The resort

Double the pleasure with guaranteed snow and outstanding apres ski

The ski resort of Les Deux Alpes spreads out along the valley. In this historic and charming village, the lifts are every few hundred yards, so you are never far away from one. Ski slopes run down both sides of the resort, which sits in a high altitude valley joining the 'two alps' of Venosc and Mont de Lans. The resort is ideal for non-skiers, as it gives access to both the glacier and Venosc by gondola. A funicular passes through the ice to La Meije glacier (3570 metres) there are breathtaking views and superb snow conditions.

The skiing and boarding

Skiing in Les Deux Alpes offers something for all levels of skier. Beginners will quickly progress from the nursery slopes in the centre of town to the gentle slopes on the glacier itself. On the Pied Moutet side of the mountain there are plenty of wide, intermediate pistes. The Super Diable run challenges the best skiers and boarders and the Serre Palas bumps are used for international competitions. The resort is ideal for snowboarders, with one of the best snowboard parks in Europe. more >>

The apres ski

Apres ski in Les Deux Alpes is excellent.  Les Deux Alpes offers an abundance of après-ski life in its bustling and lively town centre. There are plenty of shops, bars, restaurants and nightclubs plus a cinema, bowling alle and sports facilities. The Secret (below the Hotel Cret), Smithies and Smokey Joe’s are popular with the British while SantaFee and the Brazilian are more French. The town centre has a heated outdoor pool and ice-rink with free entrance using a six—day (or longer) ski pass.  more >>

Les Deux Alpes overview

Situated where the Northern and Southern Alps meet, the ski resort of Les Deux Alpes is in the heart of the Oisans. The nearest town is Grenoble, 79km away.   The town centre of Les Deux Alpes is focused along the main street, which is more than a kilometre long. With a large number of year round permanent residents, it also has a strong community atmosphere.  

One of the huge advantages of this French resort is its altitude, practically guaranteeing great snow year round. The skiing and snowboarding in Les Deux Alpes will suit all levels of skier and snowboarder. 

The ski resort of Les Deux Alpes is also regarded as the hub of the European freestyle scene and is the perfect place for freestylers to perfect their tricks. The freeriding in Les Deux Alpes is also more than adequate, particularly if you take into account the legendary descents into La Grave.  The officials take huge pride in the park and it is one of the best in Europe. La Grave can be accessed by slopes or by road and it is definitely worth a day trip.

The town itself is a small French hamlet with just a few bars, restaurants and chalets. The mountains of La Grave, however, are unique. With a vertical drop of 2150m from top to bottom, the devoted freerider will be in heaven.  If you do come to La Grave you will need, without question, all the avalanche-safety gear (probe, shovel and transceiver) and enough money to invest in a guide, or know someone who knows the mountain well.  It’s not that it’s not safe to be without one – it’s no different to anywhere else, you just won’t have a clue where you’re going and you will, for definite, get completely lost, which would be a shame as no one’s there to come and find you. You also need to be in pretty good physical condition. 

You will not see lifts (apart from the one Old School bubble that takes you to 3200m); you will not see coloured poles marking nicely groomed runs (as there aren’t any pisted runs), you will not see ski patrol; you won’t see anything to warn you about rocks, cliff drops or crevasses (of which there are many); you probably even won’t see other skiers or boarders; you will simply see the majestic, imposing and commanding mountains – and they’re all yours.

Events in Les Deux Alpes include the Mondial du Snow, the Billabong Junior Pro, the Snowzone event, the Belgium freestyle championships and the Taravana Freestyle event.  Eating and drinking is high on the agenda in Les Deux Alpes and there are a number of fantastic eateries and drinking holes to satisfy all. Activities available in Les Deux Alpes include full moon parties, the ice cave, night skiing and snowboarding, paragliding, helicopter rides, tobogganing, bowling, cinema trips, fitness activities, massage, ice skating, and swimming.

Vanessa Webb - Co-author of Top 50 Ski and Snowboard resorts in Europe 2007

the latest snow and weather conditions

Last Snow	1st December		Forecast	Partly Cloudy skies
Lower Snow Depth	40 cm		Upper Snow Depth	80 cm
Conditions	Very good snow		Runs Open	40 %
Last Report Update	4th December 08:30