 Ski holidays in France
For a ski holiday, France is number one for complete choice and range of skiing unmatched anywhere else in the world: gentle slopes for beginners, fast twisting slopes for intermediates and lots of choice on black for daring experts. For your perfect skiing holiday, France spoils for choice in both ski areas and the services on offer within the many purpose built resorts.
Skiing holiday in France - Highlights
- Excellent skiing for all levels
- Comprehensive and modern facilities throughout resorts
- Great snow record for reliable conditions
- Huge choice of chalets and apartments
- Vast skiing areas sometimes covering 3 or more linked resorts
- Quality and choice for dining out - great food
- Plenty of apres ski with something to suit all tastes
- Loads of choice for extra activities
Key resorts - Your ideal skiing holiday in France
Avoriaz
Avoriaz is an impressive resort and is ideal for people who want slope side accommodation in a modern purpose-built resort. It is situated at the centre of the vast 'Portes du Soleil' system, encompassing eight resorts in France and four in Switzerland, most of which are linked by an extensive lift system and ski bus service. During the day a cable-car connects Avoriaz with Prodains, which is just a ten minute shuttle ride from the town of Morzine with its shops, bars and restaurants.
Flaine
Flaine is a purpose-built resort lying within a huge open snow bowl, amidst one of the most extensive and spectacular ski areas in the whole of France. The resort's nursery slopes and excellent children's facilities have established it as a firm favourite with British families. Flaine's strength is the easy access from the accommodation to the pistes and the resort facilities. Flaine has a real purpose-built feel with "block" style architecture, but don't let this put you off as it really is a gem of a resort.
Chamonix
Internationally renowned, the cosmopolitan resort of Chamonix lies at the foot of the majestic Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain. Visitors come from all over the world to discover some of the most challenging pistes and off-piste including the famous "Vallee Blanche" boasting 24km of breathtaking scenery. High-performance lifts provide easy access to 5 different ski areas, providing slopes for all standards of skier.
Les Arcs
A long-term favourite amongst skiers and boarders, Les Arcs has increased further in popularity in recent years, due to the double-decker cable car linking the ski area with La Plagne to form the Paradiski Area. Les Arcs consists of five separate villages.
La Plagne
La Plagne is the collective name given to a slope network that connects 10 different villages in one of France's largest ski areas. Completed for winter 03/04, a new double-decker cable car links this area with the ski area of Les Arcs. This increases the pistes on offer to a massive 425km, opening up 17 alpine villages known as 'Paradiski'. The area is renowned for its reliable snow conditions, well-maintained pistes and glacier skiing.
Valmorel
One of the Alps hidden treasures', Valmorel is a beautiful and unspoilt ski resort, where the pistes extend right into the village. An efficient lift system gives access to 162km of superb ski runs both above and below the tree-line. The ski area offers unspoilt scenery matched with quiet pistes which are ideal for all abilities. The uncrowded pistes provide a superb environment for children to learn to ski or board. The resort is popular with families and those wanting a relaxing holiday, offering cafs and bars to sit at during the day and friendly aprs-ski in the evening.
Val D'Isre
The world-famous resort of Val d'Isere is set high in the mountains of the Savoie Alps boasting an excellent snow record, massive ski area, extensive shopping and an abundance of bars and restaurants. A contrasting mix of old and new accommodation spreads along the valley from La Daille at the entrance of Val d'Isere to the main centre 2km away (the resort is well serviced by a regular bus service running late into the night). Both areas have easy access to the efficient and extensive lift system connecting neighbouring Tignes. The renowned "Espace Killy" ski domain offers some of the best skiing in Europe. Val d'Isere is ideal if you want to ski hard, party hard and live to excess. It is a definite must to visit in your skiing or boarding travels.
Tignes
Renowned for its high, snowsure pistes, the purpose-built resort of Tignes boasts year-round skiing and has some of the most exciting and challenging ski terrain in Europe. The resort is made up of three main centres, Tignes Le Lac, Le Lavachet and Val Claret, all of which are linked by a regular free ski bus. The Espace Killy lift pass connects Tignes to its famous neighbour, Val d'Isre, by an extensive lift system and by bus (local charge).
Meribel & Mottaret
In the heart of the 3 Valleys, the resorts of Meribel (1450m) and Mottaret (1700m) have their own extensive ski area, also providing immediate access to the slopes of Courchevel, Val Thorens and Les Menuires. Traditionally alpine in style with picturesque chalets and a lively village centre, people are drawn back to Meribel year after year. Mottaret, although not as traditional or charming as Meribel, has a compact resort centre and enjoys all the advantages of doorstep skiing, breathtaking views and friendly aprs-ski.
Courchevel
The well known resort of Courchevel makes up part of the magnificent Three Valley circuit, offering excellent ski and boarding terrain on an enormous scale. The resort combines four villages each named after their height from 1300m to 1850m. There are many bars, cafes and restaurants, not forgetting the numerous shops and smart boutiques. with lots of atmosphere and buildings constructed in traditional Savoyard style. The ski area is accessed by two gondolas going direct to 1850 and the local ski bus connects all villages until late.
La Tania
La Tania is the famous 'Three Valleys' ski area's best kept secret. The small and compact resort offers good accommodation and friendly aprs-ski. A fast gondola and drag lifts provide quick and easy access into The 3 Valleys circuit, giving skiers and boarders the opportunity to experience up to 600km of exciting terrain.
Val Thorens
Val Thorens is located in the third valley of the magnificent Three Valleys ski area and at 2300m is Europe's highest ski resort. Purpose-built, the carefully designed resort offers a good variety of accommodation, a good array of local amenities and some of the best skiing in Europe. Due to its height, snow conditions are normally great.
Les Menuires
At 1850m Les Menuires provides an excellent base with its own amenities and a lift system that links the resort directly into the Val Thorens and the 3 Valleys ski area. The attraction of Les Menuires is that it offers great value accommodation with access to one of the largest ski and boarding areas in the world.
Montgenvre
As one of the oldest resorts in France, Montgenvre retains the personal feel of a small village whilst allowing easy access to the mighty "Milky Way" ski area just over the border in Italy. The main ski area is easily accessible from within the heart of the village, offering stunning scenery and an excellent snow record. The immediate runs are particularly suited to beginners and intermediates whilst the more advanced skier can enjoy the wider area.
Serre Chevalier
Serre Chevalier provides an ideal combination: a Southern Alps resort with north-facing slopes. So if you are looking for good skiing, plenty of sunshine and good snow conditions, you will be more than satisfied. Serre Chevalier comprises four villages all linked by ski runs and local bus services which provides easy access to the skiing, as well as a good range of shops, bars and restaurants.
Alpe d'Huez
The resort of Alpe d'Huez is set on a high, sunny plateau at 1850m, in the Grande Rousses area of the Southern Alpes. Renowned for its sunshine record, it has an excellent lift system with extensive skiing for all abilities. The resort offers impressive leisure facilities, good child care, lively nightlife and superb skiing for everyone, making it an ideal choice for families, mixed-ability parties, groups and non-skiers.
Les Deux Alpes
At 1650m, Les Deux Alpes is a lively, bustling resort surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery. Renowned for its excellent snow record, long hours of sunshine and high altitude pistes, it is a superb resort for all standards of skier and boarder, with excellent teaching facilities for beginners. |
