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Which Ski Resorts Does the 2021 Tour de France Pass Through?

Learn about the french ski areas mont-saxonnex and le grand-bornand, two critical parts of the 2021 tour de france's stage 8..

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Have you ever wondered about the ski areas that the peloton passes by during the Tour de France? TdF Ski Areas highlights the majority of ski towns and resorts that the tour will pass by this year. Be sure to join Outside+ to learn more about the skiing that the cyclists are riding by way too quickly.

The first true stage in the Alps for the 2021 Tour de France will take place during stage 8. The route will finish at Le Grand-Bornand, a true French ski town. But Before it gets there, the riders will ascend the first category 1 climb in the small ski village of Mont-Saxonnex.

Overview of Mont-Saxonnex

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The Côte de Mont-Saxonnex is new to the Tour de France this year and features a 5.7-kilometer (3.54 mile) climb with an 8.3-percent grade. Located about one hour from the Geneva airport and an hour from Annecy, the largest city in the region, Mont-Saxonnex, is a relatively small ski area and village by French standards. The town and ski area sit at the foot of the gorgeous Bargy Massif in the Haute-Savoie region. The village of Mont-Saxonnex has a population of about 1,643 residents.

While Mont-Saxonnex’s ski area isn’t exactly a destination resort, the mellow skiing is well-complemented by the world-class views of the Grand Bargy mountain and Lac Bénit at the top of the ski area. It’s also incredibly inexpensive to ski there by American standards, with lift tickets starting at 21 Euros (about $25 at the time of publication).

Mont-Saxonnex Ski Area Quick Facts

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• 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) of ski trails
• 1 chairlift, 6 surface lifts
• Vertical Drop: 1,673 feet
• Lift ticket price for 2020-’21 season: 21 euros ($25)
• Closed by state restrictions for 2020-’21 season.

Want to get caught up on this year’s Tour de France? Don’t miss VeloNews’ world-class coverage of the biggest event in cycling.

Le Grand-Bornand Ski Resort

The finish of stage 8 of the Tour de France will be in the resort town of Le Grand-Bornand. While biathlon fans will know this as the place of the World Cup in 2013, 2017, 2019, and this coming December, Le Grand-Bornand is also a hotbed for alpine ski talent as well. Hometown heroes include Tessa Worley, who won the World Championship GS race in 2013 and 2017 as well as the GS crystal globe in 2017, and Jonathan Midol, who medaled at the 2014 Olympics in ski cross.

Le Grand-Bornand ski area is a part of the Aravis alpine ski collective, which also includes La Clusaz, Manigod, and Saint-Jean-de-Sixt, which are linked together by a bus system. The town is about a half-hour drive from Annecy, an hour from the Geneva airport, and is certainly a legit ski-resort destination for any skier traveling in France who wants the big Alps experience without a ton of tourists.

“Le Grand-Bornand is a good family ski resort and retains a fairly unspoiled French flavor,” comments reviewer Keith on Snow-Forecast.com . “The skiing is not extreme but is varied.”

American ski resorts could certainly learn from Le Grand-Bornand’s interactive website , including this neat interactive aerial view of the resort . Also, visitors would be remiss in not trying Reblochon cheese while visiting.

Le Grand-Bornand Quick Facts

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• Population: 2,154
• 84 kilometers (52.2 miles) of groomed terrain on 47 pistes
• 494 acres of terrain
• 3,610 feet of vertical descent
• 24 lifts including 2 gondolas, 10 chairlifts, and 12 surface lifts
• Must eat: Reblochon cheese

Coming up: Stage 9 will include Combloux, Les Sais, and a finish at Tignes (unless there’s another mudslide… ). Read about the Stage 9 resorts here .

Get Fancy While Skiing in the French Alps: From One to Eleven

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The best French Ski Resorts

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Find out about the skiing in France, in our comparison of French Ski Resorts, below. Sort by suitability, altitude, piste length, etc.

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June 16, 2024

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To help find the best French Ski Resort for you, we detail 296 Ski Resorts in France and rate them for Beginners, Intermediates and Expert Skiers, Families and Apres-Ski. You can compare altitudes, vertical descents and historical snow records to find the best Ski Resorts.

When do French Ski Resorts Open?

See Season Opening Dates for Ski Resorts in France .

Our French Ski Resort pages include Skiing Facts, Snow Reports and Forecasts (for most major ski resorts), local accommodation and online ski hire booking (where available) for 296 Ski Resorts in France .

You can find the major ski stations listed on the Top French Ski Resorts page , ranked according to various criteria.

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (96 Ski Areas)

Département de la Savoie (41)

Haute-Savoie (27)

Drôme (5) , Ain (5)

Occitanie (18 Ski Areas)

Hautes-Pyrénées (6)

Pyrénées-Orientales (3)

Aveyron (3)

More regions of france with ski areas, grand est (6), bourgogne-franche-comté (7), centre-val de loire (2), provence-alpes-côte d'azur (25), nouvelle-aquitaine (5), rhône-alpes (27).

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The best ski-in, ski-out resorts in the French mountains

Inspiration

Alps - Mont Blanc Nature and Outdoor Activities Mountains

Reading time: 0 min Published on 27 March 2024, updated on 5 June 2024

Who likes to walk around in their ski boots or get tossed around in the crowded shuttle bus to get to the bottom of the slopes? This winter, why not opt for a "ski in, ski out" resort? You'll see, you'll enjoy your stay in the mountains all the more. Here in France, it's a bit of a speciality, and whether you're a beginner or an expert, you should be able to find the perfect ski-in/ski-out resort to suit your needs. Here are five of the best.

Les Menuires

Discover the 3 Valleys area, the world’s largest ski region in the Savoie department of Southeastern France. Nestled in the heart of this magnificent area, you will find Les Menuires resort, a family-friendly destination with the Family Plus seal of approval. Here, there are no less than 339 slopes, of all colours and for all levels, which can be reached thanks to the 160 ski lifts installed in the area.

In Les Menuires, all the summits are accessible to beginners via blue runs, and almost all the accommodation is ski in ski out. Two sides make up the Les Menuires ski area, each with their own advantages and specificities: on the one hand the Mont de la Chambre, which offers a snow park for example and also allows direct access to Val Thorens, Méribel and Saint-Martin, and on the other hand the Versant de la Masse, which recently inaugurated new ultra-fast gondolas which allow you to reach the foot of the Masse up to its peak in only 8 minutes. At the top of the Masse, a play area for the little ones and wild ski areas for freeriders will delight the whole family!

If you think of "ski in ski out", Valmorel comes to mind. This resort family plus label, located at the foot of the imposing Cheval Noir mountain in Savoie, seduces with its unique charm, between authenticity and modernity. Valmorel is built around the main pedestrian street and offers easy access to a large ski area with more than 160km of slopes, thanks to the ski lifts installed in the heart of the resort. From fun areas to beginner and freeride zones, alpine ski fans will meet up with off-piste and ski touring enthusiasts, allowing everyone to enjoy the splendid high mountain scenery.

There are also many thrilling activities such as fat biking, paragliding and even electric snowmobiling for children, as well as unusual activities such as igloo building, snowshoeing and fondue evenings under a yurt, and laser rifle biathlon initiations.

Stay in Valmorel

At Avoriaz , revolutionary and eco-designed with its integrated car-free resort concept from the outset, the architecture mimics the surrounding landscape and blends into its environment. Perched at an altitude of 1800 m, in the heart of the Franco-Swiss ski area of Portes du Soleil , it is the only resort in Europe that is entirely pedestrian and skiable. That's why it has been awarded its first Flocon Vert label in 2021.

On arrival, you park your car in the "Accueil station" area, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the season, and then take a seat on a horse-drawn sleigh or carry your luggage on a sledge to your accommodation. Here, the streets are as snowy as ski slopes, and skiers rub shoulders with pedestrians and horse-drawn sleighs. All accommodation is within easy reach of the slopes.

Located just 30km from Grenoble, tucked between Alpe d’Huez and Les Deux Alpes, Chamrousse features a varied Alpine ski area. This resort is famous for hosting the winter Olympic Games in 1968 when famous French skier Jean-Claude Killy won three gold medals.

There are two villages in the resort Flocon Vert and Famille Plus accredited: Chamrousse Recoin is ideal for the more athletic skiers among you, whilst Chamrousse Roche-Béranger is great for families and beginners – and you can ski from one to the other via the fir tree-lined slopes. There are runs for all abilities, three snow parks and loads of activities from sledging to snow-tubing, plus of course the Olympic area awaits ambitious skiers. There are plenty of cosy bistros, perfect for those who love an authentic French ski holiday.

Staying in Chamrousse

Located in the heart of the Northern Alps, in Haute-Savoie, the ski area of Flaine is also linked to the Grand Massif ski area, offering two skiing areas in one, with over 200 runs spread over the two areas. The resort also has freeride areas for thrill-seekers, free runs for beginners, and lifts adapted for disabled skiing, making the resort accessible to as many people as possible.

Don't forget to climb to the top of the Grandes Platières at 2500m to enjoy a superb 360° view of the Mont-Blanc massifs. Flaine also offers a wide range of activities outside of alpine skiing, such as the highest Nordic area in the Alps, a yoga course for sports enthusiasts, as well as heritage visits, drone shows and nature activities to discover the local fauna.

It's also an opportunity to take a closer look at the architecture of the resort, which was awarded the Architectural Heritage of the 20th Century label in 2008.

Staying in Flaine

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9 Best Alpine ski resorts in France

• Post category: Auvergne Rhône Alpes
• Post author: Nassie Angadi

Most people when they visit Paris don’t think about skiing in France. They think about cheese and baguettes and the Eiffel Tower. But France has way more to offer than that, folks.

For instance, you could be eating that cheese and baguette at some of the best ski resorts in France and the world. This has the added benefit of then letting you burn off some of that cheese with a fun-filled day of ski!

Skiing is a big deal in France, with most Parisians prioritizing it for their winter holiday.  Within four hours of Paris, by high-speed train, you can be in the French Alps .  It is the thing-to-do, for French families during the winter school break , les vacances scolaires d’hiver .

With this massive interest in skiing, there are many resorts, but large and small, who cater to a variety of clientele. So how do you choose? My criteria for narrowing down to the top ski resorts are:

• Accessibility from Paris, London, and other major European cities.
• Altitude of the resort, to reduce the risk of poor snow conditions.
• Top ski facilities (ski lifts, snowmaking machines, etc.)
• Proximity to ski schools for lessons for adults and children.
• Full range of ski slopes: beginner greens, intermediate blues & reds, and expert blacks & off-pistes.
• Proximity and walkability to après-ski ( restaurants , bars, and nightlife).

☞ READ MORE: France in Winter: Visiting when it is cold (Brr)

☞ READ MORE: French Winter dishes: 8 Recipes to warm you up

I have narrowed down the ski resorts first, by how easy it is to get there. The two big trains stations, Moûtiers – Salins – Brides-les-Bains (talk about a name that is a mouthful!), and Bourg-Saint-Maurice have direct high-speed trains arriving from Paris, London, Brussels, and Amsterdam.

During winter, additional trains (Eurostar, Thalys, and TGV) arrive nearly every hour, carrying winter sports enthusiasts. These 2 train stations bring skiers to the foot of the Alpes in style and comfort.

The alternative is to fly into Lyon , Grenoble , or Geneva airports and then drive down. There is also the airport at Chambéry , which is smaller.

Along with good transport links, the following resorts all have easy access to ski lessons and equipment are everywhere, as well as plenty of after-ski activities.

1. Courchevel (1100 – 1850 m)

One of the most famous resorts in the Alsp is Courchevel, the high-end luxury ski resort that is popular with celebrities and royalty. It is part of the 3 Vallées which bills itself as the world’s largest ski area , with over 600 km (370 miles) that are easily skiable from one to the other.

The Moûtiers train station brings you to the foot of Les Trois Vallées (the 3 valleys) by high-speed train from Paris, London and other major cities in Western Europe.

You can buy a ski pass either for your own ski resort or for the full 3 Valleés, the price difference is usually around €50 more for the week. (Note: when I say easily skiable, I mean for a decent skier, not a débutant !)

In terms of luxury, Courcheval has many Michelin starred restaurants, especially at Courchevel 1850. The resort is made up of 6 villages which all have direct access to the ski lifts. The numbers in the name denote their altitude:

• Courchevel 1850 – Luxury resort, aimed at the high-end where the sky is the limit, in terms of prices. The highest concentration of 5-star hotels in France, outside of Paris. (There is even an Altiport on the resort so that the super-rich can fly in.)
• Moriond 1650 – large resort, ideal for families who are not going to be visiting nightclubs. Better for beginners as the slopes are quieter and further away.
• Courchevel Village 1550 – Plenty of shops and restaurants, ideal for families.
• La Tania 1400 – car-free, and in the middle of the forest. It is midway between Courcheval and Meribel resort.
• Le Praz 1300 – a traditional mountain village.
• Saint Bon 1100  – the original hotel resort built in 1908.

These individual villages will be very accessible on skis, but if you are looking for things to do après-ski and nightlife, you will have to choose which ambiance you want.

At night-time, going between the different villages will only be possible by car, not on foot. (You can reserve there by clicking in the links above.)

From Airport to Courchevel – Approximate times with no traffic:

• 2 hours from Chambéry airport
• 2 hours 15 minutes from Lyon or Grenoble
• 2 hours 30 minutes from Geneva

2. Val Thorens (2000 m)

The French ski resort at the highest altitude is Val Thorens, which is also part of the 3 Vallées, situated above 2000 m. Val Thorens says it guarantees snow , with its artificial machines. It is a very large resort, with just one epicenter village, and has plenty of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

It perhaps doesn’t have the small village charm of the Courcheval or Meribel, and is more of a mid-level resort (no Michelin star restaurants here). But the facilities are excellent.

