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A Guide to the Best Ski Resorts in the French Alps
There are more than 150 French Alps ski resorts, from giant linked areas to farming villages with a few lifts. Huge mountains, quick transfer times, epic lift-accessed off-piste and resorts suitable for all abilities make the French Alps a top choice for your next ski trip. The two biggest areas, Les 3 Vallées and the Portes du Soleil, have 600 km of pistes each. Tignes and Val Thorens stay open from 21 Nov 2026 to 2 May 2027. La Clusaz, meanwhile, is just 1 h – 1 h 15 from Geneva airport. Below, we compare 27 of the best on stats, season and transfers, with honest picks for every skier.
When it comes to skiing in France, the French Alps are the main event. You’ll find everything from internationally famous resorts with hundreds of kilometres of groomed pistes to traditional Alpine villages where skiing is part of everyday life. These mountains are also home to the mighty Mont Blanc, western Europe’s highest mountain with endless possibilities for ski mountaineering, steep skiing and full-day epic off-piste descents.
In France, people talk about the Northern French Alps and the Southern French Alps. The Northern Alps stretch from Chamonix and the Portes du Soleil down to the Tarentaise and Les 3 Vallées. The Southern Alps include ski resorts just south of Grenoble all the way to the Mediterranean coast. Of the 27 resorts on this page, the northern ones are in Haute-Savoie and Savoie. The southern ones, by comparison, are in Isère, the Hautes-Alpes and the Alpes-Maritimes.
The French Alps in Summer
The French Alps aren’t just a winter destination. Many of the resorts you’ll ski in the colder months transform into world-class mountain biking terrain when the snow melts — Morzine, Chamonix and Les Gets are as famous for their summer singletrack as they are for their winter pistes. The same cable cars that haul skiers up to 3,000 m in January deliver hikers to some of Europe’s most spectacular alpine trails from June to September, including the iconic Tour du Mont Blanc — you’ll find those covered in our guide to hiking in the French Alps. And if you’re after something more vertical, the Chamonix valley is also the heartland of Alpine mountaineering in France, from the summit of Mont Blanc to the granite spires of the Aiguilles.
French Alps Skiing at a Glance
- Ski resorts: more than 150 in the French Alps (around 250 in France); 27 compared on this page
- Largest ski area: Les 3 Vallées: 600 km of pistes, 169 lifts, 7 resorts (officially the world’s largest linked area)
- Highest resort: Val Thorens, 2,300 m (billed as Europe’s highest ski resort)
- Highest lift: Aiguille du Midi cable car, Chamonix, 3,842 m (off-piste only); highest pistes: Les 2 Alpes glacier, 3,600 m
- Season: early to mid-December until April at most resorts; 21 Nov 2026 – 2 May 2027 at Tignes and Val Thorens
- Main airports: Geneva, Lyon Saint-Exupéry, Chambéry, Grenoble-Isère, Turin and Nice
- Departments (our 27 resorts): Haute-Savoie (74), Savoie (73), Isère (38), Hautes-Alpes (05) and Alpes-Maritimes (06)
Plan Your Trip
Best French Alps Ski Resorts by Type
With over 20 resorts on this page, narrowing down the right one for your trip can feel overwhelming. Here’s a quick guide to the standout resorts for each type of skier.
Beginners & Families
Our pick for first-timers is Les Houches, with gentle beginner areas at Bellevue and Prarion. La Plagne has some of the gentlest, most confidence-building terrain in the Alps, and its mellow pistes wind through the trees. Les Gets is a traditional village with a welcoming atmosphere and well-graded slopes perfect for young families. Les Menuires, meanwhile, offers exceptional value for money combined with snow-sure intermediate terrain.
Big Linked Ski Areas
Our pick is Les 3 Vallées, officially the world’s largest linked ski area: 600 km of pistes across 7 resorts. The Portes du Soleil (via Morzine and Avoriaz) spreads across the French-Swiss border with 600 km. Paradiski, meanwhile, links Les Arcs and La Plagne into a 425 km network, and Tignes–Val d’Isère (formerly Espace Killy) adds 300 km of high, snow-sure skiing.
Snow-Sure & High Altitude
For reliable snow, our pick is Val Thorens, billed as Europe’s highest ski resort (2,300 m). Its lifts climb to 3,230 m. The Tignes–Val d’Isère area tops out at 3,456 m on the Grande Motte, and both resorts stay open until 2 May 2027. Les 2 Alpes has the highest lift-served pistes in the French Alps, on a glacier that reaches 3,600 m. Among the highest ski resorts in France, these four are your best bets for November and late April.
Off-Piste & Freeride
Chamonix is the undisputed capital — the Grands Montets and Vallée Blanche offer some of the most iconic backcountry terrain in the world. For a quieter alternative with equally impressive powder, Sainte Foy Tarentaise has huge untracked fields that don’t get skied out for days. La Grave is in a league of its own — an unmarked, unpatrolled mountain for expert skiers only. Read our full guide to off-piste skiing in the French Alps for the complete roundup.
Advanced & Expert
Our pick for strong skiers is Val d’Isère, which offers the most complete package. You get world-class pistes, steep chutes and couloirs, and extensive off-piste, all linked to Tignes on one pass. Alpe d’Huez has a massive 2,205 m vertical. It’s also home to the 16 km Sarenne, billed by the resort as Europe’s longest black run. Chamonix’s Grands Montets and Courchevel’s steep terrain off La Saulire (2,740 m) round out the list.
Village Charm
Chamonix has more character than anywhere else in the French Alps — a real mountain town, not a ski resort that happens to have a village. Megève is refined and charming with excellent on-mountain restaurants. La Clusaz is an unspoilt, uncrowded French town just 1 h – 1 h 15 from Geneva. Châtel and Arêches-Beaufort, too, keep a genuine farming-village feel.
Short Transfers from Geneva
Our pick is La Clusaz, the closest of our 27 resorts to Geneva airport. It’s about 60 km by road, so the transfer takes just 1 h – 1 h 15. Les Gets, Les Houches, Megève and Chamonix are only 10–15 minutes further, at 1 h 15 – 1 h 30, while Morzine takes 1 h 15 – 1 h 45. They’re the best ski resorts near Geneva for a long weekend. Times are typical private transfers in good conditions, so allow extra time on winter Saturdays.
Best Value
Looking for cheap ski resorts in France? Arêches-Beaufort and Les Menuires offer serious skiing at well below the prices of the headline resorts. Arêches-Beaufort’s 6-day pass is €214, the cheapest we priced. Isola 2000 is a short transfer from Nice and considerably cheaper than the Northern Alps. Serre Chevalier isn’t the cheapest pass at €345. Still, 250 km of uncrowded slopes make it great value, especially with 4–20% off when you buy it with accommodation.
French Alps Ski Resorts Compared
These tables compare all 27 resorts, north to south, on ski area, top lift, vertical, 2026/27 season and transfer. Top lift and vertical are for each resort’s own lifts unless the notes below the tables say otherwise. Transfers are typical private transfers from the nearest airport in good conditions, so allow extra time on winter Saturdays. Click a resort name to read our full guide.
