Your ski holiday starts here...

For most of us, the end of the summer is a cause for dismay as the nights begin to draw in, temperatures start to drop and our weather becomes increasingly unreliable. But for some, the inexorable progress of the year is cause for celebration: skiers and snowboarders know that it means their trip to the slopes is coming closer. For the super-keen, this could mean skiing as early as November in resorts with glaciers, such as Tignes in France or Cervinia in Italy. For most, Christmas heralds the first winter forays.

This year the festive period is a bugbear for tour operators as the normal weekend travel days lie on key festive dates – Christmas is on Sunday and New Year’s Eve the following Saturday. Many tour operators have responded by offering Friday transfers and some, including Crystal Ski, SkiWorld and Le Ski, are offering Tuesday to Tuesday over Christmas. Nonetheless this week is proving a difficult sell, compounded by the slow starts to the season caused by late snow over the last couple of years. For those willing to take a punt – surely this is a case of third time lucky? – there are many great deals to be had, such as eight days of skiing for the price of seven from Inghams.

In the longer term, the vote to leave the EU may prove challenging for UK ski operators. Inghams, for example, employs 1,500 British workers in ski resorts – but its ability to do this may be jeopardised if labour laws change. In the short term, though, it’s business as usual. Tour operators secured their accommodation before the referendum vote and sterling’s slide against the euro, so there has been no rise in the cost of holidays. Prices will be higher for British skiers in resorts this season, but the current exchange rate of just under €1.19 to the pound is the same as it was two years ago.

Tour operators are offering a rich selection of holidays and resorts are making significant upgrades. On the following pages we’ll highlight the latest developments and the best holiday options. Should you wish to know more, why not ask us in person? The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Show in Battersea Park, London (October 27-30), continues to act as a signal call to lovers of winter sports breaks. For more information visit london.skiandsnowboard.co.uk.

Of course, the most important thing is for the white stuff to fall, early and in plentiful quantities. So even in September it’s worth conjuring up the Christmas refrain: “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!”

Summer’s nearly done, so what’s fresh for this winter? Over the next eight pages we reveal the latest resort news, plus the 20 best trips for skiers and snowboarders in 2016-17

Preparing to tackle Vallée Blanche on Chamonix’s Aiguille du Midi