France ski holiday facts
France has some of the best skiing in the world. The French Alps are unsurpassed in the facilities offered, the resorts to choose from and the convenience of modern lift systems.
Many resorts are linked to form huge ski circuits with a wide variety of pistes to suit all abilities. An increasing number of resorts now offer dedicated snowparks, half-pipes, specialist schools and board hire to accommodate the increasing number of snowboarders attracted by the superb snow conditions.
Away from the pistes, there is a range of activities from ice skating and sleigh rides to hang gliding and parascending. The scenery is stunning and the apres-ski unbeatable!
Ski Chamonix - Chamonix is close to the highest peak in Europe - Mont Blanc (4807 m). There are few villages you can stay in: Argentiere, Les Praz, Chamonix, Les Houches. The skiing area offers you about 150 km of ski slopes, with 30 km for advanced skiers, 70 km for intermediates, and 46 km for beginners.
Skiing holidays Serre-Chevalier - This ski resort is, in fact, composed of 13 villages spread along the Guisane valley, the main ones are Monetier, Villeneuve and Chantemerle. Each village is different, some of them are traditional and the others modern but they all share the same skiing area which stretches along the valley. The skiing conditions are excellent for intermediates and beginners, and there is plenty of slopes for advanced. Each town is served by a good lift system and it is easy to move between the resorts.
Alpe d'Huez skiing - The high altitude guarantees good snow coverage of all 10,000 hectares of the ski area, in other words, 236 km of runs with average elevation of 2,210 metres, and 3,000 hectares for skiing. There are 700 snowmaking machines in the area which means you can ski all the way back to Alpe d'Huez and the resort villages.
Meribel skiing - Situated in the Meribel Valley in the entrance of the worldwide famous Three Valley (Les Trois Valleys) ski area - world's largest interlinked ski area with more than 600 kilometers of ski runs serviced by almost 200 lift facilities. The resort itself, provides its guest with instant access to 144 kilometers of runs (71% of them being of intermediate difficulty level), which are located in the Meribel Valley. It is, however, clear that the Valley is connected with the neighbour resorts of Courchevel, Val Thorens and Les Menuires.
Courchevel ski resorts - The skiing region accessible directly from Courchevel is vast. This ski resort is a typical purpose-built alpine spot founded for winter sports lovers - the skiers and boarders. No matter in
which part of Courchevel you stay, the ski slopes and facilities are easily and quickly accessible.
There are 4 areas to stay in Courcheval -
Courchevel 1850 - the highest resort area. The chalets, hotels and restaurants located in this part belong to the best and most expensive in the Alps.
Courchevel 1650 offers typical alpine atmosphere and is what a traditional alpine ski resort shall look like.
Courchevel 1550 is popular with families as apartment accommodation is offered at reasonable rates.
Courchevel 1300 or Le Praz is an example of a purpose-built ski resort typical of the French Alps.
Ski in Val Thorens - Val Thorens is the highest ski resort of Europe. Visiting and skiing Val Thorens will put you above those spending their winter ski holidays in other ski resorts of France, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. Situated at the stunning altitude of 2300 metres above sea level, Val Thorens welcomes skiers, boarders and other winter travellers with the best snow conditions in Europe and not so ugly architecture, what can be a lure for visitors disliking all these purpose-built French ski resorts.
Val d'Isere ski holidays - This resort is part of a large skiing area, called 'Espace Killy'. It is a hometown of Jean-Claude Killy - Winter Olympic Games medalist. Nowadays Val D'Isere is an efficient ski resort, ready to receive international clientele. Contrary to many other ski resorts it has never forgotten about its traditions. It is famous for the exceptional skiing, but also for its special atmosphere.
Ski holiday Tignes - Tignes is a small town situated in the vicinity of the Grande Motte glacier offering plenty of great skiing opportunities. Together with the nearby resort Val d'Isere, it forms the enormous Espace Killy - a mecca for experts and an ideal place for adventurous intermediates making it one of the most popular choices for winter skiing enthusiasts. Because of its location snow is guaranteed here throughout the whole season.
La Plagne skiing - Set high in the magnificent Savoie French Alps, dominated by the mighty Mont Blanc, La Plagne is one of the most famous and exciting high altitude ski areas in the world. One of the first purpose-built resorts in France, La Plagne comprises ten interlinked ski centres, each virtually self-contained with shops, restaurants, ski schools and children's village and with direct access onto the ski area. Each village is well connected and gondolas and/or a bus service run between them (excluding Les Coches and Montchavin - access from these two villages to the rest of La Plagne is via the lifts and pistes of the ski area). Linked to Les Arcs by the new Vanoise Express lift, the new "Paradiski" area offers a mighty 425kms of pistes.
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