Ski resorts France

Ski France

Chamonix sits in the shadow of Mont Blanc and offers some of the most challenging skiing in Europe. The town is in the centre of a string of villages spread out along a valley cutting deep through the Alps; the village of Argentiere is six miles (10km) up the valley, beneath the renowned Grands-Montets slopes, and Les Houches is a small resort a few miles below. The huge variety of on- and off-piste skiing in Chamonix attracts ski bums and serious weekend skiers (the town is only 50 minutes drive from Geneva) and this is reflected in the sportive atmosphere in the bars and restaurants.

Skiing:
Chamonix and Argentiere are renowned worldwide for their wide variety of challenging skiing, but there are also plenty of options for beginners, particularly at Le Tour at the top end of the valley. There are nursery slopes nearer town at La Vormaine, Les Chosalets and Les Planards. Intermediates and advanced skiers can enjoy up to 300 miles (500km) of slopes available with the full lift pass, ranging from Le Brevent and La Flegere to Les Grands-Montets.

Les Grands-Montets is the major attraction for advanced skiers with some massive mogul fields and endless off-piste skiing. The Vallée Blanche is probably the best-known ski trail in the Alps: a 13-mile (21km) glacier run along the Mer de Glace back to Chamonix. It's often closed due to bad weather, but is an essential adventure for competent skiers. Skiers should take a guide and be prepared for bad weather.

Shopping:
Chamonix is a year-round town and is packed with a selection of shops - though most are aimed at skiers and climbers. There are plenty of supermarkets and delicatessens for self-caterers

Mapa de Francia

Chamonix - Francia

La Plagne is a vast ski resort with an enormous vertical drop of 6,562ft (2,000m), double that of Aspen for example. One of Europe's largest resorts, La Plagne is made up of 10 different 'villages', six purpose built and four traditional that are connected by public conveyances and a lift system. As such it can boast the largest ski area of any single resort in the world, and its linked trail system (Paradiski) with Les Arcs means there are now 261 miles (420km) of trails and 144 ski lifts. This high altitude resort centres on apartment life; there are few hotels and its convenience makes up for its lack of charm. The highest complex at Aime La Plagne is 6,890ft (2,100m) is considered to be the most convenient with many of the best apartments, while the lowest mountain village, at 5,906ft (1,800m), is the neo-Savoyard Plagne 1800. The largest complex with the liveliest atmosphere is the original Plagne Centre, one of the first villages in Europe to be built catering specifically for the skiing season. The lifts are near to the accommodation and you can generally ski to your door. For beginners and intermediates, this is the best of the European ski resorts.

Skiing:
As a high-altitude resort, the snow cover is reliable, particularly up on the Bellecôte Glacier (10,663ft/3,250m), and the terrain is extensive. La Plagne is one of the best resorts for beginner and intermediate skiers and boarders as far as prepared trails go, but there is also plenty of off-piste terrain and challenging runs from the glacier for experts. The scenery and views are stunning and can be enjoyed by all levels from the highest point, where trails for all abilities will lead even novice skiers safely down again.
Intermediates will find more than enough to believe they are in skiing heaven, and beginners are well catered for with nursery slopes adjacent to all the villages and novice runs between centres. There are 17 ski schools and numerous skiing areas for children.
Shopping: Each complex of the purpose-built sections of La Plagne has apartments, with stores and ski shops all interconnected by tunnels and walkways. The underground passages are reminiscent of a subway shopping mall and shoppers will find clothes and accessories, bookshops, gifts, jewellery and handicrafts.

Restaurants:
There are more than 50 restaurants to choose from in the resort, most of them in Plagne Centre.

Nightlife:
There are several nightclubs in the resort, as well as cafes and coffee houses that offer live music, karaoke and concerts.

Activities:
Besides the fantastic skiing and snowboarding, other activities include ice skating, dog sled rides, an Olympic bobsleigh piste, ice climbing, a night skiing slalom stadium, cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing. Hang gliding and paragliding are also available. Some complexes offer outdoor heated pools, fitness centres, ten-pin bowling and electronic golf.

Negatives:
The resort is not the image of a traditional village with many high-rise buildings and purpose-built complexes. Waiting times at lifts can be lengthy.


