Essential Travel Ski Guides

click here for an annual trip travel insurance quotation

Travel to Chamrousse with travel insurance from Essential Travel

Ski resorts in Chamrousse

Chamrousse is a relatively small ski resort located at the south of the Belledonne massif, which is 30 minutes from Grenoble and offers spectacular views of the city. There are two base ski areas at Chamrousse: Recoin (1,650m), for athletic skiing, and Roche Béranger (1,750m), for family skiing. Chamrousse provides perfect pistes for beginners and intermediates, and offers extremely competitive rates.

The skiing at Chamrousse is ideal for beginners and early intermediates, although the ski resort also provides for more advanced skiers. Chamrousse has a total of 35 ski slopes in the resort, making up a distance of roughly 75kms. Of these slopes, 6 are green runs, 15 are blue runs, 7 are red runs and 7 are black runs. Access to the slopes is gained via a system of 26 lifts.

There is a variety of accommodation options at Chamrousse, ranging from hotels and a holiday village to self-catering apartments and mountain cottages, a youth hostel and a winter caravanning site. The ski resort also offers numerous off-slope activities and facilities, including: ice-skating, hiking, a multi-sport hall, cinema, library, climbing wall and theme workshops.

The winter season at Chamrousse officially runs from December to April, but is largely dependent on snowfall and weather conditions. The most convenient method of getting there is by catching a flight to Grenoble Saint-Geoirs Airport and then transferring by bus to Grenoble town and Chamrousse.

Skiing in Chamrousse

Chamrousse is one of France’s smaller resorts, situated at the southern end of the Belledonne massif. When the conditions are right, skiing in Chamrousse cannot be beaten. However, at 1,700m, the resort is not very high, and it is advisable to check weather conditions before embarking on a trip here.

Skiing in Chamrousse is catered mainly towards beginners and early intermediates. The resort has 35 slopes, of which 6 are beginner runs, 15 are intermediate runs, 7 are expert runs, and 7 are extremely advanced. The pistes at Chamrousse make up approximately 77kms of distance; in addition, the cross-country skiing trails span 55kms. There are also a number of off-piste runs to get the adrenalin flowing.

Accommodation is varied, with a three-star hotel, a two-star hotel, a holiday village, self-catering rental accommodation (apartments and mountain cottages), a youth hostel and a winter caravanning site available. There are also banking facilities, a number of gift and souvenir shops, and a childcare centre.

The ski season at Chamrousse is largely dependent on snowfall and weather conditions, but usually runs from December to late April. The resort is accessible by road, or by taking a plane or a train to Grenoble and then a bus to the resort.

Apres-ski in Chamrousse

The village is attractively placed amid numerous trees, which also provide lovely forest skiing. The reasonable rates attract many students, which gives the ski resort a young and vibrant feel. Despite this, however, nightlife is fairly quiet; however, those keen for a bit more action can easily head into Grenoble to sample the town’s profusion of restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

The fun at Chamrousse does not stop at skiing, however. Off-slope activities and facilities are comprehensive, including: ice-skating, hiking, a sports hall, an artificial climbing wall, a cinema, a library, theme workshops and evenings, and a driving circuit on ice. To keep visitors entertained at night, there are 25 bars and restaurants, a karaoke club, a discotheque and gaming rooms.

The nightlife at Chamrousse is tamer than at some of the bigger ski resorts, but there are some bars and restaurants, a discotheque and a gaming room. There is also a nursery for young children, and a ski school for three- to six-year-olds.

For a break from the slopes, nearby Grenoble offers a multitude of attractions. In addition to its many fine restaurants and lively night scene, it also has a number of cultural attractions. Among the best of these is a 16th century Bastille fort, the renowned Musée de Grenoble (fine arts museum), and several interesting churches.

Transportation to Chamrousse

To reach Chamrousse, visitors can choose from a number of transportation options. The quickest and most convenient of these is to arrange a flight to Grenoble, and take alternative transport from here to the resort.

Driving to Chamrousse from the UK involves taking a car ferry to Calais, from where it is a lengthy journey to the resort. Take the A48 motorway from Lyon, and after the Grenoble toll, continue on this autoroute until the sign to Rocade Sud-Chambéry. Follow the Rocade-Sud route until the Gieres-Uriage turn-off and after taking this exit, follow the signs to Uriage and Chamrousse.

An alternative means of transportation to Chamrousse is a combination of train and bus. From the UK, the Eurostar leaves from Waterloo Station and arrives in Paris some four hours later. From the French capital, you can connect with a French Rail (SNCF) train to Grenoble; this journey takes about 3 hours, 30 minutes. From Grenoble, take bus 601 to Chamrousse; this journey takes about 45 minutes.

The quickest and easiest way to reach Chamrousse is via a combination of plane and bus transportation, though this is also the most expensive option. The closest airport to Chamrousse is A’roport de Grenoble Saint Geoirs, situated approximately 60kms from the resort. From here, take a bus to Grenoble town, and then bus number 601 to Chamrousse.

Lastly, it is possible to take Eurolines bus transportation from the UK to France, and French buses on to Chamrousse.

back to ski guides