Haute-Savoie and the Beaufortain
| Resort | Ski area (km) | Top lift (m) | Vertical (m) | 2026/27 season | Airport & transfer | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avoriaz | Portes du Soleil (600 km); 75 km local | 2,260 | 1,080 | 11 Dec – 18 Apr | Geneva, 1 h 30 – 2 h | Snowparks, ski-in/ski-out, Portes du Soleil |
| Morzine | Portes du Soleil (600 km); 120 km Morzine–Les Gets | 2,002 | 1,002 | 19 Dec – 4 Apr* | Geneva, 1 h 15 – 1 h 45 | Big linked area, short transfer |
| Châtel | Portes du Soleil (600 km); 120 km Espace Liberté | 2,200 | 1,000 | 5 Dec* – 18 Apr | Geneva, 1 h 30 – 2 h | Village charm, beginner-friendly park |
| Les Gets | Portes du Soleil (600 km); 120 km Les Gets–Morzine | 2,002 | 1,002 | 12 Dec* – 11 Apr | Geneva, 1 h 15 – 1 h 30 | Families, short transfer |
| Chamonix | Chamonix valley (169 km, 4 unlinked areas) | 2,765‡ | 1,530 | 28 Nov† – 2 May* | Geneva, 1 h 15 – 1 h 30 | Off-piste, experts, real mountain town |
| Les Houches | Les Houches–Saint-Gervais (55 km) | 1,900 | 900 | 19 Dec – 4 Apr | Geneva, 1 h 15 – 1 h 30 | Beginners, families, tree skiing |
| Megève | Évasion Mont-Blanc (445 km) | 2,350 | 1,237 | 5 Dec* – 4 Apr | Geneva, 1 h 15 – 1 h 30 | Village charm, mountain restaurants |
| La Clusaz | La Clusaz–Manigod (125 km) | c. 2,480† | c. 1,435† | TBC (2025/26: 13 Dec – 26 Apr) | Geneva, 1 h – 1 h 15 | Shortest Geneva transfer, village charm |
| Arêches-Beaufort | Stand-alone (50 km) | 2,300 | 1,220 | 19 Dec – 4 Apr | Chambéry, 1 h 15 – 1 h 30 | Value, ski touring, village charm |
Upper Tarentaise
| Resort | Ski area (km) | Top lift (m) | Vertical (m) | 2026/27 season | Airport & transfer | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bourg-Saint-Maurice | Paradiski (425 km) via Les Arcs funicular | 3,226 | 2,026 | 12 Dec – 17 Apr | Chambéry, 1 h 30 – 1 h 45 | Train access, budget Paradiski base |
| La Rosière | Espace San Bernardo (156 km) | 2,800 | 950 | 12 Dec – TBC | Chambéry, 1 h 45 – 2 h 15 | Off-piste, Franco-Italian skiing |
| Sainte Foy | Stand-alone (43 km) | 2,620 | 1,070 | 12 Dec – 18 Apr | Chambéry, 1 h 45 – 2 h | Off-piste powder, quiet slopes |
| Les Arcs | Paradiski (425 km); 200 km local | 3,226 | 2,026 | 12 Dec – 17 Apr | Chambéry, 1 h 45 – 2 h | Big linked area, varied terrain |
| La Plagne | Paradiski (425 km); 225 km local | 3,080 | 1,830 | 12 Dec – 24 Apr* | Chambéry, 1 h 30 – 2 h | Beginners, families, Paradiski cruising |
| Tignes | Tignes–Val d’Isère (300 km) | 3,456 | 1,906 | 21 Nov – 2 May | Chambéry, 2 h – 2 h 30 | Snow-sure, long season, linked area |
| Val d’Isère | Tignes–Val d’Isère (300 km) | 3,197 | 1,347 | 28 Nov – 2 May | Chambéry, 2 h – 2 h 30 | Experts, snow-sure, off-piste |
Les 3 Vallées
| Resort | Ski area (km) | Top lift (m) | Vertical (m) | 2026/27 season | Airport & transfer | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Les 3 Vallées | Les 3 Vallées (600 km) | 3,230 | 2,130 | 5 Dec – 18 Apr* | Chambéry, 1 h 15 – 1 h 30 (to Méribel) | Largest linked area, all levels |
| Courchevel | Les 3 Vallées (600 km); 150 km local | 2,740 | 1,440 | 4 Dec – 18 Apr | Chambéry, 1 h 30 – 1 h 45 | Experts, varied terrain, tree runs |
| Méribel | Les 3 Vallées (600 km); 150 km local | 2,919 | 1,819 | 5 Dec – 18 Apr | Chambéry, 1 h 15 – 1 h 30 | Groomed cruising, central 3 Vallées |
| Val Thorens | Les 3 Vallées (600 km); 150 km Val Thorens–Orelle | 3,230 | 930 | 21 Nov – 2 May | Chambéry, 1 h 30 – 2 h | Snow-sure, highest resort village |
| Les Menuires | Les 3 Vallées (600 km); 160 km local | 2,850 | 1,400 | 5 Dec – 18 Apr | Chambéry, 1 h 30 – 2 h | Value, families, 3 Vallées access |
| La Tania | Les 3 Vallées (600 km); 150 km Courchevel sector | 2,740 | 1,440 | 5 Dec – 11 Apr | Chambéry, 1 h 15 – 1 h 30 | Tree runs, bad-weather days |
Southern French Alps
| Resort | Ski area (km) | Top lift (m) | Vertical (m) | 2026/27 season | Airport & transfer | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpe d’Huez | Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine (250 km) | 3,330 | 2,205 | 5 Dec – 25 Apr | Grenoble, 1 h 30 – 1 h 45 | Experts, big vertical, Sarenne run |
| Les 2 Alpes | Les 2 Alpes (220 km) | 3,600 | 2,300 | 28 Nov – 2 May | Grenoble, 1 h 30 – 1 h 45 | Snow-sure glacier, parks, nightlife |
| La Grave | La Grave (off-piste only) | 3,200 | 1,750 | TBC (2025/26: 20 Dec – 3 May) | Grenoble, 1 h 30 – 2 h | Expert off-piste only |
| Serre Chevalier | Serre Chevalier Vallée (250 km) | 2,800 | 1,600 | 5 Dec – 18 Apr* | Turin, 1 h 45 – 2 h 15 | Off-piste, tree skiing, good value |
| Isola 2000 | Stand-alone (120 km) | 2,610 | 810 | 5 Dec – TBC | Nice, 1 h 15 – 1 h 45 | Value, Nice access, ski-and-sea |
Skiing in the Northern French Alps
The Northern French Alps offer big mountain terrain and some of France’s most famous ski resorts. Think Chamonix, Tignes, Val d’Isère and Méribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens in the legendary Les 3 Vallées. Fast and efficient ski lift networks zip you around the resorts.
It’s not just high-altitude super resorts, though: you’ll also find some great smaller resorts at lower altitudes. Quieter and less expensive, if the snow’s good lower down, these can be a good option. Check out Arêches-Beaufort and La Clusaz. The Northern French Alps also offer easy access from Geneva, Chambéry and Lyon airports. That means less travel time and more time on the slopes. Geneva is the gateway for Haute-Savoie, while Chambéry is closest for Les 3 Vallées and the Tarentaise.
