Things have changed a good deal in how winter resorts are run over the past 25 years. As ski areas expanded in the late 20th century, environmentalists were seen as a nuisance sometimes thwarting their plans. Today the environmentalists work for or with the ski resorts, calling the shots on new developments, ensuring they result in an ever-lower carbon footprint. The vast majority of ski areas are now green energy powered, and many have signed up to one environmental auditing scheme or another, aiming to hit net zero in the next few years.
The latest move by a number of leading resorts, whilst waiting for better battery life in the new breed of all-electric piste bashers, is to use renewable fuel made from waste vegetable oils in their slope grooming tractors.
In short, they’re ahead of most businesses around the world, in terms of putting the environment front and centre in all they do, as you’d expect for an industry reliant on snow!
Some ski resorts can claim they’ve always been green. Switzerland’s Saas-Fee, for example, has never allowed car access to its streets and a good many resorts in the Alps, Scandinavia and Canada have always been powered by green energy. The Kulm Hotel in St. Moritz, which was the first place in the world to host winter sports tourists in 1864/65 was also the first place in Switzerland to be lit by electric lights, in 1879. Green from the start, hotel founder Johannes Badrutt had a hydroelectric power plant built specifically for this purpose.
In fact, when we’re on our ski holiday it’s very likely our share of CO2 emissions will be lower than it is back home. The tricky bit, that hasn’t changed much in those 25 years, is that it’s the travel we make to reach the ski areas that generates a lot of climate warming emissions and for that, for now (aviation biofuel technology is progressing fast!), we have to look at rail travel to the slopes, or self-drive.
All that being said, here are 10 of the most environment friendly ski areas you can visit.
1. Les Arcs
One of the easiest to reach by train from the UK, it’s above Bourg St Maurice, the last stop on the line and there’s even a funicular railway up from the station. Les Arcs was awarded Flocon Vert (Green Snowflake) accreditation in 2020, receiving a second in June 2025. It also has B Corp certification and is aiming to be both a zero waste and carbon neutral destination asap.
Stay At:
The Hotel Taj-I Mah offers one of the most luxurious ski-in ski-out locations in Europe, providing a new level of quality at this snow-sure resort.
2. LAAX
The Swiss freeride Mecca LAAX, adjacent to Flims, is a leader in Alpine sustainability with its “Greenstyle” initiative, featuring CO2-neutral lifts, solar-powered chairlifts, hybrid snow groomers, and vertical gardens for biodiversity. Rail travellers reach nearby Chur or Ilanz, then connect via PostBus to the resort.
Stay At:
The Rocks Resort comprises of eight modern buildings around the valley station of the Laax mountain railway, based on a philosophy called Greenstyle that aims to be fully carbon neutral and self-sustaining.
3. Golm Montafon
Golm Montafon claims to be Austria’s first climate-neutral ski area, with solar-powered lifts, wildlife-friendly zones, and major CO2 cuts since 2016. The nearby Falkensteiner Hotel Montafon complements this with its own climate-neutral operations and a “Family Ecotainment” concept rooted in nature-based learning. Rail access is smooth on the Montafonerbahn with a short bus ride to resort.
Stay At:
Gently nestled between forests and mountains, Falkensteiner Hotel Montafon is the ideal accommodation for your ski holiday in Montafon. A proud member of Leading Hotels of the World, that offers impressive architecture and extensive outdoor facilities.
4. San Cassiano
Surrounded by the UNESCO-protected Dolomites, Italy’s San Cassiano champions sustainable Alpine tourism through the wider Alta Badia ski region’s “Green Code” initiatives and soft mobility options. Nearby rail stations in Brunico and Bolzano connect via efficient bus links, enabling low-impact travel. Eco-certified hotel options include Ciasa Salares, a hotel accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council – an international body setting sustainability standards for travel.
Stay At:
The charming, family-run Hotel Ciasa Salares in Val Badia is nestled in the heart of the exquisite Dolomites. The hotel is situated 100 meters away from the nearest ski lift, with an additional shuttle running to and from the Lagazuoi cable car.
