Les2Alpes

Ski Guides

www.les2alpes.com | www.2alpes.com | Ski Club of GB | Workers' Guide | Wikipedia

Ski Lessons

www.esf2alpes.com or www.europeanskischool.co.uk

Town Map

Larger Map (screen) | Larger Map (print)

Description

Set high up in the picturesque Dauphine region of the Southern Alps, Les Deux Alpes is one of France’s oldest and most prestigious ski resorts.

The skiing

Les Deux Alpes ski area, as the name suggests, is on two mountains; the Venosc and Mont de Lans. The ski slopes run down both sides of the valley to the high altitude village and the lifts are about every 100m, so you won’t have far to walk. The nursery slopes, for complete beginners are in the village, from here you quickly progress to the gentle green slopes on the glacier called La Meije Glacier (3570m) From here you have great views. The whole ski area is 200km of piste on around 70 runs. It is often called the ‘upside down’ resort in that its more gentle runs are at the top on the glacier with the steepest runs being more down towards the village.

Advanced

In good snow, which at this resort height is normal, the off piste skiing here is awesome. Have you ever skied a vertical of 2000m? The run is called La Grave! It’s open from January onwards. It’s very tricky and should only be done with a guide.

Intermediate

The runs high up just below the glacier are good for aggressive intermediate skiers with fast cruising runs. Less confident intermediates will prefer the gentleness of the slopes aound La Toura and the snow quality of the upper mountain.

Beginner

Les Deux Alpes is a great resort for beginners with gentle nursery slopes and easy blues. Beginners should quickly progress to “Les Cretes” or the gentle glacier runs.

Family

The village nursery takes babies from six months to two years old and there is a kindergarten that takes kids from two to six years of age, while there are free T-bars at village level for children.

Snowboarding

This really is a top resort offering terrain to suit everyone. The boardpark at mid-staion is well worth checking out with kickers, spines, rails and a boardercorss course. The off piste is huge and challenging, try Serre Chevalier for a day if you like trees. Beginners couldn’t ask for a better place for speedy progress.

apres ski

Loads of it! There is a lively and bustling town centre with an abundance of shops, bars, nightclubs and restaurants. There is a cinema, bowling alley and sports facilities including a heated outdoor pool and an ice rink (where admission is included free on your lift pass). Mikes and Smokey Joes are good apres-ski venues and the Rodeo offers entertainment in the form of its mechanical bucking bronco! The Avalanche seems to be the most popular nightclub.