Skiing in the Southern French Alps
With a great snow record, the Southern French Alps shouldn’t be overlooked. They’re sunny too: the Hautes-Alpes markets itself on ‘300 days of sunshine’. The main southern resorts on this page are Alpe d’Huez, Les 2 Alpes, La Grave, Serre Chevalier and Isola 2000. Where the French Alps meet Provence, these ski resorts have a laid-back atmosphere and some amazing skiing terrain. From the jagged peaks of the Écrins to the coastal mountains in the Mercantour National Park, there’s great piste skiing. You’ll find some of France’s best ski touring here too.
Alpe d’Huez and Les 2 Alpes are 1 h 30 – 1 h 45 from Grenoble-Isère airport. That’s a typical private transfer in good conditions, so allow extra time on winter Saturdays. Serre Chevalier is closer to Turin (1 h 45 – 2 h 15) than to Grenoble (2 h – 2 h 30). For Isola 2000, fly into Nice, about 90 km away. In springtime it’s very possible to ski one day and swim in the Med the next.
The Big French Alps Ski Areas Explained
The biggest French Alps ski areas link several resorts on one lift pass. Les 3 Vallées and the Portes du Soleil have 600 km of pistes each. Then come Évasion Mont-Blanc (445 km), Paradiski (425 km) and Tignes–Val d’Isère (300 km). So buy the area pass to ski the lot, or a cheaper local pass if you’ll stay in one valley.
| Ski area | Pistes | Lifts | Resorts on the pass | 6-day adult pass 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Les 3 Vallées | 600 km | 169 | Courchevel (incl. La Tania), Méribel, Brides-les-Bains, Les Menuires, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, Val Thorens, Orelle | €421 |
| Portes du Soleil | 600 km | 202 | 12 resorts in France and Switzerland, incl. Avoriaz, Morzine, Les Gets, Châtel | €373 (€352 online) |
| Évasion Mont-Blanc | 445 km | 110 | Megève, Saint-Gervais, Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce, Combloux, La Giettaz, Les Contamines-Montjoie, Hauteluce | €324.50 |
| Paradiski | 425 km | not published | Les Arcs, Peisey-Vallandry, La Plagne, linked by the Vanoise Express | €412 |
| Tignes–Val d’Isère | 300 km | 71 | Tignes, Val d’Isère | €468 |
| Grand Massif | 265 km | almost 60 | Flaine, Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoëns, Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval | TBC |
| Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine | 250 km | 67 | Alpe d’Huez, Auris-en-Oisans, Oz-en-Oisans, Vaujany, Villard-Reculas | €336.50 |
| Serre Chevalier Vallée Briançon | 250 km | 59 | Briançon, Chantemerle, Villeneuve, Le Monêtier-les-Bains | €345 |
Passes for Areas That Aren’t Linked
Some passes cover areas that lifts don’t link. Mont-Blanc Unlimited (€499 for 6 days) adds Les Houches, all of Évasion Mont-Blanc and the Aiguille du Midi to Chamonix. It even covers Courmayeur in Italy and Crans-Montana in Switzerland. AEON 3 Domaines covers Les 2 Alpes, Alpe d’Huez and La Grave. Similarly, the Aravis pass (230 km) covers La Clusaz, Manigod and Le Grand-Bornand, linked by ski bus. And on the Italian border, the Espace San Bernardo (156 km) links La Rosière with La Thuile.
Why Ski the French Alps?
Skiing in the French Alps gets you linked areas of up to 600 km and lift-accessed off-piste. Better still, every resort on this page is within 2 h 30 of its nearest airport in good conditions. Skiers of every stripe flock to the French Alps each winter, from families and couples who enjoy the wide open pistes of Les 3 Vallées to serious all-mountain skiers who pit their wits against the steep terrain of Chamonix and La Grave.
Resorts such as Tignes, Chamonix, Val d’Isère, Courchevel and Morzine are now home to some of the largest seasonaire communities in the Alps. The ski resorts of Les 3 Vallées are officially the world’s largest linked ski area. They share 169 lifts and 600 km of skiing on 337 runs. It’s here you’ll find some of the best snow-sure, high-altitude terrain in the French Alps.
You don’t have to be a pro to enjoy the best of the French Alps. Most resorts aim to cater for every level, with great beginner runs and wide open pistes to learn and practise your first turns, fast and fun red runs for intermediates, and more challenging blacks for advanced skiers. Plus easy access to some amazing off-piste skiing wherever you go.
The French Alps are often criticised by freestyle skiers for not having enough good quality snow parks (although Avoriaz, Serre Chevalier, Les Arcs and Tignes are trying hard to catch up with the US and Canada), but when you ski the natural terrain, it’s easy to see why snow parks aren’t always top of the agenda.
Skiing in France Beyond the Alps
France has around 250 alpine ski resorts, and the Alps hold more than 150 of them. The rest sit in the Pyrenees, the Massif Central, the Jura and the Vosges. We focus on the Alps because that’s where the giant linked areas are. For the bigger picture, see our guide to skiing in France. Whichever range you pick, the French winter equipment law applies there too, from 1 November to 31 March.
French Alps Ski Resorts Map
Use this map to see where the resorts on this page sit. They run from Avoriaz and Châtel on the Swiss border to Isola 2000 in the mountains behind Nice. When you zoom in, you’ll see how they cluster around Geneva, the Tarentaise valley and Grenoble.
The 27 Best Ski Resorts in the French Alps
Here’s a list of the top French Alps ski resorts, organised geographically from north to south. Each card links to our full resort guide and to where to stay.
1. Skiing in Avoriaz
Top lift: 2,260 m (Mossettes chair).
Vertical: 1,080 m.
Pistes: 75 km (local) / 600 km (Portes du Soleil).
Ski area: Portes du Soleil.
Nearest airport: Geneva (1 h 30 – 2 h).
Best for: Snowparks, ski-in/ski-out, Portes du Soleil.
The snowpark capital of France and easily accessible off-piste with lots of steep, fun terrain to ride. It may be home to the strangest architecture on the planet but virtually all accommodation has incredible access to the slopes.
2. Skiing in Morzine
Top lift: 2,002 m (Morzine–Les Gets area).
Vertical: 1,002 m (Morzine–Les Gets area).
Pistes: 120 km (Morzine–Les Gets) / 600 km (Portes du Soleil).
Ski area: Portes du Soleil.
Nearest airport: Geneva (1 h 15 – 1 h 45).
Best for: Big linked area, short transfer.
Morzine is your gateway to the Portes du Soleil, a vast area that spreads across the border between France and Switzerland. With several world-class snowparks, incredible freeriding and access to Avoriaz via the Super Morzine gondola, there’s masses of riding.
3. Skiing in Châtel
Top lift: 2,200 m.
Vertical: 1,000 m.
Pistes: 120 km (Espace Liberté) / 600 km (Portes du Soleil).
Ski area: Portes du Soleil.
Nearest airport: Geneva (1 h 30 – 2 h).
Best for: Village charm, beginner-friendly park.
