Travel to Les Deux Alpes with travel insurance from Essential Travel

Ski resorts in Les Deux Alpes

Sitting at the top of the magical Veneon Valley, in the heart of the Oisans, Les Deux Alpes is a lively resort with a natural beauty. Frances second-oldest ski resort after Chamonix, Les Deux Alpes fuses world class ski areas, the largest skiable glacier in Europe and an array of après-ski options together, making this an all around perfect location.

Seventy-six runs totalling 200kms occupy both sides of the valley; they are serviced by 63 lifts, with eight of the runs on the glacier itself. All levels are looked after here, with especially fantastic intermediate runs. These meander through diverse scenery with off-piste suitable for all levels, though a guide is needed for some trails.

The Vallons de la Meije is one of the most exciting off-piste runs in Europe at over 2,150m of vertical descent. The highest elevation at the resort is 3,559m with a vertical descent of 2,298m. The summer months come alive with the snow park for boarders, and beginners learning on the glacier.

There are two seasons here: winter from late November to early May, and summer from mid-June to late August. Passes are cheapest from late November to mid-December. Catch a flight direct to Lyon International Airport, and then transfer via Grenoble to the resort. Alternatively, catch a three-hour high-speed TGV train to Grenoble and transfer from there.

Skiing in Les Deux Alpes

The second-oldest resort in France, Les Deux Alpes has an attractive combination of stunning scenery, a vast ski area with 76 runs, and a busy nightlife. Sitting at the top of the Veneon Valley, Les Deux Alpes offers some of the most beautiful views in the region and is a lively destination.

The 76 runs here add up to 200kms of skiing, from downhill to cross-country, through an array of different scenery. Just over half of the runs are suitable for intermediate level skiers, with beginners and advanced skiers getting 17 per cent and 11 per cent of the runs, respectively. The highest point is at 3,559m, where the total vertical descent is 2,298m. Sixty-one thousand skiers per hour are looked after by 63 lifts which service the whole area and include an incredible tube train drilled through the mountain summit, offering stunning views.

There are two seasons at Les Deux Alpes: winter, from late November to early May, and summer, from mid-June to late August. Lowest rates are from late November to mid-December and the snow is best around the late winter months, although the glacier offers good skiing all year round.

Les Deux Alpes is located 120kms from the nearest airport at Grenoble-St-Geoirs, with flights direct from Paris. However, the easiest option is to take a flight direct to Grenoble Airport and then transfer to the resort via Satobus. Alternatively, catch the TGV high-speed train from Paris direct to Grenoble, then transfer via VFD coach for a 45-minute ride to the resort.

Apres-ski in Les Deux Alpes

With summer skiing available from June to September, Les Deux Alpes remains busy throughout the year. Often described as a party town, the resort delivers on entertainment for singles, couples and families alike. Its old time charm can be experienced with a walk through the Venosc end of town, which is filled with old stone buildings and churches.

The village itself has an open feel and plays host to an après-ski scene unlike any other. There are plenty of hotels offering around 35,000 beds, three nightclubs that stay open until dawn and over 250 restaurants and shops. Children are more than welcome at the Club Ptits Montagnards member resort. There is also a free bus around the village, linking the various facilities.

Les Deux Alpes sits among the action; the large ski area covers the valley walls around the village. There are some impressive après-ski facilities, including bars, restaurants and nightclubs, which stay open way past dawn. Alternatively, visit the cinema, attend one of the exhibitions at the two history museums in the village or go bowling.

As well as these pastimes, there are a number of other non-ski activities, including: snowshoeing, tobogganing, motoski, ice-climbing, ice-skating and sleigh riding. Alternatively, you can take in a play or piano concert at the Maison De Le Montagne.

Alternatively, travel down the valley to La Grave, a stunning location with access to some of the finest skiing in the world. Breathtaking slopes and wilderness skiing make this ski resort a charming option. The relaxed atmosphere, stone houses and lack of crowds make it a pleasant getaway. You can use your Les Deux Alpes ski pass on weekdays here

Transportation to Les Deux Alpes

Les Deux Alpes is situated 70kms from Grenoble and 160kms from Lyon, making it easy to reach by air, road or rail. The most convenient way of getting to the resort is by taking a flight to Lyon International Airport before transferring to Grenoble via Satobus and on to the resort by VDF coach. Alternatively, fly from Paris to the airport at Grenoble and transfer via coach to the resort.

By car, take the main autoroute to Grenoble, then exit at junction 8 (Briançon, Vizille, the Oisans resorts), and follow RN91 towards Briancon via Le Bourg d’Oisans before turning right on to D213 at the Chambon Dam. From here, it is a 70-kilometre journey to Les Deux Alpes. Lyon is 2 hours, 30 minutes to the resort along the A43 and A48 to Grenoble. Total driving time from Calais is around nine hours, with road tolls costing €100.

By rail from London, catch the Eurostar to Paris and transfer to the high-speed TGV direct to Grenoble station, located about 70kms from the resort. The journey takes three hours. On arrival at Grenoble, take the VDF transfer bus for a 45-minute journey to Les Deux Alpes.

The nearest airport to Les Deux Alpes is situated at Grenoble-St-Geoirs, serviced by airports from all over the world. The airport is 120kms from the resort, which can be accessed by a 90-minute Monnet Airport Shuttle via Grenoble. The closest international airport is 160kms away at Lyon, with flights from all over Europe. Make the journey of 2 hours, 30 minutes with Satobus from here to the resort.

Helicopter transfers are available between Les Deux Alpes and Grenoble or Lyon airports (tel: +33476797515).

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