By admin 
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveler (UK).
With its high, snow-sure resorts, charming Savoyard villages, easy access and world-class cuisine, France remains one of Europe’s most popular ski resorts. For British travelers it is regularly the number one ski destination every year. Research from the Ski Club of Great Britain shows that 59% of British skiers skied in France last winter, up from 51% the year before.
Big ski areas and high altitudes are at the top of skiers’ wish lists, and France delivers. It is home to many of the world’s top resorts, including Les Trois Vallées with 370 kilometers of ski slopes and a peak altitude of 3,230 meters (10,600 feet), and Portes du Soleil, Paradiski, Les Sybelles and Tignes-Val d’Isere. right behind it. And these are not places to rest on their laurels. Investments are being made in these resorts to keep the facilities up to date. Lift networks are also being future-proofed, moving to low-carbon energy and departure and arrival points located within the rising snow line where possible.
Sommet de la Saulire is located in Les Trois Vallées, the world’s largest ski area.
Photo by Sally Crane, Alamy Stock Photo
Geneva, in Switzerland, is the main hub for most French Alpine resorts, and is a 1 hour 40 minute flight from Britain; Chambery, Lyon and Grenoble are within a similar distance. In between you will find flights from many European airports. Although the ‘snow train’ (currently a seasonal Eurostar service running weekly from London via Lille to various destinations in the northern French Alps) is still not operating at pre-Covid levels, it is a viable option, at least for travelers in the south of England. Eurotunnel and numerous ferry connections are expanding no-fly options for British skiers to France.
Once you’re there, the French Alps offer a huge choice of accommodation, from five-star hotels to cheap self-catering. And it has options for both longer stays and short breaks – something that’s not always easy to find in other Alpine countries where resorts can still adhere to the traditional Saturday-to-Saturday package deal model. Combine this with its reputation for first-class food and wine, widely spoken English and a growing concern for the mountain environment, and it’s abundantly clear why France is such a winner when it comes to winter holidays among Brits. Here’s our pick of the best French mountain resorts for this winter.
Best for groups
This extensive resort in the southern French Alps, which has been running on 100% renewable energy since 2011, has excellent ecological credentials. The small towns are spread along a valley below a wooded ski area and are connected by an efficient lift system and free shuttle bus. With a restaurant-led après-ski scene, Serre Chevalier is aimed at epicurean, adult skiers. About a 15-minute drive away is the walled town of Briançon, whose fortifications are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is home to varied eateries, bars and shops – ideal for groups beyond seasoned skiers.
Best for intermediates
Located in Les Trois Vallées, the world’s largest ski area, Méribel offers an unparalleled experience for advanced skiers. There are 600 kilometers of ski slopes – many of which are blue (42%) and red (32%) – spread over three main valleys with resorts of varying character. For glitz, choose Courchevel, or for serious snow-sure skiing, head to the lofty heights of Val Thorens (2,200 metres), while quaint little Saint-Martin-de-Belleville has quiet charm and Les Menuires has family-friendly facilities. And right in the middle lies the attractive wood-and-stone village of Méribel, with good après-ski, luxury chalets and excellent connections to the entire region.
Méribel offers an unparalleled experience for intermediate skiers.
Photo by Gavin Hellier, Alamy StockPhoto
France offers large ski areas and high altitudes suitable for skiers of all levels.
Photo by Blickwinkel, Alamy StockPhoto
Best for beginners
This traditional, sunny resort has a relaxed atmosphere, with wide open slopes and excellent facilities for beginners. There are two lifts for beginners that do not require a pass: the 200-metre Manessier drag lift from the village center and the Lutins carpet lift in Les Eucherts. And if you want to test your skills beyond these areas, La Rosière has a three-hour beginner ski pass for five ski lifts that only serve green runs. Once you get further along, you can ski to La Thuile, across the border to Italy, to reward yourself with a lunch of pizza and pasta. It is also just 35 minutes from the train station in Bourg St Maurice.
