Eurostar has opened ticket sales for its direct ski services from St Pancras International and Ashford International to the French Alps.

The direct seasonal ski services will run from December 17th (day services) and Friday December 23rd (night services) until Saturday April 14th 2012.

Eurostar’s day and night services, carry ski and snowboarding enthusiasts direct to the popular French ski towns of Moûtiers, Aime-La-Plagne and Bourg St Maurice, with return fares starting from £149.

Eurostar stations are located a short bus ride from the resorts avoiding lengthy transfers to and from the airport.

The stations offer easy access to a variety of top ski destinations in the French Alps, such as Courchevel, La Plagne, Tignes, Meribel, Les Arcs, allowing people to choose a resort that matches their needs.

For added convenience, Eurostar allows ski passengers to carry on-board an extra item of luggage in addition to the normal luggage allowance - such as a pair of skis or a snowboard - at no extra cost.

Eurostar’s overnight services arrive in the Alps early on a Saturday morning and depart late on a Saturday evening, making them perfect for winter sports enthusiasts looking for an extra couple of days on the slopes. On the Saturday day service, passengers can sit back and enjoy stunning views of the French countryside before they arrive rested and ready to go.

Mary Walsh, Eurostar’s director of communications, commented: “French ski resorts are some of the most popular in Europe, and more and more travellers are seeing that high speed rail is the perfect way to reach them, with a minimum of stress and limited impact on the environment.

“On average, a Eurostar journey accounts for just one tenth of the carbon emissions of an equivalent flight and allows travellers to arrive close to their resort, relaxed, refreshed and ready to hit the slopes.”