Sierra Nevada Opens A Week Early On Saturday November 24, 2018

The Spanish ski resort of Sierra Nevada is opening on Saturday November 24, 2018 – one week before the scheduled opening date and with the largest amount of lifts and terrain in its history available for the inaugural weekend.

A total of 9 lifts and 43 kilometres of slopes are available, providing a vertical drop of 1,100 metres with accumulated snow between 20cm and 150cm depending on the altitude. When the resort is fully open there will be 110 kilometres of slopes available across 130 runs, offering one of the longest vertical drops in Europe.

Tour operator Ski Weekends specialises in packages to the resort, located in the southern Spanish region of Andalucía and within 40 minutes’ drive from the city of Granada - with views stretching to the Mediterranean Sea and beyond to North Africa on a clear day. Packages are available starting on December 1, 2018 from £522 per person for a 3 night stay including flights and airport transfers.

Dan Fox, Managing Director of Ski Weekends, said: “Sierra Nevada has a fantastic snow record and often opens in early December despite its proximity to the southern tip of Europe. But with conditions as good as this so early on, it presents an opportunity to grab an early ski trip and enjoy the slopes as well as the Spanish hospitality and food the region is so well known for. The resort is gaining in reputation with British skiers as they discover the excellent quality accommodation and facilities that provide good value for money. We’re delighted that the snow has come so early this year and it’s certainly a sign of good things to come”.

Sierra Nevada is Europe's southernmost ski station,and the highest in Spain.With its high elevation, the skiing season can last from late November until early May. Particularly towards the end of the season it experiences sunny days of skiing, although wind can be a problem due to Veleta's prominence and few trees. The resort is situated 27 km (17 mi) from the city of Granada, and is accessed by the A-395. It is also less than 100 km (60 mi) from Motril, on the Costa Tropical, which means skiing and swimming on the same day is an option. 

At the foot of the slopes there is a resort village, Pradollano, which stretches up a hill to the north of the pistes. The bottom of the village is at about 2,100 m (6,890 ft) above sea level, while the summit is just below 3,400 m (11,150 ft). Pradollano is home to a large number of shops, including many that sell or rent ski equipment, souvenir shops and a small supermarket. There is also a variety of ski schools, restaurants, cafés, bars and nightclubs.

The mid-station Borreguiles, which is served by two cable cars that run from the bottom of Pradollano, is at 2,675 m (8,780 ft). Here there are a few cafés and restaurants, a ski school, a few hire shops and lockers.

The resort is run by a private-public enterprise called Cetursa Sierra Nevada, S.A