Ski Holidays in Chamrousse, France

• Snow Conditions in Chamrousse France +

  Snow report issued:	6th Feb 12
  Last snowed:	1st Feb 12
  Fresh snow depth:	10cm
  Depth at resort:	95cm
  Mountain depth:	165cm
  Piste state:
  Excellent (Great conditions - wax up your skis!)
  Weather report:
  Light clouds dotting the sky
  Temperature:	-15°C
  Open lifts:	14 of 19

  View Chamrousse snow history

• Chamrousse Resort Statistics+

  Slope Direction	W SW
  Very Easy Runs	8
  Easy Runs	16
  Medium Runs	16
  Difficult Runs	6
  Toughest Run Name	Casserousse
  Skiable Vertical	855m
  Number Of Lifts	23
  Top Lift Height	2255m
  Night Skiing	Y
  Snowboarding Parks	1
  Half Pipes	1
  Swimming Pools	0
  Night Clubs	1
  Mountain Restaurants	2

• Chamrousse Transfer Times+

  Lyon:	2 hours
  :	0 minutes

Chamrousse isn't really one resort but, like many other larger French resorts, has multiple bases, known by their altitudes and sometimes also by additional names. There are five different bases but the largest with most of the accommodation and facilities are at 1650m (Le Recoins), 1700m, and 1750m (Roche Beranger). All were purpose-built 40 years ago for the 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics.

The resort is well laid out with largely easy and intermediate slopes, the concrete tower blocks in the oldest part of the development at Le Recoins are generally considered rather ugly, but there have been more tasteful wood clad constructions in recent years. Some new four and six seater chairlifts have also been installed on the mountain.

Chamrousse is also known for being one of the more affordable resorts to stay in, and one of the easiest to reach with 90 minute transfers from either Champery or Grenoble airports.

• Skiing for Beginners+

  Beginners will find nursery slopes right next to the resort with long blues to progress on to. For example the 'Les Cretes' and 'Ours' blue runs are great progression runs that provide spectacular views of the surrounding mountainscape as an added bonus.
  
  Learning to ski in Chamrousse is affordable too, the prices of a beginners package here, including lift pass, tuition and equipment rental is around half the cost of in one of France's best known resorts. There is a special 'Mini-Domaine' lift pass that's best for beginners.

• Intermediate Skiing+

  The ski area is generally split, with the easier terrain on the right side of the mountain, the tougher, steeper runs to the left side. Intermediates can enjoy both with varied easy to moderate trails accessed via the chairlifts at Roche Bernager and the terrain turning increasingly red then black as you move to the other side of the ski area.
  
  The vertical here, with a maximum of 850m, although much of it nearer 500m, is rather small compared to most major French areas, but most of the terrain is quite high and so relatively snow sure. The Gaboreau run is floodlit for night skiing on Tuesday nights through the peak February period.

• Advanced+

  The steep terrain above Le Recoin contains seven black runs, one of them the famous 1968 Olympic Men's Downhill course on which France's all-time skiing great Jean Claude Killy won gold. The four kilometre (two and a half mile) run is the longest in the resort.
  
  Another highly recommended black trail is the Couloir de Casserousse. A large percentage of the terrain is below the tree line, meaning there's lots of fun to be had in powder stashes in the woods.

• Snowboarding at Chamrousse+

  Chamrousse has a terrain park, half pipe and boardercross course and a special Liberty lift pass designed for people who want to use them. There's a good snowboard school and the Aero Style School offers lessons in big air, jib or half pipe for all ability levels.

• Other Activities And Facilities at Chamrousse+

  Chamrousse has a lot to do besides ski and board. Alternatives on the ice and snow include an artificial surface outdoor ice rink, the chance to try driving car on an ice circuit in the daytime or evening, snowshoeing or snow biking on a circuit. Mini-snow-bikes are available for children aged four to eight and everyone receives free hot chocolate.
  
  There are also five adventure circuits in the trees - connect yourself by harness to a cable and move around these. One of the circuits is especially for children aged four to eight. You can also try paragliding or even diving beneath a frozen lake - offered to beginners as well as the experienced.
  
  Indoor options include a cinema with two shows a day (or three if the weather is bad), and a leisure centre. There's a small selection of shops in each centre and a market every Tuesday which alternates between the 1650 and 1750 bases.

• Apres Ski And Dining Out+

  There are some two dozen bars and restaurants spread across the resort though with the vast majority in the larger 1650 and 1750 which have been highly rated for nightlife in user polls. Popular venues include Pizza Roc Café and Le Monte Cristo Café. There are also karaoke bars and cyber cafes including Le Sixtys and the Iceberg Café.
  
  Dining options range from creperies and pizzeria through traditional Alpine mountain restaurants to borderline gourmet establishments. Try Chez Annie and Gilbert, Chez Georges and Le Grillon.

• Ski Holidays in Chamrousse suitable for Families+

  As with most French ski areas, Chamrousse is well equipped to cater for families. There's Les Marmots nursery for young children aged three months to three years with older children looked after in the Leisure Centre (ages three years and three months up to 12 years old).
  
  Morning or afternoon, or morning and afternoon cover is available with the option of taking your child out for lunch or leaving them in for the full day. The ski school offers lessons for children aged three years and three months or older for two hours each afternoon, as an option which most families take up. Club Piou Piou is a largely on-snow based programme run by the ski school which takes children through the French national ski testing course, having lots of fun on the way. Snowboarding is available for children aged eight and over.