It tends to be a “go-to resort” as it will likely always have decent snow conditions, and is easy to plan since everything is in one location. Some accommodation options in the area include:

• €€€ – Résidence Montana Premier – close to the ski school
• €€€€ – Fahrenheit Seven Val Thorens – with spa facilities
• €€€€ – Résidence l’Oxalys – within 100m of ski lift, with indoor pool
• €€€€€ – Altapura – within 100m of ski lift, with indoor pool

You can read more about skiing at Val Thorens here.

From Airport to Val Thorens – Approximate times with no traffic:

• 1 hour 40 minutes from Chambéry airport
• 2 hours 30 minutes from Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble

3. Les Menuires (1850 m)

Les Menuires is on the way to Val Thorens at 1850m, as they sit on the same mountain, with Val Thorens being higher. It tends to be less busy and less pricy than the other three in the 3 Vallées, while still maintaining excellent connections to the other resorts, since the ski pistes and chairlifts all connect.

A very family-friendly resort for people with small children, since the slopes nearby are good for beginners. (Expert skiers need not worry, they can easily connect to rest of Les 3 Vallées on skis.) You can find accommodation options at Les Menuires here.

From Airport to Les Menuires – Approximate times with no traffic:

• 1 hour 30 minutes from Chambéry airport
• 2 hours 15 minutes from Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble

4. Meribel (1400 – 1700 m)

A luxury resort right in the middle of Les 3 Vallées. If you are pretty decent on your skis, within 20 minutes you can be in Les Menuires, Val Thorens or Courchevel.

The problem with being so central, of course, is that it is in the middle. This means that there tends to be a traffic jam of skiers at the start and end of the day, as everyone is trying to get to the other parts of the 3 Vallées.

It has many small villages within it (which are skiable but not walkable from one to the other):

• Mottaret 1750 m – newer resort, built in the 1970s, mostly car-free.
• Altiport 1700m – Quiet area with one hotel and restaurant. Also some apartment accommodation.
• La Chaudanne – near the main ski lift and the liveliest part of the village.
• Le Plan du Moulin – short walk to La Chaudanne area.
• La Renarde – a quiet chic neighborhood that is close to La Chaudanne area.
• Les Chalets – At the foot for ski-lift Ardet, slightly further away from La Chaudanne, but still central.
• Morel & Altitude 1600 – on the outskirts of Méribel Center. A 15-20 walk to La Chaudanne.
• Le Belvédère 1600 m – a newer chic neighborhood that was built in 1990. Relatively far away from La Chaudanne (over 30-minute walk).
• Méribel Village 1400 m – a traditional hamlet-style village that is 2 km (1 mile) away from Méribel Center. Quiet atmosphere.
• Les Allues 1100 m – a Savoyarde style village connects to the other ski slopes by shuttle. There is one red ski run that connects to it, but they advise that this usually closes before the end of the season because of the low altitude of the village. (NOT SKI IN – SKI OUT)
• Brides Les Bains 600 m – a spa town at the bottom of the mountain that connects to Méribel by gondola. (NOT SKI IN – SKI OUT)

Note, the last two, Les Allues and Brides Les Bains, are not ski-in, ski-out. You can book accommodation by clicking on the links above. You will need to take a shuttle or gondola to access the higher slopes of the 3 Vallées.

But they are part of Méribel, so I didn’t want to leave them out, since you would be confused if you saw those names later and accidentally booked there instead. A free shuttle runs in the winter between all the areas.

From Airport to Meribel – Approximate times with no traffic:

• 1 hour 20 minutes from Chambéry airport
• 2 hours 15 minutes from Geneva
• 2 hours 30 minutes from Lyon or Grenoble

There are other ski resorts within the Les 3 Vallées that are accessible from Moûtiers, but these are the largest ones and most popular ones. (And the ones where you are most likely to find people speaking English if that is important to you!)

5. Les Arcs (1600 – 2100 m)

Usually in everyone’s list of the top ski resorts in France, Les Arcs is made up of 4 smaller sites. It is part of the ski domaine Paradiski which has Bourg-Saint-Maurice train station nearby for direct high-speed train access from across Paris, London, and Amsterdam.

Paradiski is slightly smaller than the 3 Vallées, at 425 km (265 miles) of skiable terrain, but is still quite big. You can get a week-long ski pass for just Les Arcs or the bigger Paradiski for about €50 more.

There are 4 main villages in Les Arcs. Each one is easily accessible one to the other on ski, but not on foot. A free shuttle runs between the sites. The villages are:

• Arcs 2000 m – Not the prettiest buildings, but good skiing. Something for everyone with good beginner slopes as well as expert terrains.
• Arcs 1950 m – the newest most luxurious part of the resort, facing Mont Blanc.
• Arcs 1800 m – the liveliest part of Les Arcs with shops, restaurants, and bars. Not the easiest slopes for beginners, but intermediates and experts will have a blast.
• Arcs 1600 m – aimed more at families, prettier lower village, with trees all around.

From Airport to Les Arcs – Approximate times with no traffic:

• 1 hour 45 minutes from Chambéry airport
• 2 hours from Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble

You can read more about Les Arcs here.

6. La Plagne (1800 – 2100 m)

La Plagne is another famous ski resort that belongs to the Paradiski domaine. It is made up of 11 villages across a large plain, so you have to consider location before booking. The villages within La Plagne are:

• Plagne Aime 2000 – the highest of the villages, with a modernist design. The main building is rather similar to a cruise ship.
• Plagne Villages – a charming quiet family village built in 1974.
• Belle Plagne – at 2050 altitude, a resort with higher-end accommodation and restaurants.
• Plagne Soleil – at 2050 altitude, the village is on a large plateau with sunny conditions for skiing, snowboarding, and other sports like snow-shoeing.
• Plagne centre – Plagne centre is just across from Plagne Soleil, with plenty of shops, restaurants, bar, and even a cinema.
• Plagne Bellecôte – an active hub in La Plagne, with a large shopping gallery as well as an ice rink, shops, restaurants, bars, outdoor heated swimming pool and spa facilities.
• Plagne 1800 – a former silver lead mining village that has been converted to an animated ski resort. The French UCPA ski center has a base at Plagne 1800, making it a lively resort with bars and restaurants catering to a younger crowd.
• Plagne Montalbert – a medium altitude of 1,350m, the picturesque village was built in 1980 with plenty of trees and tiny buildings made of wood and snow.
• Montchavin – Les Coches – actually two villages, with the village of Montchavin at an altitude of 1250m and Les Coches at 1450m. The two family-friendly villages are connected all year around by the Coches gondola.
• Champagny-en-Vanoise – a beautiful small village, made up of hamlets with traditional wood and stone.
• La Plagne Vallée – made up of several villages bordering the Isère river and the hillside slopes of the Versant du Soleil.

You can read more about each of the villages of La Plagne here.

From Airport to La Plagne – Approximate times with no traffic:

La Plagne and Paradiski is not as interconnected as Les 3 Vallées, so if you will likely only go to La Plagne once during your week-long holiday. The Vanoise Express cable car that connects Les Arcs to La Plagne is a bit of a commute, so it gets crowded at the end of the day. You can read more about La Plagne here.

7. Val d’Isère (1850 m)

A higher-end ski resort that is quite popular with British tourists. Val d’Isère is a large resort and recently got a €200 million upgrade. It is one of the prettier resorts, with plenty of restaurants, boutiques, vin chaud , and nightlife.

Val d’Isere is part of Espace Killy, the 3rd large ski domaine in France clocking in at over 300km (186 miles) of ski slopes. It is also near the high-speed train station of Bourg-Saint-Maurice .

The ski resort is home to the original Folie Douce, a bar/nightclub that is on the ski slopes, for partying skiers to stop in the afternoon for a bit of techno and a beer. (The other resorts now have chains of La Folie Douce as well, but the one at Val d’Isère was the first).

Basically, Val d’Isère is big and beautiful, and has excellent skiing. You can find accommodation options for Val d’Isère here.

From Airport to Val d’Isère – Approximate times with no traffic:

• 2 hours 45 minutes from Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble

8. Tignes (1500 – 2100 m)

Tignes, the cousin of Val d’Isère, connects with it in the Espace Killy, and also offers excellent skiing. Val d’Isère has got the village charm (and the higher prices), while Tignes is more of a mid-level resort.

Tignes is the resort you pick, if you want to ski on the excellent Espace Killy, but Val d’Isère is out of budget. It is also the ski resort you pick if you want to ski on a glacier. From Tignes, you can take the funicular (cable car) to Grand Motte glacier, and ski at over 3000m. The glacier is even sometimes open in the summer (!), so if you have doubts about whether there is enough snow on the ground, Tignes is a good bet.

Tignes is made up of 5 villages which you can ski between, but after hours, it is not walkable from one to the other.

• Tignes Val Claret (2150 m) – the liveliest part with restaurants and nightlife.
• Tignes le Lac (2100 m) – Near Val Claret (but not walkable). Not the prettiest of villages, but has good ski-in and ski-out links. Good for families.
• Tignes le Lavachet (2050 m) – quiet area, good for families with small children. Linked to the other ski lifts in Tignes by shuttle bus (No Ski-In/Ski-out)
• Tignes Les Boisses (1800 m) – the new village which opened in December 2013, with limited shops and restaurants. Far from the rest of Tignes.
• Tignes Les Brevieres (1550 m) – traditional chalets, but a bit isolated, and far from the rest of the Tignes.

From Airport to Tignes – Approximate times with no traffic:

• 2 hours 30 minutes from Annecy
• 3 hours from Lyon, Grenoble or Geneva

There is only one ski pass for both Val d’Isère and Tignes so you get access to the full Espace Killy ski domaine for one price.

9. Flaine (1500 – 1700m)

Flaine is not one of the “most beautiful” ski resorts. It was built in the 1960s, when the tendancy was to build big buildings in concrete rather than scenic little chalets.

It is more of a familial resort in the Grand Massif ski area with around 85 miles (137 km) of ski domaine, 62 lifts and an elevation of 1,600 to 2,500 meters.

There are 3 main parts to the Flaine resort, all walkable from one to the other. There is “Flaine-Forêt” at 1,700 m, “Flaine-Forum” at 1,600 m, and “Flaine-Front de neige” at 1,500 m. All three are connected by two exterior lifts and two pedestrian paths.

There are several great accommodation options around Flaine which include ski-in and ski-out facilities, including:

• €€€ – UCPA family (all-inclusive ski and lessons)
• €€€€ – RockyPop Flaine Hotel & Spa
• €€€€€ – Pierre & Vacances Premium Les Terrasses d’Hélios (aparthotel with indoor heated pool)
• €€€€€ – Pierre & Vacances Premium Les Terrasses d’Eos (aparthotel with outdoor heated pool)

From Airport to Flaine – There are several large airports within driving distance of Flaine. Approximate driving times with no traffic are:

• 1 hour 30 minutes from Geneva,
• 1 hour 50 minutes from Chambéry airport,
• 2 hour 30 minutes from Grenoble .

When is the best time to go?

The ski season in France starts anywhere from the start of December to the end of April , more or less, depending on the snow conditions. Resorts at higher altitudes like Val Thorens will have good ski conditions longer.

French school holidays are generally from the 2nd week of February to the end of the 1st week of March . If you are considering flying in and driving down, you should take into account the travel time in the car. You can read more about  picking the best time to go skiing in France  here.

So there you have it, have you narrowed down your favorite yet? It’s a tough choice! If it helps, all these resorts have fantastic facilities, and your choice will probably come down to what sort of atmosphere you are looking for aprés-ski and of course, the wallet. Have fun on the slopes and à bientôt!

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The best ski resorts in France for 2022/2023

By Teddy Wolstenholme

The countdown to the 2022/23 ski season is officially on. And if you’re still wondering which ski resort in Europe is for you, push France to the top of the list. With the Trois Vallées gearing up to host the Alpine World Ski Championships in February, a flurry of new restaurants and ski hotels hitting the slopes and Eurostar’s direct Saturday ski train making a triumphant return, it's safe to say that French ski resorts are well and truly back to their pre-pandemic best. Whether you’re looking to master your parallel turns or float through pristine powder, settle into a long lobster lunch or stay over in an enchanting mountain village plucked straight from a postcard, here are our favourite French ski resorts worth putting on your radar.

Val d’Isère

Best for:  snow-sure skiing

Val d’Isère  has all the trappings of a perfect resort: world-class skiing, accommodation options covering everything from simple self-catering digs to sumptuous hotels, buzzing nightlife (Dick’s Tea Bar is an Alpine institution) and even a storybook 17th-century church peeking up through its clusters of snow-dusted chalets. With the season stretching from late November through to early May, it’s also the best snow-sure resort in Europe, with more ground to cover here and in little sister Tignes than in Whistler, North America’s largest resort. And while it’s probably not the top choice for first-timers, wide-eyed experienced skiers can get their fix on demanding black runs, waist-high moguls and steep couloirs. There’s a serious foodie scene too – accessible only on skis, L’Edelweiss serves up the best plates of local charcuterie and homemade foie gras, while back in town, Michelin-starred L’Atelier d’Edmond fulfils all buttoned-up white tablecloth fantasies. The new LouLou restaurant at Airelles Val d’Isère is rapidly turning into the resort’s hottest place to see and be seen.

Where to stay:  If you have a head for heights and ambitions to be the first to make tracks each morning, book into  Le Refuge de Solaise , a former cable-car station turned France’s highest hotel with knockout views of the mountains from every angle.

