Les Deux Alpes

Ski Weekends in Les Deux Alpes, France

Les Deux Alpes is a high-altitude resort in France that lays claim to a number of records, including the largest skiable glacier in Europe, as well as the longest fully on-piste vertical available in the world – 2200m.

Beyond these achievements, it's snowsure reputation and impressive off piste terrain make it a firm favourite for British visitors. The resort boasts 200km of on piste terrain, beginners are well catered for, expert skiers can head over to La Grave and the resort is also home to one of the best snowparks in Europe.

225km of Ski Area
Highest Lift at 3568
49 Ski Lifts
60 Red Runs
19 Black Runs
Apres Ski/Amenities
for Beginners
for Intermediates
for Advanced

About Les Deux Alpes

The village is a long, sprawling collection of apartments, hotels, bars and shops, most of which line the two streets that form the one-way traffic system. Much of the accommodation is very good value, certainly compared to some of the other big French resorts.

Off the slopes there is loads to do and you could quite happily come here and not even head up the mountain, see the resort’s website for more details.

Why we love Les Deux Alpes!

Snowsure glacier skiing and exciting off-piste terrain have made Les Deux Alpes a well-established favourite among British skiers. You can explore over 220km of piste in this ski area, complete with incredible views from the slopes. The resort is known as being ‘upside down’ because some of the easiest runs and beginner slopes are found higher up the mountain. Consequently some of the steepest and toughest slopes run into the resort, making Les Deux Alpes pretty unique.

Off the slopes there’s a really lively atmosphere and après ski scene spread across the 2km long main street. There’s a great selection of bars to choose between, including some friendly pubs, sports bars, clubs and a couple of quiet, more traditional après venues. There are also plenty of restaurants to whet your appetite, including some simple pub food and crêperies, and we always recommend trying out the traditional Savoyard cuisine.

For Beginners

The gentle slopes at the base of the hill are ideal for beginners, especially as their sunny aspect keeps the cold at bay and several of the lifts are free. From here, progression to longer greens on the Crêtes ridge and down the long, winding Demoiselles piste is good – just steer clear of these areas at the end of the day to avoid the crowds returning home. On a sunny day, the gentle blues on the glacier are a good option, just make sure you’re competent on draglifts.

For Intermediates and Advanced

Intermediate skiers and boarders will enjoy the snow quality and the gentle runs at the top of the mountain, although some of the main routes can get busy and there is not a huge amount of groomed terrain to explore. The under-utilised Vallée Blanche sector on the other side of town has some good runs but you will need to ride slow, old chairlifts.

On piste there are some genuine blacks, including the Bellecombes 6 and in good snow both Diable 1 and Diable 2. The main attraction however is the off piste, much of which centres on the La Fée sector and the Chalance off piste route. Expert skiers should make sure they catch the snowcat connection to La Grave, where some of the world’s best and gnarliest off piste terrain can be found.