Vars france
Review of snowboarding and skiing in Vars France.
Vars Ski Holiday Facts
Established in 1937 the French ski resort Vars lies at 2750 metres altitude in the Hautes - Alpes region of the French Alps / Alpes. With the highest lifts and ski slopes above 2500m Vars ski area is snow sure. Over 9 snow cannons ensure artificial Vars snow making covers 14km of ski trails, which equates to around 15 of the ski slopes. The nearest airport transfer to Vars (France) is Marseille at a distance of 250km or approximately 150 minutes driving time. Vars ski season runs from December to April.
SNO-man says
Vars has been a predominantly domestic destination resort until recently, it shares the largest ski area in the Southern French Alps with neighbouring Risoul, and has the more interesting part. The main Vars station is made up of a mixture of concrete blocks and traditional chalet designs. There are many good restaurants and the nightlife can be very lively, especially at weekends.
alpine downhill runs to ski in Vars France
Beginner Trails
 9 runs 16.43km |
14% |
Intermediate Trails
 24 runs 27.939km |
38% |
Advanced Trails
 23 runs 38.98km |
36% |
Expert Trails
 7 runs 7km |
11% |
Vars Resort & Holiday Info
| Beginners learning to ski |  |
| Intermediate Skiers | |
| Expert Skiers | |
| Snowboarders | |
| Apres Ski | |
| Family friendly | |
| Snowsure | |
| Ambience | |
| Value for money | |
| Ski Pass Prices (adult 6 day) | €165 - €165 |
Traditional Ski Village / Purpose Built Ski Resort |
| Ski Resort Opens | Dec 2011 |
| Ski Resort Closes | Apr 2012 |
| (snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing) |
Ski Area Vars Mountain
| Downhill Ski Runs | 97km |
| total length of Vars trails |
| Longest lift serve Run | 8km |
| longest piste or trail reachable by ski lift |
| Ski Slope Orientation | N W E |
| direction Vars ski areas face |
| Top Altitude | 2750m |
| top station of highest ski lift |
| Bottom Altitude | 1650m |
| bottom of lowest ski run |
| Resort Altitude | 1650m |
| centre of Vars ski resort |
| Vertical Drop | 1100m |
| total descent from top lift to bottom piste |
| Skiable Vertical | ^v 1100m |
| can include extra hike up which may be possible above top lift - stat used by some resorts to con us about true "vertical drop" which is lift-served |
Skiing in Vars
Skiing Vars you'll enjoy 63 pistes and trails and that means approximately 97km of ski runs. Vars lifts number 28 with the capacity to uplift 28200 skiers up the mountain per hour. The longest ski run in the French ski resort of Vars is over 8km long.
Vars Ski Area
Vars ski area has 14% beginner ski runs or nursery slopes, 38% intermediate, 36% advanced ski slopes and 11% for expert skiers - the most difficult Vars piste is the ?km Coni run, with a steepness/slope angle of ?%. You can ski Vars after dark as there is night skiing on ?km of illuminated piste.
Vars for skiing gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Snowboarding in Vars
If you snowboard Vars you'll want to know that, of the 28 ski lifts in total, 19 are surface lifts or "drag lifts" - this gives a good indication of how modern the lift system is and well set up Vars snowboarding is - especially for beginners learning to snowboard. Vars snowboard facilities include 2 terrain parks and 1 half pipe (longest half pipe length is ? metres), 0 quarter pipe and 1 boardercross courses.
Vars for snowboarding gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Vars Apres Ski
The apres ski Vars scene and off-slope or "non-skier" activities include:
26 apres ski bars 26 restaurants 0 bowling 1 night club 1 cinema 0 billiards / pool 0 games room 0 concert 0 indoor swimming 1 outdoor heated pools 3 saunas 0 hot tubs 0 solariums 0 masseurs 0 indoor ice skating 1 outdoor ice skating 0 indoor sports centre 0 indoor tennis 1 squash racquetball 0 sleigh rides 0 ballooning 1 horse riding 10 prepare winter walks 0 climbing 0 golf 0 fishing 2 museum 0 library Plus these additional apres ski facilities Casino.
SNO-man says
Vars enjoys a vast array of sporting activities in the village and there are a number of well marked scenic hiking trails.
The cinema shows all the latest releases in the evening and other activities available include ice skating and scenic helicopter rides.
Vars for apres ski gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
More Vars Snow Ski Area and Resort Information
Vars resort - ski Vars by any other name
The French ski resort of Vars ski resort is also known as Vars and has the following common misspellings:
Vars ski area has ski slopes which face N W E
The direction which the various Vars ski slopes face can make or break your skiing or snowboarding holiday. If you want to guarantee good snow and ski conditions, you should choose a resort with ski slopes which face the right way for the time of year you're travelling.
- In the coldest winter months of January and February you need a ski resort with some sunny south facing ski slopes, so your days on the snow doesn't feel like a polar expedition. Conversely, in the warmest spring skiing months of March and especially April, a ski resort with some cool and shady north facing slopes will ensure you're not skiing on slush, but benefitting from best late season snow. The best ski resorts have ski areas and slopes which face in all directions so that you're guaranteed greating skiing whatever the weather. Vars ski resort has ski slopes facing N W E.
Vars for snow gets 4 stars out of 5 overall