5. Saint-Gervais
Another easy French resort to reach by rail, for winter 24-25 Saint-Gervais made headlines unveiling its Valléen gondola project which whisks rail arrivals from the town’s station in the valley below up to the resort centre then continuing on up the mountain, doing away with the need for a car. It also has a lift to its public thermal baths that’s powered by waste water. Also holding two Flocon Vert (Green Snowflake) certifications, and Saint-Gervais’ local hydro power plant makes 6 times more green energy than the town needs, the rest is exported.
Stay At:
Hotel Armancette is a luxury stay in the mountains. The hotel boasts a collection of unique rooms, so you can be sure there’s something to suited to your taste.
6. Zell am See – Kaprun
Lakeside Zell is an easy rail trip from Salzburg and Innsbruck. A member of the “Alpine Pearls” initiative promoting sustainable tourism it has many green initiatives including electric ski buses. The Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun achieves climate neutrality through electric transport links, hydro-powered cable cars, ISO-certified environmental management, and Alpine restoration projects.
Stay At:
Hotel Salzburgerhof is a beautiful five-star property with stunning lake views. The hotel is located just a few moments walk from the centre of the resort and there is a free ski bus that services the gondola stations.
7. Arosa
The “Arosa 2030” strategy, prioritizing biodiversity, CO2 reduction, and circular resource use. The standout Valsana Hotel runs on geothermal energy and a pioneering ice battery system, eliminating fossil fuels entirely. Visitors arrive via the scenic Rhaetian Railway from Chur, crossing 41 bridges and 19 tunnels – including the famed Langwieser viaduct – on one of Switzerland’s most breathtaking and low-impact rail journeys.
Stay At:
The Valsana Hotel was constructed with a careful attention to sustainable materials produced locally in Switzerland. The views from the hotel of Arosa’s mountain landscape are perfectly panoramic and the stunning terrace is the perfect place to relax.
8. Madonna di Campiglio
Madonna di Campiglio’s strong green credentials include its “Let’s Green” initiative which has made its mountain huts plastic-free. Powered by regional renewables and nestled in Italy’s largest protected park it has eco-compactors and refill stations on the slopes and promotes car-free days in town.
Stay At:
Hotel Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti is ClimaHotel certified through the use of highly efficient insulation and its commitment to the use of renewable energy. This amazing hotel features its own brilliant spa surrounded by the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Dolomites.
9. The Arlberg
Sustainability runs deep in the famed Arlberg region. Lech Zürs uses biomass heating and electric buses via its Blue Fleet and Green Garage. St. Anton is energy self-sufficient thanks to the Kartell hydro plant and solar-heated biomass systems, and it’s part of Austria’s e5 energy-efficiency program. Rail access is seamless – St. Anton’s central station offers direct Railjet connections from major cities, making low-impact travel easy for winter guests.
Stay At:
Chalet Skyfall consists of four exclusive suites with ski-in ski-out access to the slopes. Guests have access to all amenities the resort has on offer such as the Sport & Spa, all restaurants and the Kid’s Club.
10. Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
The Chamonix Valley uses 100% renewable electricity, primarily hydroelectric and solar, with over 500 photovoltaic panels installed on public buildings. You can also arrive by rail with the Mont-Blanc Express train arriving through spectacular scenery into the famous ski town. Free public transport serves the valley. Chamonix also participates in the Sustainable Mountain Summit with mountain communities around the world tackling issues like overcrowding, waste, and CO2 emissions. It is branded a “Positive Energy Valley” as it produces more renewable energy than it consumes, thanks to hydroelectric power from mountain torrents, solar installations and geothermal systems in public buildings.
Stay At:
Positioned just a two-minute walk from the town centre and the Savoy ski slopes, Chalet Indigo is a one-of-a-kind property offering an unrivalled combination of luxury, comfort, and convenience in the heart of Chamonix.
To find out more about eco-friendly ski resorts, please call our ski experts at 0207 471 7700.