Châtel is a pretty alpine village in the heart of the Portes du Soleil with some outstanding skiing and a genuine traditional feel that the neighbouring purpose-built resorts lack. The Smoothpark snowpark is one of the most accessible in the Alps — perfect for budding freestylers, but with features that keep more advanced riders entertained too.
4. Skiing in Les Gets
Top lift: 2,002 m (Les Gets–Morzine area).
Vertical: 1,002 m (Les Gets–Morzine area).
Pistes: 120 km (Les Gets–Morzine) / 600 km (Portes du Soleil).
Ski area: Portes du Soleil.
Nearest airport: Geneva (1 h 15 – 1 h 30).
Best for: Families, short transfer.
Les Gets is a charming traditional village that doubles as a gateway to the vast Portes du Soleil ski area. The local slopes are particularly well-suited to families and intermediates — wide, well-groomed blues and reds through the trees with views across to Mont Blanc. But the real draw is the sheer scale of what’s connected: from Les Gets you can ski across to Morzine, Avoriaz, and beyond into Switzerland without taking your skis off. In summer, the same village is one of the premier mountain biking destinations in the Alps.
5. Skiing in Chamonix
Top lift: 2,765 m (Grands Montets; the Aiguille du Midi cable car reaches 3,842 m but serves no pistes).
Vertical: 1,530 m (Grands Montets).
Pistes: 169 km (valley total across 4 unlinked areas, incl. Les Houches).
Ski area: Chamonix valley, 4 unlinked areas (Chamonix Le Pass / Mont-Blanc Unlimited).
Nearest airport: Geneva (1 h 15 – 1 h 30).
Best for: Off-piste, experts, real mountain town.
Situated at the foot of Mont Blanc, Chamonix offers a huge variety of terrain including some of the world’s best off-piste skiing. The often sunny, south-facing slopes of Le Brévent are great for fast top to bottom runs. Advanced skiers, don’t miss the Grands Montets or the epic Vallée Blanche. The Grands Montets summit stays closed in 2026/27, but its lifts still reach 2,765 m. For a more mellow ski, head for the rolling terrain and wide-open pistes of Le Tour.
6. Skiing in Les Houches
Top lift: 1,900 m (Prarion).
Vertical: 900 m.
Pistes: 55 km (Les Houches–Saint-Gervais).
Ski area: Les Houches–Saint-Gervais (not linked to Chamonix’s other areas; on the Mont-Blanc Unlimited pass).
Nearest airport: Geneva (1 h 15 – 1 h 30).
Best for: Beginners, families, tree skiing.
Les Houches has some fantastic off-piste skiing despite its beginner-friendly reputation. From the top of the resort you can ‘choose your own adventure’ through the trees. There’s a Ski Camp fun zone at the top of Prarion. And there are plenty of wide open pistes and steep sections for speed freaks. With spectacular views over the Mont Blanc range and great restaurants, there’s a lot to like about Les Houches.
7. Skiing in Megève
Top lift: 2,350 m (Mont Joly).
Vertical: 1,237 m.
Pistes: 445 km (Évasion Mont-Blanc; no Megève-only figure published).
Ski area: Évasion Mont-Blanc.
Nearest airport: Geneva (1 h 15 – 1 h 30).
Best for: Village charm, mountain restaurants.
With its charming old town centre, chic atmosphere and sunny setting, Megève provides an authentic and refined ski holiday experience. Although the resort is quite low, it has a good snow record with uncrowded pistes and easy access to some great backcountry terrain, and all with a backdrop of the mighty Mont Blanc. Plus, there are some excellent restaurants on the mountain for lunch.
8. Skiing in La Clusaz
Top lift: c. 2,480 m (new Col de Balme chairlift in 2026; exact top altitude TBC).
Vertical: c. 1,435 m (measured from the old 2,477 m top; TBC).
Pistes: 125 km (La Clusaz–Manigod); 230 km on the Aravis pass (Le Grand-Bornand is by ski bus, not ski-linked).
Ski area: La Clusaz–Manigod.
Nearest airport: Geneva (1 h – 1 h 15).
Best for: Shortest Geneva transfer, village charm.
Get away from the crowds and experience an unspoilt French mountain town just 1 h – 1 h 15 from Geneva airport. Great for beginners but scratch the surface and you’ll find lots of good tree runs and kickers. Look out for French skiing legend Candide Thovex here on powder days.
9. Skiing in Arêches-Beaufort
Top lift: 2,300 m.
Vertical: 1,220 m.
Pistes: 50 km (stand-alone).
Ski area: Arêches-Beaufort (stand-alone, not linked).
Nearest airport: Chambéry (1 h 15 – 1 h 30); Geneva 2 h – 2 h 30.
Best for: Value, ski touring, village charm.
Arêches-Beaufort is a traditional French Alpine village located halfway between Albertville and Bourg-Saint-Maurice. It’s a beautiful resort with a great snow record and easily accessible off-piste. Renowned for its great ski touring, there are itineraries for all abilities. Arêches-Beaufort also plays host to the hair-raising Pierra Menta ski-mountaineering event.
10. Skiing in Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Top lift: 3,226 m (Les Arcs, Aiguille Rouge).
Vertical: 2,026 m (Les Arcs).
Pistes: 200 km (Les Arcs, via the funicular) / 425 km (Paradiski).
Ski area: Paradiski (via the Les Arcs funicular).
Nearest airport: Chambéry (1 h 30 – 1 h 45); Geneva 2 h 15 – 2 h 45.
Best for: Train access, budget Paradiski base.
Bourg-Saint-Maurice, popularly known as Bourg, is the biggest town in the Tarentaise Valley. From Bourg-Saint-Maurice you have easy access to Tignes and Val d’Isère, off-piste mecca Sainte Foy, and a direct link via the funicular to Les Arcs and the Paradiski area. The funicular reaches Arc 1600 in 7 minutes. Bourg is also the end of the line for the Eurostar Snow and the Travelski Night Express.
11. Skiing in La Rosière
Top lift: 2,800 m (Mont Valaisan).
Vertical: 950 m (from the village; 1,624 m across Espace San Bernardo).
Pistes: 156 km (Espace San Bernardo, with La Thuile in Italy; French-side figure not published).
Ski area: Espace San Bernardo (France–Italy).
Nearest airport: Chambéry (1 h 45 – 2 h 15); Geneva 2 h 15 – 2 h 45.
Best for: Off-piste, Franco-Italian skiing.
Located high in the Tarentaise Valley between Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Val d’Isère, La Rosière backs onto the Italian side of Mont Blanc. Reputed for its abundant snow, La Rosière is popular for off-piste. France bans heli-drops for leisure. However, from La Rosière you can ski across to La Thuile for heli-skiing on the Italian side.
12. Skiing in Sainte Foy
Top lift: 2,620 m.
Vertical: 1,070 m.
Pistes: 43 km (stand-alone, 6 lifts).
Ski area: Sainte Foy Tarentaise (stand-alone).
Nearest airport: Chambéry (1 h 45 – 2 h); Geneva 2 h 30 – 3 h.
Best for: Off-piste powder, quiet slopes.