Best for: weekenders

Just a short hop from the handsome lakeside town of Annecy and only an hour’s drive from Geneva, underrated La Clusaz is packed full of character and considered one of France’s better-kept secrets. Thanks to its proximity to the airport, plenty of Brits have snapped up chalets or apartments here, but the unspoiled French resort village still retains a refreshingly Gallic charm. In recent years, local celebrity and freeride God Candide Thovex has helped La Clusaz shake off its sleepy, beginner-centric reputation, and skiers can test their mettle and find extensive avalanche-controlled off-piste in the challenging Col de Balme area. It’s not the highest resort (aim for mid-season for the best snow), but paired with nearby Le Grand Bornard, there are nearly 150km of pistes for all abilities to enjoy. Everything from accommodation to restaurants is far more affordable than you’d find elsewhere – and as the birthplace of Reblochon cheese, artery-clogging plates of tartiflette are in no short supply.

Where to stay: By far the smartest place to stay in town, Au Coeur du Village Hotel & Spa has two superlative restaurants, a knockout spa and an onsite ski hire shop, making getting out on the slopes on your first day a total breeze.

Best for: people-watchers

A word of warning: you’ll need seriously deep pockets to get under the skin of Courchevel at its highfalutin best. This is the winter playground for hobnobbing oligarchs and the new-moneyed set, and there’s nothing unusual about flaunting a box-fresh Chanel ski suit or forking out €69 for a cheeseburger. But for truly sensational skiing coupled with all the long, rose-fuelled lunches you could possibly wish for, there are few places quite like it. A refreshingly fast modern chairlift system serves 150km of groomed pistes in Courchevel alone; beyond that, all 600km of the Trois Vallées – the mothership of European skiing – are at your fingertips. Predominately north-facing slopes slash the chances of water-skiing by lunchtime. It's also a great ski resort for beginners –  newbies can ease themselves in on the gentle runs down in the marginally less fashionable pockets of Moriond and Le Praz. Non-skiers have plenty to do too, with plush spas and smart boutiques lining the resort’s heated pavements. There’s even an altiport for easy zipping in and out.

Where to stay: Outside of Paris, Courchevel has more five-star hotels than anywhere else in France. Big names including Cheval Blanc , Aman and Six Senses have all laid down roots here, while The Pig Hotels’ little sister Portetta offers luxury at a less galling price tag. Uber ski chalets are everywhere – some come with weekly price tags as high as £220,000.

Best for:  pure convenience

When architect Jacques Labro’s Le Corbusier-inspired Avoriaz was conceived in the Sixties, it was the ultimate marmite resort. Critics called out the angular grey design of its purpose-built high-rises for being too avant-garde for such a picturesque spot in the French Alps. But for pure convenience, resorts don’t get more faff-free than this one. There’s hardly a corner in the whole of Avoriaz that you can’t reach on skis, with motorway-style runs for all levels covering vast terrain across the Portes du Soleil, a ski area that includes Morzine, Les Gets and Chatel. Crisscrossing the Swiss border, Avoriaz is a mecca for snowboarders and freestylers, and there’s an 120m long super pipe and a feast of gnarly rails and runs in the resort’s five snow parks. Best of all, it’s leading the way in responsible ski tourism – the whole resort is run on biofuel, horse-drawn sleighs replace polluting vehicles in the car-free centre, and the Stash – a fun snow park squirrelled away in the forest – has been built using fallen trees.

Where to stay:  An abundance of ski-in, ski-out self-catering accommodation makes Avoriaz hugely popular with families and big groups. Hotel-wise, Avoriaz’s original,  Hotel des Dromonts  is still the best. Outside, it resembles a giant fir cone; inside, it’s the epitome of trippy sixties chic.

Best for:  a sophisticated stay

Cobbled, car-free and about as chocolate-boxy as they come, Megève is – and always has been – one of France’s most exclusive and impossibly romantic ski resorts. Planted on the map in the twenties by Baroness de Rothschild, the resort’s medieval aesthetic belies its more modern history. In its heyday, Megève was a stomping ground for rich, well-connected Parisians; today, it still attracts a predominately Francophile crowd and remains the perfect jumping-off point for intermediate skiers looking to cruise along gentle tree-lined runs. Megève’s relatively low altitude means you’d be better off heading to nearby Chamonix after a snow dump, but the areas below Mont Joly and Cote 2000 offer enough taxing terrain to keep expert skiers happy. Upmarket après-ski revolves around jazz clubs and fine dining (three Michelin-starred Flocons de Sel is one of the finest eateries in the Alps), but there’s also a Folie Douce for anyone who’d prefer to stay in their ski boots.

Where to stay:  Despite the chichi veneer, accommodation in Megève can be surprisingly affordable, with a bevvy of cosy wooden chalets and apartments to rent. For the ultimate splurge, book into the  Four Seasons , where the Rothschilds have left their mark by filling spaces with art and antiques from their own private collections.

Best for:  free-riders and powder hunters

Any skier worth their salt has ambitions to visit Chamonix, the undisputed winter sports capital of Europe. Skiing here is practically a religion, and while you could come here to cruise the blues and reds, that sort of misses the point. In the shadow of Mount Blanc, there’s natural beauty and stunning scenery from all angles, and it’s well worth hiring a guide to unlock the resort’s world-class off-piste and hidden gems. The legendary Vallee Blanche is a rite of passage for many, with 12 miles of thigh-burningly tough ground to cover, while others come here to skin up the vertiginous cliffs or heli-ski in the pristine wilderness. The one downside? The lift system hasn’t quite kept up with the pace of adventure, so you’ll need to be prepared to unclip your skis and board several buses throughout the day. The town itself throngs with laidback seasonnaires, keen to swap stories of the day’s conquests before re-emerging bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in time for the first lift in the morning.

Where to stay:  Deliciously remote  Refuge du Montenvers  perfectly parcels up what Chamonix is all about. Much of its magic lies in the journey to get there: the most adventurous route involves skiing, hiking or swooping in by helicopter – but there’s also a fire-engine red steam train for those who’d prefer a more leisurely arrival.

Best for:  a no-fly ski break

It’s easy to avoid a carbon-guzzling flight on a visit to Les Arcs. The Eurostar ski train whooshes straight into Bourg St Maurice, which is just a seven-minute chug up the mountainside to Arc 1600, one of four satellite villages making up this down-to-earth French ski resort. A mishmash of the purpose-built and the traditional, there’s something for everyone, with car-free centres, easy ski-in, ski-out access, gentle woodland runs and steep, high-altitude bowls. A lightning-fast double-decker cable car connects the resort to neighbouring La Plagne and the vast Paradiski area, and thrill-seekers can launch themselves off the hair-raising 3,227m high summit of Aiguille Rouge. Park rats love it here – up in lively Arc 1800, the Mille8 freestyle snow park hosts sound and light shows, and the resort regularly comes alive with music festivals, ski competitions and buzzing nightlife.

Where to stay:  For larger groups and families looking for a week off from cooking,  Penthouse Misha  in Arc 1950 masquerades as a fully-catered chalet but benefits from all the facilities of a hotel, including a nanny-supervised playroom.

Serre Chevalier

Best for:  swerving the crowds

Nestled in the southern reaches of the French Alps, Serre Chevalier is not so much one resort but rather a series of interconnecting villages still flying mercifully under the radar to foreign visitors. Fringing the Italian border, it’s all about the skiing here, which ticks all the boxes for every level of expertise and takes in some of the most glorious scenery in the Alps. The lift system is being rapidly modernised, linking together the four main ski hubs: the UNESCO-protected ancient walled city of Briancon, family-friendly Chantemerie, purpose-built and fuss-free Villeneuve and rom-com worthy Montier les Bains. With an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, bluebirds are two-a-penny; when it’s chucking it down, two-thirds of the pistes dip into Narnia-like pine forest. There’s not much of an après scene; each village has its own clutch of cosy bars, family-run restaurants and B&Bs lining its narrow-cobbled streets, but there’s plenty to do off the slopes, from dog-sledging to ice-climbing.

Where to stay:  Forget five-star hotels; most accommodation options here are simple apartments or charming family-owned lodges. Chalet-wise, fully-catered  Chez Bear Ski Lodge  is packed with character and comes with a chauffeur to shuttle you and your guests to and from the pistes.

Best for:  covering a serious amount of ground

A much-loved Brit classic, Meribel sees the same loyal visitors flock back year after year. This family-friendly resort’s biggest draw is its sheer footprint. As part of the mega Trois Vallées, it sits at the heart of the world’s biggest ski area, with 600km of sun-dappled pistes stretching out from the lofty peaks of Val Thorens to the sybarite’s paradise of Courchevel. But it’s happily unpretentious, and visitors come here to ski rather than show off, with beginners finding their feet on the sheltered slopes around the Altiport. Powder-hunters make a beeline for the resort’s off-piste and hair-raising drops – the formidable La Face slope was created especially for the Winter Olympics, while Le Roc des Trois Marches offer some pretty intimidating descents. At 3pm, it’s time for table-stomping at the Folie Douce or Ronnies; after that, everyone throws off their skis and heads into town for burgers, beer and dancing well into the night.

Where to stay:  The lion’s share of Meribel’s accommodation comes in the form of high-end chalets, but if a hotel is more your bag, opt for  Le Coucou  – owned by the same family behind Provence’s Crillon Le Brave and Lou Pinet in St Tropez, interiors are designed by heavyweight French designer Pierre Yovanovitch and the Tata Harper spa is a godsend after a long day on the slopes.

Val Thorens

Best for:  early- or late-season snow

"Like living in the Wild West" is how French Olympic ski champion Christine Goitschel described Val Thorens when it first opened to visitors in the seventies. The highest resort in Europe has come a long way since those humble concrete-jungle beginnings, and it now boasts a crop of Michelin-starred restaurants, fresh-faced hotels and some of the best snow and terrain in the whole of the French Alps. As more and more resorts suffer from the consequences of rising temperatures, Val Thorens is proudly one of the first to open and last to close each season – and while visibility can get a little dicey during a heavy blizzard (most of the slopes run off a steep, treeless bowl), a Trois Vallées lift pass enables a retreat to the more sheltered pistes in Meribel and Courchevel. The resort’s reputation as a party town is here to stay, meaning there’s a sufficiently rowdy après scene for those hankering for it.

Where to stay:  Scandi-inspired  Altapura  was the first five-star hotel to land in Val Thorens, and it still remains one of the best. Opt for a room overlooking the slopes – from the entrance, it’s just a quick schuss to the nearest chairlift.

FRENCH ALPS SKI PACKAGES

Where to ski in france.

SKI RESORTS IN THE FRENCH ALPS

Home to some of Europe’s most prestigious ski resorts, France is ideal for the vacationer seeking an off-slope luxury experience and world-class terrain on their ski trip.

Those looking for a more down-to-earth France ski vacation, Chamonix ski resort is world-renowned as a mountaineering destination and offers incredible views of Mont Blanc from the top of the Aiguille du Midi cable car. The town's alpine atmosphere is right in line with some of the world's best mountain town destinations.

For those looking for more varied terrain that caters to all abilities and features interconnected resorts, might we recommend Les Trois Vallees Region, which is a massive ski domain that includes Courchevel , Meribel . Brides-les-Bains , Val Thorens , and Les Menuires . Other world class destinations include Tignes , Megeve , and Val d'Isere , all of which are worth exploring.

Don't ski or snowboard? Not a problem. Ski.com has the inside scoop on plenty of other activities that include snow tubing, para gliding, zip lining, fat biking, ice skating, shopping, spa treatments, and fine dining.

NOT SURE WHERE YOU'D LIKE TO GO? See our best-selling French resorts via the map below and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to one of our 65+ Mountain Travel Experts over the phone at (800) 299-0656.

Featured France Ski Resorts

Revel in the vast interconnected ski areas, diverse landscapes, and charming alpine villages. With a perfect blend of world-class skiing and cultural experiences, it's a winter paradise like no other.

Les 3 Vallees

Tigne/Val d’Isere

France Ski Resorts

Alpe D Huez Avoriaz Brides les Bains Chamonix Courchevel Les Menuires Megeve Meribel Morzine Tignes Val D Isere Val Thorens

Ski the Rhone-Alpes Region

A ski vacation in the Rhône-Alpes region of France is a gateway to unparalleled winter wonders. Boasting the majestic French Alps, it offers a diverse and exhilarating alpine experience. Explore renowned ski resorts like Chamonix , Val d'Isère , and Méribel , each with its distinct character and allure. The region's unique blend of tradition and modernity means you can savor exquisite French cuisine in rustic mountain villages or sleek slopeside restaurants. The Rhône-Alpes is a winter sports paradise, with abundant powder, stunning vistas, and numerous outdoor activities for non-skiers, making it a destination for unforgettable memories both on and off the slopes.

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11 Top-Rated Ski Resorts in France, 2023/24

Written by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers Updated Dec 7, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Top place for legendary ski destinations goes to the Alps, the majestic mountain range that divides Europe in a curving line from Austria to France. Some of the most iconic and best ski resorts in the world lie on the north-facing slopes of these peaks, in the French Savoie .

The Pyrenees and other mountains in France offer skiing, but the world-class mountains where Olympic medals are won are those in the Alps . At ski resorts in France, in addition to dependable snow and superb skiing for all skill levels, you'll find snug Alpine villages, traditional chalets, family-friendly lodges, modern hotels, and ultra-chic resorts with Michelin stars and A-list guests.

Whatever your taste in skiing, winter activities, or lodging may be, there's a place for you in the French Alps. And wherever you go, one thing you can be sure of is spectacular mountain scenery.

Ratings of resorts by various sources can be confusing because some list by individual resorts, while others list by groups of nearby mountains, known as ski domains. For example, Courchevel, Meribel, and Val Thorens may be grouped together as Les Trois Vallees - The Three Valleys. Here, we show individual resorts separately when they have enough terrain and enough facilities to stand alone as a top destination for a ski holiday.

Polls and lists of the best places to ski in France can also be confusing because they represent the criteria of their separate audiences: black diamond experts, off-piste adventurers, families, or the wide range of intermediate skiers. The judgment here is based on a combination of all these factors to identify those resorts with the best overall appeal to skiers .

Find the best place to go skiing with our list of the top ski resorts in France.

