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Alpe d'Huez Ski Holidays

Buckets of off piste and an incredible terrain park make this a freeriding and freestyling paradise - combine this with 250km of pisted runs and you’ve got something for everyone. The town offers a colourful variety of après ski from ice caves to nightclubs and activities for all ages that will put the cherry on top of any ski holiday.

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Snowboard

At a glance: • Glacier Skiing • Awesome Après Ski • 300 days of sunshine

Great for: • Nightlife • Off Piste • Terrain Parks • Groups • Families

Buckets of off piste and an incredible terrain park make this a freeriding and freestyling paradise - combine this with 250km of pisted runs and you’ve got something for everyone. The town offers a colourful variety of après ski from ice caves to nightclubs and activities for all ages that will put the cherry on top of any ski holiday.

Alpe d'Huez Resort

With a transfer time of around 2 hours, Alpe d'Huez is very accessible from Grenoble or Chambery airport. Established in 1936, it was the first resort in France to be installed with a fully operational ski lift. The resort lies in the Grandes Rousses Massif domain. It is partnered by the smaller mountain villages of Auris-en-Oisans, Villard Reculas, Oz-en-Oisans, Vaujany and La Garde, all of which are connected by a free transport system.

The slopes are mainly south facing and as a result the area, known as "L'ile de Soleil" (Island of the Sun), experiences plenty of sunshine - averaging 300 days a year.

The resort itself is fairly spread out, divided into 3 sections. Quartier des Jeux is the main central area, with plenty of shops, restaurants and bars, and an ice-rink and swimming pool. Quartier des Vieil Alpe is the oldest part of the resort and is mostly a residential zone, retaining many original buildings. Some traditional family-run restaurants in this section can be found by taking a wander around the back streets. The final section, Quartier des Bergers, is the newest part of town, containing many self-catered apartments and some good places to eat, drink, and shop.

There is a really efficient lift system in Alpe d'Huez, accessible from 7 different locations throughout the town. So wherever you are, you won't be too far from a ski lift. In terms of lift passes, if you're here just for the skiing, then the Grand Domaine Ski Pass is the one to get. It gives you access to ski in the neighbouring resorts of Les Deux Alpes and Serre Chevalier and full access to the 250km of pistes. There are also a variety of walkers passes, and shorter-term passes for non-skiers and occasional skiers.

Stats & FAQ

Location: France, Alps.

Established: 1936

Open: December – April

Downhill: 250km

View our detailed Alpe d'Huez snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Alpe d'Huez snow history.

Nearest Airport & Transfer Time:
Grenoble (GNB)158km 1h50m
  • Beginner
  • Intermediate
  • Advanced
  • 52km 21%

  • 132km 53%

  • 66km 26%

Top Altitude:3330m
Bottom Altitude:1130m
Resort Altitude:1860m
Longest run:16km
Slope Orientation:NSEW
Vertical Drop:2200m
Skiable Vertical:2200m
Night Skiing:Yes
Glacier:Yes

Snow Report

  • Top
  • 20cm
  • Base
  • 97cm
  • Forecast
  • 295cm

Web Cam

Alpe d'Huez web cams
Downhill Runs:250km
Beginner slopes:21%
Intermediate:53%
Advanced slopes:26%
Lift Pass Price: €278 (adult 6 day)
Nearby resorts: Les Deux Alpes, Serre Chevalier

Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Alpe d'Huez

Alpe d’Huez has had sun and snow galore since 1936, and with the culmination of around 20 Million Euros of improvements due to come to fruition for 2021, there is a huge ski area to be explored.

With a whopping 52km of greens, this is an excellent place for beginners. The easiest skiing is above the village and Les Bergers. There are plenty of wide-open runs underneath the DMC gondola, many being ‘beginners only’ so you can learn without too much traffic.

If you’re feeling confident, try some of the blue runs coming down from the main mountain and the signal sector back into Alpe d’Huez. There is an impressive selection of runs for intermediates with over half the ski area ranked either blue or red. Try out the Canyon run if you’re looking for a bit of a challenge. The main Couloir blue run that comes down from the top of the gondola’s a brilliant one for early intermediates.

