Self-Drive Ski Holidays

Why Choose a Self-Drive Ski Holiday?

Driving to the Alps is a fantastic alternative to flying or taking the train, offering flexibility, comfort and great value. Here are some of the top reasons to go self-drive:

• Skip the airports and stations – Travel on your own schedule and avoid queues, delays and baggage restrictions.
• Bring more with you – Pack as much luggage as your vehicle allows, ideal if you want to take extra ski gear, food or home comforts.
• Save money on supplies – If you’re staying in a self-catered apartment, stop at supermarkets en route or at the bottom of the mountain for better value shopping.
• Explore further afield – Having your car in resort means you can drive to neighbouring ski areas included on your lift pass.
• Lower your carbon footprint – Travelling in a group by car is significantly more sustainable than flying.
• Stock up duty-free – Take advantage of duty-free allowances in Calais and load up on essentials (or luxuries) before you continue your journey.
• Make the journey part of the holiday – Enjoy a scenic drive through France, with the option of a cultural overnight stop along the way.

How Self Driving Can Save You Money on your Ski Holiday

1. Unlimited luggage allowance – Take as much as you can fit in your vehicle, including ski equipment, without worrying about excess baggage fees. This can save you hundreds of pounds compared to flying.
2. Save on food and drink – Stock up at supermarkets before you leave or along the way. Your journey costs will be far less than eating and drinking in airports!
3. Better value travel – Split the cost of fuel and tolls between passengers and it often works out far cheaper than multiple return flights. That means you can put more of your budget into upgrading your ski accommodation for extra comfort.
4. Exclusive self-drive ski deals – Subscribe to our Offers Alert and be the first to receive our best tips and deals, with early access before they go public.
5. Flexible payments – Spread the cost of your holiday by paying in instalments through our online customer portal, Manage My Booking.

Offers

Our self-drive holiday packages are available across a wide range of catered ski chalets and self-catered apartments. Each package is priced to include seven nights in a catered chalet plus a standard Le Shuttle (Eurotunnel) return crossing for one vehicle.

Need more flexibility? Upgrades and additional vehicles can easily be added to your booking.

Loyalty Discounts
Save every member of your group up to £50 per person when you book a catered chalet ski holiday for 2025/26 (or £35pp for a self-catered apartment), even if only you have been on holiday with us before. Combinable with other offers, Ts & Cs apply.
Stay Again and Save!

Book Your Ski Extras Before You Travel

Booking your lift pass and ski hire in advance with Skiworld not only guarantees the best prices, it also means less to organise when you arrive at the resort. Everything is ready for you, so you can head straight to the slopes and start enjoying your holiday from day one. Plus, you'll save £50 per person when you book your ski hire and lift pass with us - for a group, this can quickly add up to a few extra après drinks! 

To make your trip even easier, we also offer apartment starter packs at select resorts. These packs include essential items to help get your skiing adventure off to a smooth start, available upon request when you pre-book.

What are the Best Ski Resorts for Self Drive Holidays?

Our recommended ski resorts for self-drive holidays are all in France, enjoy excellent snow throughout the season, and are among the shortest drives from Calais for resorts worth visiting.

Chamonix & Les Houches (8 hrs / 890km from Calais)

Nestled under the majestic Mont Blanc, Chamonix and Les Houches offer unrivalled off-piste opportunities alongside authentic French mountain towns. The area boasts a huge variety of accommodation, restaurants, bars, and entertainment. With a Mont Blanc lift pass, you can even drive into Italy to ski in Courmayeur, or into Switzerland to experience Verbier and the other 4 Valleys resorts.

Self-Drive Ski Holidays to Chamonix and Les Houches

Alpe d’Huez: 8 hrs 45 mins / 930km from Calais

Alpe d’Huez is a snow-sure 250 km playground of pistes, capped by the mighty Pic Blanc glacier at 3,330m. For a modern resort experience with lively après and a wide range of amenities, choose Alpe d’Huez. 

Self-Drive Ski Holidays to Alpe d’Huez

Les Carroz: 8 hrs / 869km from Calais

Part of the Grand Massif ski area and situated at 1,200 m, Les Carroz is a favourite with British and French families. The resort offers convenient facilities and easy access to 265 km of prime intermediate skiing in nearby Flaine, Samoëns, Morillon, and Sixt.

Self-Drive Ski Holidays to Les Carroz

Avoriaz & Les Gets: 8 hrs / 894km from Calais

Avoriaz is a ski-in/ski-out resort perched at 1,800 m, while its neighbour Les Gets sits at 1,200 m and just an hour from Geneva. Ski between the two in under an hour, with easy access to the 600 km of slopes in the Portes du Soleil ski area. Both resorts are ideal for families and groups looking for convenience, variety, and stunning alpine scenery.

Self-Drive Ski Holidays to Avoriaz & Les Gets

Les Deux Alpes: 8 hrs 45mins / 933km from Calais

Featuring the highest skiable glacier in France, the largest lift-served off-piste in France, the largest snowpark in Europe and some of the best après ski in the Alps. There is a variety of accommodation in Les Deux Alpes too, from catered chalets to self-catered ski apartments and hotels.

