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HEIDI GUIDE TO
France
Ski Holidays
Think of France, and the first things that come to mind are cheese, wine and croissants.
All of those are ‘très bon’, but for those who love to hit the slopes, skiing is epic there too!
Huge ski areas, high-altitude skiing, and of course, fantastic food and wine.
There are countless options when it comes to skiing in France but the most iconic is of course, the Alps. The French Alps include ‘Les Trois Vallées’, one of the largest connected skiing areas on the planet, with destinations such as Val Thorens, Tignes, and more. As well as stunning views from the piste, you know the breakfast will be just as good!
KEY INFORMATION
Good to Know
Currency
Euro
Language
French
Travel Time (APPROX)
2 hours
Gatwick
Timezone
GMT+1
The best bits of skiing in France
What are the best family ski resorts in France?
Skiing is the perfect way to make priceless family memories, and France prides itself on making your trip accessible to the whole family. When looking for the best family ski resorts in France, check for “Famille Plus Montagne”. With over 100 criteria required, resorts such as Avoriaz and Les Arcs have proven themselves as the best places to take the entire family skiing in France for children older than 18 months.
What are the best beginner ski resorts in France?
Just getting started with skiing, or travelling with someone who is? France has a number of ski resorts which are great for beginners! One of these is Flaine, which has a number of nursery slopes in close proximity to the main town, as well as highly regarded English speaking ski instructors. Another excellent option is La Plagne, which allows people to learn to ski in France with free lifts for beginner slopes.
What are the best high altitude/snow-sure ski resorts in France?
High altitude ski resorts are particularly desirable for their guaranteed snowfall. Fortunately, due to the stunning geography of the country, it’s easy to find high altitude ski resorts in France. An obvious choice are the iconic French Alps, known all over the world as one of the greatest places to ski. Tignes and Val Thorens both offer a stunning high altitude French experience.
What are the best ski resorts for food and drink in France?
Finally, time to discuss the most important topic in France - food and drink! It’s no secret that French cuisine is world beating, and something the locals take incredibly seriously. Chamonix and Megeve are great bets for foodies. This means that not only will you find top quality slopes at a French ski resort, but the food is likely to be just as memorable. For example, there are currently 8 Michelin Star restaurants in the French Alps alone!
What are the best ski resorts for apres ski in France?
What’s the only thing more fun than skiing? The après-ski, of course! Whether you prefer a few quiet drinks after the slopes, or want to party in your ski gear all night - France has you covered. One of the best and most popular spots for a French après-ski is Chamonix, with plenty of live music, dancing on tables, and of course - happy hour! Elsewhere Val d'Isere is a beloved après-ski for many Brits.
What are the best ski resorts for off piste skiing in France?
Solely reserved for strong and experienced skiers, off piste skiing in France is an unbeatable thrill. In our opinion, if you’re going off piste in France, then it simply has to be the Alps. Chamonix, Argentiere, Val d’Isere and Tignes are all legendary for off piste skiing.
What are the best ski resorts for ski weekends or short breaks in France?
It’s common for a ski trip to last at least a week, offering plenty of opportunity to try out different runs and of course, après-ski locations! However, if planned properly - you can still have a fantastic time with a French skiing weekend. To maximise your time on the slopes, you’re going to want ski in and out accommodation. Two outstanding options for this are Morzine and La Clusaz - but it is available in many locations!
What are the best ski resorts for group ski holidays in France?
The beauty of France as a skiing destination is the versatility, with options to suit all ages and levels of expertise. There are countless superb destinations to ensure your group has an amazing time, but perhaps the most popular group skiing resort in France is Meribel. Described as “the king of chalet skiing”, there is also a very lively après-ski - your friends will thank you for months!
What is the best time to ski in France?
With so many great skiing options in France, the only real question is when to visit? Luckily, the French skiing season is longer than many, running from December until the end of April. If you don’t want to take a risk on snowfall, consider one of the many high altitude ski resorts. To avoid crowds, try not to book at Christmas, the first week of January, or around Easter.
