Les Deux Alpes Ski Holidays: The Complete Resort Guide

If you’re looking for high-altitude skiing, a huge variety of pistes and one of the liveliest resort atmospheres in the French Alps, Les Deux Alpes deserves a place near the top of your shortlist.

Sitting in the Isère region of the French Alps, Les Deux Alpes has long been one of the most popular French ski resorts with British skiers and snowboarders. Its combination of high-altitude terrain, extensive skiing, excellent facilities for beginners and intermediates, a famous freestyle scene and lively après-ski makes it a resort that works for a remarkably wide range of skiers.

Whether you're organising a family ski holiday, travelling with friends or simply looking for somewhere snow-sure with plenty happening both on and off the mountain, here's our complete guide to skiing in Les Deux Alpes.

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Where is Les Deux Alpes?

Les Deux Alpes is located in the southern French Alps, around 70km southeast of Grenoble, just a 1hr45 transfer from the airport!

The resort is unusual in that it stretches along a relatively flat valley between the villages of Mont-de-Lans and Venosc, with the main Avenue de la Muzelle running through its centre. This long, lively resort layout means you'll find a wide selection of restaurants, bars, shops and accommodation within easy reach.

One of the big attractions is altitude. The village sits at around 1,650m, while the ski area extends to well over 3,000m, giving Les Deux Alpes access to some seriously high-altitude terrain. That makes it an excellent choice for skiers looking for reliable snow conditions, particularly earlier and later in the winter season - It’s one of the few French resorts left that offers glacier skiing in Summer.

What is the skiing like in Les Deux Alpes?

Les Deux Alpes offers around 200km of skiing, with terrain suitable for everyone from complete beginners to experienced skiers and snowboarders.

One of its most unusual characteristics is the layout of the mountain. In many ski resorts, the easiest slopes are at the bottom and pistes become progressively harder as you gain altitude.

Some of the resort's broadest and most forgiving pistes are found high on the mountain. Beginners and less confident intermediates can therefore enjoy the spectacular views and high-altitude snow that would often be reserved for stronger skiers elsewhere.

It's one of the things that makes the resort particularly appealing for mixed-ability groups.

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Is Les Deux Alpes good for beginners?

Les Deux Alpes is a very good option for beginners.

There are nursery areas close to the resort as well as plenty of wide, gentle pistes higher up the mountain. Once you've mastered the basics, the abundance of straightforward runs gives you plenty of room to progress without immediately having to tackle intimidating terrain.

The high-altitude beginner and intermediate skiing is particularly useful when conditions lower down the mountain aren't quite as good.

There's also a good choice of ski schools, making Les Deux Alpes suitable for both adults learning to ski and families taking children on their first ski holiday.

For beginners, choosing accommodation close to a lift or ski-school meeting point can make a significant difference. Carrying skis and walking in ski boots is rarely anyone's favourite part of a ski holiday, so location is worth considering carefully when comparing accommodation.

Intermediate skiing in Les Deux Alpes

Intermediates are arguably the skiers who get the most from Les Deux Alpes.

There are kilometres of cruising terrain to explore, with wide pistes that are ideal for building confidence, improving technique and simply covering plenty of distance.

The high mountain is particularly enjoyable on a clear day. Head upwards in the morning, find a quiet piste and you can enjoy long cruising descents surrounded by spectacular Alpine scenery.

Confident intermediates can gradually explore more of the mountain, including some of the steeper terrain lower down.

If your idea of a perfect ski day involves plenty of miles rather than constantly seeking out the steepest black run on the piste map, Les Deux Alpes is very easy to recommend.

What about advanced skiers?

Although Les Deux Alpes is particularly strong for beginners and intermediates, experienced skiers certainly shouldn't dismiss it. The La Fée sector offers more challenging terrain, while good skiers can find steeper pistes and extensive off-piste possibilities around the ski area.

And then there's La Grave.

