It’s already snowing. In the Rockies and the Alps, they’ve had their first dusting — and soon the flurries will drift downhill and coat the lower slopes, too, covering the chairlifts, the pistes and the snug mountain restaurants.

Just writing those words sets my pulse racing — and if you’ve ever set skis or snowboard to snow, with the sun out and the mountains towering above you, you’ll know why. Admittedly, I’m biased, but in my book, nothing can match skiing’s sense of freedom and adventure. No other break can take you so completely out of your everyday world — and return you so refreshed, emboldened and invigorated.

But where do you go to find the best of what the skiing world can offer? Right here. To stoke the fires of our collective anticipation, we’ve brought together our pick of the world’s top 10 ski resorts. All offer something above and beyond the norm. Call it the X factor. Call it a happy marriage of geography and technology. Call it whatever you like — but ski or snowboard in any one of them, and you’re all but guaranteed a winter to remember.

Unless stated, package prices are for the week beginning January 27 or 28, 2007, and include flights from London; ask the operator for details of regional departures

1. STE-FOY TARENTAISE, France

Size doesn’t always matter — and Ste-Foy Tarentaise is a case in point. A tiny, four-lift resort, it has long been the preserve of off-piste guides, who bring their clients over when the powder in nearby Val d’Isère has been ground to crud. Now, however, thanks to some sensitively handled redevelopment, the place has been reborn — as a cute and quietly luxurious retreat for families (or anyone else who’s tired of the mega-resorts). Yes, the skiing is limited, but at all levels the quality is superb, and when you’ve had your fill, the larger lift systems at Les Arcs, Val d’Isère, Tignes and La Rosière are all within easy day-tripping distance.

How to do it: stay at the properly posh (and attractively priced) Chalets Emma and Des Fées. The former costs £550pp and the latter £650pp for the week, half-board, excluding flights and transfers, with the Ste-Foy specialist Première Neige (0870 383 1000, www.premiere-neige.com). To get there, fly to Lyons or Geneva with British Airways (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com), EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) or Aer Lingus (0818 365000, www.aerlingus.com); or to Chambéry with Jet2 (0871 226 1737, www.jet2.com) or Flybe (0871 7000 535, www. flybe.com). Première Neige offers a private transfer service from all three airports for £100pp return, which also includes four days’ travel to neighbouring resorts.

www.saintefoy.net

2. VAL D’ISERE, France

There’s a good reason Val is so full of Brits. Nowhere else serves up such a rich mix of top-quality skiing (on piste and off), buzzing nightlife and comfortable, convenient accommodation. Now the resort is even addressing its one long-standing weakness — the fact that most beginners find it intimidating. Last season saw the launch of Scaredy-cat Skiing, a softly-softly approach to lessons developed by the French school Oxygène (00 33 4 79 41 99 58, www.oxygene-ski.com; £95pp for three half-days).

How to do it: stay in one of the catered chalets run by YSE (0845 122 1414, www.yseski.co.uk), a Val d’Isère specialist with properties in four price brackets and a well-deserved reputation for its food. Chalet La Couchire is one of the best: it costs £755pp, half-board, including flights and transfers. Or turn to page 30 for your chance to win a week in the resort with Directski.com.

www.valdisere.com

3. MURREN, Switzerland

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