Les Arcs A modern, purpose-built ski resort, Les Arcs comprises four resort villages situated above the town of Bourg-Saint-Maurice, all linked by a free shuttle bus. Named after their respective altitudes, Arc 1600, Arc 1800 and Arc 2000 are built with glass and concrete apartment buildings, purposefully designed with convenience in mind, while the latest addition to the resort, Arc 1950, has a more traditional guise and a typically European village style. The large and diverse network of well-groomed pistes more than make up for any lack of charm however, and the highest station at Aiguille Rouge Peak (10,584ft/3,226m) guarantees excellent snow conditions from December to April. Its vast trail system has been linked to that of La Plagne making the combined Paradiski area one of the largest interconnected ski and snowboard areas in the world. Arc 1800 is the biggest and most popular resort, consisting of four villages, and is the most conveniently situated for all levels of skiers and non-skiers, while just below, Arc 1600 is smaller, and suited to young families, although it can get crowded on weekends (direct funicular link to the town of Bourg Saint Maurice). More devoted snow enthusiasts prefer to head to the highest resort, Arc 2000, situated at the foot of Aiguille Rouge in the next valley, where the emphasis is on skiing and snowboarding rather than apres-ski facilities. It has easy access to the glacier and is linked to Arc 1950 by a free cable car.

Mapa de pistas de Alpe D Huez - Francia

Skiing:
The vast terrain offers good skiing for all levels of skiers and snowboarders, with easy access to the excellent nursery slopes from all the villages for beginners. Intermediates are the most spoilt for choice, with abundant blue and red runs throughout the area, while advanced skiers should head to the high pistes above Arc 2000 and the black runs on the Aiguille Rouge peak. Off-piste opportunities are also available. Snow conditions on the higher pistes are generally good, and snow cannons keep the sunnier, lower slopes covered. There is also a good snowboard park with jumps and a half pipe at Arc 2000.

Meribel is in the centre of the Trois Vallées, which also incorporates Courchevel and Val Thorens. Together they form the largest ski area in the world. Unlike most French ski resorts, Meribel has retained an atmosphere of the traditional skiing village, despite having grown enormously in recent years. Meribel-Mottaret is situated two miles (4km) up the valley and is better suited for the skiing, but not the nightlife. The resort was founded by the English early in the last century and is still very popular with Brits.

Skiing:
The Trois Vallées ski area is one of the best and most extensive in the world (10 times larger than Vail, the largest ski resort in the States), and Meribel is in the middle between Courchevel and Val Thorens. Meribel has a vast choice for beginner and intermediate skiers, but those with more experience will want to test out the slopes in Courchevel and Val Thorens. Snowboarders will find lots of challenging slopes and couloirs and when the snow is good there is some great off-piste.

Shopping:
Meribel is stuffed with lots of good-value ski shops. Those with more expensive taste can ski over to Courchevel 1850. There are plenty of mini-supermarkets for self-caterers as well as a fine selection of bakeries and delicatessens.

Restaurants:
There are some seriously good restaurants in Meribel; get local advice on arrival and book early for the best. There's more choice for those happy with a fondue and nice bottle of red, but it is still worth booking, especially during the chalet girl's night off.
Nightlife: The nightlife in Meribel is not as wild as in some ski resorts, but there's still plenty going on. Dick's T-bar is the best-known nightclub and the queues can be long. Meribel-Mottaret has few choices and closes up earlier.

Activities:
Paragliding can be organised and is a great option for getting down to Meribel when the snow's not so good. For whiteout days there's a cinema, bowling, ice-skating, a gym and a swimming pool. Some of the smarter hotels offer spa treatments.

Negatives:
Meribel is quite spread out and much of the accommodation is far from the slopes. The resort is quite low and it is often not possible to ski to the main village.

Morzine The traditional mountain village of Morzine is situated in the middle of one of the most extensive ski areas in the Alps, the Portes du Soleil, which links 14 ski resorts in France and Switzerland, and offers hundreds of miles of off-piste terrain and groomed slopes, and runs up to seven miles (11km) long, spread across 14 valleys. It is a great family resort with traditional chalets, special childcare services, and plenty of beginner and intermediate slopes in the vicinity, as well as family-orientated activities. Advanced skiers and boarders will also find endless off-piste opportunities and ample challenges on the black slopes. About a mile higher up the slope is the purpose-built resort of Avoriaz, which is a popular base for trips across the border to the Swiss resorts, and its treeless slopes offer powder snow and great boarding.

Skiing:
The unlimited ski area of the Portes du Soleil offers slopes for all levels of skiing and snowboarding at the foot of the Dents du Midi and the Dents Blanches, with wonderful panoramic views. The terrain covers about 404 miles (650km) of marked runs making it the largest ski area in the world. Both Morzine and Avoriaz have nursery slopes next to the resort, while intermediates have a playground of vast proportions in the Morzine area as well as throughout the Portes du Soleil circuit. Advanced skiers and boarders will find more than 20 black runs, endless off-piste and some of the biggest moguls in the world on the legendary 'Wall' at Avoriaz. Avoriaz is also one of Europe's top snowboarding destinations. Ski schools offer lessons to all ages from three years up, for all levels.

