In the centre of the French Alps, Courchevel has well more than 100 ski runs for visitors to choose from. Some courses are dotted with moguls, so snowboarding and snowmobiling are popular here, and skiers of all levels of experience will find a slope that's just right.

With four village resorts and six high-altitude resorts between 4,000 and 10,000 feet, La Plagne offers 140 miles of pistes and 130 slope runs (10 green/easy, 69 blue/medium, 33 red/hard and 18 black/extreme). Along with neighbour resort Les Arcs, La Plagne forms the greater Paradiski ski area.

Ringed by ski resorts and forested parks, there’s a sport for every season in Grenoble, the self-proclaimed Capital of the Alps. Culture seekers will find plenty to explore in the university town’s urban centre, where art galleries and museums hug the banks of the Isère River.

When you think of quaint mountain villages in the French Alps, something like Bourg-Saint Maurice might come to mind. Narrow, cobblestoned streets lined with colourful buildings offer a glimpse into the past with local shops serving Savoyard specialties. In the colder months, skiers arrive en masse for some of the best skiing in the area. And when everything finally thaws, there’s a whole new world to discover: rich green mountains ripe for hiking and crystal-clear rivers perfect for kayaking or whitewater rafting.

As host of the first Winter Olympics in 1924, Chamonix will always have a place in the history books. Its main attractions are Mont-Blanc (Western Europe's tallest mountain) and the many ski areas that face the Chamonix Valley. Steep slopes and extreme weather conditions suit advanced skiers best, but there are also runs for beginners. Just make sure everyone in your party knows a green circle from a black diamond. Oh, and another note for the history books—Pierce Brosnan was here (filming a James Bond movie, The World Is Not Enough).

Dubai is a destination that mixes modern culture with history, adventure with world-class shopping and entertainment. Catch a show at the Dubai Opera, see downtown from atop the Burj Khalifa and spend an afternoon along Dubai Creek exploring the gold, textile and spice souks. If you’re looking for thrills, you can float above the desert dunes in a hot air balloon, climb aboard a high-speed ride at IMG Worlds of Adventure or skydive over the Palm Jumeirah.