Europe's best late-season skiing

With February fast approaching, you may be worried that the opportunity to ski this winter has passed you by.

However, Europe's high peaks mean that many resorts hold onto their snow well into May - meaning you've still got plenty of time to head off on a ski weekend before the slopes finally succumb to the summer sun.

So warn the boss that you'll be out of the office in April and book a trip to one of these great snow-sure destinations:

Val Thorens, France

As the highest ski resort in Europe and the highest point in the enormous Les Trois Vallees ski area, Val Thorens enjoys one of the longest seasons anywhere. With 99 per cent of the ski area situated above 2,000 metres, expect good snow cover well into May.

The resort is so confident about its ability to provide late-season skiing that it even offers a 'Snow Guarantee' for those who've bought a six-day ski pass from the official website.

Not only that, but the Three Valleys is the world's largest ski area so there's no chance of getting bored during your ski weekend, especially with activities such as snow mountain biking, ice driving and tobogganing.

Tignes, France

Another French resort offering back-to-base skiing well into May is Tignes, which is part of the expansive Espace Killy region.

Not only that, from June to August you can enjoy summer skiing on the glacier, with 20km of piste open for business - providing an alternative way to soak up the sunshine than sitting on the beach.

Tignes is a great place to learn off-piste skiing, with its 'Naturides' offering fantastic powder and moguls in an avalanche-free environment.

Les Arcs, France

Although Les Arcs consists of four interconnected villages, two of them - Arc 1600 and 1800 - get too much sunshine to provide late-season ski opportunities. However, the much more shaded and higher up Arc 1950 and 2000 provide quality skiing until the end of April.

Located near the Vanoise National Park, the setting is truly spectacular for some enjoyable late-season skiing.

Aside from these four European greats, any destination you can find with high slopes or a northerly latitude should serve you well, as these tend to have the lowest temperatures and the most snow.

One thing to be aware of when you're heading away in April or May is that the snow cover might not extend all the way down to the resort and that you'll need to head out early when the powder is at its crispest before the sun starts to turn it to slush.

To find out more about late season skiing or how you can book a short ski break, call one of our ski experts on 023 8020 6971 or email sales@skiweekends.com.