Alpe d’Huez offers something almost unique for a French ski resort, a short transfer and high altitude, just over an hour and a half transfer away from the nearest airport, Grenoble, with snow-sure skiing. It’s a wonderful option for families looking for a snowy Easter break, but it is also a fantastic option for those wanting to enjoy après ski and nightlife with a whole host of bars and nightlife. Alpe d’Huez is also home to the longest run in the world, La Sarenne dropping from the highest point of the ski area at 3,330 metres through 16 kilometres of thigh burning piste. Alpe d’Huez offers a decent size ski area with a good range of ski runs to suit all abilities and the lift pass enables you to one day’s skiing in the neighbouring village of Les Deux Alpes.
Situated at 1,860 metres altitude the ski area of Alpe d’Huez covers the resort of Alpe d’Huez and also neighbouring resorts including Oz en Oisans and Vaujany with 248 kilometres of pistes. One of the best beginner friendly areas in the Alps, the Bergers area of Alpe d’Huez is full of green and blue runs and higher up the mountain there are a range of technical red and black runs to test budding intermediate and advanced skiers. Le Tunnel piste is a formidably steep black run full of moguls which tests even expert skiers.
Good from December to April thanks to the glacial skiing on offer, Alpe d’Huez is a wonderful winter paradise, it is a south facing resort which catches the sun, this sometimes means that the lower slopes can become a little slushy towards the end of the season. Masterclass Ski School is well known and established in resort and British owned and run, a great option, whilst ESF is known for being a lot better than the reputation it is sometimes given in other resorts and it offers childcare for little ones at Le Chalet des Enfants. For non-skiers there’s an array of activities to enjoy including ice driving, ice skating, snowshoeing, a climbing wall and indoor and outdoor swimming pools
There are a host of options to choose from when eating on the mountain or in resort, but a good choice for both skiers and non-skiers is restaurant L’Altiport which can be reach with about a twenty minute walk from resort, short bus ride, or on skis, perfect if you have non-skiers or young children in the party. Small and quaint serving traditionally French and refined cuisine, L’Altiport is a brilliant option with a warm and welcoming ambience.
There are plenty of bars to keep the most discerning of party-goers happy in resort, the world-renowned La Folie Douce features and provides plenty of table-dancing opportunities for
après ski. Late at night L’Igloo which can be found underneath the lively Tex-Mex restaurant and bar Smithy’s, is a winner and it keeps on going and going until around five am – one for the night owls!
Alpe d’Huez truly is a resort for everyone, all types of skiers will enjoy the skiing, whilst non-skiers are well catered for and there are plenty of bars and restaurants to suit every taste, for a mixed group there are few resorts which are better.