Best for couples
Charming and car-free at its core, Megève is a great place for a romantic getaway. Just over an hour’s drive from Geneva Airport, it offers well-located accommodation on or off the slopes. There are numerous top-quality restaurants for special meals – the latest of which is Le Prieuré, led by acclaimed chef Emmanuel Renaut – and sleigh rides in the snow are also available.
The best for families
Much of the accommodation at this high, snow-sure resort (Plagne Centre) and the satellite hamlets of Plagne Bellecote, Plagne Soleil, Plagne Villages, Plagne Aime 2000, Belle Plagne and Plagne 1800 is ski-in, ski-out. The vast majority of pistes in the vast Paradiski area (which La Plagne shares with the neighboring resorts of Les Arcs) are blue and all accessed via a fast and efficient lift system. Every village has practice slopes, often with drag lifts or magic carpets for which you do not have to buy a ski pass. Children under the age of five ski for free and children between five and twelve years old receive a discount on the ski pass.
Best for advanced skiers
This large central-southern seaside resort stands alone in the Oisans region. Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine Ski, as it is properly named, has 250 kilometers of slopes and basks in the acclaimed 300 days of sunshine per year. As well as a number of challenging off-pistes, the resort lays claim to the longest black run in the world, La Sarenne, a thigh-burning 10 miles. There’s also Le Tunnel at the top of Pic Blanc (3,000 metres), which cuts through the rock and leads to a dashing 2,000 meter vertical drop. Looking for an extra challenge? Head to nearby La Grave, whose slopes are suitable for experienced skiers and boarders, and Alpe d’Huez six-day pass holders get a 25% discount on a day pass.
Best for off-piste
This Tarentaise Valley village has a family-friendly reputation, but can also be excellent for off-piste skiing. Sainte-Foy’s off-piste is largely aimed at students and remains public-free. There are off-piste routes with lifts and pistes accessible by a short ski trip, including the iconic north face of the Foglietta, along with Le Col du Granier, Couloir Doudou and Col d’Argentière, to name a few. Sainte-Foy’s proximity to Val d’Isère and Tignes offers extra variety for the adventurous, and it’s also a ski resort easily accessible by train.
Cocorico Bar is one of the many bars in Val d’Isère, one of the best places to enjoy après-ski at its best.
Photo by Kate Hockenhull, Alamy Stock Photo
Best for apres ski
The French coined the term, which literally means ‘after-ski’, and one of the best places in the Alps to enjoy après-ski at its finest is Val d’Isère – home to the legendary Dick’s Tea Bar, the very first La Folie Douce (the original ‘nightclub on the slopes’), but also Cocorico, Bananas and much, much more. The fun really increases at the end of a long day of skiing in this party town. The slopes offer plenty for skiers of all levels, including experts, and it’s an ideal place to reach by train; Bourg St Maurice, a stop on the Snow Train, is just 45 minutes away, while Geneva Airport is over three hours away.
Best for nature lovers
Little known among skiers outside France, the tranquil Maurienne Valley, on the southern border with Italy, is one for skiers whose idea of ’apres’ is birdwatching, and is unspoilt by the criss-cross of vast lift infrastructure. This attractive medieval village is the best known in the valley, thanks to its association with the Tour de France, but its tranquil slopes are also a haven for wildlife. Located just 15 kilometers south of the Vanoise National Park, Valloire has around 90 pistes – most of them intermediate and beginner-friendly – and a backcountry where you can expect to see chamois, marmots, ibexes and jackdaws.
Best for snowboarders
Considered by many to be Europe’s snowboarding capital, Avoriaz is home to a full-fledged superpipe, The Stash (an ‘ecopark’ with wooden elements spanning almost a mile) and Lil’Stash for kids. Whether you learn the tricks of the trade, perform tricks or enjoy off-piste, boarders in all forms are welcome here. The Portes Du Soleil area, of which Avoriaz is the highest part (the top lift is 2200 metres), is huge – with 360 kilometers of pistes in resorts on either side of the French-Swiss border.
Published in the Winter Sports 24/25 guide, available in the December 2024 issue National Geographic Traveler (UK).
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