Skiing in Europe and Japan 2011 – Group Ski Tours

Join us January on our 3 week Skiing Europe & Skiing Japan holiday to: Davos (Switzerland), Lech (Austria), Rusutsu (Japan - Hokkaido)		* Ski tour inclusions & features See Itinerary Why go on a group ski tour? Download Flyer FAQ's To Book. either Book on line or Download Booking form and send to Estours Travel	See photos of the 2010 tour

This group ski tour is designed to make your holiday a memorable skiing holiday experience. 
START THE 2011 GROUP EUROPE / JAPAN SKI TOUR BY
CELEBRATING NEW YEARS EVE IN ZURICH!! 

These ski tours are for those keen ski and board enthusiasts who wish to experience the traditions of Europe in their ski holiday as well as discovering what is on offer in Japan.  It also allows travellers to break up their return journey home and make early adjustments to local time zones.  This tours combine the Europe and Japanese group ski holidays tours into one complete and unique ski tour package.

3 week skiing Europe & skiing Japan - 2 weeks skiing Europe followed by one more week skiing Japan:
This tour adds one more week to the 2 week group ski Europe (early) tour with another week skiing in Rusutsu on the way home.  (Alternatively, if you don't have much time - just ski Japan!)

Join the group ski tour in Zurich (Switzerland), where you spend the first night relaxing, getting over your flight, adjusting to the new time zone and meeting your new travelling companions on this meet and greet night.  As it will be New Year's Eve, we will head down to the lake to watch the spectacular fireworks displays and join in the celebrations.  Then ski or board for two weeks in the Swiss Alps in Davos and then in the Alps in Austria - Lech, Zurs St Anton.  Normally this would be enough for most people, however, an intrepid snow enthusiast such as yourself will yearn for more and farewell their new friends in Austria, take the very convenient and efficient Arlberg Express to Zurich airport for the afternoon flight to Tokyo Japan. 

On arrival, relax with an overnight stay.  Use this time to unwind, get used to the new time zone or perhaps take the opportunity to explore Narita or Tokyo itself as you will have a days rest here.  You will then fly to Sapporo on Hokkaido Island and be transferred to the Rusutsu Resort Hotel to meet new group members for this next week of your ski holiday with the  ski in / ski out convenience offered here.  At weeks end, fly back to Sydney via Tokyo.   This 3 week group ski tour has probably the most diverse range of skiing experiences on offer and you will meet many new skiing companions.

You can ski all 3 weeks of this skiing Europe Japan holiday package, or tailor this group ski tour to suit your own travel itinerary.  If you are short of time, then just ski the weeks that suits you...but hurry, space is strictly limited and once sold  ...then there is always 2012!
 

Europe / Japan Ski Tour Cost (Land content only - add your own airfare) Japan Ski Tour Cost - includes airfares (but subject to availability at time of booking) . Tour Alternatives Resorts Who For * Cost 3 week (2 weeks Europe / 1 week Japan) - see Itinerary below Davos, Lech, Rusutsu Those who wish to have a truly international ski holiday $5,745 (per person twin share land content) 1 week - group ski Japan Rusutsu Those who only have time for a short break $2,875 (per person twin share - includes airfare Sydney/Sapporo return) OR $2,985 (includes overnight stay in Narita) Cost based on standard twin or double share accommodation - upgraded rooms are also available - contact Estours for pricing. Airline taxes not included in Japan ski week packages.   Ski 1 week in From 1 Jan to 8 Jan '11 Ski the next week in From 8 Jan to 15 Jan '11 Then ski one more week in From 17 Jan to 24 Jan '11 Start your skiing Europe holiday here where a  day on these magic mountains is certain to be far too short for you! Here you're simply spoilt for choice with six great snowsport regions: Jakobshorn, Parsenn/Gotschna and family-friendly Pischa, Madrisa and Rinerhorn. In other words, you can take your pick of over 318 km of pistes with guaranteed snow and 61 mountain transport facilities. Jakobshorn - Snowboarders and freeskiers will have the time of their lives in the half pipes and fun park. And it's not only all systems go on the many pistes and installations: there's plenty of off-piste fun on tap in the ski huts. Parsenn / Gotschna ski region is on the opposite side of the valley & is the largest of the snowsport regions and easy to reach from either Davos and Klosters, with pistes to suit all levels of skiing skill. The longest downhill run is on Parsenn, from the top of the Weissfluh to Küblis (12 km). Night-time skiing is on the programme every Friday. Pischa, Madrisa & Rinerhorn, the family-friendly mountains are fabulous for people keen on skiing. Various "children's paradise" facilities offer our tiny guests great fun and games. Pischa is a freeride region. Three runs will be marked and protected from Alpine risks but remain unprepared. The skiing Japan part of this ski holiday visits Rusutsu.  Located on Hokkaido Island, we travel 79km west of Sapporo close to the extinct volcano Mt Yotei. Rusutsu has been voted ‘BEST SMALL RESORT’ in The Great Skiing & Snowboarding Guide 2008 Awards.  With constant good quality powder snow, perfectly manicured pistes and an excellent choice of sanctioned off piste skiing areas, this resort has it all, no matter what type of skier or boarder you are.. The lift network is spread over 3 peaks offering a wide variety of terrain catering to all levels of skiers and snowboarders (see map) - The peak of Mt Izola offers the most challenging runs combined with panoramic scenery. - Rusutsu offers some of the best tree skiing in Japan and its extensive terrain park is one of the country’s best.  .   This year, once again, your skiing Europe holiday will include the highly popular timeless village of  Lech Zürs at some 1,450 m above sea-level, which is a glittering jewel of the stunning Alps. Our group ski tours have been coming here for many years.  And the reason people love Lech Zürs is because it’s so compact and cosmopolitan all at the same time; because of the outstanding choice of skiing to be enjoyed on the Arlberg, the glorious countryside, the friendships you can strike up here and the feeling of always being welcome.   Skiing here also includes the truly glamorous St Anton, as well as St Christoph, Stuben and Zug. To visit Lech Zürs is to fall in love with it for a lifetime. ...more   Stay in Club Hotel Stay in Hotel Sandhof Stay in Rusutsu Resort Hotel Spend your well-deserved holidays in this family-owned 3 star hotel. Families and sports enthusiasts will discover an attractive infrastructure in a cosy and uncomplicated ambience. Some of our generous North-facing rooms are equipped with fold-away beds allowing plenty of space once the beds have been folded away. These rooms also feature a bathroom, hair dryer, colour TV, radio, telephone with answering machine, safe etc. The large South-facing rooms with balcony have a view over the open Landwasser valley.  The wooden furniture in natural colours makes for a cozy stay. This hotel has all the attributes to make your stay unforgettable.  From the new spa and beauty facilities where you can relax in the sauna, or a Turkish steam baths.... ready to set yourself up for the next day in the mountain .... to the wonderful range of culinary delights. Enjoy the extensive breakfast buffet in the mornings and a 5-course evening meal (choice of main course) with salad bar and cheese board. Once a week there is a romantic Fondue Bourguignonne and also once a week an Austrian evening with live music. The family owners will delight you with Austrian and regional specialities. Their delicious menu is rounded off by home-grown products, vegetarian meals and - of course! - a variety of international specialities.   Skiing Japan could not be better than staying at this first class hotel with ski in / ski out convenience.  This is the perfect way to finish off your three week group ski tour. Your comfortable and well appointed rooms have full private facilities, twin beds, TV telephone, bar fridge and more. For après-ski options Rusutsu Resort has a huge range of entertainment, including restaurants, indoor wave pool, a large bath house and, of course, karaoke rooms!  You can choose traditional Japanese style or European style breakfasts, and for dinner, you have the choice of pre purchasing an evening meal plan, or exploring the many small local and very traditional Japanese restaurants in this area Itinerary - 2010 Europe / Japan Group Ski Tour

