Alpe d'Huez Ski Resort, France

Overview of Alpe D'Huez

Alpe d'Huez sits atop white clouds of snow at a respectable 1,860m. It is known as l'ile au soleil, or the ‘island in the sun', due to the 300 sunny days it receives on average per year.

Worry not about the snow however! This beautiful high site was specially chosen to host a purpose-built ski resort precisely because it offers the ultimate winter sport combination of snowy nights and sunny days.

The very respectable 250km of pistes extend across a terrain that tops out at a mighty 3,330m on the Pic Blanc glacier, guaranteeing a snow-sure ski holiday - even if you may have to get up a little earlier for the late spring skiing.

It is a resort well known amongst the French as a snow-sure gem combining some traditional Savoyarde buildings in the Old Town with more modern additions. It is a fantastic all-rounder with something for everyone.

3 Things We Love About Alpe d'Huez

1. Snowboarder friendly – With two snow parks that offer an adrenaline-filled day, boarders can try new tricks or even practice old tricks to their hearts content.
2. Night skiing – Alpe d’Huez is one of the few resorts which offers a different side to skiing. Using a red-graded piste on the Signal Mountain offers a new experience waiting to be tried.
3. The longest black run in the world - With a distance of 17 km from top to bottom, The Sarenne has become a bucket list challenge for fearless intermediates and experienced skiers.?

Skiing and Boarding in Alpe D'Huez

Alpe d’Huez skiing boasts an amazing variety of slopes over its four sectors, with 250km of pistes, some outstanding off-piste runs, a glacier and two snow parks, and the longest black run in the Alps. So there really is something for everyone.

The Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine ski area incorporates six different villages, all connected via the ski lift system: Vaujany 1250, Oz En Oisans 1350, Alpe d'Huez 1860, Huez 1500, Maronne 1450, and Auris En Oisans 1600. There are 135 pistes in the Grande Domaine ski area: 42 green runs, 37 blue runs, 39 red runs, and 17 black runs. And there are 84 ski lifts: 6 cable cars, 9 gondolas, 25 chair lifts, and 30 button lifts/t-bars. The number of green runs is a big appeal of this ski area, as it is a very beginner friendly resort, while still having lots of more challenging runs for the more advanced riders.

The Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine Ski (full area) lift pass gives you unlimited access to this entire area.

Beginner

• Les Bergers nursery ski area: a large bowl with about 12 green runs in the central village area. With three chairlifts and two drag lifts, and as a designated low-speed area, Les Bergers is considered one of best beginner zones in France.
• Just left of Les Bergers is the DMC area with more green runs and a beginner snow park.
• Try out the “Fun Zones” Chez Roger and Marcels Farm, both accessible by bubble so no need to use a chairlift if that hasn’t been mastered yet! This is also very helpful if there are non-skiers in the group and they want to meet the rest of the group for lunch, as you can get on the bubble as a pedestrian.
• Once you’re ready to try some blue runs, a good place to start is the Vaujany area (far left of piste map) where you’ll find a good selection of cruisy blues. You’ll also find some nice blues underneath the Romains and Marmottes 1 lifts.

Intermediate

• The red piste left of the DMC 2 bubble is a good run to do when you’re first getting into red runs, as it’s more towards the beginner/intermediate level of difficulty. It is also usually nice and quiet while the main bowl is much busier.
• All the red runs down towards the left side of the ski map are nice and scenic, with the Poutran run having a lot of icicles to look at as you go down. The runs here are also quite long and cruisy, so good if you don’t fancy going up and down on the chairlifts as often as you would in the main ski bowl.
• Head over to the Auris area of resort via the Alpauris chairlift. This lift is nicknamed “the scare chair” due to being an up-and-over both-ways chairlift, but it offers some impressive views and access to a great ski area. From this lift you can get to Auris village by reds and blues. There is a nice cruisy blue run from the top of the Louvets lift which is located immediately after getting off the Auris Express.
• Auris is good when it is snowing with bad visibility because you can head down to the lower runs which are lined with trees (not loads of trees but certainly more than the rest of Alpe d’Huez). Auris is also good when the rest of the resort is icy as you can usually rely on the runs in this area to be in the sun and so to be softer than the rest.
• The Signal area is good for a selection of blues and reds (from the top of Signal 2100, either way down). The back of Signal takes you down a run called Villard. This is a favourite of some of our Skiworld staff– a very quiet, long and cruisy blue. It is amazing after a fresh dump of snow too.

