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• Resort Guide

One of France’s largest resorts and the world’s largest ski areas, Alpe d’Huez can appeal to most levels of skier and snowboarder. Nearly 100 lifts spread out around the mountain above, opening up one of the planet’s largest lift-served skiable verticals of more than 2,200m.

Although the main resort is largely purpose built, this is one of the world’s longest established ski resorts, created in 1936 and based on the original old village of Huez, 400m below and accessed by a high speed gondola.

Alpe d’Huez is one of the most southerly major resorts in France which typically means more sunshine. The area where the resort sits is also south facing to maximise this natural advantage. Thanks to its high altitude lifts, however, skiing is more-or-less guaranteed even in a poor snow season, as the local Sarenne glacier was formerly open for summer skiing. There are spectacular views from the highest lift where, on a clear day, you can see Mont Blanc, Italy and an area that has been calculated to cover one fifth of France.

Beginners

Despite its intimidating scale for first timers, Alpe d’Huez does make an effort for first time skiers and boarders with two ‘beginner only’ areas creating a dedicated learning areas away from the through flow of ski traffic. Once you’ve mastered your first turns you can take advantage of the natural lie of the land which has gentler slopes next to the resort with steeper attractions the further out you get.

Intermediates

As with most giant ski areas, intermediates have the most to enjoy of the 10,000 hectares of snow slopes with more than 100 separate runs graded red or below. One of the real treats is the 90 minute long, 16km (10 mile), descent from the Sarenne glacier, which the resort claims is the world’s longest groomed piste (this can even be tackled in the moonlight once a month on a special excursion) . This is one of four ski runs that descend more than 2000 vertical metres. Night skiing is also available twice a week if you can’t fit enough in during the day and a lift ticket is available that also covers neighbouring resorts and Serre Chevalier, tripling the available piste to nearly 800km/500 miles, should you feel Alpe d’Huez on its own is not enough.

Advanced

An excellent choice for advanced skiers, Alpe d’Huez is one of the main venues for off-piste skiing. There are some 20 famous descents and popular areas for experts include the black runs accessed via the Pic Blanc and Les Marmottes 2 lifts. Popular routes include The Grand Sablat Glacier run with a 1,900m vertical (taxi or helicopter transfer home required at the end) or The Couloirs with an incredible 2,200m vertical from La Fare to Plan du cerf which arrives at the village of Enversin from which you can return by ski lift. Beginner off-piste skiers can try the Cote de Rivet which is one of the easier routes and also returns to the lift network at the bottom. Ski touring is also popular, in either case you must take a local mountain guide. Amongst the pisted runs, La Fare and Chateau Noir runs are highly regarded.

Snowboarding

A good choice for boarders, Alpe d’Huez has a vast free ride domain served by easy to ride high speed lifts. There are two snow parks as well as a boarder cross course and half pipe. One of the parks has been designed especially for children and beginners and is located at the base of the slopes, the other next to the Poutran Pass is for more advanced freestyle skiers and boarders. It is over 1.5km long with a 300m vertical and features hips, tables, quarters, slides and whoops as well as the pipe and boardercross. The night skiing area in the signal stadium (open Tuesday and Thursday from 5.30 to 7.30pm) has a big air.

Other Activities and Facilities

There’s a wide range of activities available in Alpe d’Huez and many are either included free of charge or at a discounted rate on the Visalp lift pass. These include swimming pool (old fashioned trunks compulsory, swim shorts not allowed!), ice rink, curling, a sports centre with 26 different activities, sledging on the floodlit Butte de l’Eclose slope, 30km of hiking trails, via ferrata (Climbing on a ropes course) 50km of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, a weekly classical music concert and a museum, For thrill seekers you can also try ice driving, diving under ice in the frozen Besson lake or take a panoramic flight in a light aircraft from the local air strip. New snow sports like airboarding (inflatable sledge), snake glisse (a long multi-person articulated sledge), snowbiking and others are also offered. If you are interested in how ski areas work, the lift company organises tours of the lift machinery and of the snowmaking plants. On the mountain it is worth visiting the ice cave at 2,700m carved out by two local ski guides. All other facilities you may need are here – this is a large resort with more than 300 shops.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Usually quite a lively resort compared to many French ski centres that can be deathly quiet once the lifts close. Alpe d’Huez has about 70 restaurants and 30 bars so you have plenty of choice. Popular choices include the Igloo and The Underground. Along with a wide choice of French and Alpine restaurants you’ll find several Italian and Mexican options.