Advanced skiers will have an absolute ball. The black Tunnel run that streams down from the Pic Blanc summit is super steep, while the Sarenne from the same peak mightn’t be as pitchy but is the longest of its kind in the Alps at 13km. In good snow conditions, the steep La Fuma down to Le Chatelard Maronne is superb, and the Col de Cluy from Signal de l’Homme is long and takes you away from all the lifts. Off the piste, there are endless possibilities – it’s definitely worth hiring a guide if you really want to get the best out of the terrain.

Alpe D’huez is outstanding for snowboarders, with plenty of on and off-piste terrain. There are a few flat spots to negotiate but nothing that the experienced rider can’t handle. The huge park at the top section of the Grandes Rousses gondola was expanded even further for 2017/18 season with 2 brand new lines added and sure to keep even the most dedicated park rats fully satisfied. Beginners should check out the easier park above Vaujany.

Alpe d'Huez Apres Ski

If you like live music, try the Underground in Vieil Alpe. It combines a pleasant atmosphere with bands playing most nights. Smithy’s has drinks promotions and healthy portions of Tex-Mex food to match. If you can’t bear to miss an important game whilst in France, O’Sharkey’s is the best spot to watch live sports. L’igloo is the place to go if you want to party late into the night.

Alpe d’Huez has all of the usual culinary delights you’d expect in the mountains. To sample some traditional French food, head to La Cremaillere or for Tex-Mex, Smithy’s Tavern has a great selection of ribs, chicken wings and burgers. Pinocchio is a popular pizzeria, located opposite the ice rink. Chalet du Lac Besson is a great little place up the mountain, which is much quieter than the usual mountain restaurants at lunchtime.

Off the slopes, there is a real mix of high octane activities and relaxing things to do. Alpe d’Huez has its own museum, and the heated outdoor swimming pool is usually free to use with your lift pass. For thrill-seekers, there are the usual offerings of snowmobiling and paragliding as well as an ice driving school to check out. There is also 250km of well-marked walker’s trails for non-skiers. For some of the most stunning views, take a helicopter across to Les Deux Alpes for an exciting day trip.

Best time to go

Best time to ski Alpe d'Huez

Best time to visit & ski Alpe d'Huez

The season usually runs from mid-December to the end of April and with glacier and height of the resort, stretching up to 3,300m, this is one of the most snow-sure resorts in the Alps. This is also complimented by extensive snowmaking on the main runs above Alpe d’Huez, Vaujany and Oz, with an additional 68 high-end snow cannons added as part of the most recent tranche of improvements. The Ski area has slopes that face S SW NW, making sure that you won’t freeze early in the season! January and February often have the best snow and because of the majority of the slopes in Alpe d’Huez are south facing, there are plenty of sunny slopes to ski on.

The flipside of having sunny slopes is that in springtime the lower slopes can get a little slushy, especially towards the end of the day, but as long as you get up nice and early, you will still find great snow to ski on higher up. If you are coming during the peak times of Christmas, New Year, Half-Term and Easter, you can expect some queues in the morning but thanks to an excellent fast lifts system, once you get a little higher up the queues aren’t a problem.

Peak Dates

You’ll enjoy a special buzz at Christmas in Alpe d’Huez. The town is beautifully lit to make it feel like a real winter wonderland. Look out for special festive menus in the local restaurants and the wintery Christmas markets. Alpe d'Huez Christmas ski holidays ‣

At New Year, Alpe d’Huez has plenty to offer for families and party goers alike. The spectacular torchlit descent and firework display are something to behold. There are fancy dress parties at a range of popular venues so pack your best outfit and toast the New Year in style! Alpe d'Huez New Year ski holidays ‣

Half-term in Alpe d’Huez is a brilliant time for families with loads of activities like swimming and the ice caves to take advantage of. Snow conditions are usually top notch at this time of year and the modern lift system in resort will ensure that you don’t spend all your time queuing! Alpe d'Huez Half Term ski holidays ‣

