Some of the best snow in the Southern Alps can be found on the Forêt Blanche – on the runs between the trees as well as up at the summit, where views go on for miles. With its purpose built resort and charming old hamlets, Risoul makes a super base for the week.
Guillestre in the Southern Alps is home to lovely Risoul, a parish of tiny hamlets dotted about under a modern ski resort.
Most of the hamlets have their own guesthouses and hotels - Rua and its town hall being the nerve centre of the lot, Gaudissard the highest at 1300m and Hamlet L’Eglise arguably the prettiest, named after its 16th century Romanesque church. They’re delightfully compact and traditional, with church steeples, wood and stone buildings and surrounding forest.
On the other hand, Risoul 1850 has been purpose built on the mountainside – a collection of tall apartment blocks and hotels within easy reach of the ski lifts. It’s been here since the seventies, when the population of the quiet hamlets was diminishing and locals (AKA ‘Risoulins’) decided to build a ski resort to put Risoul back on the map.
There’s a reason visitors opt for the less attractive resort over the hamlets, and it’s the swift access to the Forêt Blanche ski area. Risol connected with Vars in 1990 to create a fabulous 185km linked ski area. Its name comes from the larch forest that blankets the mountain from 2200m and up top, sights of the Écrins and Queyras National Parks, Mont Viso and Mont-Blanc will blow your ski boots off.
The nearest airport to Risoul is Marseille at 250 km or about ? by car
The nearest ski resorts to Risoul include Vars.
For food-focussed evenings, there are plenty of places to eat. Contrary to its name, Le Marmite is somewhere everyone loves and no one seems to hate, serving regional favourites like Tartiflette and fondue. Le Pitchounet serves everything from soup to fries and crepes (try the stuffed potatoes), while Le Chalet is a popular spot for raclette.
Restaurant La Chouette Restaurant La Chouette has a lovely sunny outdoor terrace where you and your friends/family can lunch before… + more
Families are the main focus here, which means the après is less rowdy, more relaxed. That’s not to say you can’t find a decent watering hole in these parts - Grotte du Yeti has sister bars in Les 2 Alps and other resorts, and is a favourite for big themed parties where crowds spill out from the terrace. In the resort centre, Le Babao Rhum do all the classic cocktails and a cracking rum punch, while Pub La Place is a good spot for draught and bottled beers as well as whisky.
Les 3 Ours Les 3 Ours translates to ‘The Three Bears’, however you’re more likely to find after hours partying here than a bedtime… + more
Ice skating, mushing and climbing frozen waterfalls are some of the wintery activities on offer here, while anyone needing a break from the great outdoors can relax in the Pause O Spa on the main street
Sai Mithra Ayurvedic massage centre We invite you to experience the ayurvedic massages based on the three body constitutions (kapa,… + more
Snow Scoot Experience the mountain differently in Risoul with Snow Scoot Skidoo Trips. After a day on the slopes, try a new activity… + more
Montagne Mélézin Montagne Mélézin offer a range of fun outdoor activities to enjoy during you summer stay in Risoul. Their hike days… + more
Risoul's two dozen shops include the usual selection of sports outlets and supermarkets to serve the vast majority in the apartments. There's also two photographic stores, tobacconists cum newsagents, a pharmacy, sweet shop and three butchers' shops.
View our detailed Risoul snow report to see skiing confitions now. Our Risoul snow history shows you what snow depths have been in recent years month-by-month. If you're visiting soon, use the Risoul snow forecast to see predicted snowfall over the coming days.
We have 714 ski holidays in Risoul. Search all Risoul ski deals or pick your preferred accommodation type below:
Maximum and minimum adult Risoul lift pass prices ranged from €200 to €200 for 6 days access to the Risoul ski lift system at the start of the 2025 winter season. Our lift passes are part of a packaged Risoul holiday with accommodation, so prices vary depending on chalet or hotel suppliers. Confirm price for the lift ticket before booking your holiday.
Lift Tickets | Child | Adult | Senior |
---|---|---|---|
1 Day Price | €32 - €32 | €40 - €40 | €38 - €38 |
6 Day Price | €160 - €160 | €200 - €200 | €190 - €190 |
Age Range | 5 - 11 | 12 - 64 | 65+ |
Most of our ski holidays to Risoul packaged with flights include airport transfers. We can also arrange private transfers to Risoul from nearby airports
Flights from London take about 1h 45m to Geneva, Grenoble, Chambery, Lyon. This table shows approximate transfer times to Risoul from the nearest airports, smaller airports can be more prone to delays.
Airport | Distance | Transfer Time |
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Marseille | 250 km | ? |
Browse our self-drive ski holidays which include your car channel crossing, or go choose accom-only and book your car ferry or tunnel later.
The transfer time from alpine train stations are generally shorter than from airports, Call us for details of Risoul transfers.
Station | Distance | Transfer Time |
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Montdauphin - Guillestre | 15 km | 15 minutes |
Risoul Tourism Office Risoul is a quiet and comfortable place for time away. Surrounded by stunning mountain peaks and large forests it is a stunningly beautiful place for a holiday. A slightly smaller resort and lesser known it is perfect for families. There are routes for each level of skier. There are a limited number of shops but there are a few corner… + more
Centre Medical Risoul 1850 Facility provides Health Services, including doctors, x-ray Opening hours Appointments: Monday to Wednesday: 09h00-12h00 and 14h00-18h00 At other times, call 112 and you will get assistance.
Need help choose your Risoul ski holiday? Call us on 020 7770 6888 or click Enquire - we love to help!