Sainte Foy is famous for having some of the best off-piste skiing in the French Alps. Although the resort only has 6 lifts, once you see the terrain you can access you’ll soon understand why: huge powder fields, perfectly graded rollers, lots of backcountry tree runs and drops everywhere.
13. Skiing in Les Arcs
Top lift: 3,226 m (Aiguille Rouge).
Vertical: 2,026 m.
Pistes: 200 km (Les Arcs/Peisey-Vallandry) / 425 km (Paradiski).
Ski area: Paradiski.
Nearest airport: Chambéry (1 h 45 – 2 h); Geneva 2 h 30 – 3 h.
Best for: Big linked area, varied terrain.
Les Arcs makes up part of the massive Paradiski ski area and with new high-speed chairlifts, including some six seaters, it’s quick and easy to get around. Hire a guide and experience the amazing off-piste run down Aiguille Rouge, or hit Vallandry for fast and fun red runs. If that’s not enough, you can take the spectacular Vanoise Express cable car over to La Plagne. It’s all here!
14. Skiing in La Plagne
Top lift: 3,080 m (Glaciers gondola).
Vertical: 1,830 m.
Pistes: 225 km (local) / 425 km (Paradiski).
Ski area: Paradiski.
Nearest airport: Chambéry (1 h 30 – 2 h); Geneva 2 h 30 – 3 h.
Best for: Beginners, families, Paradiski cruising.
La Plagne is in a beautiful setting and is known for its mellow pistes good for beginners with easily accessible intermediate-friendly off-piste. Bootpack up from Bellecôte for some high altitude untracked powder runs. Part of the Paradiski area, access to Les Arcs is via the spectacular Vanoise Express cable car. Snowboarders beware, there are lots of flat spots in La Plagne, so make sure your board is freshly waxed up before you go.
15. Skiing in Tignes
Top lift: 3,456 m (Grande Motte).
Vertical: 1,906 m.
Pistes: 300 km (Tignes–Val d’Isère; no Tignes-only figure published).
Ski area: Tignes–Val d’Isère.
Nearest airport: Chambéry (2 h – 2 h 30); Geneva 2 h 45 – 3 h 30.
Best for: Snow-sure, long season, linked area.
Tignes is a huge high-altitude purpose-built ski resort with one of the longest seasons in France. It runs from 21 Nov 2026 to 2 May 2027, plus a short summer session on the Grande Motte glacier. The sheer variety of terrain, from high-quality pistes to world-class off-piste and great snowparks to the steep and challenging Sache run, means it works for every level from first-timers to experts pushing into the backcountry.
16. Skiing in Val d’Isère
Top lift: 3,197 m (Pissaillas glacier; 3,456 m across the linked area).
Vertical: 1,347 m.
Pistes: 300 km (Tignes–Val d’Isère; no Val d’Isère-only figure published).
Ski area: Tignes–Val d’Isère.
Nearest airport: Chambéry (2 h – 2 h 30); Geneva 3 h – 3 h 30.
Best for: Experts, snow-sure, off-piste.
Val d’Isère has got everything you could want in a ski resort: some of the best piste skiing in the French Alps, one of the highest tree lines in Europe, steep chutes and couloirs and an excellent snow park to top it off. Plus the rest of the off-piste in Tignes in the unlikely event you get bored!
17. Skiing in Les 3 Vallées
Top lift: 3,230 m (Pointe du Bouchet, Val Thorens–Orelle).
Vertical: 2,130 m (whole area, 1,100 – 3,230 m).
Pistes: 600 km (Les 3 Vallées; 169 lifts, 7 resorts).
Ski area: Les 3 Vallées.
Nearest airport: Chambéry (1 h 15 – 1 h 30, to Méribel); Geneva 2 h 15 – 2 h 45.
Best for: Largest linked area, all levels.
Officially the world’s largest linked ski area — and it lives up to the billing. Les 3 Vallées links 7 resorts across three valleys: Courchevel (including La Tania), Méribel, Brides-les-Bains, Les Menuires, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, Val Thorens and Orelle. With 600 km of pisted runs served by 169 lifts, you could ski here for a fortnight and not cover the same ground twice. The variety is the real draw — from the steep, tree-lined runs above Courchevel to the high-altitude powder bowls around Val Thorens and the perfectly groomed cruising terrain in Méribel. Buy the full 3 Vallées pass and the entire domain opens up, or stick to a single valley pass to save money and ski one resort in depth.
18. Skiing in Courchevel
Top lift: 2,740 m (La Saulire).
Vertical: 1,440 m.
Pistes: 150 km (local) / 600 km (Les 3 Vallées).
Ski area: Les 3 Vallées.
Nearest airport: Chambéry (1 h 30 – 1 h 45); Geneva 2 h 15 – 2 h 45.
Best for: Experts, varied terrain, tree runs.
Courchevel is the best resort in Les 3 Vallées for sheer variety of terrain. With plenty of steep easily accessible off-piste, an abundance of fantastic tree runs, well groomed pistes and mellow beginner slopes, Courchevel is an ideal all-round resort. Plus you can ski across to Méribel and the rest of Les 3 Vallées.
19. Skiing in Méribel
Top lift: 2,919 m (Mont Vallon gondola).
Vertical: 1,819 m.
Pistes: 150 km (local) / 600 km (Les 3 Vallées).
Ski area: Les 3 Vallées.
Nearest airport: Chambéry (1 h 15 – 1 h 30); Geneva 2 h 15 – 2 h 45.
Best for: Groomed cruising, central 3 Vallées.
Méribel is a picture perfect mountain town with access to Les 3 Vallées ski area and its 600 km of pistes and 169 lifts. Méribel itself has plenty of great terrain including immaculate pistes and fun off-piste runs to keep all but the most extreme riders entertained.
20. Skiing in Val Thorens
Top lift: 3,230 m (Pointe du Bouchet; Cime Caron 3,200 m).
Vertical: 930 m.
Pistes: 150 km (Val Thorens–Orelle) / 600 km (Les 3 Vallées).
Ski area: Les 3 Vallées.
Nearest airport: Chambéry (1 h 30 – 2 h); Geneva 2 h 30 – 3 h.
Best for: Snow-sure, highest resort village.
Val Thorens bills itself as Europe’s highest ski resort, with the village at 2,300 m. So good snow conditions are pretty much guaranteed. The slick lift system whisks you up to 3,230 m and there’s masses of great off-piste terrain to explore. Be aware though, the whole resort is above the tree line, so whiteout conditions aren’t uncommon. If that happens, head down the valley to La Tania and ski the tree-lined pistes.
21. Skiing in Les Menuires
Top lift: 2,850 m (Mont de la Chambre).
Vertical: 1,400 m (Saint-Martin to Mont de la Chambre).
Pistes: 160 km (Les Menuires–Saint-Martin) / 600 km (Les 3 Vallées).
Ski area: Les 3 Vallées.
Nearest airport: Chambéry (1 h 30 – 2 h); Geneva 2 h 30 – 3 h.
Best for: Value, families, 3 Vallées access.
