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Les Deux Alpes Ski Resort
Grenoble is the closest airport with a transfer time of just under 2 hours, making the resort accessible by road. The resort was first used for skiing as early as 1925 when the first ski tow was built. The “Les Deux Alpes”, as we know it today, was established in 1946. It is commonly assumed that the name is derived from the two mountains on either side of the town when in reality the name stems from the two villages on either side of the settlement: Mont De Lans and Venosc.
The resort is compact, and you’ll find most of the entertainment on the main strip, Avenue de la Muzelle. There is a variety of hotels and apartments dotted about in-between a vast array of shops, restaurants and bars. There’s lift access to the main side of the mountain and the smaller Vallee Blanche. A free bus shuttle service runs throughout the day, meaning that you’re never too far from a ski lift or the town.
The instalment of a six-man ‘Diable’ chairlift, at the Venosc end of town, and a new ‘Pierre Grosse’ cable car, which links La Fee and Toura, has helped to ease congestion. Both lifts offer alternative routes to the Jandri Express I & II, which can be busy first thing. The standard ski pass covers the whole mountain, as well as giving you some days to try out the neighbouring resorts of Alpe d’Huez, Montgenevre, Sestriere & Serre Chevalier. There is a walker’s pass available for non-skiers, and you can purchase ski passes on a day to day basis. If you aren’t doing much skiing, then Venosc village is accessible via a cable car - it is an excellent place to escape to, with lots of local shops and restaurants to visit.
Stats & FAQ
Location: France, Alps.
Established: 1946
Open: December - April
Downhill: 223km
View our detailed Les Deux Alpes snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Les Deux Alpes snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Grenoble (GNB) | 110km, 1h 50mins |
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| Top Altitude: | 3568m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1300m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1650m |
| Longest run: | 12km |
| Slope Orientation: | S SW NW |
| Vertical Drop: | 2268m |
| Skiable Vertical: | 2268m |
| Night Skiing: | Yes |
| Glacier: | Yes |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 223km |
| Beginner slopes: | 18% |
| Intermediate: | 70% |
| Advanced slopes: | 12% |
| Lift Pass Price: | €265 (adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: Alpe d'Huez, Serre Chevalier, Chamrousse | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Les Deux Alpes
There are plenty of beginner slopes on the front face with runs like les Vikings and Les Gentianes for those learning to ski. The great thing about Les Deux Alpes is that there are some terrific beginner slopes higher up the mountain so new skiers can experience the benefits of skiing at altitude. The Cretes area at 2100m is the favourite spot for ski schools, with the ski escalator a welcome aid to those learning to ski. The run home at the end of the day used to have a fearsome reputation for being overcrowded and choppy. However, a few new slopes like Jandri 1, Vallons du Diable and Diable have recently been added to combat this, so you shouldn’t have any trouble skiing back at the end of the day.
Intermediates have loads of mountain to explore, a large proportion of runs are rated either blue or red. The wide Signal 1 or 2 blue runs swoop down from the top of the Jandri Express is ideal for practising carving early in the week. For something a little more challenging, the Fee sector has a few lovely reds, which are well sheltered from the wind.
The front face of the main mountain has plenty of tricky terrain for the more advanced skiers. Further up the mountain, Bellecombes 5 is a challenging mogul field that will give you a real buzz. The off-piste options here are fantastic, especially when there’s good powder snow (we love the Clot de Chalance - but be sure to take a guide and the correct safety equipment). If you’re looking for extreme skiing, a trip to the neighbouring resort of La Grave is an absolute must.
Boarders have come to the right place - the off-piste here is a significant bonus, and there aren’t too many flat spots to cause concern. Freestyle Land up at the Toura has everything a freestyler could ever want including a fantastic easy park at the top, followed by a slopestyle section with rails and boxes mid-way down, plus a selection of kickers ranging from big to huge!
Les Deux Alpes Apres Ski
You don’t have to look far to find good après in Les Deux Alpes. One of the best bars in resort is Pano bar, this slopeside restaurant, based at 2,600m comes alive at happy hour between 3 pm and 5 pm every day with discounted drinks and a DJ set that will vibrate through your whole body. At the bottom of the piste, Umbrella bar is a great place to keep the party going. If you want to take the night further then Smithy’s is the place to go, with great modern music as well as live entertainment on several nights. Those looking to party ‘til the early hours should head to Avalanche or Bresilien nightclub if you want to party with the locals.
There are around 50 restaurants with a wide variety of menus including pizzerias, creperies, fast food, tex mex and traditional French cuisine. Chalet Mounier is rated the finest restaurant in the Isere region of France and has a Michelin star to its name to prove it. Right beside Chalet Mounier is the lovely Alisiers restaurant that has all the traditional French treats such as fondue and raclette, as well as a range of fresh fish dishes. For tex mex, Smokey Joes and Smithys have a great selection of burgers and ribs. Takeaway Burger is the fast food place of choice and Crepes a Go Go is a lovely little creperie. Up the mountain, Le Toura serves a great selection of pizzas to keep you going on the slopes.