1. Courchevel

2. val d'isere and espace killy, 3. chamonix, 4. les arcs and la plagne, 5. morzine and avoriaz in portes du soleil, 7. alpe d'huez, 8. serre chevalier, 9. les deux alpes, 10. la clusaz, best ski resorts in france for families, ski resorts in the pyrenees mountains, trail ratings in france, best times for skiing in france, map of ski resorts in france.

Les Trois Vallées (Three Valleys) is a group of interlinked ski resorts that make up the world's largest alpine ski domain , and Courchevel is the largest and most famous of these resorts. Courchevel's 60 lifts give skiers and riders access to 150 kilometers of alpine runs and provide links to 600 kilometers in the three valleys, encompassing 10 summits with altitudes above 2,500 meters.

Four meters of annual snowfall and expert grooming keeps trails in top condition for all levels of skier. Three new 10-person gondolas will increase the carrying capacity of the Three Valleys lift system.

Each of the resort's five separate villages has good places for beginners to practice and intermediates to hone their skills; in all, 23 percent of Courchevel's pistes are green for beginners and 35 percent are for intermediates. Beginner areas are always located next to at least one free chairlift. Magnetic vests for children are an added safety precaution on lifts.

Expert skiers come here especially for the off-piste terrain and for the couloirs-corridors-and black steeps studded with moguls. The average pitch of the new Eclipse slope in Courchevel, which hosted the 2023 World Championships, is 30 percent . Tree skiing is also superb, especially on the Jockeys and Jean Blanc pistes, or test your mettle on the former World Cup downhill run, Jean Blanc.

In addition to the skiing, Courchevel is famous for its posh atmosphere and upscale lodges, five-star and luxury boutique hotels, and Michelin-starred dining (seven restaurants here have earned stars). You never know who you might see here; this is one of the favorite places where celebrities ski in France.

Elsewhere in Les Trois Vallées domain, with last year's opening of the '3 Vallées Express' link between Orelle and Val Thorens, skiers can now reach the 3,200-meter point on Cime Caron from Orelle in only 20 minutes.

Official site: www.courchevel.com

Val d'Isere is part of the vast Espace Killy, named for Olympic triple gold medal winner Jean-Claude Killy, who grew up skiing on these mountainsides. Val d'Isère shares this terrain, covering a high valley surrounded by 3,000-plus-meter peaks, with the smaller neighboring resort of Tignes.

More than 150 lifts carry skiers and riders to 300 kilometers of terrain, all of it above an elevation of 1,550 meters. Lift capacity continues to increase, last season with two new six-person high-speed detachable chairlifts replacing smaller lifts.

The altitude, coupled with heavy snowfall and Europe's largest snow-making capacity, means a long ski season with top conditions; skiing on the Glacier du Pisaillas usually extends the season through June.

The variety and number of trails allow skiers of all skills plenty of choices - enough to fill several days of skiing without repeating a run. Even beginning skiers can enjoy the high mountain views usually reserved for the more experienced, thanks to the new travelator, an enclosed magic-carpet at the top of a gondola, accessing a gentle high-altitude slope.

More than 20 black runs challenge experts, but it's the superb off-piste skiing that brings extreme skiers to Val d'Isere . The 45-degree North Face of Pramecou and the above-timber-line snowfields of Tigne are expert favorites. Val d'Isere has plenty of restaurants and lodging close to the lifts.

Official site: www.valdisere.com

It is not surprising that ski terrain on the slopes of the tallest mountain in the Alps should be known as expert territory. Chamonix is on the 4,807-meter Mont Blanc , and adding to its legendary status, was the site of the first Winter Olympics . The first Olympians might recognize the stunning scenery but not the world-class infrastructure that has since grown around it.

Although Chamonix is known - and rightly - for its superb expert terrain and off-piste skiing , that's not to say that all skiers can't find plenty of snow to call their own. A high-altitude location, aided by the cooling effect of four glaciers, gives it some of the best snow conditions in the Alps .

Chamonix spreads over several ski villages, and the best beginner terrain is at Le Tour, at the north end of the valley in the Domaine de Balme, where gentle slopes are perfect for beginners. Gentle pistes at family-friendly Les Houches wind through forests. There is a new beginners' area at Lognan, but skiers just gaining their confidence will find some terrain at any of the various areas, as will intermediates.

But Chamonix really shines in expert terrain. Expert runs at Grands Montets offer the greatest height differential in the world , dropping from 3,300 meters to 1,235 meters in a heart-stopping short time. The Verte piste, used for World Cup races, is 3.5 kilometers of steeps and jumps.

Facilities have always been a top priority throughout the domain; a newly installed 10-person Doppelmayr Gondola lift at Aiguille du Midi will speed 1,600 skiers an hour to the top.

Chamonix is known as one of the most glamorous resorts, and you can live in luxury at the beautiful Grand Hotel des Alpes . But smaller places like Hotel de l'Arve or the chalet-style Auberge du Manoir offer budget-friendly rooms and warm hospitality. A train and frequent bus service will take you anywhere in the valley, so no matter where you stay, you'll have access to all the terrain and facilities.

Official site: www.chamonix.com

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

In the Tarentaise Valley, La Plagne and its neighboring resorts of Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry comprise the Paradiski area, France's third-largest linked ski domain . The combined terrain offers 425 kilometers of runs at between 1,200 meters and 3,226 meters altitude.

La Plagne is primarily a resort for intermediate and beginning skiers and is a favorite for families. The gentle upper slopes are on a plateau and become steeper as they enter the forest on both faces.

With few runs for beginners, the steeper terrain at Les Arcs is a paradise for experienced intermediate skiers , with high open runs and sheltered woodland trails at lower altitudes. Experts will find long black runs and off-piste terrain. Inexperienced skiers should be prepared for long narrow catwalks on blue runs here, and some of the reds are straight fall-line runs.

At the very top is the Bellecôte glacier, where experts can find more challenge in steep couloirs and long off-piste runs. Roche de Mio offers more black pistes; off-piste skiing here requires a guide.

Major facility improvements continue at La Plagne, following last year's redesign of the Funiplagne base station in and new chairlift from La Lovatière to La Plagne, providing a link between La Plagne Center and Champagny en Vanoise. This year sees two new gondolas and a new chairlift. Glaciers 1 and 2 have new Poma gondolas , each carrying 2,700 skiers per hour. At Chalet de Bellecôte, a 4-person Poma chairlift increases capacity to 2,400 per hour.

La Plagne is best-loved as a family resort , with wide slopes, gentle descents, and ski-in/ski-out lodgings in its 11 villages. The Fun Slope is a good place to gain some confidence in a non-threatening terrain, a gentle well-groomed and sculpted run with jumps and challenges that develop skills without instilling terror.

Two terrain parks are designed for different levels of experience: Le Petit Park for novices and Le Grand Park, at the top of Belle Plagne for more advanced features, with rails, tables, an airbag, and a boardercross course.

Official site: https://www.la-plagne.com/

Seven ski resorts in France and five in Switzerland make up the Portes du Soleil domain, several of them interconnected by lifts and pistes that make cross-border skiing easy. A further convenience is a region-wide ticket that includes all 12 resorts, a total of 660 kilometers of slopes and 197 ski lifts.

The best-known on the French side are the adjacent Morzine and Avoriaz resorts. Avoriaz's 75 kilometers of trails are largely red and blue for intermediates, with a smattering of beginner and expert pistes; boarders flock here for five different terrain parks and a superpipe. Two parks are designed especially for kids.

Improvements this season at Morgins-La Foilleuse include a new Garaventa gondola carrying 10 skiers, with a capacity of 2,400 per hour. A new Leitner high-speed detachable 6-pack chairlift has been installed at Lac Intrets. Last season Avoriaz premiered the "Shred Experience," a lift pass operated entirely by phone . Your lift ticket is loaded in one click and at La Rosière and Valmorel, you can get the passes at your hotel.

Morzine sits between Avoriaz and Les Gets, interconnecting with both of them. Fifty-two of its 80 trails are red and blue intermediates, with nine each for beginners and experts, making these two areas a haven for recreational skiers. Morzine is a classic Alpine village of chalets and rustic lodges, while Alvoriaz has a more modern feel with purpose-built hotels, which include some ultra-luxury options.

Official site: http://en.morzine-avoriaz.com

Sharing the enormous Les Trois Vallées ski domain with Courchevel and several others, Meribel includes terrain at between 1,100 meters and 3,230 meters. That's high enough to promise good conditions, and the more than 50 percent snowmaking coverage keeps conditions excellent over a long season.

It is especially well suited to children, with two different areas for beginners , both with free lifts, located in the Meribel Mottaret area and the other at the Altiport area. Children can ski the Moon Wild, a trail with life-sized "animals" hidden in the woods, and P'tit Moon is a mini boardercross, with banked turns, reserved for ages 7 to 12.

Eight green-marked pistes provide more beginner terrain: the Saulire Express 1 gondola accesses the green Blanchot run, with connections back to either of the base areas.

Most of the two dozen blue pistes are on the easier side. Red routes are for upper intermediate skiers, and several nice broad cruisers begin from the top of Saulire. The highest skiing in Méribel begins at 2,952 meters on Mont Vallon, with a 1,000-meter descent, thrilling for both its difficulty and its unparalleled Alpine views.

The village at Meribel is one of the prettiest in the French Alps, with chalets built from traditional local materials. You can ski right out the door of Hôtel Le Coucou , booting up in the hotel's chic ski room/lounge that opens directly onto the slopes.

Official site: https://www.les3vallees.com/en/ski-resort/meribel/

The Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine combines six resorts into one interconnected winter playground. The 249 kilometers of combined pistes include 41 designated as green, 34 blue, 40 red, and 16 black. In addition are two snowparks, a boardercross park, and a halfpipe.

A total of 84 lifts connect the six base villages to terrain as high as the 3,330-meter Pic Blanc, from which there is a panorama that includes Mont Blanc ; from the summit of Pic Blanc it's 2,175 meters of vertical drop down to L'Enversin d'Oz, at 1,125 meters.

The 16-kilometer La Sarenne is the longest ski run in Europe , and the most demanding is the Tunnel run under the Pic Blanc cable, a steep run studded with mega-moguls by the afternoon. Experts also find nearly infinite off-piste terrain here. Kids will love the tubing runs at the base of the Bergers and Grenouilles runs.

Staying in the main resort is more central for accessing the widest range of trails, but all the villages have good access to the lift and trail network, and the smaller ones have more of an Alpine village atmosphere. A good choice among these is rustic Vaujany, which is linked to Alpe d'Huez village by chairlift. Alpe d'Huez is popular with families for its range of facilities and its lodging for all budgets.

Official site: https://www.alpedhueznet.com/ski-area/

Don't look for big hotels or flashy entertainment in the dozen little villages that make up Serre Chevalier, but you'll find 250 kilometers of well-linked pistes and a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere.

Located close to the Italian border in the Hautes-Alpes, Serre Chevalier is farther south than the better-known domains of the Savoie Alps, but altitudes ranging from 1,200 to 2,800 meters, a north-facing position, and one-third of the entire ski area covered by one of France's most extensive snowmaking systems assures good ski conditions. And being out of the "high-rent district" of the Haute-Savoie means that skiing and staying here is less pricey.

Lower ski runs weave through a large larch forest on the north side of a long, high ridge, while the high faces above the forests provide more challenging terrain. Skiers will find lots of bowls, excellent tree skiing , and the resort is known for its off-piste terrain .

Several of the small villages are connected by bus service, so you can easily choose different terrain during a vacation here. Or access other parts of the Grande Galaxie ski area, a vast region with 530 kilometers of alpine skiing served by 151 ski lifts. Snowboarders have a dedicated freestyle zone at Villeneuve, and there's a boardercross zone in Chantemerle.

Official site: https://www.serre-chevalier.com/en/winter/

Intermediate skiers and even advanced beginners have an opportunity at Les Deux Alpes that they won't find at many other Alpine resorts: a wide variety of gentle terrain at the top . The mountain's unusual shape here puts the more difficult trails on the lower slopes.

The Jandri Express gondola carries skiers directly to gentle blue pistes at the foot of the glacier, returning them to the village at the end of their day's skiing. They can also ski all the way back down on blues, but the 2,000-meter descent may be a bit much at the end of a day's skiing.

This is one of Europe's largest skiable glaciers and gives Les Deux Alpes another unusual feature - year-round skiing . The resort is known for its summer ski camps and glacier skiing, not just for experts but for all skill levels.

Of the resort's 96 pistes, served by 47 lifts and a funicular on the glacier, 17 are green, 45 are blue, 22 are red, and 12 are black. But experts have plenty of open space in the rugged off-piste terrain of La Grave , where a guide is essential to explore the long, challenging runs from the 3,568-meter Dome de la Lauze.

Several infrastructure changes will streamline access to the pistes at Les 2 Alpes, including a combination lift with a 10-person Doppelmayr gondola and a 6-person chairlift. The combined capacity rises to 3,000 per hour on the 1,650-meter ride. Other improvements are new J-bar lifts at Champamé and Orée des Pistes and a T-bar at Dôme sud. A new people mover at Coolidge will carry 1,500 per hour.

Snowboarders and freestylers are happy at Les 2 Alpes Freestyle Land snowpark on the glacier, featuring a halfpipe and superpipe.

Official site: www.les2alpes.com/en

Far less known than the Haute-Savoie's glitzier Trois Vallées resorts, La Clusaz appeals to all levels of skiers, especially those who prefer the atmosphere of a traditional Alpine town to purpose-built ski resorts. Its location only an hour's drive from Geneva airport across the border in Switzerland is another appealing factor for skiers arriving from overseas.

Although there is terrain for everyone, intermediate skiers will find the most to love on its five interlinked mountain peaks and 132 kilometers of groomed runs. Half the runs are rated blue and one-third rated red for advanced intermediates. Only 10 percent of the runs are rated black, but experts will discover challenging, long runs in the resort's La Balme area.

