Travel
French winter resorts for alpine, downhill skiers and snowboarders
Are you still looking for a place to go for your winter holidays? Why not in France?
Whatever type of winter activity you are looking for, you will find it in France. If you are a snowbarder, an alpine or a cross country skier, the many French winter resorts have a wide choice of activities. In addition there snowshoe walks, après-ski parties and shopping. Many resorts are also child friendly and have a good day care system and mini-clubs.
Arc 2000:
- located in the Savoie near Tignes
- ski up to 10583 feet (3226 meters)
- is beloved by snowboarders
- excellent for all types of skiers
- has many drag and chair lifts
- is a ski in and out station
- known for its 4.3 miles (7 km) black run
Alpe d’Huez 1860-2100:
- is excellent for snowboarders and for good skiers
- offers guaranteed snow
- is a sunny place, with almost guaranteed sunshine
- Black run lovers will like the 9.9 miles (16 km) “La Sarenne” black run.
- Bicycle Race, Le Tour de France, often has a stop there.
- Village once hosted the Olympic games.
Village d’enfants-Avoriaz-copyrights Stéphane Lerendu
Avoriaz:
- located at 3608 feet (1100 meters) in the Portes du soleil area
- excellent for après-ski parties
- is the perfect place for families in the Alps with good day care
- is a car free village
- built the first snow park in France for snowboarders in the 90’s
Plan Régional Avoriaz copyrights tourist office
Chatel:
- located just at the Swiss border and close to Geneva
- is a child friendly village
- tourist office offers many activities for the entire family.
- holds a great weekly market
- has many good slopes
Chamonix:
- located in Haute Savoie near the Mont Blanc chain mountain
- is the oldest winter resort in France
- excellent for ski and après-ski parties
- has guaranteed snow with glaciers nearby
- excellent for those who know how to ski
- not too good for cross country skiing and snowboarders
downtown Megéve
Contamines-Montjoie:
- located in Haute Savoie
- families with young children will love it.
- excellent place for advanced skiers (mainly black and red slopes)
- is a free traffic resort with a car parking at the village entrance
Courchevel:
- located in the Trois Vallées region in Savoy
- is chic village with great shopping especially at Courchevel 1850
- resort for the rich and famous; Family Beckham & Prince Williams like to ski there.
- has challenging black funs
- offers great slopes
La Clusaz:
- located in the Massif of Aravis
- excellent for beginners and advanced skiers
- has 54 lifts
- known to be an affordable winter resort
- is family friendly with good day care system
- still has its Savoyard charm
La Plagne
- located in Savoy in the Tarentaise Valley
- has guaranteed snow
- good for cross country skiing
- excellent for snow boarders with snow parks
- great place for kids to learn how to ski and for beginners
- is a ski and out resort
Ski mondial – copyrights Stéphane Céros and office of tourism Les Deux Alpes
Les Deux Alpes:
- can ski up to 11811 feet (3600 meters)
- all year round ski resort
- has guaranteed snow due to its glacier
- is excellent for snowboarding
- family friendly resort
- great for après-ski parties and night life
Le Grand Bornand/Chinaillon:
- convenient to the Geneva airport
- fun and excellent skiing opportunities for families
- has lovely old chalets
- Mt Lachat goes up to 6889 feet (2100 meters) in Chinaillon.
Les Saisies:
- located 1 hour from Geneva in the Savoy
- excellent resort for beginner and intermediate skiers
- is good for advanced and snowboarders
- is a family friendly resort
- less known, so is a more affordable resort
- cross-country skiing and great opportunities for snowshoe walking
La station des Saisies, © Monica Dalmasso
Megève:
- located in Haute Savoy
- no snow guaranteed as it is at a low altitude
- classy village with good shopping and a casino
- like the St. Moritz of Switzerland
- is an excellent place to go if you have a family
- 45% of the slopes are easy
- is good for snowboarders
- excellent for cross-country skiing
Méribel:
- located in the Trois Valllées, close to Courchevel and Val Thorens
- ski up to 9685 feet (2952 meters)
- is a very beautiful beloved French village
- has lots of blue slopes
- is excellent for intermediate skiers
- ski in and out resort
- visited by many British and French
Samoens:
- located in the Grand Massif, less than 1 hour to Geneva airport
- has many good lifts (95)
- excellent for snowboarders with a total of 3 parks in Grand Massif
- is a beautiful old and traditional village
Tignes:
- located in the Espace Killy region
- has become more and more popular over the last 13 years
- all year round skiing due to the Grande Motte Glacier
- is known for its great nightlife
- offers many different runs for all levels and snowparks
Val d’Isère:
- located at an altitude of 6069 feet (1850 meters)
- has a large ski area and good for every level
- has lots of off piste opportunities
- resort with guaranteed snow
- tends to have a lot of people on the slopes
- excellent for those looking for glamour
- excellent for après-ski parties
- is not one of the most affordable ski resorts!
Val Thorens:
- located at 7545 feet (2300 meters) in the Trois Vallées in Savoy
- snow guaranteed as it is the highest altitude resort in Europe
- ski in and out resort
- ski up to 10498 feet (3200 meters)
- is great for après-ski parties
- traffic free village with large parking garages at the entrance
- has all types of slopes
- good for cross-country skiing
- excellent for off piste skiing
