Les Deux Alpes Ski Resort, France

Overview of Les Deux Alpes

There are only two things associated with the number two in Les Deux Alpes; the two mountain villages that gave the resort its name and the 2km-long strip that joins the resort together. Otherwise, it's all about the big numbers; skiing up to 3,600m, 220km of pistes, 75% of the ski area above 2,000m and a snowpark that's helped make Les Deux Alpes a long-standing hub of the European freestyle scene. And, if you're down with the right crowd, there's a pretty lively party scene to match.

Situated on the cusp of the Northern and Southern Alps, around two hours from Grenoble airport, Les Deux Alpes brings together beginner and expert skiers, families and party people. The high-altitude ski area means there's plenty of snow-sure terrain to get stuck into, while the long main strip makes it easy to get from the slopes to the bars once the lifts close.

Development in Les Deux Alpes hasn't always been in keeping with its historic Alpine village roots, but there are still some traditional chalets and buildings tucked around the resort. For a proper taste of the old mountain village, head to Venosc, which sits below the main resort and is connected by cable car. It's a completely different feel from the main strip, with traditional stone buildings, narrow lanes and a handful of local shops and restaurants.

The main strip is a venerable entertainment highway, with ski lifts heading up the mountain on either side by day and bars, restaurants and après spots enticing you in by night. It won't appeal to everyone, but if you like having plenty going on after skiing, Les Deux Alpes is hard to beat.

Three things we love about Les Deux Alpes

1. High and snow-sure - With skiing up to 3,600m and 75% of the ski area above 2,000m, there's plenty of high-altitude terrain to explore.
2. Off-piste skiing - Les Deux Alpes is well known for its freeride terrain, with areas such as La Fée offering some seriously good off-piste skiing for experienced skiers.
3. Glacier skiing - The high-altitude glacier sector reaches 3,600m and offers a mix of terrain for different abilities, as well as some pretty spectacular mountain views.

Snow-sure choice

• Les Deux Alpes offers glacier skiing well into May, with slopes reaching altitudes of up to 3,523m
• Over 75% of pistes in the ski area sit above 2,000m, offering strong conditions throughout the season
• Average annual snowfall is 335cm, with approximately 29 days of snowfall across the year

Skiing and Boarding in Les Deux Alpes

With good snow, high slopes, and gradients ranging from friendly to fearsome, Les Deux Alpes skiing is a good place for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. It has the largest skiable glacier in Europe and is France’s second oldest ski resort after Chamonix. The ski area is made up of 7 sectors, 41 ski lifts, and 89 pistes (16 green, 46 blue, 17 red, and 10 black).

Beginner

• You'll find a good range of nursery slopes stretched along the east mountain side of the town (take the Diable or Belle Etoile lifts up and you'll find green routes all the way back down).
• Cretes is one of the best green runs for beginners: it is a long wide run and also has a magic carpet running alongside it with allocated space for those who are complete beginners.
• You'll also find some green runs on the west side of the town.
• Once you're feeling more confident and ready to try some blue runs, you'll find a selection of these all the way from the top of the glacier, meaning, unlike lots of resorts, even beginners can still enjoy the best views in resort and ski all the way from the top to the bottom of the mountain.

Intermediate

• The often-quieter Pied Moutet side (the west mountain side of the town) has some fun blues and reds of varying difficulty levels.
• Have a go on the so nicknamed 'Bumpy Bons' which is the track that snakes down through the trees to 1300m.
• There are some nice blues and reds to explore in the La Fée 2200 area (left side of the piste map).
• From the top of Bellecombe chair lift, there are some nice red runs you can follow all the way back down into town.
• The Signal run, which runs underneath the Signal chairlift on the left side of the piste map, is a nice intermediate level blue that is normally a lot quieter being a bit more out of the way to the rest of resort.
• One of our team's favourite runs in resort is down to Pierre Grosse gondola from the Jandri midpoint. Here you will find a lovely blue run with some rollers and sidehits on it. You can then take a selection of red or blue runs back to Jandri midpoint, in an area which is usually a bit quieter. 

Advanced/Off Piste

• There are almost as many black runs as reds runs in Les Deux Alpes so plenty of more challenging runs to try.
• Try the Pierre Grosse black runs down to La Fée, one of which is un-pisted if you want some moguls to get your knees working.
• The area down from the Fée chairlift is generally one of the best places to be for expert skiers. 
• There are a couple of black runs just above the town centre to have a go on: Valentin and Diable 1.
• In Les Deux Alpes there is also 1400 hectares of accessible off-piste terrain to explore
• Grand Couloir Chutes: an open bowl with three short chutes - accessible from Bellecomes chairlift
• La Dome Glacier: from the glacier funicular, join the blue traverse along the side of the mountain. When the piste cuts left, cut right and explore the big open face which eventually joins the Signal blue run.
• Just a little further along the valley is the famous La Grave ski area: famous for having no pistes, and instead lots of steep and dangerous terrain. Freeriders flock here to explore the unique mountains above this small hamlet. There is one old-school bubble lift that takes you to the summit and then it's a 2150m descent. However, there is only one marked piste, otherwise, as the resort's website says, "each run is to imagine".

