The longest ski lifts in the world

When it comes to long lifts, you might think the big resorts claim the crown. And sure, there are some heavy hitters here – Whistler’s PEAK 2 PEAK shows its colors. However, the likes of France’s Les 3 Vallées, Banff, and even the Tahoe resorts are all curiously missing. Instead, the smaller, lesser-known resorts – such as the Tornik Ski Center in Serbia – take the top spots! 

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s take this one at a time and list off the lifts in descending order. Oh, and talking about orders, our new MONTEC collection is in stock and ready to ship. Check it out below!

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Lifts that go on for miles (literally)

1. Zlatibor Gold Gondola, Tornik Ski Centre, Serbia

Length: 5.6 miles/9 kilometers

Located in western Serbia, the Tornik Ski Centre sits on Mount Zlatibor, a year-round mountain destination with wide-open slopes and forested terrain. The Zlatibor Gold Gondola is the longest ski lift in the world, stretching an incredible 5.6 miles/9 kilometers from the town of Zlatibor up to the ski area. 

The Zlatibor Gold Gondola is designed for both winter and summer use. The lift passes through rolling countryside and pine forests before reaching the base station. So you’re in for some epic scenery over the lift’s 25-minute journey. 

2. Bursa Uludağ Gondola, Uludağ Ski Center, Turkey

Length: 5.5 miles/8.8 kilometers

Uludağ Ski Center is Turkey’s largest and most established ski resort, located above the historic city of Bursa. The Bursa Uludağ Gondola runs from the outskirts of the city all the way up into the National Park and base station, making it one of the longest continuous lift systems on the planet. 

Also known simply as the Teleferik, this ride climbs through changing landscapes, from urban sprawl to dense forest and alpine terrain. The Bursa Uludağ Gondola serves as a key access route for skiers, snowboarders, hikers, and sightseers heading into the Uludağ mountains.

3. Tochal Telecabin, Tochal International Ski Resort, Iran

Length: 4.7 miles/7.5 kilometers

Tochal International Ski Resort sits high above Tehran in Iran’s Alborz mountain range. This lift delivers one of the world’s most unusual city-to-summit ski experiences. The Tochal Telecabin begins near the city’s outskirts and climbs steeply into high alpine terrain, eventually reaching an elevation of over 3,700 meters (12,139 feet). 

The Tochal Telecabin’s length and altitude combine to make it one of the planet’s most insane gondola systems! Oh, and it offers sweeping views back across Tehran. With the lift in action, skiing in winter and hiking in summer become super easy for city dwellers.

4. Funicamp Gondola, Encamp-Grandvalira, Andorra

Length: 3.9 miles/6.2 kilometers

Grandvalira is Andorra’s biggest ski area, and the Funicamp Gondola is one of the easiest ways to get into it. The lift starts in the town of Encamp and carries skiers straight up into the mountains, saving you from busy and winding mountain roads. 

Stretching just under four miles/over six kilometers, the Funicamp is one of the longest gondolas in Europe. In fact, it feels more like a scenic mountain journey than a standard ski lift. In winter, the Funicamp is key to accessing the slopes. Then, in summer, the gondola is popular with hikers and sightseers.

5. Grindelwald–Männlichen Gondola Cable Car, Grindelwald, Switzerland

Length: 3.7 miles/6 kilometers

Grindelwald is one of Switzerland’s most famous alpine towns, sitting beneath some seriously epic peaks. The Grindelwald–Männlichen Gondola Cable Car links the village directly to the Männlichen ski area, opening up access to Wengen and the wider Jungfrau region. 

The ride is long, smooth, and incredibly scenic, with constant views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau towering above you. The Grindelwald–Männlichen Gondola Cable Car is an essential lift in winter for skiers and a favorite in summer for hikers, thanks to the views alone.

6. Schilthorn Gondola Cable Car, Mürren, Switzerland

Length: 3.5 miles/5.7 kilometers

The Schilthorn Gondola Cable Car runs from the car-free village of Mürren up to the Schilthorn summit, rising high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley. It’s famous for its James Bond connection (the Piz Gloria restaurant was Blofeld’s lair in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service). Oh, and the Lauterbrunnen Valley was the location of the epic ski chase in the same movie. 

However, the Schilthorn Gondola Cable Car is just as impressive. The journey climbs steeply over cliffs and exposed terrain, delivering huge views of the surrounding Alps. Make sure you’ve freed up your phone storage for the many, many pics you’re bound to take!

7. Zugspitze Cable Car, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Length: 2.8 miles/4.5 kilometers

The Zugspitze Cable Car takes you from Garmisch-Partenkirchen straight up to Germany’s highest mountain in one go. It’s fast, modern, and climbs a massive vertical distance in a short amount of time. 

At the top, you’ll find glacier skiing in winter and panoramic viewing platforms year-round with views stretching into Austria on clear days. While the ski area itself is relatively small, the lift is the real pull here, offering one of the most dramatic cable car rides anywhere in the Alps.

8. PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, Whistler, Canada

Length: 2.7 miles/4.4 kilometers

Whistler-Blackcomb is actually two separate mountains: Whistler and Blackcomb. And the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola connects them high above the valley floor. Suspended 426 meters in the air (1,398 ft!), the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola is one of the most iconic lifts in the world. Oh, it also holds the record for the longest unsupported lift span at 1.8 miles (over three kilometers). 

For skiers, the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola makes moving between the two mountains fast and easy. For everyone else, it’s an unforgettable ride with huge views of glaciers, forests, and alpine terrain in every direction.

9. Golden Eagle Express, Kicking Horse, Canada

Length: 2.4 miles/3.9 kilometers

Kicking Horse is known for steep lines, big vertical, and a raw mountain feel. And the Golden Eagle Express? It’s the lift that unlocks it all. Running from the base straight into the alpine, the Golden Eagle Express is one of the longest in-resort gondolas in the world. 

The ride gives you time to take in just how wild the terrain is before dropping you into bowls, chutes, and ridgelines. The Golden Eagle Express is a core part of the Kicking Horse experience and a lift you’ll get very familiar with when riding here!

10. Silver Mountain Gondola, Silver Mountain, USA

Length: 2.3 miles/3.7 kilometers

Silver Mountain does things a little differently. The Silver Mountain Gondola starts down in the town of Kellogg, Idaho, and carries skiers up the mountainside to the resort base. That makes it less of a typical ski lift and more of a town-to-mountain gateway. 

The Silver Mountain Gondola is the only way to access the resort in winter. The ride passes over forests and old mining terrain before reaching the slopes. Long, scenic, and slightly unusual, the Silver Mountain Gondola is a standout lift in North America.

Wrapping up

The top 10 might feel a little spread out. However, once you get closer to 1.8-mile (3-kilometer) distances, loads of lifts join the mix. This includes the longest chairlift in the world: the Slide Brook Express at Sugarbush Resort in Vermont, clocking in at 2.1 miles/3.35 km! But the Slide Brook, like many others, narrowly misses out here. Oh well, it’s just another to add to the must-try list… 

Love this article or think we missed something obvious? Let us know at crew@montecwear.com! 

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