Dubbed “the island of the sun”, Easter in Alpe d’Huez is fantastic for a sunny holiday. There are loads of things to do like the Easter egg hunt around the resort. Ski till the snow gets soft and then take advantage of the brilliant après ski on offer. Alpe d'Huez Easter ski holidays ‣

Alpe d'Huez Ratings & Customer Feedback
Superb
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Good
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Okay
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Average Rating 4.3 out of 5
I really recommend this resort, it’s a top resort. There are some really long runs, there’s the longest black in Europe which I think is about 16km. It’s a very good ski area and ideal for all round skiing, there is something for all levels. We are intermediate to advanced but we had some people with us who ... + more
Colin Yeates, West Sussex
5 out of 5
This was a return trip to Alpe d’Huez. The snow conditions weren’t great anywhere at the beginning of the season although we were lucky because it snowed while we were there. Alpe d’Huez is big and varied and that’s what saved the holiday – despite the poor snow conditions the snow cannons were doing a goo... + more
Snowboarder Mike, Kent
5 out of 5
Alpe d’Huez is an excellent, all-purpose resort. The skiing is fantastic for all abilities, with very challenging runs and very easy runs too. A good run is the Sarenne which is black graded but actually really easy because it’s so long – 16km. Round the back towards Vaujany the skiing is really beautifu... + more
Mr Li, Borehamwood
4 out of 5
Alpe d’Huez is an awesome place, it’s south facing so you get sun all afternoon. I’d definitely recommend it to beginners: my wife is a beginner skier and all the lower button lifts are free, so we didn’t bother with buying her a ski pass until the last couple of days, which saved a lot of money. Alpe d’Hu... + more
Timothy Chan, Werrington
5 out of 5
I’ve been here a few times. It’s a good, lively resort. There are plenty of bars and restaurants, lots going on. Everything is within a few minutes’ walk. The ski area is large and varied, so there’s enough to keep you busy all week. It’s a good place to move on from being a beginner to an intermediate. Th... + more
Nicholas Chapman, London
5 out of 5
Alpe d’Huez has a big area for skiing with lots of different sections and stuff for all levels. If you came as a mixed group of different abilities it would be perfect and if you were here for the first time, the beginner slopes looked really good too. We were here in March and didn’t have to queue long for t... + more
Caroline Hammer, Chelmsford
5 out of 5
The resort is massive, much bigger than what we’re used to. There’s plenty of slopes catering for everyone, which suited our mixed-ability group perfectly. It’s also very easy to visit neighbouring resorts from here. We visited Auris via a series of chair lifts, which was lovely – and there are lots of othe... + more
Jane, Bristol
5 out of 5
Because I snowboard I tend to look for places that don’t have any drag lifts and the only one I saw in Alpe d’Huez was at the ski school, so I would definitely recommend it to other boarders. It was a bit too sunny - middle of March and the last day was 18°C – which meant that everything was a bit soft and ... + more
Snowboarder21, Worcestershire
5 out of 5
Another fantastic week in Alpe d’Huez. I personally think it’s the best ski resort in the Alps. It tends to be more French than British because of where it’s located in the Alps. You have access to a good mixture of terrain. There’s a lot to do with a lot of facilities in the town – though as we were on a ... + more
Peter, Stamford
5 out of 5
A lovely week in Alpe d’Huez with a perfect mix of hot sunshine and snow. I’d been before and the reason I returned was mainly that it’s so huge, with loads of pistes and good snow. I would recommend it to anyone intermediate or experienced. The O Bar is really good with great food and drink. + more
Andy,
5 out of 5
My first time to Alpe and I really enjoyed it, it’s a very good area with very good skiing. It covers all sorts of levels which is good for all abilities. The altitude is good and the way it sits is a real positive – you’re not just getting snow, you’re getting good quality snow. Lower resorts would get slo... + more
Miller Chip, Warwickshire
4 out of 5
We liked Alpe d’Huez and all said we’d go back. The ski area’s very good and covers most levels, with stuff for expert skiers and a fair bit of off piste. + more
Raymond Dean, East Ayrshire
4 out of 5
We had a really good first ski trip here – we didn’t use any of the tuition but the beginner to intermediate part of the resort is really good and we had good weather in the main apart from our first run of the week! My advice to others who are new to the resort would be to take a day away from your skis and ... + more
Phil, Bristol
4 out of 5