The town offers plenty to do off the piste. Your lift pass gives you access to the local outdoor pool in the middle of the resort, which - don’t worry - is heated! Next to this is the ice rink that also offers bumper car racing on selected nights that kids will love. Skidooing and parapenting are on offer for the adrenaline seekers amongst you, but if that isn’t your vibe, then you can get a cable car down to the sleepy village of Venosc and browse the local shops.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Les Deux Alpes
Best time to visit & ski Les Deux Alpes
The season in Les Deux Alpes runs from Mid-December to the end of April. The glacier is one of the best in the Alps, and it almost guarantees snow till the end of the season. The snow is so good here that you can ski in the summer above 2800m from June to August.
The resort has an excellent lift system which means the queues that can hamper some ski resorts in peak season aren’t too much of a problem here, especially once you get above 2100m.
January and February can be quite chilly, so make sure that you layer up. The snow is fantastic at this time of the year, and if you want the best chance at fresh powder, this is the time to come. If you like the sun, come in March and April when there are often cheap deals. Les Deux Alpes is a fantastic place to ski later in the season as the high altitude preserves the snow well and ensures that you will often still find winter snow conditions up on the glacier.
The ski area is made up of slopes that face N, S, E and W, so whatever the weather; there will always be somewhere that you can find some excellent conditions. Snow cannons on the front face of the mountain help to keep the snow fresh on the lower slopes so that you can ski from top to bottom.
Peak Dates
Christmas in Les 2 Alpes is a lovely traditional affair. The visit from Pere Noel is not to be missed and the usual French markets and displays light up the town by night. There is also a spectacular torchlit display to feast your eyes upon. Les Deux Alpes Christmas ski holidays ‣
New Year in Les 2 Alpes is a great time for party goers and families. If you are looking for a late night bash then you won’t struggle to find one at one of the many bars and nightclubs in resort. For families, there are fireworks and a breath taking torch lit descent to feast your eyes on! Les Deux Alpes New Year ski holidays ‣
There’s loads to keep you busy at Half Term in Les 2 Alpes both on and off the piste, with great family activities like ice skating and exploring the ice caves on offer. The snow is usually at its prime this time of year and the resorts great lift system means you can be sure to avoid too many large queues. With a 223 km ski area to work with there is plenty of space to find quieter runs and make the most of your week away. Les Deux Alpes Half Term ski holidays ‣
The high altitude ensures that Easter in Les 2 Alpes will offer great snow conditions on the glacier. There are loads of brilliant activities for families to enjoy such as the Easter egg hunt and tobogganing. For adults the vibrant night life in town makes it a wonderful time to let your hair down and make the most of what’s on offer. Les Deux Alpes Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in Les Deux Alpes
Families have a great choice of activities in resort, including ice skating, horse rides and swimming. There are a number of different ski schools to choose from and excellent childcare facilities and childcare is also available in some of our hotels. Make sure you book ski lessons and childcare well in advance for peak dates. We have chalets, hotels and apartments that are suitable for children so you can pick and choose, depending on how much you want to relax! The ski area has plenty of beginner lifts and the Crete area at 2100m offers a great central meeting point for adults to pick up their children from ski school. The resort is very Brit friendly, so there are usually plenty of other children for your kids to make friends play with. Book one of our accommodations near the piste, like the Aalborg Hotel, which is also situated very close to the ski school meet point, so that you won’t have to carry your children’s skis round the resort. Give us a call to find out about the best accommodation if you want to avoid the centre of town and noisy nightlife so that you can get the kids to sleep! If you fancy a night out and your accommodation doesn’t have babysitting facilities then have a look at our Les Deux Alpes childcare page to find someone to take care of your children.
GroupsGroup Holidays Les Deux Alpes
Les Deux Alpes is a great resort for groups as there is plenty of variety in the ski area to suit any ability level. The nightlife is a big draw, with plenty of choices of bars to keep everyone happy. There are things for non-skiers to explore as well such as the Venosc Village and you can go snowshoeing on the Vallee Blanche side of the mountain. There is lots of variety in terms of chalets that cater to different group sizes depending on what you’re looking for. Talk to us and we can help you find ski in ski out accommodations and hotels and apartments that are centrally located so that you can experience the town on your doorstep. Look out for group discounts and great late deals. Book a large chalet with sole occupancy and have the place to yourselves or persuade a few more people to tag along so you can save money. SNO have special deals for both large and small groups. If you don’t know how big your group is going to be, then hotels are often a great option as there are more rooms available.
Which are the best ski holidays in Les Deux Alpes?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Chalet Chamois Volant | 7 | £ 1003 |
| Hotel Chalet Mounier | 7 | £ 1429 |
| Residence Les Clarines | 7 | £ 449 |
| Residence Club Les Clarines | 7 | £ 585 |
| Chalet Les Anemones | 7 | £ 778 |
| Chalet Les Rouses | 7 | £ 779 |
| Chalet Gorges | 7 | £ 813 |
| Hotel Les Crêtes | 7 | £ 885 |
| Hotel Chalet Mounier | 7 | £ 1856 |
| L'Ours Blanc Apartments | 7 | £ 549 |
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