Snow globe: The world's best ski holidays for more than slopes

Top of the world: Skiers are dropped off by helicopter atop a mountain in Iceland. Photo / Supplied, Arctic Heli Skiing Iceland

Iceland

LineUpExplorers, a travel agency based in Germany that specializes in surf and ski vacations, and Iceland-based tour operator Arctic Heli Skiing offer an ultra-private, ultra-lux heli-skiing tour in the Troll Peninsula in northern Iceland. A helicopter takes you and three friends to remote slopes, where you'll stay at a private lodge with your own chef. Prices for a four-day excursion start at $12,800 per person. For information, go to luex.com/snow or arcticheliskiing.com.

Italian slopes: Ski Safari in the Dolomites. Photo / Supplied

Ski Safari in the Dolomites

This safari is about as far from a savanna as you can get. One possible itinerary offered by luxury tour operator Scott Dunn starts in Venice or Innsbruck, Austria. After a stay in five-star accommodations, you can ski from one family-run rifugio to another in the Dolomites, the mountain range in northern Italy that UNESCO has named a World Heritage site. En route you will enjoy breathtaking views and northern Italian cuisine. It's a good idea to book at least six months in advance. Prices start at $7,800 per person. For information, go to scottdunn.com.

A challet with a twist: Siral staircase at the St. Regis Deer Valley Spa Resort, Utah. Photo / Supplied

Deer Valley

Located in Utah's Wasatch Range, Deer Valley was a site for the 2002 Winter Olympics and still hosts major ski competitions. Serious skiiers looking for serious comfort can book a stay at the St. Regis Deer Valley Residences in Park City. It comes with a private elevator entrance, a kitchen with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, and butler services. After a long day on the slopes, you can head to the nearby spa for a body polish or a detox wrap, or even get your skin exfoliated with diamond dust. Rates start at $4,680 per night. For information, go to marriott.com.

A trip to Hokkaido, Japan, might include powdery ski runs and views of a volcano. Photo / Supplied

Niseko, Japan

Niseko, on Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, is famous for its powdery snow and gorgeous views of a nearby (dormant) volcano. The village itself has bars and restaurants serving the best in traditional Japanese cuisine. If that is not enough excitement, you can throw in a stop in Tokyo. A custom five-day Tokyo-Niseko tour by travel operator Scott Dunn starts at about $7,800 per person. For information, go to scottdunn.com.