Les Menuires doesn’t have the glamour of Courchevel or the altitude bragging rights of Val Thorens, but what it does have is superb skiing at a fraction of the price. Sitting in the Belleville Valley with direct access to Les 3 Vallées, the resort offers 160 km of well-groomed pistes particularly suited to intermediates — the blues and reds here are some of the most satisfying in the entire 3 Vallées system. The ‘Liberty Ride’ marked freeride itineraries are a smart addition for skiers ready to step off-piste without going full backcountry, and the run from Lac du Lou down to the Vallée des Encombres is outstanding. The village is purpose-built and won’t win any beauty contests, but you’re here for the skiing — and on that front, Les Menuires delivers.
22. Skiing in La Tania
Top lift: 2,740 m (La Saulire, Courchevel sector).
Vertical: 1,440 m (Courchevel sector).
Pistes: 150 km (Courchevel sector, which includes La Tania) / 600 km (Les 3 Vallées).
Ski area: Les 3 Vallées.
Nearest airport: Chambéry (1 h 15 – 1 h 30); Geneva 2 h 15 – 2 h 45.
Best for: Tree runs, bad-weather days.
A fantastic base from which to ski Les 3 Vallées, La Tania has some nice steep pistes, loads of easily accessible off-piste terrain and some amazing tree runs, so you can still go skiing when the rest of Les 3 Vallées is stuck in a whiteout.
23. Skiing in Alpe d’Huez
Top lift: 3,330 m (Pic Blanc).
Vertical: 2,205 m.
Pistes: 250 km (Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine, 5 linked villages).
Ski area: Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine.
Nearest airport: Grenoble (1 h 30 – 1 h 45); Lyon 1 h 45 – 2 h 15.
Best for: Experts, big vertical, Sarenne run.
The Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine links 5 villages and a total of 250 km of pisted runs. They are Alpe d’Huez, Auris-en-Oisans, Oz-en-Oisans, Vaujany and Villard-Reculas. The terrain lends itself well to improving your skiing over the course of your holiday. There’s a roughly equal split of beginner, intermediate and advanced runs and the higher you climb, the steeper and more technical the terrain becomes.
24. Skiing in Les 2 Alpes
Top lift: 3,600 m (glacier).
Vertical: 2,300 m.
Pistes: 220 km (stand-alone).
Ski area: Les 2 Alpes (not lift-linked; the AEON 3 Domaines pass adds Alpe d’Huez and La Grave).
Nearest airport: Grenoble (1 h 30 – 1 h 45); Lyon 2 h – 2 h 15.
Best for: Snow-sure glacier, parks, nightlife.
Les 2 Alpes is a massive ski resort in the Southern French Alps with one of France’s best snow parks and a lively nightlife in 1650. Spend your time blasting the pistes off the top of the glacier or hone your freestyle skills in the park. Snow-sure and lots of challenging off-piste terrain. Extreme powder junkies can ski La Grave on the AEON 3 Domaines pass.
25. Skiing in La Grave
Top lift: 3,200 m (cable car to the Col des Ruillans).
Vertical: 1,750 m (by cable car; up to 2,150 m when the glacier drag runs).
Pistes: no groomed network: unmarked, unpatrolled off-piste plus one marked glacier run.
Ski area: La Grave–La Meije (not linked; the AEON 3 Domaines pass covers Les 2 Alpes and Alpe d’Huez too).
Nearest airport: Grenoble (1 h 30 – 2 h); Turin 2 h 15 – 2 h 45.
Best for: Expert off-piste only.
La Grave-La Meije isn’t a typical ski resort. It’s a serious mountain environment where you ski down an unmarked, non-patrolled area at your own risk. When the snow falls, there is no other resort like it in the world. Mind-blowing terrain with couloirs, massive cliffs, gullies, chutes, steeps, trees and crevasses. When the glacier drag runs, you get up to 2,150 m of vertical (1,750 m from the cable car). La Grave is extreme freeskiing at its very best. The cable car to 3,200 m has had recent closures, so check the operator’s site before you go.
26. Skiing in Serre Chevalier
Top lift: 2,800 m.
Vertical: 1,600 m.
Pistes: 250 km (Serre Chevalier Vallée, 4 linked bases).
Ski area: Serre Chevalier Vallée Briançon.
Nearest airport: Turin (1 h 45 – 2 h 15); Grenoble 2 h – 2 h 30.
Best for: Off-piste, tree skiing, good value.
Serre Chevalier is home to some of the best off-piste skiing in the Southern French Alps. Largely uncrowded, especially if you head up the valley to Le Monêtier-les-Bains, you’ll find an abundance of great pistes, lots of nice tree runs and masses of excellent natural terrain.
27. Skiing in Isola 2000
Top lift: 2,610 m.
Vertical: 810 m.
Pistes: 120 km (stand-alone).
Ski area: Isola 2000 (stand-alone, Nice Côte d’Azur resorts).
Nearest airport: Nice (1 h 15 – 1 h 45).
Best for: Value, Nice access, ski-and-sea.
Isola 2000 is only about 90 km (1 h 15 – 1 h 45) from Nice airport. So in spring it’s possible to ski in Isola and take a dip in the Med all in one day. A small resort compared to the big hitters, but with well-connected pistes, a good lift system and terrain varied enough to keep even advanced riders amused for a week, Isola 2000 shouldn’t be overlooked.
Other French Alps Resorts Worth Knowing
Our 27 aren’t the whole story. Flaine is the highest of the five linked Grand Massif resorts (265 km). From the top, the 14 km Cascades blue run drops all the way to Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval. Valmorel shares 165 km with Saint-François-Longchamp, while Val Cenis has the 10 km Escargot, billed as Europe’s longest green run. Le Grand-Bornand is a regular Biathlon World Cup host in December. Saint-Gervais and Les Contamines-Montjoie, meanwhile, sit on the Évasion Mont-Blanc pass. Further south, Valloire (Galibier-Thabor, 160 km) and Vars and Risoul (La Forêt Blanche, 185 km) are worth a look. So are Montgenèvre, linked to Italy’s Via Lattea, Pra Loup and Auron, the biggest of the Nice resorts.
When to Ski the French Alps
The best time to ski in the French Alps is January and February, which offer great conditions. In February, though, expect busy slopes and high prices. Here’s how the 2026/27 season shapes up, month by month.
| Month | Snow | Crowds | Prices | What’s on (2026/27) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | High and glacier resorts only; a gamble | Quiet | Lowest | Tignes and Val Thorens open 21 Nov; Val d’Isère and Les 2 Alpes 28 Nov |
| Early December (to 18 Dec) | Improving; best at altitude | Quiet | Low season | Most big areas open 4–12 Dec |
| Christmas–New Year (19 Dec – 3 Jan) | Depends on early snow | Peak | High season | French holidays 19 Dec – 3 Jan; ski trains start |
| January (4 Jan – 5 Feb) | Generally good mid-winter cover | Quietest high-season weeks | Main season | No French school holidays |
| February | Usually the best cover | Busiest; peak week 13–20 Feb | Peak | French holidays 6 Feb – 7 Mar; UK half-term 15–19 Feb |
| March | Good cover, longer days; spring snow late on | Drops after 7 Mar | Spring deals start | Rock the Pistes 14–21 Mar; Tomorrowland Winter 20–27 Mar; Easter Sunday 28 Mar |
| April | Spring snow; lower resorts suffer first | Quiet outside French spring holidays | Low-season deals from about 10 Apr | French spring holidays 3 Apr – 2 May; most resorts close 4–25 Apr |
| May | High altitude only | Quiet | Closing-week rates | Tignes, Val d’Isère, Val Thorens and Les 2 Alpes close 2 May |
Early Season: November and December
December is quieter with potential early snow deals, especially in high resorts like Val Thorens. The season opens on 21 Nov 2026 at Tignes and Val Thorens. Val d’Isère and Les 2 Alpes follow on 28 Nov, and most big areas are open by 12 Dec. Before Christmas, stick to these high and glacier resorts, because lower down, early snow is a gamble.
