Travel to Vars with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Vars ski resort is a very well kept secret. At 1,850m, it has a good snow record and boasts 300 days of sun per year.

The ski area of Vars is linked with Risoul 1850 and they share a common lift pass. Between them, they offer 180kms of varied pistes. For beginners, the skiing could not be better; the whole area is accessible via green and blue runs and you can ski between Risoul and Vars entirely on blue pistes. Intermediates will enjoy a huge choice of runs above and below the tree-line.

Advanced skiers have a choice of 11 black pistes and plenty of off-piste, best explored with a local guide. There can be good off-piste powder above Risoul to tackle with a guide after snowfalls, and the moderate gradients make it suitable for first-timers.

The season begins in early December and runs until May. The best conditions are usually in early March and the lowest rates are in early December or April. Vars is 250kms from Marseilles, the nearest international airport. The nearest train station is Montdauphin/Guillestre, 15kms away.

Skiing in Vars

Vars is located between Grenoble and Nice, 50kms south of Briancon and Serre-Chevallier, and 40kms north of Barcelonnette. Together with the resort of Risoul, Vars is one of the largest ski areas in the southern French Alps, forming part of the Foret Blanche ski circuit.

The combined ski area boasts 180kms of pistes and 57 lifts, with fine tree level and high altitude skiing. Wide, sunny nursery slopes and varied pistes make this resort particularly ideal for beginners and intermediate skiers. Beginners will start off at village level, where there are two draglifts and some gentle green runs. From there, progression to the chairlift and gondola lifts opening up the area will be quick.

Intermediates will find there is a huge choice of runs, above and below the tree line, and a number of wide open snow bowls above both villages. Advanced skiers have a choice of 11 black pistes, and plenty of off-piste skiing is available, although it is best explored with a local ski guide.

Snowboarders will be in their element here. There is a superb snowboard park in Risoul, offering some interesting jumps. In the evenings, there are regular night-time snowboard jump competitions. The season begins in early December and runs until May. The best conditions are usually in early March and the lowest rates are in early December or April.Vars is 250kms from Marseilles, the location of the nearest international airport. The nearest train station is Montdauphin/Guillestre, 15kms away.

Apres-ski in Vars

Vars les Claux is a very French, compact resort, comprising two small shopping parades, each with its own selection of shops, bars, restaurants, nightclub, and skating and games hall.

In Vars, for a lunch break on the mountain, head for Barjo, Les Cassettes or LHorizon; for occasional live music in the resort, try the piano bar Le Gruate in the Hotel Les Escondus. Nightclubs Le Lem, Le Lynx and Le Look are open until the early hours.

Après ski is somewhat thin but for occasional live music in the resort, try the piano bar Le Gruate in the Hotel Les Escondus. Nightclubs Le Lem, Le Lynx and Le Look are open until the early hours. Neighbouring Risoul is built on a mountainside plateau and has wonderful panoramic views of the valley below, while Vars is situated on the other side of the Pic de Chabrières. Both resorts offer good value for money and boast 300 days of sunshine a year.

Transportation to Vars

Vars, is nestled between Grenoble and Nice, 50kms south of Briancon and Serre-Chevallier, and 40kms north of Barcelonnette. Combined with the resort of Risoul, Vars is one of the largest ski areas in the southern French Alps, forming part of the Foret Blanche ski circuit.

For self-drivers, Vars ski resort is approximately 1,024kms from Calais. The journey will take you through Gap, Embrun and Guillestre or through Briançon and Guillestre.

The Eurostar from Waterloo reaches Paris in four hours. It is then possible to catch another train from Paris to Grenoble, which takes a further three hours. From there, you can take a taxi or drive yourself to Vars, a journey of 3 hours, 30 minutes; alternatively, take train to the nearest station, Montdauphin-Guillestre, which is a 15-kilometre ride by shuttle from the resort.

Vars is within reasonable reach of three airports. Turin Airport is the nearest (160kms), but the larger international airports of Lyons and Marseilles offer more choice and flexibility. Marseilles (240kms) has daily direct scheduled flights from Heathrow with British Airways. Air France flies from Heathrow via Paris to Marseilles. Lyon Airport (250kms) has scheduled flights from Heathrow with British Airways and Air France. Maersk Air flies here daily from Birmingham/Lyon.

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