Forget the Alps: five unexpected countries for skiing.

You can enjoy a skiing holiday not only in Switzerland, France, or Austria. There are less obvious destinations that attract with their slopes and the atmosphere of a winter fairy tale.

The Independent has selected five unexpected places for skiing or snowboarding.

The first destination is South Korea. The largest and oldest resort in the country, Yongpyong in Gangwon-do, has a challenging slope to conquer. Skiing in Korea is recommended from November to February or early March when heavy snowfall and low temperatures are common. The après-ski in Korea is also different from what we are used to in the Alps.

In India, there are ski resorts located in the Himalayas. At the Gulmarg resort, you can admire the fairytale-like pines from one of the highest ski lifts in the world. The ski season in India lasts from January to March.

In Spain, you can also enjoy skiing. The Sierra Nevada and Baqueira-Beret resorts offer snowy slopes for skiing. The ski season lasts from November to April.

Argentina has luxurious ski resorts. Cerro Catedral in the town of Bariloche is the largest ski resort in South America, and Las Leñas in Mendoza is the best in the Andes for off-piste skiing. The ski season lasts from June to September.

Australia also has great places for skiing. The Thredbo and Perisher resorts invite you to enjoy snowy mountains and beer in the country pub. The ski season lasts all year round.

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