Alpe d`Huez Skiing Holidays

Snow report issued:	10th Mar 10
Last snowed:	7th Mar 10
Fresh snow depth:	1cm
Depth at resort:	131cm
Mountain depth:	280cm
Piste state:
Excellent (The best conditions can be found on the upper slopes)
Weather report:
Overcast skies
Temperature:	-9°C
Open lifts:	44 of 73

View Alpe d`Huez snow history

Slope Direction	S SW NW
Very Easy Runs	38
Easy Runs	31
Medium Runs	33
Difficult Runs	17
Toughest Run Name	Sarenne
Skiable Vertical	2230m
Number Of Lifts	81
Top Lift Height	3330m
Night Skiing	Y
Snowboarding Parks	2
Half Pipes	1
Swimming Pools	2
Night Clubs	4
Mountain Restaurants	17

Grenoble - Iserie:	1 hour and 30 minutes
Lyon Saint Exupery:	3 hours

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.