Park

• Accessed from the Toura chairlift, the Les Deux Alpes snowpark is great for slopestyle, big air, pipe, half pipe, and it also has a kids area. Considered one of the best snowparks in Europe, it's a great park for all levels, and includes nice big rollers, smaller, medium and XL jumps for all levels, and winds round nicely instead of just being in a straight line, so it gives a nice, more varied feel.
• There is a button lift running alongside the far side of the park allowing keen park rats to lap the park again and again.

Additional Tips

• If you feel like exploring more of the surrounding mountains, hop on a helicopter (or get a taxi) over to Alpe d'Huez or Serre Chevalier.

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 school in Les Deux Alpes, European Ski & Snowboard School, offers off-piste lessons and guiding.

Activities in Les Deux Alpes

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

• Ice skating - An open-air ice skating rink.
• Laser Quest - For all ages. Booking is required.
• Cinema - Cinéma le Slalom shows an English film every Wednesday evening.
• Parapente and hangliding - See the resort from a birds-eye view, with or without skis.
• Snowmobiling - For both adults and children, see the resort by night and snowmobile up the green runs in the dark.
• Helicopter to Alpe D'Huez  - A 6-day Les Deux Alpes lift pass includes two possible days spent in Alpe d'Huez, so why not travel there in style via helicopter.

Après Ski in Les Deux Alpes

• Umbrella Bar - A classic Les Deux Alpes apres venue, located to the left at the bottom of the Jandri lift. Literally a bar under an umbrella and always a great bet for a good party.
• Le Diable au Coeur - At the top of the Diable lift, this very popular apres bar on the mountain has a DJ accompanied by a saxaphone player a few times a week.
• The Spot  - A restaurant and bar with a relaxed atmosphere.
• Polar Bear - Chalet style bar with live music and a cosy fire. Always a busy spot for tourists and seasonnaries alike.
• Jukeboxx - A trendy bar with a great atmosphere and delicious cocktails. They also do a lot of themed nights during the season.
• The Penguin Pub - Chilled bar with a pool table and TVs that show all the big games.  
• The Mini Bar - A little bar that has drum and bass nights as well as other themed music nights. This place plays great music and attracts a big party crowd.  
• Smithy's Tavern - A very popular English bar in resort, with the upstairs restaurant also doing great cocktails. This bar puts on loads of themed nights and is sponsored by Superwhite so there are lots of giveaways throughout the season.
• The Studio Club  - Open until 5am, with great music and always busy with seasonnaires and tourists.  

Places to eat in Les Deux Alpes

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 Fée - Has both a snack bar and a restaurant serving traditional french dishes. Also serves great crêpes.
• Le Diable au Coeur - A mountain restaurant overlooking the Écrins National Park and serving great food.
• Le Refuge des Glaciers - Located at the foot of the glacier, choose between self-service or a sit-down bistro. Also serve nice cocktails.

In town

• The Spot - A great menu including pizzas, steaks, massive salads, duck pancakes, build your own burgers, best Bloody Mary's in town, ice cream sundaes and more!
• Smithy's Tavern - Chargrill, fajitas, burgers, salmon, poke bowls, and great options for veggies and vegans. The BEST steak in resort.
• Le P'tit Polyte - The highest altitude Michelin starred restaurant in the Isère region. A cosy and intimate fine dining restaurant offering 3 tasting menus, located in Hotel Chalet Mounier.
• La Porte d’à Côté - Serving traditional French food including Savoyarde specials. Huge salads, frogs legs, snails, truffle ravioli, steaks, tuna steak and the best carbonara you will ever have.
• Le Chalet a Pizza - Take away pizza and they also deliver for free anywhere in the resort.
• K's Croute - Take away pizza open until 4 am.
• Bzzz Fast & Fab - Great burgers and other easy meals at good prices.

Family Features Les Deux Alpes

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 Les Deux Alpes.

• Bonhomme de Neige - Childcare centre for children from ages 6 months to 5 years.  
• Ann' Sitter - Private babysitter.
• Jardins des Neiges Piou Piou Clubs - A ski learning area run by ESF for children from age 3 to 5 years.