Self-Drive Ski Holidays to Les Deux Alpes

Advice for Self-Drive Ski Holidays

Planning a self-drive ski holiday is all about making the journey as smooth and stress-free as possible. Here are three key factors to keep in mind when choosing your resort:

1. Altitude

Higher-altitude resorts (typically above 1,000m) can offer more reliable snow, but winter driving conditions may be more challenging. Expect snow, ice, steep roads, and tight bends. You may also need snow chains, so it’s important to be prepared.

2. Multiple Countries

Crossing borders on your trip can add extra planning, paperwork, and potential delays. If you prefer a simpler journey, consider resorts within a single country to reduce stress and keep your focus on the fun.

3. Parking

Consider how close you need to park to your accommodation. Is a short walk acceptable, or do you prefer direct access? Also, think about whether you need covered or underground parking, or if an outdoor car park is sufficient.

Ski Resorts Nearest Calais

Here are the approximate driving times and the distances from Calais to a variety of French ski resorts.

Driving Through France

Driving to the Alps can be a fantastic way to reach your resort at your own pace, take all the luggage and ski gear you need, and enjoy a scenic journey through France. Here’s our complete guide to make your self-drive ski holiday stress-free and enjoyable.

Motorway Toll Roads

Motorway tolls are standard on European highways, charged based on distance travelled. For example, Calais to the French Alps is usually around €80 each way.

Paying French Tolls

• Pay-as-you-go is the most common and cost-effective method.
• Use a credit or debit card and you can stay in your vehicle while paying.
• Machines are on the left-hand side of your car (driver’s side).

Pre-paid Toll Tag (Liber-t télépéage tag)

• Allows non-stop passage through tolls, automatically charging your account.
• For a single return trip to the Alps, the setup and fees generally aren’t worth it.
• Learn more at www.saneftolling.co.uk

Avoiding French Toll Roads

It’s also possible to drive to the Alps without using any of the toll motorways, and it’s really not that complicated to navigate.

For example, a 780km journey from Calais to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine (kind of a ‘gateway’, depending on which resort you’re heading to) will take you via Lille, Reims, Chaumont & Dole. It’s actually a shorter distance by 4km than on the recommended toll roads, but the speed limits are lower and there are many more intersections/turn-offs.

If you drove non-stop, avoiding the toll roads will likely add around 3 hours to this drive.

Equipment & Essential Travel Items

Here is a list of equipment and items that you are required to have in your vehicle when driving to the French Alps:

• Full, valid UK driving licence
• Proof of ID (passport)
• Motor insurance certificate
• V5 vehicle registration document
• GB sticker or EU number plates
• Reflective jacket for each occupant
• Warning triangle
• Headlamp beam deflectors
• ‘Clean Air’ stickers (only for entering certain cities)

Spare light bulbs and a breathalyser test are also highly recommended. If you need to purchase these items, you can pick up a 'French driving kit' from most UK national breakdown organisations for a fixed price. 

Winter Tyres & Snow Chains

From November to 31 March, chains and/or winter tyres are required in 48 French regions and all mountainous areas. Signs indicate where they are needed, and vehicles without them may be refused access in heavy snow.

You can read the Government's foreign travel advice about winter tyres and chains in France in the relevant section on this page.

For Austria, when there is snow, slush or ice on the roads, private cars and goods vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes must be equipped for winter driving conditions with winter tyres fitted on all four wheels.

To keep you compliant driving in the mountains we offer our customers a 15% discount on snow chains and snow socks from Polar Automotive (Snowchains.com) based in Tonbridge, Kent. They offer a range of traction devices for all types of vehicles, and can provide specialist advice on suitable options for your specific model.

If you are travelling through other countries to reach your destination, you should research the legal requirements for those countries before you depart. For example, to drive on motorways in Switzerland you need a ‘vignette’ sticker in your windscreen.

Overnight Stops in France

Rest stops on French Motorways

Aire de Repos, or just ‘Aires’ are lay-bys set back from the motorway, well signposted, serving as a basic place to stop and get a few hours’ sleep. There are also service areas, Aire de Service, with full facilities such as petrol stations, a shop/café, picnic areas and even play areas for children. Aires are fairly frequent on motorways; every 15 – 50km depending on the road. Some are more picturesque than others and in almost all cases are frequented by lorries at all hours so can be noisy. You can usually stay overnight, but some will have signs detailing the maximum length of stay.

French Motels

Motels are commonplace at Motorway exits, and most of the chains will be recognisable. They provide an affordable, convenient and safe place to rest for the night. Depending on the location you can just turn up, but it’s usually best to pre-book as you may get a better rate. Novotel and Ibis are known and reliable brands in the mid-range, and a well-known basic French motel chain is Formule 1.

Places to Stop on the way to the Alps

There are some stunning and interesting places to stop all along the drive from Calais to the Alps. Stop to stretch your legs and grab a bite to eat, or tack-on a day either end of your ski holiday to enjoy a stopover? We will simply book or amend your Le Shuttle journey accordingly – just tell us!

