AREAS and Resorts in France
Portes du Soleil
The Portes du Soleil is, by most accounts, the largest ski area in the world, with 12 or so resorts spread across France and Switzerland, although France lays claim to the bulk.
Three Valleys
The one that all others in Europe look up to, the Three Valleys in France is a ginormous area with a truly excellent range of ski terrain to be explored. The number one destination for the rich, famous, and those not looking to compromise on the quality of the skiing and snowboarding available. Quite simply one of the best, and largest, ski areas in the world.
Chamonix Valley
That it is world-famous for alpine skiing goes without saying. However, what many people don’t realise is that despite its fame, it remains the perfect destination for a weekend, long weekend, week, season or even longer stay. It not only offers fine skiing, but wonderful après ski, great food, nightlife, other sporting and leisure activities (even more during the summer) including a superb indoor sports centre in the town itself, ice rink, bowling, sleigh rides, a cinema, museums and also hotel spas open to non-residents.
Espace Killy
Named after French ski racer and three time Olympic champion Jean-Claude Killy, the Espace Killy ski area is home to two of the best known French ski resorts, Val d’Isere and Tignes.
Paradiski
The two resorts of Les Arcs and La Plagne are linked together by the ginormous, double-decker, Vanoise Express cable car to form the Paradiski, offering a total ski area of over 420km.
Southern Alps
France’s southern Alps region is home to some big and well-known resorts including Alpe d’Heuz, Les Deux Alps and Serre Chavalier.
Grand Massif
The French Grand Massif ski area includes the resorts of Flaine, Les Carroz and Samoens and is one of the easiest and quickest areas to get to from the UK.
Alpe d'Huez
Possibly best known amongst skiing enthusiasts for being the home of the Sarennes black glacier ski run, which, at a whacking 16km, is the longest run in Europe. It is also lauded by cycling enthusiasts as the most well-known stage of the Tour de France.
Les Deux Alpes
Les Deux Alpes is a mix of traditional and the modern with some fantastic high-altitude pistes.
Sainte Foy
Sainte Foy is a lovely, compact resort that simply lets you get on with your skiing in an altogether more traditional manner than offered by some of the larger resorts. While there is a healthy prominence given to off-piste and après-ski, there is an altogether more gentile atmosphere than that found at some of the “party” resorts, something Sainte Foy certainly is not.