. 3 week (2 week Europe/1 week Japan) 1 week Japan 1 week Japan Date Dec 2010 Jan 2011 Davos, Lech, Rusutsu Date Jan'11 Rusutsu Date Jan'11 Rusutsu (extra night accommodation) Thu 30 Dec '10 Own arrangements, suggested departure Sydney to Zurich         Fri 31 Dec '10 Start 3 week tour - meet & greet night. Overnight accommodation at Zurich (Switzerland) - celebrate NY's Eve by the lake         Sat 1 Jan '11 Late morning chartered coach transfer to Davos         Sat 1 to Sat 8 7 nights Club Hotel, Davos for 6 days skiing or boarding         Sat 8 Chartered coach transfer from Davos to Lech         Sat 8 to Sat 15 7 nights Hotel Sandhof for 6 days skiing in Lech, Zurs & St Anton         Sat 15 Arlberg Express bus transfer from Lech to Zurich airport         Sat 15 Flight from Zurich to Tokyo (not in cost)         Sun 16 Arrive Tokyo - overnight accommodation at Nikko Narita Hotel     Sun 16 Day flight Sydney to Tokyo Overnight stay at Narita Mon 17 Flight Tokyo to Sapporo (included in cost) Bus transfer from Sapporo to Rusutsu Ski Resort Mon 17 Flight Sydney - Tokyo to Sapporo Bus transfer from Sapporo to Rusutsu Ski Resort.. late evening arrival Mon 17 Morning flight Tokyo to Sapporo Bus transfer from Sapporo to Rusutsu Ski Resort for mid afternoon arrival Mon 17 to Mon 24 7 nights at Rusutsu Resort Hotel for 6 days skiing Mon 17 to Mon 24 7 nights at Rusutsu Resort Hotel for 6 days skiing and boarding Mon 17 to Mon 24 7 nights at Rusutsu Resort Hotel for 6 days skiing Mon 24 Bus transfer from Rusutsu Resort to Sapporo airport Flight from Sapporo to Tokyo then to Sydney Mon 24 Bus transfer from Rusutsu Resort to Sapporo airport Flight from Sapporo to Tokyo then to Sydney Mon 24 Bus transfer from Rusutsu Resort to Sapporo airport Flight from Sapporo to Tokyo then to Sydney Tue 25 Arrive Sydney Tue 25 Arrive Sydney Tue 25 Arrive Sydney

* Tour cost is on a twin share arrangement, utilising standard hotel rooms. Price quoted is in Australian Dollars, based on revised currency exchange rate as at April 2010.  Price may alter with changes in currency exchange rates. Ski Japan package includes airfares (Japan Airline Q Class) - but excludes taxes. Airfare is subject to availability at the time of booking.  Airline taxes and fuel surcharges vary with exchange rates and are additional cost. View full Booking Terms and Conditions
Skiing Europe and skiing Japan in one ski holiday are for those you wish to enjoy the skiing the magnificent European Alps, but also experience the light dry powder of Japan. On this group ski tour, you will experience skiing in 3 different countries, some of the very best European and Japanese ski resorts, enjoy the company of new skiing companions and benefit from cost savings that group ski tours can offer. Estours Travel has been offering these very popular and highly sought after group ski tours since 1983.
When arranging your air flights to Europe, consider breaking up journeys to and from Europe  to make them more comfortable for yourself and minimise the impacts of jet lag