Turkish border. This ski area not only features traditional snow skiing but also summer skiing on an artificial surface. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m kinda jealous there isn’t something similar here in Colorado.
Photo Courtesy of Korek Mountain Resort