The Reblochon piste, new last season, mixes skiing with games and learning about the summer use of these mountainsides as pastures. The intermediate trail is named for the famous Alpine cheese that's made locally.

Don't underestimate the appeal of La Clusaz itself, a lively little Alpine town, which does not exist just for skiers. Pretty La Place de l'Eglise is filled on Mondays with a weekly market, and the surrounding streets have plenty of restaurants, shops, and lodgings, which cater to as many locals as skiers.

Official site: www.laclusaz.com

Only an hour from Geneva, Megeve began as a rival to St. Moritz, a ski resort designed for the rich Parisians who flocked here in its early days. The resort has grown from that first exclusive enclave, but the village retains the charm of its medieval origins along with its Michelin-starred restaurants.

There are three main ski areas, with hundreds of kilometers of nice cruising terrain for beginners and intermediates , much of it below the tree line, which protects it from weather that can close nearby resorts at higher altitudes.

You can ride a gondola right from the village center to the Rochebrune slopes, and from here a cable car to a larger area on Mont D'Arbois. More picturesque is the transport to a third area, Le Jaillet, which you reach by a horse-drawn caliche (or for those with no taste for historic charm, a bus).

Despite its uber-fashionable atmosphere (it's a favorite of film stars and royalty), Megeve is a favorite for families , with low-priced beginner lift tickets and free surface lifts for beginners close to the village. Terrain parks for boarders are at all three areas.

Official site: https://forfaits.megeve.com

All French resorts have some facilities for children, but some have special features that make them especially popular for family ski vacations. Avoriaz, for example, is 100 percent ski-in-ski-out to cut down on hauling kids' gear, and keeps young skiers happy with a huge Village des Enfants.

Megeve and others have low-priced beginner lift tickets and free surface lifts, and La Plagne offers a local pass for the plentiful nearby blue and red terrain. Meribel delights kids with Alpine animal figures alongside trails and inventive mini-slalom courses.

Le Carroz: Close to Geneva in France's Grand Massif, Le Carroz is known for its heavy snow cover, moderate ticket prices, and excellent intermediate terrain. Many of the runs are sheltered by trees, and among them is one of the best pistes in France for beginners. Magic carpets take skiers from the town to the main lifts.

La Rosiere: Everything is close together and convenient for families at the small resort of La Rosiere, where lifts begin right at the lodging, and the nearby runs are designed for young learners. Lessons begin as young as three, and a children's center includes activities that keep kids busy while parents head for the more challenging terrain (which includes skiing over into Italy or even heli-skiing).

Les Gets: A mini-train ride to the slopes and cowboy-themed learning areas make learning fun at Les Gets, and younger kids are entertained at a dedicated nursery. The ESF ski school is graded for kids as young as three, who ski with fanciful storybook characters and join in age-appropriate activities such as treasure hunts.

While France's Pyrenees mountains don't rival the Alps in elevation or grandeur, they offer a lot of good snow, plenty of varied terrain, stunning scenery, and budget-friendly prices. There's a lot to like in these low-key ski resorts near the Spanish border in southwest France.

Grand Tourmalet: With 100 kilometers of skiable terrain, Grand Tourmalet ski area is the largest ski resort of the Pyrenees Mountains in France. Twenty-nine lifts provide access to 70 ski slopes at elevations between 1,250 and 2,500 meters. Northwest of the resort town of La Mongie, where there are hotels and restaurants, is the 2,877-meter Pic du Midi de Bigorre , a summit reached by cable car. Along with sightseers who ride for the view, the lift also carries off-piste skiers.

Official site: www.grand-tourmalet.com

Gourette: Less than five miles from the thermal spas and lovely English gardens in the elegant spa town of Les Eaux Bonnes , Gourette was the first ski area developed in the Pyrenees. The south-facing slopes bask in sunlight, while the 1,400-meter altitude assures good snow. The resort covers a lot of mountain, with long, challenging runs and a large beginners' learning area. At the base, the village has lodging and restaurants.

Official site: https://www.n-py.com/fr

Cauterets: The mountain village of Cauterets sits near two ski domains. The 36 kilometers of ski runs at Cirque du Lys are mostly intermediate level, but there are also more challenging pistes and a beginners' ski area. Freestylers and snowboarders will appreciate the ramps, twists, and other terrain features in Oakley Freestyle Park at Cirque du Lys. The Pont d'Espagne domain is the same size as Cirque du Lys and also has an area for snowshoeing.

Official site: https://www.cauterets.com/

Font Romeu : In the Parc Naturel Régional des Pyrénées Catalanes, closer to Catalonia and near Andorra and the border with Spain, Font Romeu is known for its sunny weather and wide range of terrain, much of it in pristine forests. The variety of terrain makes it appealing to skiers of different abilities, but the resort is especially popular with beginners because it has a number of gentle runs. A new 10-person Leitner gondola installed for this season will speed access to the slopes.

Official site: www.font-romeu.fr

North American skiers in France should know the differences in trail ratings. Blue corresponds to the North American green for beginners; intermediate is red. Black is the same, designating expert terrain. In France all but black runs are usually groomed.

Unlike US signs, which add shapes to the designations, in France they are normally all circles. Be aware, too, that these ratings tend to vary relative to other trails in that resort, not to an industry-wide standard. So a red trail at one resort might be more or less challenging than a red trail at another.

The high altitude of many of the French Alpine resorts assures a long season, even in these times of global warming. But balancing the appeal of prime conditions with the less appealing crowds of vacationers can be challenging.

December usually has plenty of snow at the higher altitudes, although it is not 100% guaranteed. But you are pretty sure of skiing on a December trip; until Christmas week, the lifts and pistes are rarely crowded.

January is the sweet spot for skiers, after the holiday rush and before the school vacations. The snow is at its best, with a good base and at least a month of grooming behind it. January is usually the coldest month, which is good for the snow, but requires packing plenty of extra layers.

February shares January's advantages, but often with more crowded conditions, especially at the most family-friendly resorts. The weather has usually warmed up a bit from the January lows. Families can expect a lively apres-ski life for all ages, and there may also be special family activities added during vacation weeks.

March sees warmer weather, more sun, and the appeal of spring skiing. Snow tends to be wetter and heavier as the month wears on, but in the higher altitude resorts, you can usually depend on good conditions throughout the month.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Ski Elsewhere in Europe : Once you've skied in the French Alps, you'll want to try the Swiss and Italian Alps and the Dolomites. Our articles on the Top-Rated Ski Resorts in Italy and Top-Rated Ski Resorts in Switzerland can make planning these adventures easy.

Ski the American West & Canada : If you're dreaming of the Rocky Mountains, it's time to make it a reality. Take a look at our articles on the Top Ski Resorts in Colorado , Top Ski Resorts in Utah , and the Best Ski Resorts in Lake Tahoe to help you choose the right ski resorts for you.

Other great options are the ski resorts in Canada . While most skiers are familiar with Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort, there are many other excellent and lesser-known ski resorts found across British Columbia and Alberta.

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Skiing in France — the best French ski resorts

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written by Jenny Cahill-Jones

updated 11.11.2022

If you were lucky enough to go on family ski trips in the 1990s you’ll remember the brightly coloured onesies, zinc sunscreen and impossible-to-undo salopettes. All of these used to characterise skiing in the French Alps . If you’re planning your first ski trip in a while, here’s where you should be skiing (or snowboarding) in France this year.

Avoriaz - for unspoiled ski-in-ski-out

Meribel - for lively après-ski, les karellis - for family skiing in france, la grave - for serious skiers and boarders only, megève - for a small-town charm, chamonix - best for freeride skiing in france, alpe d’huez - for world-class music festivals, courchevel - for a celebrity-like experience.

• Val d'Isere - for famous off-piste routes

The information in this article is inspired by The Rough Guide to France , your essential guide for France .

France welcomes more British skiers and snowboarders every year than any other country. This is thanks in part to its proximity, but also thanks to the incredible variety of terrain on offer. From family-friendly resorts to off-piste picks that will challenge the most experienced rider, these top French ski resorts offer something for everyone.

As an alternative winter holiday you may be interested in the joys of winter walking in the Lake District in the UK .

The mountainside village of Avoriaz © Frank Walter/Shutterstock

Travel ideas for France, created by local experts

14 days  / from 3922 USD

An active walking tour out of the way in France

Your trip starts with an in-depth introduction to France in Paris: several unique day excursions connect you with local Parisians to show you their city and way of life. Afterwards continue south to start a few days walking journey through Southern France before ending around Avignon.

10 days  / from 2450 USD

Southern France – Walks in the Alpilles and Lavender fields

Start your tour in the coastal city of Marseille, exploring Cassis on the way. Around the Alpilles in Provence, you will be provided with detailed walking materials to explore the area on foot, from both Les Baux and St Remy. End your tour in famous Avignon.

12 days  / from 2995 USD

Tasting Eastern France

A delicious yet active journey through Eastern France. Start your trip in Lyon with some unique food tours before setting off on a 4-day walk across the Beaujolais region. Almost every day ends with a wine tasting in your guesthouse, soothing for body and soul.

10 days  / from 5616 USD

Taste of Three - Belgium, France and Switzerland

Start your journey in Belgium and explore Brussels, Ghent and Bruges. A high-speed train will then take you to Strasbourg, from where you'll discover the Alsace. Proceed to Basel as your base, from where you'll see plenty of Switzerland: Zermatt, Matterhorn, Mount Pilatus and much more.

For askiing in France holiday to get away from it all, head to Avoriaz in the French Alps. Close to the well-known resort of Morzine, Avoriaz is unique in that no cars are allowed in the purpose-built resort. Here, the only forms of transport are ski, snowboard and horse and carriage. Cars must be left in purpose-built car parks outside the resort. This makes for an extremely picturesque break, especially when you add in the village's spectacular location.

Almost all of the chalets are ski-in ski-out, so you won’t turn up to find your hotel is a shuttle bus away from the ski lift. The resort is part of the Portes du Soleil ski pass which gives access to 600 km of terrain across several resorts in both the French and Swiss Alps.

Avoriaz is linked by gondola to Morzine and Chatel in France, and Champery in Switzerland. Most of the accommodation is in self-catering apartments. There are a few supermarkets on the village outskirts, and a variety of restaurants in the village.

Where to stay in Avoriaz

The illuminated slopes of Meribel © Sander van der Werf/Shutterstock

Looking for a french ski holiday where you can mingle with your fellow snow bunnies? Meribel is famous for its après scene – and you’ll find plenty of fellow Brits at the bar. That being said, the resort has moved decidedly upmarket in the last few years and there are several stylish boutique hotels and good restaurants. Most ski chalets are located close to the city centre, making it easy to shuffle home after closing time.

Meribel favourite, the mountainside Rond Point still remains, and the fun usually starts mid-afternoon with shots of toffee-flavoured vodka. The bar often hosts live music.

La Folie Douce welcomes holidaymakers with its unique combination of live dancers, acrobatic performances and outdoor bars serving beer, wine and champagne. The bar even has its own hashtag, #rockthetop.

When it comes to skiing, Meribel is part of the Trois Vallées ski area. One of the largest ski areas in the world, it offers some of the best skiing in France. The majority of runs are intermediate, so if you have some skiing under your belt you should be comfortable. If you have a week’s lift pass you can upgrade to the whole of Trois Vallées on a pay-per-day basis which gives you the chance to experience a whole lot more.

Find places to stay in Meribel

Les Karellis has facilities for the youngest skiing enthusiasts © FamVeld/Shutterstock

If you're planning a summer holiday in France, our guide to the best beaches in France is likely to help you decide on the most suitable destination.

For families and beginners, Les Karellis is hard to beat. This french ski-in, ski-out resort was designed for families from the group up. There’s group and private lessons plus a very well organised childcare system. You can even hire a special baby sledge to make it easy to get around the resort. What's more, group lessons plus Kids and Teens clubs mean older children can exercise their independence – while parent can be reassured that they are in safe hands.

When you need a break from the slopes, dog sledding, toboggans, family movie showings, and a snow play area in the centre of the village mean the fun doesn’t stop – until you decide it’s time for bed.

Find places to stay in Les Karellis

Skiing in France, La Grave © OutdoorWorks/Shutterstock

If you’ve skied every resort in the Alps and you’re looking for something a more challenging, pack your goggles and head to La Grave , close to the Italian border. Almost the entire ski area is off piste, providing many kilometres of fiendishly difficult skiing and snowboarding.

To access this snow-lover’s paradise you have to brave the winding mountain roads that can be closed in bad weather. There’s no train station nearby, nor any major roads, which means you’ll most likely be sharing the slopes with dedicated locals. Speaking of locals, the best way to enjoy the skiing here is to hire a private guide - off piste is dangerous by its very nature. You can easily find yourself in difficulties at La Grave if you don’t know the terrain.

In 2017, the Alpe d’Huez resort signed a 30-year lease to ensure the gondola continues to run and maintain the two pistes and the on-mountain restaurants. Additionally, the new lease also preserves the ski area’s ‘wild’ nature, which means a whole new generation of expert skiers will be able to enjoy the unique challenges at La Grave. Accommodation is a mixture of hotels and self catering.

Find places to stay in La Grave

Illuminated Central Square of Megeve on Christmas Eve, French Alps, France © Shutterstock

Related articles from the blog

Just an hour's drive from Geneva is Megève , which was conceived as a rival to St Moritz, a ski resort for wealthy Parisians. The village has retained the historic charm of its medieval heritage along with its Michelin-starred restaurants.

The resort offers three main ski areas with hundreds of kilometres of great pistes suitable for beginner and intermediate skiers.

One of the most fascinating features of this place is that from the centre of the village you can take a gondola to the slopes of Rochebrune. From here, a cable car takes you to the larger area on Mont d'Arbois. Alternatively, you can take a horse-drawn carriage or, for the more traditional fare, a bus to Le Joyeux.