Families

There are several advantages to Alpe d’Huez for families – the gentle terrain close to the resort is family friendly, there are lots of more affordable places to eat and there are plenty of activities off the slope, including free-admission to the swimming pool with your lift pass. There is no daycare for the youngest babies, however from age two Les Crapouilloux kindergarten is available. From age three this can combine ski lessons with non-ski daycare on request. Children aged two-and-a-half can join either the Baby Club run by the International Ski School or Les Eterlous run by the French Ski School which provides beginner lessons. The French ski school’s snow garden includes an easy to use conveyor lift.

Ski/Board Suitability Guide

Suitable for families:	[Yes]
Suitable for beginners:	[4]
Suitable for intermediate skiers:	[5]
Suitable for advanced skiers:	[4]
Suitable for boarders skiers:	[5]

Piste Map for Alpe d`huez

Accommodation in Alpe d`huez

• Bergers Vvf - 3 star,
• Chalet Adeline - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Adeline - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Altiport - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Altiport - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Eleonore - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Eleonore - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Justine - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Lac Blanc 1 - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Lac Blanc 2 - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Les Campanules - 4 star, half board
• Chalet Les Carines - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Melea - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Melea - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Murielle - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Murielle - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Namika - 4 star, half board
• Chalet Telemark - 4 star, half board
• Chalethotel Les Bruyeres - 3 star, half board
• Christiania - 3 star, self catering
• Christiania - 3 star, self catering
• Clubhotel Beausoleil - 3 star, catered
• Du Pic Blanc - 3 star, half board
• Du Pic Blanc - 3 star, half board
• Ferme De Marie - 3 star, catered
• Ferme De Marie - 3 star, catered
• Hermitage - 3 star, catered
• Hermitage - 3 star, catered
• Hermitage - 3 star, catered
• Hermitage Residence - 3 star, catered
• Hermitage Residence - 3 star, catered
• Horizons D`huez - 3 star, self catering
• Hotel Les Bergers - 3 star, full board
• Hotel Les Bergers - 3 star, full board
• Hotel Les Bergers - 3 star, full board
• Hotel Les Grandes Rousses - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Ours Blanc - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Pic Blanc - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Pic Blanc - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Printemps De Juliette - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Royal Ours Blanc - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Royal Ours Blanc - 4 star, half board
• Les Bergers Apartments - 2 star, half board
• Les Cimes - 3 star, catered
• Les Cimes - 3 star, catered
• Les Cimes - 3 star, catered
• Les Melezes - 3 star, self catering
• Les Melezes - 3 star, self catering
• Lodge L Etendard - 3 star, self catering
• Lours Blanc Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Lours Blanc Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• L\'ours Blanc Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• L`ecrin D`huez - 3 star, self catering
• Our Blanc 4 Sun - 4 star, self catering
• Our Blanc 4 Sun - 4 star, self catering
• Ours Blanc Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Ours Blanc Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Pere Josef 1 Chalet - 3 star, catered
• Pere Josef 2 Chalet - 3 star, catered
• Petit Prince Hotel - 3 star, catered
• Pic Blanc Hotel - 4 star, catered
• Quartier D Bergers - 3 star, catered
• Quartier des Bergers - 3 star, self catering
• Quartier des Bergers - 3 star, self catering
• Quartier Des Bergers Residence - 3 star, self catering
• Res. Ours Blanc - 3 star, self catering
• Res. Ours Blanc - 3 star, self catering
• Res. Ours Blanc - 3 star, self catering
• Res. Vvf Les Bergers - 3 star, self catering
• Res. Vvf Les Bergers - 3 star, self catering
• Res. Vvf Les Bergers - 3 star, self catering
• Residence Les Bergers - 4 star, self catering
• Residence Les Bergers - 4 star, self catering
• Residence Les Bergers - 4 star, self catering
• Residence Les Bergers - 4 star, self catering
• Robert Chalet - 3 star, catered
• Royal Ours Blanc Hotel - 4 star, catered
• Royal Oursblanc - 3 star, half board
• Vallee Blanche - 3 star, catered
• Vallee Blanche - 3 star, catered
• Vallee Blanche - 3 star, catered
• Viking Chalet - 3 star, catered
• Vvf Les Bergers - 3 star, self catering

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