We liked Alpe d’Huez very much, it delivered all we wanted from our family ski holiday. You can ski high, and even in the afternoons when it got slushy (we visited in April), there was plenty to ski and plenty of restaurants and other things to do. The kids loved Folie Douce which has live music and nice food ... + more
Anon, Cambridgeshire
4 out of 5
We had good snow and I thought the Alpe d’Huez ski area was pretty good. We were on mainly blue and red runs, there aren’t that many blacks and it’s definitely more of a beginner’s resort. Because it was half term and a popular place for learners, the green and blue areas were busy. But if you went further ... + more
Anon., Jersey
4 out of 5
Weather included a bit of everything – a couple of days when it was lovely and sunny, a reasonable amount of powder and what wasn’t quite a white out, but did have reduced visibility. In general, the ski area could have done with more snow. It’s a good ski area with a mix of everything, the only thing if you... + more
Mrs Fry, West Sussex
4 out of 5
It was January... And we were skiing with just T-shirts under our jackets and having lunch out on sun loungers - the weather was just sublime! The views were tremendous and the skies were so blue. It’s a good ski area – because it was warm in the day and cold at night the snow was crisp until 10am, then quite... + more
Anon, Cheshire
4 out of 5
It was our first time here. It’s a very small ski area compared with what we are used to. We usually cover at least 60km a day. It’s good for people who want nice, easy runs, and don’t need a huge area; it would be great for beginners. It was a last minute cheap trip and we were happy with it. It was baking ... + more
John C, Bristol
4 out of 5
Alpe d’Huez has so many restaurants and a lot of intermediate runs which we enjoyed – my son had skied 2 years in Niederau before this holiday and he really progressed here. We had beautiful weather, there had been a dump the weekend we arrived and on the Monday and then the rest of the week was blue skies an... + more
Julie McLarry, Barnet
4 out of 5
We actually preferred our other ski holiday in Serre Chevalier last year because Alpe d’Huez was so packed when we went. It was French half term and there were a lot of people - don’t go there over French half term! The off-piste was all torn up by the time we got to it. It got a bit icy as well towards the... + more
Alex & Erin, London
4 out of 5
We liked the skiing and the weather was good – it was the week after New Year which I’m sure was a lot busier! It was a good week apart from the fact that I injured my knee on the first day... I was still able to ski though. There’s a wide choice of skiing levels with a bit of everything and it’s all well s... + more
Brian Shuttleworth, Bath
4 out of 5
This was my first time in Alpe d’Huez and I quite liked it. It’s a good size as it’s one of the bigger resorts, I didn’t want to stay anywhere too small. There are a good number of runs, my brother and his friend were learning to snowboard and it’s pretty much perfect for beginners as there are lots of gre... + more
Franz Phillips, Clapham
4 out of 5
Alpe d’Huez was OK, the snow was good and there are plenty of slopes, I’d certainly recommend it to other boarders. No complaints about the resort itself. It's quite compact so everything is within easy reach. Good supermarkets for getting self-catering bits and bobs. We knew the resort so didn’t need mu... + more
Richard Cable, Cambridge
4 out of 5
This was our first group trip to Alpe d’Huez and it was really good, it has everything you need. There are loads of slopes and a decent park with jumps and rails. If you walk to the top of the hill, Sphere bar has amazing cocktails and there’s also a stock exchange bar where they change the price of dri... + more
Oliver Banfield, Flitwick
4 out of 5
Three days we were here in February it never stopped snowing, it was really cold! Couldn’t fault the ski area, there are plenty of slopes so you never have to ski the same slope twice. We went as families in a group of 12 and without a doubt I’d recommend the area to a mixed group of skiers. It’s not so ... + more
Julian Bussell, Wellington
4 out of 5
I skied here with my family – it was the first time we went skiing so I can’t really compare it to anywhere else, but I really liked it! We stayed over half term but it was actually not that busy as it was half term for the UK but not a school holiday week for France. One thing we really liked about Alpe d’H... + more
Felix Serrano, Colchester
5 out of 5
Been skiing here a few times and thoroughly enjoyed it, the snow we had last year (2013) was superb. You have a variety of runs (if I had to classify it, I’d say it’s pretty much an intermediate ski resort) and everything is all within walking distance. + more
James Parfitt, Pembroke Dock
5 out of 5
We’ve been here several times and actually got engaged here! We like it a lot. The skiing is great for anyone, it’s nice for beginners (there are lots of green slopes) but really it’s good for everyone. There is good nightlife as well. We didn’t go out so much this time because we had our baby with us, but ... + more
Mrs. Fisher, Preston