Advanced and Off-Piste:

• The Oz-En-Oisans area offers a variety of more advanced skiing options, including off-piste (areas to explore each side of the Poutran red run) and tree runs slightly lower down.
• For steep piste skiing, head up to the Pic Blanc glacier where there are many black runs to try out. The Sarenne black run is the longest black piste in the Alpes and one of the most advanced pisted runs in the world. It’s only really steep at the top, so if you still want to tick this run off the list but want to avoid the really steep bit, you can join it from the top of the Marmottes 3 lift. There are also a lot of off-piste opportunities in this area.
• For arguably the steepest run in resort, aim for the Tunnel black run (left side of the piste map from the top of the Pic Blanc glacier).
• For expert off-piste skiing, try out some of the couloirs from the top of the Pic Blanc glacier which then join on to the Sarenna black run.
• In Vaujany there is a black un-pisted run called Roche Melon, as well as the long black run called La Fare which goes all the way down into Vaujany. This run is rarely open, but when it is it is a challenging advanced run with trees to dodge and often very icy conditions.

Park

• The two main snow parks are in the same area, above the centre (access from DMC 1, Les Jeux, or Romains). There is one for beginners to intermediates, then the other one is for advanced park riders.
• There is also a baby park off the Rifnel express, which is good for people wanting to practise small jumps.
• The fun zone Chez Roger (accessed from the top of the Romains lift) also has some fun parky bits in it, including some rollers and a box. There is also a mini slalom (good for kids!) and a tunnel feature to ski through.
• Similar to Chez Roger, Marcels Farm has a tunnel, a box, a mini half pipe at the top, and a bell to ring at the bottom. Good fun for kids (and adults).

Additional tips

• The Pic Blanc glacier is accessible without skis if you buy a walking pass, so non-skiers can still enjoy the views at 3330 metres altitude.

When skiing or snowboarding in any un-patrolled / un-pisted area, you should always have the correct equipment and employ the services of a qualified mountain guide. Skiing or snowboarding off-piste can result in injury or death even with a professional mountain guide or instructor. Our partner ski schools in Alpe d’Huez, ESF and Masterclass, offer off-piste lessons and guiding. 

Activities in Alpe D'Huez

Fancy doing something else besides skiing and snowboarding? Here are some of the top things available in the resort.

• Night skiing - Experience the thrill of night skiing on the Signal piste from Christmas all the way through to March.
• Outdoor swimming - There is a heated outdoor swimming pool located on the main high street.
• Ice Caves - Grotte De Glace is based at the second stage of the DMC gondola. Have a wander and take in all the fairytale-themed ice sculptures.
• Cinema - Cinema Le Palais - perfect for a relaxed evening after a day on the slopes. | 
• Palais des Sports - Sports centre with indoor climbing, badminton, squash, table tennis, escape game, indoor tennis, adventure course, indoor swimming pool. | 
• Luge des Bergers - A rail sledge (a bit like a rollercoaster) for all levels.
• Luge sledging - Get a sledging lift pass and go up to top of DMC 1 from where there is a sledging specific run to take down.
• Dog sledding - This gets very booked up so make sure you book in advance! | 
• Hiking and snowshoe hikes -
• Helicopter rides - Take to the skies for a birds-eye view of the resort. Or take a helicopter over to Les Deux Alpes to take advantage of the 1-day pass for Les Deux Alpes included with your 6-day Alpe d'Huez pass. | 
• Parapenting (Paragliding) - Takes place over the Signal side of resort.
• Sunset Sarenne - Join an organised sunset outing: get last lifts up to Pic Blanc with an ESF guide and watch the sunset while having food and wine in a refuge at the top. You are then guided down the Sarenne piste (with a head torch) for a ski under the stars. This is highly recommended by our Skiworld resort team.