Reims, Champagne (270km from Calais)
Reims, the city of Kings. France’s historic coronation city, rich in history and architecture as well as having lots of sightseeing including 4 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Home to several notable Champagne houses too; Mumm, Lanson and Bollinger are near Ay, to the south.

Troyes, Champagne (400km from Calais)
The ancient capital of the Champagne-Ardennes region, Troyes is one of Frances less-visited gems. The cobbled streets, 16th Century Tudor-esque buildings and several Gothic churches evoke a feeling of antiquity and celebrate the rich history of the town, which is also an excellent base for exploring the Champagne houses of the area.

Beaune, Burgundy (610km from Calais)
The centre of Burgundy wine country in the Cote d’Or and a historic artefact in its own right. The ancient town walls, battlements and ramparts tell the town’s story from pre-Roman times through the Renaissance, with the eye-catching Hospices de Beaune building as the centrepiece. The town is surrounded by some of the best Burgundy vineyards in the region.

Annecy, Haute-Savoie (820km from Calais)
The first thing you will notice when you arrive in Annecy is the majestic lake. This alpine town is known for its historic old quarter, complete with canals, colourful buildings and cobbled streets. Visit the medieval Château d’Annecy for a true taste of history. Depending on your destination, Annecy is only a couple of hours from many alpine resorts so is worth the detour for the scenery.

Pre Trip Admin Checklist

Insurance

Speak to your insurance company to ensure your policy gives you (and anyone else who will be driving) the adequate cover for all the countries you will be driving through or in, for the full duration of your stay. Every policy is different so it’s essential you have the information specific to you.

Breakdown cover

It’s a good idea to have breakdown cover and extend the range to Europe for the duration of your trip. This is good peace of mind at least… hopefully you won’t need to use it.

Vehicle Maintenance

Before you depart, consider scheduling your vehicle in for a service with your trusted mechanic. Inform them you will be driving at altitude and possibly in temperatures below -20oC. At the very least you will need the right kind of anti-freeze in your engine coolant-mix, and possibly an oil change to a synthetic blend which can withstand lower air temperatures.

Road Laws in Europe

The AA has a regularly updated resource for driving from the UK to a wide range of countries, downloadable in PDF format: www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/driving-in-europe/country-by-country

Using your mobile phone in France

Speak to your network provider to find out how much of your data you can use in Europe and whether there are any usage caps. It’s also a great idea to download the maps for your journey in advance in case mobile signal is intermittent during your journey.

Finally, remember to have a charging adapter for your phone so as to ensure it's always charged and usable. In modern cars they might have a USB port built in, whilst in older cars you might need a cigarette lighter adapter.

Le Shuttle (formerly Eurotunnel)

If you’re looking for the quickest and easiest way to reach the continent from the UK, the answer is the Le Shuttle from Folkestone (UK) to Calais (France). A train journey time of just 35 minutes is over before you know it. Simply drive onto the train, relax in your vehicle, and drive off at the other end (on the right-hand side of the road!).

The service runs at regular intervals 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

How to book a Le Shuttle crossing

Either book a Skiworld self-drive holiday package online or give our team a call. You can choose the day and time of your train, and opt for either standard or Flexiplus tickets. We will book your train for you and you will receive booking confirmation directly from Le Shuttle so you can manage your booking online.

What you need to tell Skiworld

When you book, you will need to provide outbound and inbound dates (these don’t have to match your accommodation booking in your chosen ski resort), amount of people, preferred times, vehicle type (car/van/motorcycle), the height (over or under 6ft/1.85metres) and confirmation that it is not equipped with an LPG tank. Providing your registration number will also help to speed up the check-in process.

Flexiplus

Upgrade from Standard to Flexiplus for these benefits:

• Turn up any time on day of departure and board the next available train
• Dedicated check-in
• Priority boarding
• Exclusive terminal lounges
• Complimentary refreshments

Advanced Passenger Information

All passengers must supply their API information prior to travelling. This can be easily added to your reservation by logging into your Le Shuttle booking online up to and including the day of departure. You can add this information at check-in, but it may delay your boarding if you choose to do so.

Vehicle Types

Le Shuttle classify domestic vehicles as cars, vans/minibuses, campervans and motorbikes. The vehicle must weigh under 3.5 tonnes and be for private (non-commercial) use only. If you intend to drive a vehicle which exceeds 3.5 tonne AGW (actual gross weight), you will need book a freight crossing, which has several restricting factors.

How to get to the Le Shuttle terminals

Folkestone:

Junction 11A of the M20 motorway
What3Words: Certainty.Standards.Willpower
Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/FNBDdBDQ2Arihe6u6
Full address: Le Shuttle, UK Terminal, Ashford Road, Folkestone, CT18 8XX

Calais:

Junction 42 of the A16 motorway
What3Words: Suppers.Wisdom.Readers
Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/SSXCnZ1PQUoUoE5GA
Full address: Le Shuttle, 62231 Coquelles

Security and Border Control

Whenever you exit the Le Shuttle into France you may be asked to show proof of your identity at the Border Control and asked about your journey. Ensure that everyone in your group has their passport and also have your vehicle documentation and Skiworld holiday itinerary with you.

FAQs about Self Drive Ski Holidays