The popular French Alps, the sedate Pyrenees, and the low-key Jura Mountains all have winter ski seasons that last from mid-December to April. Depending on snowfall, the highest altitude resorts, including Val Thorens, Val d’Isère, and Les Deux Alpes, open earliest in late November. For about four weeks in July or August, there is limited downward skiing on glaciers over 3000 meters at Tignes and Les Deux Alpes. The summer ski season gets shorter every year due to warming temperatures and glacial melt.
The peak season of the ski holidays in France occurs around the Christmas and February school breaks. Expect sky-high transportation and lodging costs, crowded pubs and restaurants, and lines at ski lifts. Reserve far in advance to secure your preferred location in your ski holidays in France.
Best Places for ski holidays in France:
1. Val Thorens, France
The distinction of being the tallest ski resort in Europe belongs to Val Thorens, perched at 2,300m at the top of the Belleville Valley. The Three Valleys ski area offers some of the best skiing in France and has more than 600km of linked slopes available to the French ski resort.
There is a vast range of ski terrain, from easy nursery slopes to difficult black runs and glaciers. The Cime de Caron’s 3,200-meter summit is not for the faint of heart. It is one of the top ski resorts in France if you want the nightlife after skiing.
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2. Chamonix
It’s hardly strange that Chamonix, which sits at 1,035 meters above sea level and is far below the resort’s highest lift at 3,842 meters, is one of the most well-known ski areas in France given its location in the shadow of the Mont Blanc mountain range. This ski town, which has a community of 9,000 and is located directly below the access to the Mont Blanc tunnel, which results in a near-constant stream of lorries, is home to some of the best skiing in Europe despite not being the loveliest of ski resorts.
3. Morzine, France
The village center is surrounded by classic cottages in the lovely Alpine town of Morzine. Morzine’s placement allows you to ski in France and Switzerland on the same day because it is situated right in the middle of the Portes du Soleil ski resort. There are 600 kilometers of skiable terrain, so there is something for every skier. After a day on the slopes, there are several après ski alternatives in the bustling town of Morzine. Aside from an abundance of pubs and eateries, there are also wonderful spas, ice climbing, ice skating, sledding, and snowmobiling. This is undoubtedly among the top ski areas in France.
4. Espace Killy
The huge Espace Killy, which includes Val d’Isere, was given that name in honor of Olympic triple-gold medalist Jean-Claude Killy, who learned to ski on these mountain slopes. This landscape, which includes a steep valley surrounded by peaks rising to more than 3,000 meters, is shared by Val d’Isère and its smaller adjacent resort, Tignes. Skiers and riders can access 300 kilometers of terrain via more than 150 lifts, all of which are located over 1,550 meters in elevation.
This season, two new six-person high-speed removable chairlifts are replacing lesser lifts to boost lift capacity.
5. La Clusaz
One of France’s best-kept secrets undervalued La Clusaz has located just a short distance from the charming lakeside town of Annecy and an hour’s drive from Geneva. Although many Brits have purchased chalets or flats here due to its closeness to the airport, the undeveloped French resort community nevertheless retains a pleasantly Gallic character.
Skiers may test their skills and find a large amount of avalanche-controlled off-piste in the tough Col de Balme section. It has allowed La Clusaz to shake off its image as a boring, beginner-centric resort in recent years owing to local celebrity and freeride God Candide Thovex.
6. La Rosière
La Rosière is located close to the magnificent Vanoise national park’s border. The San Bernardo ski area, the only Franco-Italian ski area in the Northern Alps, connects La Rosière with the resort of La Thuile and is open to skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels.
La Rosière is known as one of the top French ski resorts for year-round superb snow conditions. It has advanced significantly since the first ski lifts were erected by locals in the 1960s. The most recent flurry of the building took place in 2019 when £13m was spent on a major extension, the features of which included five new red routes, making it one of the best ski holidays in France.
Conclusion
It is an amazing adventure to spend ski holidays in France. The fact that France has so many world-class ski areas helps to explain why so many skiers visit the French Alps each year. You may accommodate your preferences more readily in France than in most other areas because of the wide variety of accommodations available.
To make your ski holidays in France more pleasant, pick one of the many ski hotels that offer excellent amenities. After a long day on the slopes, hang up your ski boots and take advantage of your lodging’s amenities. The best places to go skiing in France are the bustling ski resorts of Val d’Isère and Les Menuires. You can follow the Celebzero website for more information on ski holidays in France.
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