Despite its popularity with movie stars and royalty, Megève is a favourite family destination. There are inexpensive lift tickets for beginners and free terrain lifts near the village. There are snowboard parks in all three areas.

Find places to stay in Megève

Skiing is definitely an experience worth having when you travel to France. Read our guide to the best things to do during your French holiday.

St Michel Church in Chamonix. Chamonix, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France © Shutterstock

Despite its fame, Chamonix is not the most user-friendly of ski resorts and access to the slopes relies on shuttle buses, trains or a car. For advanced skiers, however, it’s probably one of the best places in the Alps since it offers an impressive range of challenging runs and off-piste itineraries.

Take a day tour from Geneva to visit the mountain resort of Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc.

It’s not so much a single resort as a chain of unconnected ski areas set along both sides of the Chamonix valley and dominated by Mont Blanc. The Brévent and Flégère areas on the southern slopes both have a good variety of pistes and provide some fine views of the Mont Blanc massif across the valley. Argentière–Les Grands Montets is a colder, northfacing area that is well-suited to advanced skiers.

The famous Vallée Blanche can be accessed by cable car from the Aiguille du Midi. Skiing here involves a 20km descent which passes many crevasses and is not patrolled, so a guide is strongly recommended. Closer to Chamonix itself, the Les Planards and Le Savoy areas require artificial snow and snow cannons to stay open. They are also good spots for beginners to hone their technique.

There are plenty of ski school in Chamonix, which provide lessons for skiers and snowboarders, as well as guides. The ESF office is situated in the Maison de la Montagne; the guides here hold special lessons on the famous runs of the Vallée Blanche.

Alongside the walking and skiing opportunities around Chamonix, there are several exhilarating excursions using the various ski lifts and mountain railways. It may be worth getting a multipass that covers all the lifts in the area. These can be purchased online, at the tourist office, or at the foot of each cable-car ascent.

Find place to stay in Chamonix

Alpe d Huez, France © Gaspar Janos/Shutterstock

The Alpe d'Huez Grand Domain combines six french ski resorts into one winter destination. In addition to the vast number of pistes, there are two snow parks, a boardcross park and a halfpipe.

Here is the longest piste in Europe, the 16-kilometre La Sarenne piste. The most challenging is the Tunnel under the Pic Blanc cable car. There are many off-piste options for advanced skiers. There's also an option for kids - tubing runs at the base of the Bergers and Grenouilles slopes.

The main resort offers access to the widest range of runs. Also it's worth noting that the villages not only have good access to the lifts and piste network, but also offer more of an alpine village atmosphere. Alpe d'Huez is popular as a family holiday destination because of the wide range of amenities and accommodation to suit all budgets.

You can also combine a ski holiday here with a visit to a music festival - Tomorrowland . For four days in March, the resort is transformed into a festival music venue with a capacity of 25,000 people.

Access to the resort and ski area is only permitted to Tomorrowland ticket holders during the festival. Four- or seven-day options are available for those wishing to attend the festival, both of which include accommodation, a ski pass and admission to Tomorrowland.

The Rough Guides to France and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

Find places to stay in Alpe d’Huez

Ski resort village Courchevel in France by winter © Shutterstock

Courchevel is home to the world's largest ski area, Les 3 Vallées, with 600km of pistes, over 180 green-blue runs and over 140 red-black runs. You don't need to be a professional skier to enjoy skiing in this area. The Courchevel ski area is accessible regardless of your skiing skills.

Courchevel offers plenty of places to ski and contemplate the beauty of snowy France: Mont Blanc, the Ecrines, the Vanoise, Lauzières, Beaufortin glaciers... From the tops of the mountains or at the bend of the piste, you can enjoy a 360° panorama at any moment.

In addition, the Courchevel ski area is home to some of the most efficient and comfortable ski lifts in the world. Take a break to enjoy the views in the sunshine before hitting the slopes again.

Courchevel is not renowned as a celebrity holiday destination for nothing. Here, relaxation takes place in the rhythm of the French art of living. During your holiday here, do not miss out on the culinary and festive journey led by French culinary enthusiasts, imbued with the French way of life that so characterises this ski resort in the Alps.

Find places to stay in Courchevel

Val d'Isere at sunset in France © Shutterstock

Val d'Isere - for famous off-piste routes

Val d'Isere is a traditional French ski resort for those who are less picky about the slopes and prefer a quieter slope. This resort is probably the most famous ski resort in the French Alps. At an altitude of 1,821 metres, together with Tignes, it forms the most beautiful ski region in the world, Espace Killy.

Val d'Isere is part of the vast Espace Killy named after three-time Olympic skiing champion Jean-Claude Killy, who grew up skiing on these mountains. Here you will find red, blue or green pistes, which are often close to each other. In addition, from Val d'Isère you can quickly and easily reach any point in the Three Valleys ski region.

The Funival underground cable car connects the La Dalle area with Rocher de Bellevard . The cable car takes you to the top of the mountain from the Josré station. Then you can continue up to the Tête du Solez by cable car and weather-proof chairlift.

A holiday in Val d'Isère isn't just famous for its variety of pistes. It combines the atmosphere of the past with the modern infrastructure, giving Val d'Isère its own unique charm.

Find places to stay in Val d'Isere

Get to know France better with our list of 20 fun facts about France .

If you prefer to plan and book your trip to France without any effort and hassle, use the expertise of our local travel experts to make sure your trip will be just like you dream it to be.

Ready for a trip to France ? Check out the snapshot The Rough Guide to France . If you travel further, read more about the best time to go , the best places to visit and best things to do in France . For inspiration use the France itineraries from our France Travel Guides and our local travel experts . A bit more hands on, learn about getting there , getting around the country and where to stay once you are there.

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Top Luxury Ski Resorts in the French Alps

Marie Tesson

Read related: The Ultimate High-End Ski Trip in Megeve

Courchevel: alpine glamour & adrenaline.

Widely considered to be France’s most-glamorous Alpine ski resort, Courchevel 1850 is the place to “see and be seen” on the slopes, attracting the wealthy, the famous and the royal each year to its incredible slopes and high-luxury amenities. Not only is Courchevel endowed with the world’s most expansive skiable area, stretching for some 600km around the “Trois Vallées”. It also counts an astounding number of Michelin-starred restaurants, five-star hotels and opulent chalets, elegant bars and haute-couture shopping opportunities, from Chanel to Fendi.

Imagine a day here speeding through high-quality powder, followed by a gastronomic, unforgettable meal at tables such as two-star Michelin restaurant  Le Chabichou,  and an evening of pure luxury at hotels like the  Cheval Blanc Courchevel , with its  opulent Alpine-stye rooms and fantastic spa.

Read related:   The Most Luxurious Alpine Spas in France

Courchevel’s world-class services for VIP visitors– from a dedicated airfield for private jets to ski valets at most high-end hotels– make it an easy favourite among the most discerning snow enthusiasts.

Read related: The Most Luxurious Alpine Spas in France

Alpe d’Huez: Understated Yet Authentic Luxury

The high-energy and crowds at Courchevel won’t be for everyone, of course. If you’re looking for some truly exceptional slopes and après activities that are laid-back yet authentically luxurious, the Alpe d’Huez station may be your ideal destination. France’s first-ever drag lift debuted here during the 1930s, and the station has gained in stature and prestige over the decades as high-end hotels, restaurants and a private airport sprung up there.

Read related:  Our High-Luxury Private Tours of the French Alps

With its skiable peaks reaching to an altitude of 3,300m on the Pic Blanc glacier, Alpe d’Huez is also one of the sunniest luxury resorts in France, and is often referred to as “The Island of the Sun”. It’s equipped with numerous state-of-the-art lifts and an enormous number of exciting, invigorating runs.

After a day out on the slopes, enjoy a champagne reception and a fantastic meal at one of the resort’s unique, high-end traditional chalets, whose spas and wellness rooms are also legendary. Michelin-starred restaurant  L’Altiport i s also famous among gastronomes for its authentic and delicious local cuisine, and its views over the surrounding landscapes on the terrace outside are superb.

Megève: Authentic Luxury & Superb Après Opportunities

One of our very favourite ski resorts in France is arguably every bit as luxurious as Courchevel or Chamonix, but offers a rustic, authentic and less ostentatious ambience that many snow-sports enthusiasts will prefer. Megève, nestled in the  Haute-Savoie region in close reach of the Swiss and Italian borders, is an old-Europe haven that’s actually inhabited outside of ski season. This gives it an authentic, rustic feel, including during the Christmas and holiday season when its soft lights and horse-drawn carriages create an unforgettably festive atmosphere. But this doesn’t mean it isn’t packed with top-rate slopes, five-star hotels, ultra-luxurious spas, prestigious boutiques and gastronomic restaurants.

Related:   Read our full guide to a luxury ski holiday in Megève 

Megève has in fact historically attracted many wealthy and famous visitors since the 1920s, when it became a preferred spot for those seeking a more subdued, discreet sort of luxury. The fantastic slopes offer breathtaking views over Mont Blanc, while the wide variety of runs appeals to everyone from beginners to the most experienced skiers. Meanwhile, the après facilities in the quaint old town are outstanding.

To soothe tired muscles after a day of adventure and action, soak in the hot outdoor pools and enjoy top-rate treatments at the  Fermes de Marie,  a 5-star hotel and spa that’s also one of the most opulent places to stay. Then consider enjoying a memorable dinner featuring local cuisine and superb wines at  Flocons de Sel , the hotel’s three-starred Michelin restaurant helmed by star chef Emmanuel Renaut (who owns the five-star hotel of the same name with his wife, Kristine).

Méribel: Bespoke Details & Private Experiences

Last but certainly not least on our shortlist of the finest French Alpine resorts is Méribel, treasured by the world’s jet-set for its intimate, bespoke brand of luxury. Nestled in the famous Three Valleys area, this resort has everything a serious high-end snow enthusiast could wish for: state-of-the-art lifts, invigorating and challenging slopes with fantastic Alpine views, elegant, sprawling spas and wellness facilities, couture boutiques, and tables whose food and wine rank among the best in the Alps. What it also offers are exclusive, private experiences that can’t easily be found elsewhere.

Related:  What sets our exclusive, bespoke tours of France apart?

Méribel is coveted for its luxurious chalets featuring everything from private cinemas to personal attendants and spas reserved exclusively for you. Meanwhile, prestigious hotels like  Le Kaila  offer so many luxurious amenities on their premises that some guests may find it difficult to head outside into the cold.

The shopping amenities in Méribel are likewise superb, with standalone boutiques from the likes of Prada and Coco Chanel lining the tony streets of the main town. And if you’re after an authentic gastronomic experience, restaurants such as Fruitière — headed by star chef Franck Mischler– are acclaimed for their superb Savoy-inspired cuisine, fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and seemingly endless selections of fine wine.

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The 10 best ski resorts in France

T he French lay claim to the best cuisine, the best wines, and the best variety of ski resorts of any country in the world. While the first two are open to question these days, the third is undoubtedly true.

Destinations range from the high-altitude and purpose-built like Val Thorens with the seemingly endless terrain of the 600km Trois Vallées ski area on its doorstep, to lesser-known farming villages with traditional French ambience and tree-lined slopes like Les Carroz.

British visitors may find that their expensively-purchased Euros go further in bars and restaurants in Austria and Italy , and indeed in Eastern Europe , in these financially-challenging times. But staying in lesser-known French destinations, or lower satellite villages that link to a big-name area (Les Carroz links into the Grand Massif area, shared with better known Flaine ), are attractive ways to reduce costs.

Nevertheless, the process of going uphill is becoming more expensive: lift pass prices across France have generally rocketed this year. It pays to check out the growing variety of different tickets on offer, such as localised, family or group passes. Val Cenis is the first resort to introduce a ‘weatherproof’ pass – if snow or rain falls for more than three hours, you get your money back for that day, even if you’ve skied.  

Chalet packages with UK tour operators continue to offer some of the best value in French resorts, although tour operators have made changes to the traditional model in recent years, in the face of increasing costs and pressure of the pandemic. Many companies have reduced the number of chalets they offer or scrapped them all together. Self-catering has also become a more enticing proposition , staying in increasingly upmarket newly-built apartment residences with swimming pool and spa areas.

Big reductions in the number of package holidays mean that booking well in advance has become more essential than ever , particularly if planning half-term or Easter breaks in France’s most popular resorts. Here’s our pick of where to go.

Best for beginners

Courchevel , famous for its glitz and multi-million-euro property prices, might at first glance seem an unusual choice for novices, but the resort has many facets. Situated at one end of the giant Trois Vallées ski area that includes Méribel and Val Thorens, 1850 is the smartest, most expensive and highest of the six Courchevel villages.

In less fashionable Moriond (also known as 1650), Village (1550), Le Praz (1300) and nearby La Tania and Saint Bon there is much cheaper accommodation to be found. Moriond is ideal for beginners, with gentle nursery slopes well away from the inter-resort traffic of the rest of the Trois Vallées. But at the same time it’s suitable for the more advanced, with easy access to a huge variety of terrain that is tucked away from the main hustle and bustle. The slopes around the altiport area of 1850 are also extremely good for beginners, with mild gradients and easy lifts.

There’s a wide choice of ski and snowboard schools, but learning from a native English speaker is an advantage, and these schools are British-run: BASS Courchevel, Marmalade, Momentum, New Generation, Supreme Ski (now run by Maison Sports), Sweet Snowsports, The Snow School and The Development Centre.

Parents needn’t worry about inexperienced small children on chairlifts during classes – children in ESF ski school groups wear waistcoats equipped with electro-magnets that lock on to the chair and release automatically at the top. After a day on the slopes, or on a day off, there’s the Aquamotion complex, easily accessed from Moriond and Village. It has two swimming-pools, a spa, an indoor climbing wall and a surf wave.