Located just beyond Les Deux Alpes, La Grave has an almost legendary reputation among advanced and expert skiers. This is serious, largely ungroomed mountain terrain rather than conventional piste skiing, and anyone considering skiing it should have the necessary experience and use a qualified mountain guide.

For the right skier and in the right conditions, however, proximity to La Grave adds an entirely different dimension to a Les Deux Alpes holiday.

Snowboarding and freestyle skiing

Les Deux Alpes has been associated with snowboarding and freestyle skiing for decades.

Its snowpark has helped establish the resort as a favourite with freestyle skiers and snowboarders, and the combination of high-altitude snow, park terrain and a young, energetic resort atmosphere makes it particularly appealing if you're travelling with a group that wants more than traditional piste skiing.

Even if jumps and rails aren't your thing, snowboarders will appreciate the wide open terrain across much of the ski area.

Les Deux Alpes is consequently a great option for groups containing a mixture of skiers and snowboarders.

How snow-sure is Les Deux Alpes?

Altitude is one of Les Deux Alpes' biggest advantages.

With skiing extending high above the resort and glacier terrain at the top of the mountain, it has traditionally been regarded as one of France's more snow-reliable destinations.

That can make Les Deux Alpes particularly attractive for early and late-season trips when choosing a high-altitude resort becomes more important.

Check the latest Les Deux Alpes snow report

The Jandri 3S – getting up the mountain faster

One of the most important recent developments in Les Deux Alpes has been the transformation of the main lift access from the resort towards the glacier.

The Jandri 3S has dramatically improved the journey up the mountain, replacing the old Jandri Express and providing a much faster, more comfortable route from the resort towards the high-altitude ski area.

For holidaymakers, that's a significant improvement.

Modern lift infrastructure isn't simply about impressive engineering. Less time travelling up the mountain means more time skiing, while increased capacity can make the morning journey considerably smoother during busy weeks.

It's another reason Les Deux Alpes has strengthened its position as one of France's major high-altitude ski resorts.

Après-ski and nightlife in Les Deux Alpes

If you like your ski resorts lively, Les Deux Alpes won't disappoint.

There's a broad choice of après-ski venues, bars and late-night spots, and the resort tends to attract a younger and more energetic crowd than some of France's quieter purpose-built ski stations.

The action isn't limited to the end of the day either. Avenue de la Muzelle is lined with restaurants, shops and bars, giving Les Deux Alpes the feeling of a genuine resort town rather than somewhere that exists purely for skiing.

That makes it particularly good for groups. If half the party wants an early night while everyone else plans on staying out until considerably later, both are easily catered for.

Is Les Deux Alpes good for families?

Despite its reputation for nightlife and freestyle skiing, Les Deux Alpes can also work extremely well for families.

The beginner-friendly terrain is an obvious advantage, while families have a wide range of accommodation styles to choose from.

Apartments can be ideal if you want flexibility and your own space, while hotels provide an easier option for anyone who would rather have meals taken care of.

The resort also offers plenty away from the slopes, which is useful when travelling with children or non-skiers.

When booking for a family, we'd pay particular attention to where your accommodation sits in relation to the lifts and ski-school meeting points. Les Deux Alpes is relatively spread out, so a few hundred metres can make a noticeable difference to the morning routine.

Where to stay in Les Deux Alpes

One of Les Deux Alpes' strengths is its range of accommodation.

You'll find everything from simple apartments to comfortable hotels and more premium residences, making it possible to build a Les Deux Alpes ski holiday around a variety of budgets.

For groups and families wanting self-catering flexibility, Neige et Soleil offers modern apartments in a convenient location close to the skiing and resort amenities.

If you prefer the convenience of a hotel, Base Camp Lodge is another option worth considering, with a central location and easy access to the slopes.

There are plenty of other possibilities too, so rather than simply choosing on price, consider which part of the resort best suits your group.

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Eating out in Les Deux Alpes

The resort's size means there's no shortage of places to eat.

You'll find traditional Savoyard favourites alongside pizza, burgers and international options, making it easy to accommodate groups with different tastes and budgets.

