Saint Lary Soulan Ski Holidays 2024 2025 | Skiing Saint Lary Soulan

Saint Lary Soulan Ski Resort

Saint Lary Soulan’s part of the sunny and secluded Aure valley, which rubs shoulders with the Pyrenees national park, twelve miles from Spain via the Aragnouet-Bielsa tunnel.

The legendary pilgrimage to the city of Santiago de Compostela passes through here, as does the old trading route between France and Spain. But thanks to its far-away setting, the place has remained gloriously unaltered - the wars on religion, French revolution and industrial revolution didn’t make it this far, meaning you’ll find excellently preserved baroque churches and genuine old farmhouses. The whole valley has been crowned a ‘Country of Art and History’ for its cultural and historical heritage.

Merged in 1963, Saint Lary and Soulan are pretty villages of low-rise, wood and stone buildings. Lary’s the bigger and livelier, with most of the shops, bars and restaurants along Rue Vincent Mir and thermal baths that make it a popular wellness destination. The bulk of hotels and apartments can be found here too, often within easy walking of the main street and baths. For access to the ski area, the Pic Lumiere cable car and Vignec gondola whisk you skywards in under 8 minutes. They land you in Pla d’Adet which has a good amount of its own accommodation for those who prefer to stay closer to the slopes.

Stats & FAQ

Location: Pyrenees, France

Established: 1957

Open: December - April

Downhill: 100km / 55 runs

View our detailed Saint Lary Soulan 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 Saint Lary Soulan snow history.

Nearest Airport & Transfer Time:
Tarbes Lourdes Pyrénées Airport (LDE)	80km, 1 hour
Pau-Uzein Airport (PUF)	121km, 1h30
Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS)	159km, 1h45
Beginner Intermediate Advanced 33 runs 12 runs 10 runs
Top Altitude:	2515m
Bottom Altitude:	1700m
Resort Altitude:	830m
Longest run:	3.6km
Slope Orientation:	N NW NE
Vertical Drop:	815m
Skiable Vertical:
Night Skiing:	No
Glacier:	No
Snow Report Top N/Acm Base N/Acm Forecast 18cm Web Cam
Downhill Runs:	100km / 55 runs
Beginner slopes:
Intermediate:
Advanced slopes:
Lift Pass Price:	€199.50 (adult 6 day)
Nearby resorts: Bareges, Cauterets

Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Saint Lary Soulan

Three areas make up the 100km of slopes here: Saint-Lary 1700, or "Pla d'Adet", St Lary 1900 or "Espiaube" and Saint-Lary 2400 or “Vallon du Portet”.

The first you reach from the village is Pla d'Adet, which is where the ski schools base themselves. Facilities for learners are excellent, thanks to a big beginner’s area with magic carpet lifts, a snowgarden, training slope and Kidpark with mini obstacles, bumps, whoops and a half pipe. The green l’Echarpe run is an easy-going piste along the snow front, perfect for working on your snowplough.

Improvers can progress onto the blues from the Garlitz and Soum de Matte lifts. For a longer route, ski the Corniche pistes to the Lita base, then take the chair up for the Balcom du Lita, Bouleaux and Balcom de Cabane back towards Pla d’Adet. We love that there’s an easier blue alternative to the trickier pistes from almost every lift, meaning beginners aren’t confined to one part of the ski area and can enjoy the best snow and views as much as anyone else – don’t miss the Marmottes and Jetas from the top point of the ski area.

Head to Espiaube for a cluster of red and black forest runs facing north. This is also where you’ll find the open, scenic, red-graded Mirabelle (access from La Soumaye) and black Terranère (via the red or black runs from the Isards lift) which are some of the longest, loveliest pistes in the area. Other good reds include the Bastan from Cap de Long and Isard passing through Col de Terrenere.

At the top of the ski area, Vallon du Portet has snow sure pistes above 2000m, with awesome views over the National Parkland. Experts should try the Balcon de L’Oule from Le Cap de Long, for sharp turns and high speeds.

Host of the Freestyle World Cup, the snowpark has a range of jibs, boxes and other modules at Col du Portet. The De Le Rue’s Line at the end of the park is a boardercross - heaps of fun however wobbly or advanced you are in the freestyle department.

Off piste, get a guide to show you the Cabanou couloirs which are incredible on a powder day.

Saint Lary Soulan Apres Ski

We love the mix of Iberian and French influence in this neck of the woods, where you can be tucking into Rioja and tapas one night and Merlot and tartiflette the next.

For drinks, Le Kinito has screens for watching sporting events, while Top Ski Bar is somewhere to sit in the sunshine on the south facing terrace, working your way through the list of cocktails.

We like Le Balthazar for tapas and wine, and if you’re craving carby comfort food, try Le Petit Manhattan for burgers or Pizz' en Aure for pizzas. La Galette d’Or does a sterling range of crepes and galettes or if you’re celebrating something special, book a table at La Grange for beautifully presented, seasonal dishes.

There's plenty to do off the slopes in St Lary. Don't miss the thermal swimming pool complex with its spa and all facilities designed to take advantage of the area's thermal springs – you’ll find it in the middle of the village. The Sensoria spa centre has sauna caves, massage jets and fountains, with all manner of treatments available.

If you prefer to be a little more active, there’s also a synthetic ice rink and sports hall for basketball and handball. Guided snow shoe tours are organised on circuits around Lake Oule or you can climb the Cabanes run and then take a three kilometre walk through the forest linking the foot of the slopes at Saint-Lary 1700 and Saint-Lary 1900. Dogsleding and paragliding are also available and snowmobiling tours are organised with a guide in the evening. Hour long circuits run from Saint-Lary 1700 to Saint-Lary 2400.

The resort has a Bear Museum dedicated to the indigenous Pyrenean animal. This includes unique documentary video footage and operates as a centre for works of heritage, research and education on the species and its complex relationship with the human world. The Bear Museum is also a place of refuge for two bears born in captivity, Bingo and Apollo, formerly the victims of abuse.

Best time to go

Best time to ski Saint Lary Soulan

Best time to visit & ski Saint Lary Soulan

With a top height of 2515m, 270 snowmaking machines and some wonderful north facing tree runs down to Espiaube, the ski area has the credentials to receive good snowfall, top up the cover when needed and hold onto it as spring approaches. The presence of the thermal baths is a good back up for the end of the ski season, where some pistes might suffer under the afternoon sunshine – ski first thing in the morning, take a long lunch then retire to a bubbling pool of soothing thermal water. If you like the added excitement of sporting events, see when the snowboard world tour takes place (usually early March) and watch the pro’s in action.

Peak Dates

Struggling with whether ask Santa for a ski break or a spa break? The good news is that he delivers both over Christmas in Saint Lary Soulan…

See in the New Year in Saint Lary Soulan with amazing views of the Pyrenees national park, rejuvenating sessions in the wellness centre and healthy doses of wine and tapas.

Torchlight descents, markets and children’s workshops are some of the happenings during Half Term in Saint Lary, while parents and teachers can sneak to the spa for some well-deserved downtime.

This close to the Spanish border, you can expect Easter in Saint Lary to be gloriously sunny, with days dedicated to morning skiing, long al fresco lunches and lazy afternoons.

Saint Lary Soulan Ski Holidays