Our favourite ski resorts in France
Here are just some of our top ski resorts. To find the perfect one for you, speak to one of our specialists.
Chamonix
An iconic ski resort with a vibrant town, epic advanced and intermediate skiing and spectacular mountain scenery. A Chamonix ski holiday should be on everyone’s bucket list.
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Tignes
Tignes has evolved into a vibrant Alpine resort with fantastic freeriding, ideal slopes for beginners and intermediates, and a lively après scene. Situated at 2,100m with access to 300km of pistes, including powder and tree runs, it offers exhilarating skiing experiences
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Avoriaz
Striking Avoriaz 1800 sits highest of all resorts in the vast Portes du Soleil ski area. The resort itself is entirely car free and ski-in/ski-out, making a ski holiday to Avoriaz the perfect choice for those looking for a snow sure getaway that maximises time on the slopes.
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Val Thorens
Val Thorens offers more than just being the highest ski resort in Europe; it grants access to Les Trois Vallées, the world's largest ski area, with reliable snow and a vast network of 600km runs. Ski-in and ski-out convenience trumps rustic architecture, and the resort caters to all riding styles and skill levels.
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Flaine
Enjoy a bustling resort that offers the advantage of a car free zone! The highest resort in Le Grand Massif, this ski area is the 5th largest interconnecting ski area in France.
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La Plagne
La Plagne is a long-time favourite for British skiers and riders thanks to its variety of friendly runs. A purpose-built resort situated at 1,800m, it gives access to 425km of the Paradiski area.
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Morzine
Just over an hour from Geneva, Morzine is one of the most accessible of the big, interconnected resorts, giving access to the vast playground that is the Portes du Soleil area. That’s 12 resorts with 580km of pistes and 30 snowparks, all on one pass.
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All Resorts in france
Alpe d'HuezAlpe du Grand-SerreAreches-BeaufortArgentiereAuronAussoisAvoriazAx Les ThermesBarèges - Grand TourmaletBourg-Saint-MauriceBrides-les-BainsCauteretsChamonixChampagny-en-VanoiseChamrousseChatelComblouxCourchevelCrest-VolandFlaineFlumetFont-Romeu (Pyrenees)HauteluceIsolaLa Chapelle-d'Abondance
La ClusazLa GiettazLa GraveLa Joue du LoupLa Mongie (Pyrenees)La NormaLa PlagneLa RosiereLa TaniaLa ToussuireLe CorbierLe Grand-BornandLes 7 LauxLes AlluesLes AnglesLes ArcsLes CarrozLes CochesLes Contamines-MontjoieLes Deux AlpesLes GetsLes HouchesLes KarellisLes MenuiresLes Orres
Why book with Heidi?
Flexible
Go where you want, when you want, for as long as you want, from an unbeatable choice of resorts.
Easy
Super-clever tech saves you buckets of time by making it easy to find 'the one', from a mountain of options.
5 star service
Our stellar UK team are here 24/7 to make sure your holiday runs smoothly. Flight cancelled? Booking amendments? We'll sort it.
On the money
From budget to luxury, find an amazing ski holiday whatever your wallet, knowing our ATOL protection means your money is safe.
Blogs about Skiing in France
The best resorts in Europe for Intermediate Skiers
Whether you want a relaxing ski holiday with stunning mountain views, a lively apres-ski scene, or an energetic mile-munching skiing experience, there is something for everyone in our top ten list of skiing destinations for intermediate skiers.
Sarah Cramer
11 Apr, 2023
1 min read
The biggest ski areas in Europe
If you wanna go big on your ski holiday, there's no better place than in the heart of these vast European ski areas. With hundreds of kilometres of pistes to explore, you'll clock up some impressive carve time. We countdown from the biggest...
Sarah Cramer
27 Mar, 2023
1 min read
The Best Ski resorts for foodies
Skiing and good food go hand in hand. After shredding the mountain all day, some hearty grub to top up the energy levels is essential.
Sarah Cramer
14 Mar, 2023
1 min read