Peak Season: January and February
For value, our pick is 4 Jan – 5 Feb 2027, when you get high-season snow with no French school holidays. February usually has the best cover, but the French holidays run from 6 Feb to 7 Mar. The busiest week of the season is 13–20 Feb 2027, when UK half-term overlaps two French holiday zones. If half-term is your only option, book early and pick a big linked area where the crowds spread out.
Spring Skiing: March and April
April is excellent for comfortable, sunny skiing if the season has had good snowfall. Go high: Tignes, Val Thorens, Val d’Isère and Les 2 Alpes stay open until 2 May 2027. After that, Les 2 Alpes keeps its glacier open from 3 May to 4 Jul 2027. In between, March is the sweet spot, with good cover and longer days. Spring deals start on 20 Mar in the Portes du Soleil. It’s festival month too: Rock the Pistes (14–21 Mar) tours the Portes du Soleil, while Tomorrowland Winter takes over Alpe d’Huez on 20–27 Mar.
How Much Does a Ski Trip to the French Alps Cost?
A week’s lift pass, ski hire and lessons at a mid-range French Alps resort costs about €650 – €850 per adult. That’s before accommodation, travel and food. The lift pass is usually the biggest single cost, and it’s also where the resorts differ most.
French Alps Lift Pass Prices 2026/27
A 6-day adult area pass costs €214 – €468 in 2026/27, from Arêches-Beaufort to Tignes–Val d’Isère; the multi-area Mont-Blanc Unlimited is €499. Day passes run from €41 to €84.20 (€104 for Mont-Blanc Unlimited).
| Ski area | 6-day adult | Day pass | How to pay less |
|---|---|---|---|
| Les 3 Vallées | €421 | €84.20 | Low season €378.50 (5–18 Dec, 10–18 Apr); Saturday day pass −20% online |
| Tignes–Val d’Isère | €468 | €78 | Low season €402 (28 Nov – 11 Dec, 24 Apr – 2 May) |
| Paradiski | €412 | TBC | Essential pass; Premium €491 |
| Portes du Soleil | €373 (€352 online) | €73 (€69 online) | From 20 Mar: €317 (€299 online) |
| Évasion Mont-Blanc | €324.50 | €65 | €289.50 online at least 10 days ahead |
| Chamonix Le Pass | TBC | €76.50 | Online day price can drop to €49 in quiet periods |
| Mont-Blanc Unlimited | €499 | €104 | ‘First snow’ rate €290.40, 28 Nov – 18 Dec |
| Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine | €336.50 | €68 | Reduced 5–12 Dec and 10–18 Apr |
| Les 2 Alpes | €333 | €68 | €266.50 (28 Nov – 4 Dec); €283 (5–18 Dec and from 10 Apr) |
| Serre Chevalier | €345 | TBC | €276 early and late season; 4–20% off with accommodation |
| Isola 2000 | €217 (2025/26) | €44 (2025/26) | 2026/27 prices TBC |
| Arêches-Beaufort | €214 | €41 | Online from €129, depending on date and demand |
Chamonix and Arêches-Beaufort use dynamic online pricing. The Portes du Soleil, Évasion Mont-Blanc and Serre Chevalier reward buying online, early or with accommodation. Elsewhere, tariffs are fixed by period, so passes are cheapest in early December and from about 10 April.
Ski Hire and Lessons
Six days of ski and boot hire costs about €130 – €205 for a standard pack. Premium kit, by comparison, is about €255. Book through our ski and snowboard rental page, and the code ULTIMATEFRANCE10 takes an extra 10% off Skiset’s online prices. ESF adult group lessons cost about €195 – €275 for six mornings at most resorts. In Courchevel 1650, though, high-season lessons reach €362.
What a Typical Week Costs
Add it up and a mid-range week (pass, hire and lessons) comes to about €650 – €850 per adult. Without lessons, though, it drops to about €460 – €580. In the biggest areas, with premium hire and Courchevel lessons, budget about €1,000 – €1,100. Accommodation and travel come on top, so check our ski holiday deals before you book anything separately.
Getting to the French Alps
Most skiers fly into Geneva, Chambéry, Lyon Saint-Exupéry or Grenoble-Isère and transfer by road. However, you can just as easily take the train from London or Paris. Driving from Calais takes 9 h – 10 h 30 before stops.
Flying
Pick your airport by resort, not by flight price, because the wrong one can add an hour or more each way. The comparison table gives each resort’s nearest airport and typical private transfer time. On winter Saturdays, allow extra time, since changeover traffic and snow can add an hour or more.
- Geneva: year-round flights on most UK routes, and the gateway for Haute-Savoie.
- Chambéry: closest for the Tarentaise and Les 3 Vallées, with winter UK flights mostly at weekends.
- Lyon Saint-Exupéry: a year-round hub and the back-up for Alpe d’Huez and Les 2 Alpes. It’s usually 15–20 minutes closer than Geneva for the Tarentaise.
- Grenoble-Isère: seasonal winter flights, and the closest airport for Alpe d’Huez, Les 2 Alpes and La Grave.
- Turin: the closest airport for Serre Chevalier. In winter, though, it’s no use for Tignes, Val d’Isère, Sainte Foy or La Rosière. The Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard road shuts for the season.
- Nice: the airport for Isola 2000, about 90 km away.
Book a shared or private transfer on our airport transfers page. If you’re still sorting cover for the trip, our travel insurance page has the details.
By Train
Yes, you can ski the French Alps without flying. Eurostar Snow runs on Saturdays from 19 Dec 2026 to 20 Feb 2027. You leave from London St Pancras and change once, at Lille Europe. It stops at Chambéry, Albertville, Moûtiers, Aime-la-Plagne, Landry and Bourg-Saint-Maurice, and the journey takes just under 8 hours. Returns run from 27 Dec 2026 to 28 Feb 2027. There’s also a direct service from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Brussels on Saturdays until 3 Apr 2027.
The Travelski Night Express is one of the best ways to travel. This overnight ski train runs every Friday from 18 Dec 2026 to 26 Mar 2027. It leaves from Paris Gare de Lyon and also from Brussels and Antwerp. It arrives on Saturday morning at Moûtiers, Aime-la-Plagne and Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Because it returns on Saturday evening, you get eight days on the slopes instead of the usual six. Pair it with a Eurostar from London to Paris and you can go from your front door to the piste without setting foot in an airport. Read our first-hand review of the Travelski Night Express for the full journey breakdown.