Where to stay

Regarding the best accommodation in Courchevel , Le Ski has 23 chalets in Moriond and neighbouring La Tania and 41 years of experience in offering holidays here. Le Mollard in Moriond used to be a chalet for 16, but has now been reconfigured as a chalet for eight. It’s got an outdoor hot tub, two TV rooms and a giant living area. From £1,116, with Le Ski .

Alternatives

Alpe d’Huez , Morzine or Val Cenis all have dedicated nursery slopes out of the way of ski traffic.

Best for intermediates

Serre chevalier.

This is the collective name for a dozen villages along the road from the ancient garrison town of Briançon in the southern Alps. They share a ski area with a respectable 250km of varied but mainly intermediate slopes, served by 59 lifts.

Think of Serre Chevalier as the laid-back, country cousin of A-list resorts further north, such as Val d’Isère or Courchevel – a bit smaller and a bit less hi-tech, but also friendlier, more relaxed and with bags more Gallic character.

For skiers stuck on the intermediate plateau, British ski school New Generation can help. It’s run here by experienced instructor Gavin Crosby and his wife Mel, who offer group lessons on peak dates as well as private coaching all season. Book well in advance.

Cristal Lodge is a new chalet-style apartment building that opened in summer 2022 and is 300 metres from the ski lifts of Chantemerle village. The residence is next to the hotel with the same name, which has a wellness area and a bar serving ‘Savoyarde tapas’. From £1,042 for a two-person studio, self catering, including Eurotunnel crossings, with Peak Retreats . 

Les Arcs , La Plagne , Flaine and Méribel all have extensive blue and red runs that give a feeling of having gone somewhere each day, rather than repeating the same slopes.

Best for experts

Val d’isère.

The resort is spread along a high, remote valley and shares the giant ski area formerly known as Espace Killy with neighbouring Tignes . These days the ski area’s name reflects precisely what’s inside the tin: Val d’Isère-Tignes.

Val d’Isère’s village divides into a number of sectors, from the central hub at the base of the main Solaise and Bellevarde lifts to the quieter outposts of La Daille, Le Laisinant and Le Fornet. As in any major holiday destination in the Alps, the vast majority of visitors are intermediates, so it’s not essential to be an expert to enjoy good times here.

However, those who are will – particularly when investing in expert guiding to make the most of the challenging terrain, both on and off piste. Few world-class resorts have such variety. Progression Ski is a British-run school offering the full range of group and private ski and snowboard lessons.

The slopes of Bellevarde, reached by the Olympique jumbo gondola or two chairlifts from the centre, or from La Daille, rise up to 2908m. La Face, the steep and deeply challenging black run down to town, was the venue for the men’s downhill at the 1992 Albertville Olympics and the 2009 World Championships. The backside of Bellevarde is the starting point for the alternative OK downhill course and an enormous area of varied slopes that lead towards Tignes in one direction and back down to La Daille in the other.

The best accommodation in Val d’Isère includes a clutch of Canadian-inspired chalets situated a five-minute walk from both the village centre and the two main mountain access lifts. Ski Vertigo is a new travel-included tour operator. It’s a sister company to Ski Famille and the brainchild of a highly experienced team led by the original founder of Crystal and the former product manager of Ski Total.  From £959 in Chalet Alberta, which sleeps eight in three ensuite rooms and a bunk room, with Ski Vertigo.

Chamonix has some of the most demanding terrain in the Alps and Sainte Foy is a small resort with a giant off-piste area.

Best for reliable snow

With slopes going up to nearly 3,250m, Les Arcs’ altitude means the ski area is open from mid-December until just before the end of April. The highest of the four hamlets is Arc 2000, but equally snow-reliable Arc 1950 – just below 2000 at 1,950m – is the most attractive place to stay. The most recently built of Les Arcs’ four villages – it celebrates its 20th birthday this winter – it consists of modern Savoyard-style buildings.

The Varet glacier above Arc 2000 is the highest point in the Paradiski ski area that Les Arcs shares with La Plagne . Both resorts are made up of satellites set at varying heights and access 425km of piste in total. They are linked by an impressive double-decker cable car across a gorge. From the high point of Aiguille Rouge at 3,226m above Les Arcs it’s possible to drop all the way down to the village of Villaroger in the valley.

What most people don’t know about is the growing number of excellent mountain eateries, in particular around  Arc 1950 and 2000. On the pistes, these include the Bulle Café Les Arcs, which serves an array of fresh seafood at non-exorbitant prices, and the sumptuous Chalets de l’Arc.

Of the residences in the charming and convenient Arc 1950 Village. The apartments here are more spacious than the French norm, well-furnished, and the reception is staffed 24/7. As well as being ski-in/ski-out, there’s a large indoor-outdoor pool, a hot tub, sauna and steam room. From £893 for a two-person suite, self-catering, travel not included, with Erna Low .

Val Thorens ,   Alpe d’Huez and Tignes are all high resorts that guarantee early- and late-season snow.

Best for charm 

French resorts are usually known for their convenience rather than their charm, so attractive villages with large ski areas are notable in their rarity. Megève is special, with a medieval village centre , colourful horse-drawn sleighs, fabulous restaurants, designer boutiques, and excellent apres-ski. 

There’s also a wide choice of restaurants on the mountain. The resort’s halcyon days were in the 1950s and 1960s when celebrities such as Sasha Distel, Brigitte Bardot, Charles Aznavour, and Johnny Hallyday turned it into the hub of a St Tropez on snow.

Megève is part of a large ski area that includes the spa town of St-Gervais as well as the villages of La Giettaz and St-Nicolas-de-Veroce. The Evasion Mont Blanc lift pass also includes 120km of pistes in nearby Les Contamines, giving an impressive total of 445km. The disadvantage is its altitude – Megève stands at just 1,113m – very low compared with other major French resorts and snow cover can be limited. It’s best skied in mid-season. 

Four-star Hotel Mont Blanc in the centre of the resort used to be the favourite watering hole of avant garde poet and novelist Jean Cocteau and in the 1950s it was a rendez-vous for famous artists. It houses one of Megève’s landmark restaurants, Les Enfants Terribles. From £1,895, B&B, with Ski Solutions.

Vaujany is a cute little village and is linked into the huge Alpe d’Huez area. Little-known Aussois in the Maurienne Valley is rural France at its simplest and most delightful.

Best for partying

There’s no denying that the thousands of international visitors who make the journey each winter to this the geographical centre of the giant Trois Valleés ski area know how to party in style – Méribel is its beating heart.

A branch of the French après experience, La Folie Douce, at the mid-station of the main Saulire gondola, gets loud at 3pm with a DJ and table-top dancing. The clientele tend to migrate after 5pm to the Rond Point, better known as The Ronny, just above the main village and the must-visit après venue. It has live bands and a fantastic atmosphere. On a good night, dedicated party animals could be crowd surfing by 6pm.

Alternatively, Méribel institution Jack’s Bar offers up comedy and live bands every evening, while Barometer has a pleasant English pub atmosphere. Later on, La Taverne and Le Pub are good warm-up spots for the main clubbing action even later at O’Sullivan’s or Les Saint Pères.

Méribel’s local slopes are extensive and mainly intermediate, and give easy access to the rest of the Trois Vallées ski area. The resort has an unrivalled selection of good-quality chalets, although wickedly high prices have led to a sharp fall in the overall visitor numbers in recent years.

Hotel l’Eterlou is a cosy hotel built in chalet style in the centre of Méribel, 60 metres from the Chaudanne lifts, with the in-house La Grange restaurant, and an outdoor heated swimming-pool. From £1,769, with Inghams .

In the country that gave après ski its name there is remarkably little of it. Les Deux Alpes and Chamonix are livelier than most resorts and do their best to address the lack of partying with a more extensive range of bars and late-night entertainment.

Best for families

With its village-based nursery slopes, pedestrian-friendly centre and road train shuttle between the main slopes and separate Mont Chéry ski area, this village in the giant Portes du Soleil ski area makes an ideal base for families. The region has oodles of groomed runs – 600km of them to be exact – linked by 208 lifts.

There’s a huge choice of accommodation, including family-friendly chalets with childcare, and Les Gets itself is a pleasing mixture of old Savoyard chalets and more modern wood-and-stone buildings constructed in keeping with their Alpine surroundings. Child-friendly activities in the village include skating, farm tours and tenpin bowling. There’s also a cinema and the Musique Méchanique Museum, with around 750 exhibits including music boxes, clocks and self-playing pianos.

Les Gets is set at a modest 1,172m altitude, which means snow cover is not necessarily reliable at village level throughout the season. It’s best to visit in February and March. However, there are more nursery slopes up the mountain at Chavannes, and the Grand Cry fun park is also here.

Les Gets shares a 120km local ski area with Morzine, and the British snow-sports schools BASS, Les Gets Snowsports and Mint Snowboarding operate here. Kindergartens include Les Fripouilles, which caters for children from six months to four years.

One of the best chalets in Les Gets, Chalet Cocon des Neiges which opened in 2019, overlooks the village and is two minutes’ walk from the nearest lift. It sleeps 15 in four family suites and a double room. From £679, with Ski Famille . Full childcare is available. 

La Tania in the Trois Vallées is car-free, although families with little ones need to be wary of people speeding down the main drag towards the gondola. Vaujany is an unspoilt village linking into the Alpe d’Huez ski area with no through traffic and a good crèche.

Best for terrain parks

This purpose-built resort above Morzine in the massive French/Swiss Portes du Soleil area was largely the brainchild of French racer Jean Vuarnet, better known for his sunglasses than for his gold medal at the Squaw Valley Olympics in 1960. Accommodation is mainly ski-in ski-out apartments, many of which have been renovated in recent years. Avoriaz has a quirky charm and a varied array of terrain parks – five plus a superpipe.

Snowboarding made its European debut in Avoriaz in the late 1980s and the resort built the first halfpipe in Europe in 1993. Facilities have come a long way since then. Park novices can learn first turns at the Chapelle park, which has kicker lines from green to red along with boxes and rails, before progressing to the pro lines and airbag in the Arare park.

In the Stash park all features are made from wood and there are three lines of varying difficulty snaking through the forest. Avoriaz also has two parks especially for kids, Lil’Stash, and the Burton Kids Parkway.

The Portes du Soleil’s variety of slopes suits everyone, from complete beginners to veteran powderhounds, and Avoriaz makes a good base for easy access to all of it. High and rocky, the resort is a great destination in a good snow year, much less so when the snow is thin on the lower slopes.

Ski-in/ski-out and essentially quirky, Hotel Des Dromonts is a funky throwback to the days of Deneuve and Vadim with plenty of retro chic and two good restaurants to choose from – it’s one of the best hotels in Avoriaz. The owner of the sports shop opposite once skied down the not-quite-vertical side of the hotel and lived to tell the tale. From £1,449, with Inghams .

The Portes du Soleil has a total of 30 parks including boardercross and ski cross. Tignes and La Plagne also both have large parks with extensive features.

Best for value

Ax-les-thermes.

The attractive old town of Ax-les-Thermes, in the Ariège area of the Pyrenees, is a great choice for a value holiday since it’s not a mainstream or fashionable ski resort of the Alps. It is only 90 minutes’ drive from Toulouse airport and so it’s convenient for a long weekend or mid-week break.

The town lies at just 720m from where a gondola to 1,400m accesses the start of the ski area, which is divided into three connected sectors. Bonascre is home to a host of easy green beginner slopes and some long flattering blues. Saquet, accessed by gondola or a six-person chairlift, goes up to a respectable 2,350m and has great red and black runs beneath the Tute and Ours chairs. On fresh powder days there is easily accessible off piste through the trees.

Further over lies the Domaine des Campels sector, reached by the long sweeping blue Savis piste or a choice of much steeper and more demanding reds and blacks.

In terms of size, the slopes here are no match for the giant connected areas of the Alps, but there’s plenty to keep beginners and intermediates happy for a week, and in good snow conditions the freeriding will entertain the more advanced. There is also an extensive cross-country ski area at Chioula, a short bus-ride away.

The town is famous for its thermal baths, les Bains de Couloubret, with 60 hot springs. Visitors can soak in the thermal spa waters here for  €20 for two hours, or use the free foot spa. On-slope eating is a lot cheaper than in the Alps and, with the proximity to the frontier, there’s a big Spanish influence in the tapas bars lining the attractive streets. The two ski schools here are the ESF and ESI.

Three-star Les Trois Domaines apartments are right next to the gondola leading up to the ski area. From €499 for a self-catering studio, travel not included, with Pierre et Vacances .

St-Lary, also in the Pyrenees, is a sensibly-priced alternative. Puy St Vincent in the Southern Alps is loved by French families who count their euros carefully.

Best for weekends

Close to Lake Annécy and within an easy hour’s drive of Geneva airport, La Clusaz has well-groomed intermediate and advanced slopes that are all too often overlooked by skiers and snowboarders driving past on their way towards the Trois Vallées and the other famous Tarentaise resorts.

La Clusaz and smaller Manigod share 132km of groomed runs; 10 minutes away by free shuttle bus are those of Le Grand Bornand and its lift-linked satellite village, St Jean de Sixt. All four are covered by the same Aravis lift pass and comprise a total 212km of terrain.

Most of the slopes are intermediate, but the La Balme area of La Clusaz offers long runs and considerable challenges. Le Grand Bornand has a dedicated freeride area at the back of Mont Lachat de Châtillon that is neither patrolled nor groomed, but is avalanche protected. It is sufficiently extensive and challenging to satisfy even the most demanding visitor. A 200m covered magic carpet lift makes the Rosay plateau area, in Le Grand Bornand, very accessible for beginners.