5 out of 5
I’ve visited Alpe d’huez on two occasions; once briefly in December whilst staying in neighbouring Les Deux Alpes and most recently I stayed in chalet Le Lac Blanc for a week’s holiday. It’s a large resort with a few different areas, so it’s best to know where you’d like to be close to or speak to us ... + more
Kiah, SNO
5 out of 5
Alpe d’huez is a great resort for all seasons; its glacier reaches an impressive 3800m ensuring great snow right up top! With the longest black ski run in Europe and some nice off piste, it also gives the more experienced skier plenty to do! You can stay in two main areas of Alpe d’Huez, Bergers and the old t... + more
Jonnie, Kingston
5 out of 5
I think Alpe d’Huez has great slopes; even though they were icy (we skied late Feb) we had a wonderful time. On the whole the ski area is pretty good for intermediate skiers, and it would have been good for beginners too without the ice. There isn’t much to do other than skiing, though you could maybe occupy ... + more
R. Arora, London
5 out of 5
Alpe d’Huez is very pretty and has a nice feel to it, I liked it and would happily go again! The kids had lessons while we did the whole area which was great, it’s quite a broad area so I would quite like to go back. Our youngest isn’t a very confident skier and there were lots of greens which was great. T... + more
Zogsy,
4 out of 5
Alpe d’Huez was great and we enjoyed it. I’m a boarder so found it a bit tricky (it’s worth being aware that this isn’t a great place to board as there are lots of flat bits). The others who were skiing found it great and overall it’s a good area. + more
C. Davis,
4 out of 5
We had a really good week in Alpe d’Huez – it has good après ski and nightlife (would definitely recommend Folie Douce) and we had quite a good week of snow considering the slow start to the season. If you haven’t been before, try paraskiing! The snowboarding was alright, but not as brilliant as I’ve found... + more
Ben, Shropshire
4 out of 5
We had a very nice time and were extremely lucky with the snow. The trip out was thrown into chaos when Chambery closed because of the Boxing Day 2014 snowfall, but we weren’t unduly delayed – we went out into the carpark and found ourselves a coach! This was our first time skiing Alpe d’Huez and I’ve been ... + more
Happy Skier, Watford
4 out of 5
It was a bit too hot at the end of March, so the snow wasn’t ideal, but we had a good time anyway. It’s a good place to learn and has some nice greens but there are plenty of nice blacks too and you can ski over in Les 2 Alpes. Everyone has to try the Sarenne which is the longest black run in Europe (16km) –... + more
Sam, Cumbria
4 out of 5
This is a lovely resort, I’m not great at skiing but there were plenty of runs that were good for me and more difficult ones which my boyfriend went off and explored. There's quite a few restaurants and bars (but can’t remember the names!) – we had a really good night in a crappy Irish one (can’t remember t... + more
Emma, Milton Keynes
4 out of 5
Didn’t like Alpe d’Huez as much as La Plagne. The layout of the resort isn’t great and the glacier isn’t great – there’s only one way skiing down via the tunnel, or you have to get the gondola. They’d shut some of the lifts because of the weather so the skiing was very limited. + more
Kate, Hertfordshire
3 out of 5
I have lived in Alpe Dhuez for two winter seasons I have a number of friends that love it so much they still live out there all year round. It is home to the longest run in Europe, if not the world, at a staggering 16km. I experienced this famous piste at night time, when skiing it is known as the Sarenne by mo... + more
Ned, Gloucestershire
5 out of 5
Alpe d’Huez was little bit flatter than Les Deux Alpes from what I can remember. I remember is that their resort logo is a marmotte and I may be completely wrong about that! From what I’ve heard from friends, we all agree it is a really good area for intermediates and beginners, but the snow can suffer later ... + more
Andrew Fyfe, Aberdeen
4 out of 5
Alpe d’Huez was little bit flatter than Les Deux Alpes from what I can remember. I remember is that their resort logo is a marmotte and I may be completely wrong about that! From what I’ve heard from friends, we all agree it is a really good area for intermediates and beginners, but the snow can suffer later ... + more
Andrew Fyfe, Aberdeen
4 out of 5
It was late in the season and some of the runs back down were closed. It’s a snow sure resort but they just didn’t have much snow at the bottom. You had to get the lift back down. + more
Peter Banister, London
4 out of 5
In terms of skiing it is an absolute heaven for beginners and children as the resort is a giant bowl fed by a huge network of greens that feed straight back into the central ski school meeting point- this means even late on in the season beginners can benefit from lots of greens to choose from as Alpe D’Huez i... + more
Olivia Martin,
4 out of 5
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Families in Alpe d'Huez