From the stations, Moûtiers serves Les 3 Vallées, Aime-la-Plagne serves La Plagne and Landry serves Peisey-Vallandry. At Bourg-Saint-Maurice, the funicular climbs to Arc 1600 in 7 minutes, free with a train ticket in winter. Buses run from there to Tignes, Val d’Isère, Sainte Foy and La Rosière. For Chamonix and Les Houches, take the train to Saint-Gervais-Le Fayet, then the Mont-Blanc Express.
Driving
From the Eurotunnel terminal at Calais, it’s about 9 h to Chamonix, Morzine or Grenoble and 9 h 30 to Moûtiers. Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Alpe d’Huez take 10 h, and Briançon 10 h 30. Those are non-stop times, so add 1½–2 hours for fuel and rest. Tolls run to roughly €70–€100 each way from Calais to Chamonix.
From 1 November to 31 March, French mountain law (the Loi Montagne) applies in designated zones. You must carry chains or snow socks for at least two drive wheels, or fit four winter tyres marked 3PMSF. Every resort on this page is inside a designated zone, and M+S tyres alone no longer count. There’s no fine for the equipment rule itself yet. However, ignoring a B26 ‘special equipment required’ sign can cost up to €150, and police can turn you back. If you’re driving from Turin airport to Chamonix, the Mont Blanc Tunnel costs €55.50 one way for a car.
French Alps Skiing FAQ
The best ski resorts in the French Alps depend on how you ski. For off-piste, our picks are Chamonix and La Grave, while Val d’Isère suits experts. Les 3 Vallées (Courchevel, Méribel and Val Thorens) wins on sheer size, and Les Houches and La Plagne suit beginners. The big Northern resorts hold most of the famous names, while the sunny Southern French Alps extend almost to the Mediterranean.
There are more than 150 ski resorts in the French Alps, depending on how you count. Alti-Mag counts 188 alpine ski stations, while Skiresort.info lists 136 ski areas. France has around 250 in total. The biggest linked areas are Les 3 Vallées and the Portes du Soleil, with 600 km each.
The best months to ski in the French Alps are January and February, offering great conditions but expect busy slopes and high prices. February is busiest, so January is the quietest high-season window. December is quieter with potential early snow deals, especially in high resorts like Val Thorens. April is excellent for comfortable, sunny skiing if the season has had good snowfall.
A week’s lift pass, ski hire and lessons at a mid-range French Alps resort costs about €650 – €850 per adult, before accommodation and travel. A 6-day area pass is €214 – €468 in 2026/27 (€499 for the multi-area Mont-Blanc Unlimited). Ski hire costs about €130 – €205, and ESF group lessons about €195 – €275.
Our pick for beginners is Les Houches, with gentle beginner areas at Bellevue and Prarion. It’s only 1 h 15 – 1 h 30 from Geneva. La Plagne has some of the gentlest tree-lined pistes in the Alps, and Les Gets suits young families. La Clusaz is closest to Geneva, at 1 h – 1 h 15, while Les Menuires adds great-value intermediate terrain.
At 2,300 m, Val Thorens is the highest resort in the French Alps and bills itself as Europe’s highest. The highest lift is the Aiguille du Midi cable car in Chamonix, the start of the Vallée Blanche. Its top station is at 3,777 m, and a lift inside the peak reaches the 3,842 m summit terrace. The highest lift-served pistes are on the Les 2 Alpes glacier, at 3,600 m.
For the best off-piste skiing in the French Alps, check out resorts like Chamonix, Sainte Foy, Tignes, La Grave and Serre Chevalier. Les 3 Vallées also has some fantastic lift-accessed off-piste, including the Grand Couloir in Courchevel and the Ibex couloir descent in Méribel.
La Clusaz is the closest of our 27 resorts to Geneva airport, about 60 km by road. In good conditions, the transfer takes 1 h – 1 h 15. Other ski resorts near Geneva include Les Gets, Les Houches, Megève and Chamonix (1 h 15 – 1 h 30), and Morzine (1 h 15 – 1 h 45).
Yes, and it’s one of the best ways to travel. Eurostar Snow runs from London on Saturdays, 19 Dec 2026 – 20 Feb 2027, changing at Lille Europe. It stops at six Alpine stations, including Moûtiers and Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Otherwise, take the Eurostar to Paris and the Travelski Night Express, every Friday from 18 Dec 2026 to 26 Mar 2027. You get eight days on the slopes instead of six.
Resorts in the Tarentaise Valley including Tignes and Val d’Isère have some outstanding ski touring, including some multi-day epics. Further south, there is also excellent ski touring in Serre Chevalier, the Écrins National Park, the Queyras and the Mercantour National Park. Arêches-Beaufort, home of the Pierra Menta race, is another favourite.
For most skiers, the French Alps win on size, and usually on price. France has the bigger linked areas, such as Les 3 Vallées (600 km), plus purpose-built ski-in/ski-out resorts like Val Thorens. French lift passes are generally cheaper than Swiss ones, especially day passes. The big French areas charge €65 – €84 a day, against roughly €96 – €101 at Zermatt and Verbier. Switzerland’s edge is its car-free villages.
Planning a ski trip to the French Alps? If you need advice on choosing the right resort for your level, transfer logistics, or anything else covered on this page, please leave a comment below and we’ll do our best to help.
Hi am looking for a tour guide to ski The Vallee Blanche, Chamonix, France
Is that something you can help me with? And I do have my own ski and boots but since am coming from Canada is easier for me just to rent ski and boots and spikes to hike up there, can you also rent me equipments?
Great to hear you’re planning to ski the legendary Vallée Blanche! While we don’t run trips ourselves, we can definitely help you find a guide. We work with some top local guides in Chamonix—check out our Book a Guide section to find the right one for your descent.
For equipment rental, Chamonix has plenty of great shops where you can rent high-quality skis, boots, and any extra gear you might need. We partner with Skiset, one of the best rental services in town. You can use the code ULTIMATEFRANCE10 for 10% off your rental. If you’re comfortable in your own boots, you might prefer to bring them and just rent skis.
You won’t need crampons for the classic Vallée Blanche descent, but you will need a backpack that can carry your skis for the short hike from the Aiguille du Midi cable car to the start of the run.
Hope that helps—have an epic time in Chamonix! 🚡🎿
Hi, thanks for the great info! We’re planning to go skiing in February with a group of friends. We’re mostly beginners, which resorts would you recommend with short transfer times?
Hi Jamie, thanks for your comment! Here are a few recommendations:
Les Gets (1hr 15min from Geneva Airport): Part of the Portes du Soleil ski area, it’s beginner-friendly with plenty of gentle slopes and a charming village atmosphere.
Morzine (1hr 30min from Geneva Airport): Another great option in the Portes du Soleil, offering excellent beginner pistes and a lively town.
Chamonix (1hr 15min from Geneva Airport): While it’s known for advanced terrain, Le Tour offers access access to novice and intermediate runs, whilst nearby Les Houches is ideal for beginners and has stunning views of Mont Blanc.
La Clusaz (1hr from Geneva Airport): A quieter resort with great beginner slopes and a lovely Alpine vibe.
Hope that helps, have a great trip!
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