Après Ski in Alpe D'Huez

Anyone with an aversion to sleeping whilst on a skiing holiday will also not be disappointed with the choice of nightlife in Alpe d'Huez.

• Freeride - This bar has a slide down to the toilet! Enough said.
• Smithy's - Where everyone ends up on a good night... dancing on the tables of course! This bar is a good place to eat earlier in the evening and then from about 10pm onwards has a great party atmosphere, either with live bands playing or their resident DJ.
• La Folie Douce - Visit the famous après venue for some partying on the mountain. It usually gets busy from around 2:30pm and can also be accessed without skis via the Marmottes 1 lift. | 
• Sphere - Sphere bar has a chilled atmosphere both in the evening and at après. Offering live music or DJs most evenings with some karaoke thrown in there too. | 
• Underground - Found in the Old Town area, this bar has live music on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. You can also order pizza from the hotel upstairs and have it delivered to eat in the bar.
• Moose Bar - New in Winter 23-24 and based in the L'Elose area, this bar is owned by Tomorrowland (the big winter festival) but is open all season. It is a very lively bar where people often head to straight after La Folie Douce.
• L'Indiana - A good bar to watch sports and have a more chilled apres. It has a free table football table and a free darts board.

Places to eat in Alpe D'Huez

As in all ski resorts, especially in peak season (or when heavy snow brings everyone on the mountain!), it is best to book your restaurant in advance.

On the mountain

• La Folie Douce restaurant - Has both a snack bar and a nice sit-down restaurant.
• Le Signal - Serves burgers, fish and chips, curry, sandwiches, and more. It has a restaurant, a snack bar, and a balcony with great views.
• Le Spot - A relaxed place for a snack but they also do burgers, paninis, and Nasi Gorang. You can sit on deck chairs and sheep skin rugs, and sunbathe with a great view of the resort.
• La Cabane - A really nice restaurant underneath the Marmottes 1 lift. You can sit on the decking or inside the restaurant. This restaurant also offers evening dinner service where you get picked up in a piste basher and they bring you down after. During the day, you can either ski and walk to this restaurant.
• L'Aventure - This restaurant is very similar to La Cabane, but it is based in Oz-en-Oisans.
• FuFu Ramen - A Japanese noodle bar located in Oz-en-Oisans down the Poutran run. It is a great restaurant that serves Japanese food.
• La Plage des Neiges - Again very similar to La Cabane and L'Aventure, this restaurant has a really nice sun deck where you can sit and enjoy your meal.

Evening meals

• Au Montagnard - Bring your appetite to this one! Get your teeth stuck into a good burger or some cheesy French classics.
• Smithy's - A more relaxed and fun option, serving fajitas, burgers and pasta and also offering a wide vegetarian selection. Great for groups and families as their kitchen opens earlier than most restaurants.
• Au Chamois d'Or - A great restaurant with a homemade menu full of local ingredients offering something for everyone.
• Cremaillere - A classic French restaurant which is a favourite amongst our Skiworld staff. It has a cosy vibe and serves traditional mountain food, including the highly recommended 'Cote de Beouf' which is 1kg of prime beef cooked to perfection and served with garlic cheese jackets.
• Edelweiss - This cosy, family-friendly restaurant is often raved about by our guests. It serves fondue, raclette, tartiflette, and other traditional cuisine.
• La Fondue en Folie - The best place in resort to get fondue.
• L'Indiana - Serves food from 12-6pm. This includes burgers, loaded fries, bacon sandwiches, and other home conforts. It has a sun deck which is great in the afternoon. This bar also shows sports and has a table football table and darts board.

Family Features Alpe D'Huez

Please also see the 'Activities' and 'Ski Schools' sections for a wealth of non-skiing and skiing options for families.

Depending on the age of your child, there are a few childcare options available in Alpe d'Huez.

• In Resort Creches - ESF Chalet des Enfants for children aged from 2.5 to 4 years, with ski lessons or just nursery options available. Lunch is also available for an extra cost.
• Les Intrepides Nursery - A day care centre for children aged from 6 months to 4 years, open during the school holidays.
• ALSH Leisure Centre - An activity centre for children aged from 4 to 12 years. Lots of different length day packages available, with or without meals included.