Arosa Ski Week, one of Europe’s biggest gay and lesbian winter events, returns to Switzerland from 8 to 15 January.

The last event attracted over 400 people from 30 countries who revelled in skiing and snowboarding across the mountains taking helicopter rides to see the sites of St Moritz and dancing the night away at various events thrown by organisers.

No matter what your level of skiing or snowboarding is, you will fit in fine. The ABC Snow Sports School team are available all week for beginners, whilst challenging pistes await the more experienced.

The 2012 event will span eight days from Sunday to Sunday, for the first time ever, and will allow additional guests to arrive on Thursday 12 January for a full weekend.

Events will take place at the new congress centre, the Kursaal of lounge at Hotel Seehof. Single diners will be paired together to establish instant friend-making at the start of the week after the Welcome Party.

Other activities include a sauna evening, the I Love Disco event, a White Snow Ball, concert, fondue fun night sledge session and the popular Drag Queen Race.

Getting to the Arosa Ski Week could not be simpler. The resort is positioned at the end of the Schanfigg valley and can be reached either by car or train. Flights are into Zurich-Kloten Airport.

Arosa offers a range of accommodation options with 10 partner hotels, which include an access all areas Gold Pass and 20% discount on ski and snowboard rentals at the Bananas Ski and Snowboard Centre.