As well as making La Clusaz an ideal spot for the weekend, airport convenience explains in part why so many Britons have bought chalets and apartments here. However, their presence is muted – these resorts are mainly frequented by the French, and unlike in some of the big name resorts, holidaying here feels like you’re in France. La Clusaz has a life beyond snow and is a thriving year-round community. Le Grand Bornand is the home of Reblochon cheese, an inescapable inclusion in all its varied forms, from fondue to raclette, on every restaurant menu in the region.

The three-star Hotel Alpen Roc is in the centre of La Clusaz, 150m from the lifts, with panoramic views from the bar/lounge area. From £1,179, self-drive, ferry included, with Sno .

Morzine and Megève are both within a 90-minute drive of Geneva Airport.

Unless stated otherwise, package prices are per person, based on two sharing a double or twin room, half-board, for seven nights, including flights and transfers.

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Multi-day skiing

Our multi-day skiing trips - either from hut to hut or staying in a single hut - join the pleasures of ski touring with the discovery of the alpine culture and heritage. Overnight stays in high altitude refuges will make you travel in time, offering a true break from your daily routine.

Skiing in the Alps is also the occasion to get to the top of a few summits transformed by the snow. The unique landscape of the Mont-Blanc Massif - made of slender peaks and troubled glaciers - has built the reputation of the Chamonix Mont-Blanc Valley. It is undoubtedly one of the best ski destinations in the word for your next winter holidays. Ski resorts and lifts give an easy access to several sectors such as the Vallée Blanche and the Argentière Glacier particularly well suited for 2-3 days ski touring weekends.

The Chamonix Zermatt Haute Route between Mont Blanc and Matterhorn is definitely the most renowned ski trip in the Alps and it boasts outstanding landscapes and breathtaking points of view. With multiple overnight stays in mountain huts, peaking at about 3800 meters above sea level, this trip offers a total immersion in the heart of the picturesque terrain of the mountains in the wintertime.  Beginners, intermediate to advanced skiers , your mountain guide will find you around the French Alps, the Swiss & Italian & Austrian Alps the best snow conditions, chasing virgin slopes, fresh powder and nice turns.

My search criteria

Level 1: You have never practiced.

Level 2: You have some initial experience.

Level 3: You practice occasionally.

Level 4: You practice regularly.

Level 5: You have a sustained practice.

Introduction to ski touring in a fantastic scenery plus cosy Aosta valley accommodation

A great way to immerse yourself into the majestic Vallée Blanche setting

Panoramic route from Argentière to le Tour through the Col du Passon

Discovery of a unique place in the world from the Grands Montets ski-resort

Outstanding viewpoints on the mountains of the Chamonix Valley

An exceptional adventure into the heart of magnificent landscapes

A perfect destination for an early season trip in the heart of Valle d'Aosta

On the Italian side of the French ski resort Val d'Isère, the perfect escape

Ski the most famous 4000m peak in Italy, located in the heart of a national park

This program is a logical extension of the Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route

Bivouac experience with a stunning background a few steps from Chamonix

The Swiss Valais traverse, the Haute Route’s little sister

Embark on the legendary ski tour through the French and Swiss Alps

To enjoy a uniform itinerary and the Haute Route atmosphere for longer

Allalinhorn, Rimpflischhorn and Alphubel offering stunning ski tours over 4000m

The Vanoise National Park offers great ski touring routes from hut to hut

Learn turns on steep slope and basic mountaineering and roping techniques for skiing

A chance to experience your first steep ski lines in Chamonix

The fabulous Italian playground where freeride and ski touring join

The mythic itinerary focused on the athletic dimension of ski touring

From Florence to the Beaches of Nice: How to Watch the 2024 Tour de France

This year’s edition starts in Italy and features one of the toughest opening stages ever, a 206-kilometer ride from Florence to Rimini taking riders through the heart of the Apennine mountains.

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How to Watch the Tour de France in the U.S.

How to watch the tour de france in canada, what happened last year, riders to watch, tour de france history.

The Tour de France was first raced in 1903 when journalist (and former bike racer) Henri Desgrange organized the event to promote L’Auto-Vélo, a French sporting newspaper that he edited–and is known today as L’Equipe. The newspaper was actually printed on yellow paper, which fuels one of the narratives surrounding the origins of the maillot jaune . That year’s Tour covered 2,428 km (1,509 mi) spread over just six stages–the average stage length was about 405 km (251 mi)–and only 21 of the original 60 starters finished the inaugural event.

Despite the low number of finishers, the event was an overwhelming success, and the Tour has since become one of the largest sporting events in the world, an event for which teams with multi-million dollar budgets spend years trying to win. For the riders, just a single stage win or day in the yellow jersey is a career-defining achievement. Riders who win the overall title–even just once–go down in history.

This year’s race covers 3,492 km (2,165 mi) spread over 21 stages, with eight days for the sprinters, two individual time trials, seven mountain stages, and about four stages for the punchy opportunists who head up the road in search of “do-or-die” breakaway stage victories–we love those guys.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 Tour de France:

The route of the 2024 Tour de France is unlike any we’ve ever seen, mainly because it’s bookended by two of the biggest “firsts” in the event’s 110-year history: it’s the first to begin in Italy and the first to end outside of Paris (in Nice).

The Tour begins in Florence on Saturday, June 29th, the first of three-and-a-half stages in Italy. And we’re expecting fireworks right away: Stages 1 and 2 are two of the toughest opening stages we’ve ever seen, even harder than the opening stages of last year’s Tour, which took place in the hilly Basque region of northern Spain.

After a day for the sprinters on Stage 3, Stage 4 begins in Pinerolo and brings the race back into France via the 2,642m Col du Galibier. The second-highest climb in this year’s race, the first rider to the summit will win a cash prize given each year in honor of Degrange. By the end of one of the earliest mountain stages in Tour history, the GC battle will be in full swing.

The sprinters will then get two more chances as the race heads north. But the GC battle will resume on Friday, July 5th, with Stage 7, the first of two individual time trials in this year’s Tour. The first week ends with Sunday’s Stage 9, an exciting stage featuring 14 sections of white gravel roads through France’s Champagne region. This will be the first gravel stage in the history of the men’s Tour de France–the women completed a gravel stage of their own through the region in 2022.

After the Tour’s first Rest Day, the race resumes on Tuesday, July 9th, and begins a southwesterly trip–through the Massif Central, which hosts a rugged finish to Stage 11–toward the Pyrenees. Along the way, the sprinters will have a few more opportunities to win a stage before the high mountains return over the weekend.

And they return in a big way, with back-to-back hors categorie (“beyond category”) summit finishes in the mountains that form the border between France and Spain. Saturday’s Stage 12 takes the riders over the Tourmalet–which Desgrange first thought was too hard for the Tour de France–and ends with a finish at the Pla d'Adet ski resort, while Sunday’s Stage 13 ends on the Plateau de Beille–after almost 198km of racing.

As if the mountains aren’t enough cause for excitement, it’s also a holiday weekend: Sunday is Bastille Day–July 14th–so expect the roads on both days to be packed with “festive” fans. By the end of the day, the list of riders capable of winning the 2024 Tour de France will be much shorter than it was a week prior.

The Tour’s third and final week takes the race back east, where an Alpine finale looms. In all, the riders will spend four days in the mountains during the third week, first in the high Alps–with summit finishes at the end of Stage 17 ( at Superdévoluy) and Stage 19 (at Isola 2000). And don’t snooze on Thursday’s Stage 18, a saw-toothed stage from Gap to Barcelonnette that’s filled with short, jagged climbs and could be the perfect place for an ambush–or a Hail Mary–before the final weekend.

But this year’s final weekend is not what we’ve come to expect from Tours of the past. With the Summer Olympics beginning in Paris just five days after the end of the race, this year’s Tour skips its traditional finish on the Champs Elysees and instead finishes in Nice–after the hardest final weekend we’ve seen in decades.

The weekend opens on Saturday, July 20th, with Stage 20, a short but intense stage through the maritime Alps featuring four categorized ascents, including a summit finish on the Category 1 Col de la Couillole.

And just in case that doesn’t settle things, Sunday’s Stage 21 certainly will, as–for the first time in 35 years–the Tour de France ends with an individual time trial. And it’s a hard one: a 33.7 km race against the clock that takes the riders over the Col d'Èze, a tough Category 2 ascent that always features in the final stage of March’s Paris-Nice, an 8-day stage race that Tour contenders often use to build form during the first part of their seasons.

This might bode well for American fans–for two reasons. First, the last time the Tour de France ended with an individual time trial, American Greg Lemond defeated France’s Laurent Fignon–who entered the day wearing the yellow jersey–to win the Tour by eight seconds.

And this year’s winner of Paris-Nice–which finished with a stage over the Col d'Èze–was American Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike), a 24-year-old from Idaho who took the yellow jersey on that final stage. Jorgenson will be lining up at this year’s Tour; could history repeat itself? We can’t wait to find out.

When it comes to watching the Tour de France, you’ve got lots of options. NBC’s Peacock ($5.99/month or $59.99/year) streams all events organized by A.S.O., which means you can watch the Tour de France now and then the Tour de France Femmes in August. (And if you’re looking for ad-free coverage, you’ll need a subscription to Peacock Premium Plus, which runs $11.99 per month or $119.99 for the year.)

The Peacock app is available on Roku, Apple devices, Android and AndroidTV devices, Google platforms, Chromecast, Xbox consoles, PlayStation 4 and 5 consoles, VIZIO SmartCast TVs, and LG Smart TVs. You can also watch online via the Peacock website.

If you have a good cable package and prefer conventional viewing on your television, you’re in luck: NBC will offer the race to cable subscribers via the USA Network and CNBC. Live coverage often starts around 7 a.m. EDT, so 9-to-5ers will likely need to record each stage and watch later. (Check the full schedule for details.)

If you’re in Canada, FloBikes ($29.99/month CDN) is the best way to watch the Tour de France. All 21 stages are available live and on-demand on FloBikes.com, the FloSports iOS app, and the FloSports app for Amazon FireTV, Roku, and Apple TV.

Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) won the 2023 Tour de France, defeating Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) to defend his title from 2022. The two champions engaged in a tense battle during the first two weeks of the race and entered the second Rest Day separated by just ten seconds on the Tour’s General Classification.

But Vingegaard exploded at the start of the third week, crushing Pogačar in an individual time trial on Stage 16 and then dropping him in the Alps on Stage 17. In just two stages, the Dane’s lead went from ten seconds to more than seven minutes. Pogačar saved face by winning Stage 20, but for the second year in a row, the winner of back-to-back Tours in 2020 and 2021 was forced to settle for second place–and the white jersey as the Tour’s Best Young Rider. Pogačar’s teammate, Great Britain’s Adam Yates–won Stage 1 and wore the Tour’s first yellow jersey–finished third overall.

Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was without question the Tour’s best sprinter. The Belgian won four stages and ran away with the green jersey as the winner of the Tour’s Points Classification. Italy’s Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) won the polka dot jersey as the Tour’s King of the Mountains.

Jonas Vingegaard-Hansen (Visma-Lease a Bike)

At this point in time, we’re waiting to hear if Vingegaard will even be starting this year’s Tour de France. The defending champion was one of several Tour favorites taken down in a massive crash at the Tour of the Basque Country in early April. The Dane spent twelve days in the hospital after breaking several bones and suffering a punctured lung in the fall and only resumed training a few weeks ago. Visma-Lease a Bike recently said he has a 50-50 chance of starting the race, but only will do so if the team feels he’s 100% ready to challenge for a third consecutive victory.

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates)

The uncertainty surrounding Vingegaard’s participation makes Pogačar the top favorite. The Slovenian won back-to-back Tours in 2020 and 2021 and scored back-to-back second-place finishes behind the Dane in 2022 and 2023. He’s been training since winning six stages and the General Classification at the recent Giro d’Italia and looks on track to become the first rider since Italy’s Marco Pantani (in 1998) to win the Giro-Tour double.

Primož Roglič (BORA-hansgrohe) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal–Quick-Step)

Vingegaard wasn’t the only Tour contender who went down in that terrible crash at the Tour of the Basque Country: Slovenia’s Primož Roglič–who was leading the race at the time–and Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel were victims as well, and both riders immediately abandoned the race. Roglič injured his knee–but suffered no major injuries–but Evenepoel needed surgery after breaking his clavicle and scapula.

Unlike Vingegaard, both riders were able to get back to training relatively quickly, and they both competed at the recent Critérium du Dauphiné . Roglič won two stages and the General Classification despite almost cracking at the end of the final stage. Evenepoel won the Dauphiné’s only individual time trial, but showed he still has some room to improve after fading in the mountains. He finished the race in seventh place overall.

Carlos Rodríguez (INEOS Grenadiers)

Rodríguez, who won a stage and finished fifth in last year’s Tour de France, won the final stage and finished fourth overall at the Dauphiné, the latest in a series of high-stage race finishes for the 23-year-old. He’ll likely be joining Colombia’s Egan Bernal (who won the Tour in 2019) and Great Britain’s Geraint Thomas (Who won the Tour in 2018) on the starting line in Florence to form one of the deepest eight-rider line-ups in this year’s race.

Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike)

If Vingegaard proves unable to start the Tour, don’t be surprised if Visma-Lease a Bike turns to Matteo Jorgenson to lead the team in his place. After winning Paris-Nice and Dwars door Vlaanderen in March, the American spent much of April and all of May at training camps, building form for the summer.

Well, it must’ve worked, as the 24-year-old nearly snatched the Dauphiné from Roglič after riding away with Rodríguez at the end of the final day. In the end, he lost the race by only eight seconds–another interesting coincidence given Lemond’s margin of victory at the Tour in 1989.

The American has never captained a team at the Tour de France, but he raced the French grand tour in 2022 and 2023–so he at least knows what the Tour’s pressure-cooker atmosphere feels like. And he should benefit from the presence of his teammate Sepp Kuss , the American who shockingly won last year’s Vuelta a España and played a pivotal role in each of the six grand Tours won by the team prior to his own victory at the Vuelta last September.

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