Shopping:
Displayed in shop windows are a variety of local handmade goods and typical French flavours, such as traditional Savoyard pottery, sculpted objects made from the local wood and slate, mountain cheeses and salted meat. There are also fashion boutiques and sports shops.

Esquiar en Francia

Val d'Isere is one of the true European ski meccas; it has some of the best, and highest, on and off-piste skiing in the world. The resort is linked with Tignes, and between them they have 186 miles (299km) of marked runs for every level of skier. Both resorts were developed, rather badly, in the 1970s, and large square hotels dominate the town. However, Val d'Isere remains popular with the English due to the great skiing and busy nightlife, which is centred on venues such as Dick's Tea Bar and the Moris Pub. There are also plenty of good French restaurants to choose from. The village is becoming increasingly busy in the summer when tourists flock there for walking or paragliding.

Skiing:
The combined area of Val d'Isere and Tignes offers a massive amount of skiing for all standards. The nursery slopes just above the village are free and a number of companies offer first-rate instruction. As standards improve, skiers can make their way up the slope to the wide choice of green and blue runs. The Solaise slopes can be reached by cable car from the village centre and offer a variety of exciting piste skiing for intermediates and beginners, experts can drop off the sides for some powder. The Bellevarde slopes offer some good high-altitude skiing including a 3000-foot (1000m) run down to La Daille. Skiers from all over the world flock to Val d'Isere for its vast expanse of off-piste skiing; whatever your standard it's best to take a guide for safety and to help find the best powder.

Shopping:
Val d'Isere has plenty to offer shopaholics, particularly those with large wallets wanting to look their best on the slopes. Prices are much more affordable towards the end of the season as shops clear the shelves for next year's look. There are mini-supermarkets and some wonderful delicatessens if you are self-catering.

Restaurants:
There are more than 50 restaurants in Val d'Isere, most serving up a first-rate but pricey menu. Le Grande Ourse and Hotel Savoyarde are among the best restaurants in Val d'Isere but fine restaurants can be found on most streets. As is often the case, the smaller more intimate restaurants generally offer the best fare and it's best to ask a local for up-to-date advice. The same goes for the mountain restaurants - those at the lift stations are not great by French standards, but some real gems are tucked away and often only found by chance.

Nightlife:
Apres-ski in Val d'Isere seems to be dominated by English speakers and bars such as Dick's Tea Bar and the Moris Pub fill up with Brits and Aussie skiers straight off the slopes. Many stay until the early hours before staggering back to their quarters still in their ski boots. Skiers can head to the four-star Hotel Christiana's bar for a more sophisticated drink or Victors for the Scandinavians. Dick's T Bar gets going after midnight with loud music and plenty of alcohol. The French go to Club 21.

Activities:
Val d'Isere offers a variety of options for non-skiers including an indoor swimming pool and an outdoor ice-skating rink. Tandem paragliding and paragliding lessons can be arranged via the tourist office.

Negatives:
Few chalets are within walking distance of the lifts, so skiers have to make use of the efficient bus service. Val d'Isere is very popular and slopes get crowded during school holidays. Val d'Isere developed quickly in the 1960's and 70's when there were few planning controls, and this is reflected in much of the town's architecture, however since the 90's all new buildings have had to conform with traditional styles, in keeping with the ancient village which the town grew up around.

Val Thorens At over 2,200 metres (7,500ft), Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in the Alps and offers guaranteed ski-to-door accommodation. Along with Meribel and Courchevel it forms the famous Trois Vallées ski area. Val Thorens is a fairly ugly purpose-built resort, but its exceptional snow reliability and wide choice of skiing makes it hard to beat for the ski enthusiast.

Skiing:
The Trois Vallées ski area is one of the best and most extensive in the world (10 times larger than Vail, the largest ski resort in the States), and Val Thorens offers some of the best skiing in the area. It's possible to ski through Meribel to Courchevel for lunch and back within a day, but check the lift times before setting off. The slopes are high and mostly north facing, so there's likely to be a good covering of snow well into spring. There are a wide variety of slopes for beginners and intermediates and some challenging slopes for more advanced skiers higher up, including the Combe de Caron, a steep descent from the top cable car. Val Thorens also offers access to some excellent off-piste options, the descents towards Lac du Lou being the most famous.