No French ski holiday is complete without at least one evening involving melted cheese, of course. Raclette, fondue and tartiflette are all firmly on the menu.

Self-catering guests are also well served by supermarkets and food shops around the resort, so an apartment holiday doesn't mean you have to eat out every evening.

What is there to do for non-skiers?

Les Deux Alpes isn't solely about skiing.

The resort has a good selection of shops, restaurants and leisure activities, while the surrounding mountains offer opportunities to experience the scenery without putting on skis.

One particularly worthwhile excursion is Venosc, the traditional mountain village below Les Deux Alpes. Its narrow streets and traditional buildings provide an appealing contrast with the main resort and make it well worth visiting during your stay.

Having activities beyond skiing also makes Les Deux Alpes a stronger choice for mixed groups where not everybody plans to ski from first lift until last every day.

When is the best time to ski Les Deux Alpes?

There's no single perfect week because the answer depends on what matters most to you.

Christmas and New Year offer a fantastic festive atmosphere, while January can provide quieter slopes and excellent winter snow conditions.

February is one of the busiest periods, particularly during school holidays, but it's popular for good reason: families have plenty of choice and the resort is at its liveliest.

March is often a great compromise. The days are longer, temperatures become more pleasant and high-altitude skiing helps Les Deux Alpes retain good snow.

And if you're looking towards the end of the winter, the resort's altitude becomes an increasingly valuable advantage.

Getting to Les Deux Alpes

Grenoble is the closest major airport and provides one of the most convenient gateways to the resort.

Geneva and Lyon can also be used depending on flight availability and the package you've chosen.

Transfer times vary with traffic and weather, particularly on peak Saturdays, so it's worth looking at the complete holiday package rather than choosing flights purely on departure time.

If you're travelling from the UK, a package ski holiday can make the process considerably simpler by combining the main elements of your trip.

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Who is Les Deux Alpes best for?

The real strength of Les Deux Alpes is its versatility.

Beginners get accessible slopes and plenty of terrain on which to progress.

Intermediates have a huge amount of cruising terrain to explore.

Advanced skiers can seek out more demanding skiing and, with the appropriate experience and guidance, explore the legendary terrain around La Grave.

Snowboarders and freestyle skiers have one of France's best-known freestyle destinations.

Families benefit from ski schools, beginner terrain and a wide selection of accommodation.

Groups get skiing for mixed abilities combined with some of the liveliest nightlife in the French Alps.

Few resorts manage to tick quite so many boxes.

Why book a Les Deux Alpes ski holiday?

There are bigger linked ski domains in France and there are prettier traditional Alpine villages. But that's slightly missing the point of Les Deux Alpes.

What makes it so successful is the overall package.

You get high-altitude skiing, extensive pistes, excellent intermediate terrain, beginner-friendly areas, challenging options for stronger skiers, a famous freestyle scene and a resort that remains lively long after the lifts have closed.

Add the improved lift infrastructure and a broad selection of accommodation, and Les Deux Alpes makes a compelling choice for a French ski holiday.

It's particularly worth considering when you're organising a mixed group. Finding somewhere that keeps beginners, experienced skiers, snowboarders, children and après enthusiasts happy isn't always easy.

Les Deux Alpes comes remarkably close.

Find your Les Deux Alpes ski holiday with IfYouSki.com

At IfYouSki.com, skiing isn't just something we sell – we're skiers and snowboarders ourselves, and we've been helping people find ski holidays since the 1990s.

Rather than trying to make one resort fit every customer, our ski specialists can help you compare resorts, accommodation and packages to find the holiday that actually works for your group.

Whether you're searching for a family hotel, an apartment for a group of friends or simply the best-value way of getting onto the slopes, we can help you compare the options.

View the latest Les Deux Alpes ski holidays

Or explore our Les Deux Alpes resort guide for more information on the skiing, resort and latest conditions.

With high-altitude slopes, varied terrain and one of the most entertaining resort atmospheres in France, Les Deux Alpes remains a firm favourite – and it's easy to understand why.