I am often happy to hike, bike, run and travel on my own but when it comes to skiing, I’d much prefer to be with other people. Skiing, especially on traditional ski holidays, are more enjoyable with other people. There is a big sociable element to skiing, whether it’s riding the gondolas and chairlifts, discussing a route plan of pistes, sharing the joys of the downhills and also making stops for coffee, lunches and apres-ski. Yes, the same could be said for walking, cycling and running holidays, but there is something about skiing that makes it much more fun with other people.
While Hubby G and I have had many great ski holidays together, there are times when he is not available for a trip. Earlier this year, when he announced he had been asked to go on a boys-only ski trip, I decided I’d look for my own ski trip. First, I checked in with a few friends to see if they might be keen, too but for various reasons – time, holiday allocation, money and other commitments – no-one was free.
Then, as luck would have it, I came across a new-to-me concept: The Ski Gathering, which offers social holidays for solo skiers and snowboarders.
What is The Ski Gathering?
The brainchild of Raphaël Cabuis, who is also the founder of the company Montagne & Tradition, The Ski Gathering aims to meet a gap in the market for solo people who want to holiday with a group. This is not billed as a ski holiday for singles – many of the customers share same-gender rooms – but a sociable-style group trip where solo people come together in catered chalets or hotels and then enjoy the conviviality of skiing, eating and generally “being on holiday” as a group.
It makes perfect sense in our modern world, where people are far more independent and fewer people are part of a couple. In addition, like me, there are skiers who have a partner but want to take a separate holiday.
The Ski Gathering operates in six French resorts, Les Gets, Morzine, Les Arcs, La Plagne, Chamonix and Meribel; plus Zell am See in Austria and Corvara in the Italian Dolomites.
The holidays are often themed, such as women-only, novices, age groups and guided.
The Ski Gathering: Les Gets
I recently joined a solo week in Les Gets. The chalets of up to 12 people were grouped as “beginners”, “30s to 40s” and “over-50s”.
Each chalet has a professional and friendly host and the atmosphere was very organised but also relaxed and comfortable. Room shares included doubles, triples and quads with prices structured accordingly. Opting to share a quad room, prices for a week’s half-board chalet are from £695. If you want to book a room all to yourself, the price is from £1495. You can request help to organise transfers, ski hire and lessons.
While some rooms had their own bathroom, others shared a bathroom between two rooms. The living-dining areas were large and for use by the group.
Born and raised in Les Gets, Raph, who lives in the village with has young family, is also the accomplished chef who oversees the impressive chalet meals, including breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner, served daily in the chalets. Beer and wine are included.
Most people who had booked with The Ski Gathering at the same time as me had come on their own. Two people were already friends from home, while a mother and son had also booked together. There were several happy “returners”.
I heard a range of stories from skiers and snowboarders, including people in their 30s who used to ski with their parents, but have now outgrown the holiday tradition. Others could not find mutual dates and budgets with their usual gang of skiing pals. “So many friends have young children now,” said one skier. Another added: “I used to ski with a big group of people but one by one they have stopped, or have other holiday plans, so I was left with no-one to holiday with.”
For skiers in their later years, the issues include a reluctant partner, a divorce, or, more sadly, the death of a spouse. Another skier, from the US, said jokingly: “I married a lizard.” Then qualified: “She only likes hot and sunny holidays, while I still love to go skiing.”
What’s more: The Ski Gathering in Les Gets
In Les Gets, The Ski Gathering resort manager is Belinda. The Brit is a high energy fairy godmother, who sprinkles a dusting of magic wherever she goes.
Belinda comes to the aid of nervous solo skiers with suggestions of the perfect ESF lesson – with others or solo – and the best pistes to boost confidence.
If people are troubled by ill-fitting boots, want a tip for a great apres-ski bar or where to have lunch, want to book the resort light show Alta Lumina, or simply need to buy blister plasters, she knows just the place, or how.
She also encourages the formation of groups of similarly able or fit skiers, smooths out wrinkles before potential frustrations arise, suggests local route plans and organises trips to nearby ski areas.
When time allows her, Belinda happily provides a few hours of resort showcasing, which givers The Ski Gathering groups the benefit of her in-depth knowledge and bonhomie.
Over the week, I found myself skiing with the over-50s – my own age group – and also the “30somethings”. I dined in the “beginners” chalet.
Having arrived somewhat anxious about who would be on the trip, whether I would like them – and if they would like me – and what to expect in terms of groups for skiing and socialising, I was relieved to discover that everyone is in the same boat and wanted to make the best of their holiday.
Within hours of meeting people, I felt like I was part of the gang. When skiing in a group, we usually made plans together with everyone’s voice being heard. Routes were plotted to take in different ski runs, from easy greens to challenging blacks, and we always included coffee and lunch stops.
On gondola and chairlift rides, whoever I sat next to, the chat was easy-going and often interesting. I enjoyed hearing about people’s lives, careers, hobbies and families.
I also loved skiing with encouraging, supportive and up-beat people. Whether zipping down well-groomed slopes, stopping to wait at intervals, looking out at the stunning snowy mountainscapes, checking signposts or starting off again en masse, I felt part of a companionable club.
Over the week’s holiday, as well as fully exploring Les Gets and neighbouring Morzine, we also took day trip to wonderfully peaceful Saint-Jean d’Alps and picturesque Châtel, which gives easy skiable access to Switzerland. That day I was thrilled to ski the iconic mogul run, the Swiss Wall, too.
By the end of the week, many of the skiers and boarders had become firm friends and it was no surprise to learn that over the years, some chalets had formed groups that returned together the following season.
Les Gets for skiers
Les Gets is a charming, family-friendly ski resort in the French Alps. It has a traditional wood-and-stone chalet architecture and sits at the gateway to the vast Portes du Soleil ski area with some 600km of groomed slopes.
Les Gets itself has a relaxed atmosphere with 120km of local pistes, making it ideal for families, beginners and intermediates, with easy access to Morzine and Switzerland.
1er Ski Festival for Beginners in Les Gets
Les Gets hosts the 1er Ski Festival for beginners, from March 21 to 28, 2026. During the 1er Ski Festival, The Ski Gathering has all-inclusive holidays, with lessons, lift pass, ski equipment and half-board catered chalet. Prices: Sharing from £895, single room from £1495.
Travel facts
I flew Edinburgh to Geneva with easyjet.com. I took my own skis and boots. Airport transfers were booked separately.
I had a Portes du Soleil lift pass to allow access to a range of resorts with a full 600km of groomed slopes. There is also a local Les Gets lift pass.
Visit The Ski Gathering for more information about solo skiing and snowboarding holidays.