Alpe d’Huez is a brilliant resort for families, with loads to do like swimming, visiting the ice caves and taking a whirl on the ice rink. The variety of ski schools in resort will make sure that they get excellent tuition, while you are tackling some of the runs up the mountain. The 52km of green runs in resort and designated beginner area, make this a superb place to learn how to ski. There are some fantastic childcare facilities in resort and many of our hotels also come with onsite childcare services.

Make sure you book a hotel near the piste, to avoid carrying more than your own set of skis! Hotel Les Bergers is a good option for families location-wise. If you are sure of your numbers and are travelling with another family, then a catered chalet can be the perfect place to stay. All your meals are taken care of, leaving you with one less thing to worry about! For families with older children who are already competent skiers, check out our range of apartments that can get you up the mountain skiing, without breaking the bank.

GroupsGroup Holidays Alpe d'Huez

Alpe d’Huez is an excellent resort for groups as it has stunning terrain parks, off-piste opportunities and superb learner areas which will suit all different abilities. Non-Skiers will also have plenty to keep themselves entertained with activities such as swimming, ice-skating, ice-driving and many more on offer. A free bus service links the town, so you will never be too far from the action wherever you are in resort.

Choose the amazing value L'Ours Blanc apartments f you are looking for somewhere close to town to party the night away without the long trudge home. For a holiday that involves you doing as little possible, have a look at our catered ski chalets, where you can enjoy hot tubs and spa facilities, as well as a cooked breakfast, afternoon tea and a 3-course meal every night. Book as a small group if you fancy the idea of sharing with some new friends, or to guarantee a personalised experience, book a chalet that suits your group number.

Which are the best ski holidays in Alpe d'Huez?

Accommodation Number of nights Price (per person) from
Chalet Pere Josef 2 7 £ 634
Chalet Leman 7 £ 689
Chalet Bourget 7 £ 689
Chalet Secret de Neige 7 £ 739
Club Med L'Alpe d'Huez 3 £ 742
Chalet La Brêche 7 £ 789
Chalet Annecy 7 £ 809
Chalet Salagou 7 £ 829
L'Eclose Apart-Hotel 7 £ 951
Hotel Le Royal Ours Blanc 7 £ 1039

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