Everything you need for your Les Deux Alpes ski holiday.
11th May, 2025
5 min read time
Les Deux Alpes boasts one of Europe's most significant skiable glaciers. This renowned resort, unique in its topography, is celebrated for its excellent snow conditions, abundant sunshine, and 200 km (124 mi) of slopes, making it ideal for skiers and snowboarders of all levels.
As one of the top ski resorts in France, Les Deux Alpes has plenty to offer. We've created this guide to make planning your Les Deux Alpes ski holiday easy. You'll learn everything you need to know, from its location to its ski areas, snow history, and even the best places to grab a bite or relax after skiing. At the end, you'll also find a downloadable resort map, plus some handy contact numbers and links.
Les Deux Alpes is situated in the French Alps, in the Isère department of southeastern France, near the town of Grenoble.
Nearest airport
Grenoble: 109 km (67 mi)
Transfer time
Grenoble: 1hr 36
Les Deux Alpes the resort
Resort altitude: 1,650 m (5,413 ft)
Resort permanent residents: ~1942
Les Deux Alpes, vibrant and distinct, is celebrated for its youthful energy. The resort is divided into unique sectors, each with its own charm. The journey starts near the tourist office as you enter from the north. Further into the resort, a 2 km (1.2 mi) long main street through a sunlit valley leads to the heart of the village. Here, you're greeted by the lively center with major gondola stations, an outdoor ice rink, and a dynamic mix of shops, restaurants, bars, and hotels. The resort's architecture skilfully combines traditional wooden chalets with contemporary buildings. Convenience is a highlight, with most accommodations conveniently located just a short walk from the ski lifts. At night, Les Deux Alpes transforms, offering an exuberant après-ski experience that competes with the best in the French Alps, crafting memorable mountain moments.
Pros
Cons
Snow sure glacier at the peak of the ski area
Scarce red runs
Lengthy, high-altitude blue runs
Certain slopes can be extremely crowded
Outstanding off-piste options
Restricted tree skiing during poor visibility
Vibrant nightlife
Ski area is more confined compared to other major resorts
Here is how Les Deux Alpes looks like
This short video provides a glimpse of everything Les Deux Alpes has to offer.
Les Deux Alpes stands out as a self-contained skiing paradise, not part of any larger ski area, offering a comprehensive and varied ski experience all its own. With 80 pistes that include 13 green, 43 blue, 15 red, and 9 black, the resort spans 200 km (124 mi) of skiing terrain, serviced by 40 lifts. This ski area is segmented into seven distinctive sectors, each catering to different skiing preferences and abilities:
Resort base: this sector, with five free lifts, various ski school meeting points, and ski kindergartens it's a perfect place to learn.
Les Crêtes: a favourite among beginners for its excellent blue runs, Les Crêtes is easily accessible via multiple lifts.
Vallée Blanche: this sector offers quieter, scenic trails with beautiful views over the resort.
Le Diable: a haven for advanced skiers, Le Diable boasts challenging red and black runs.
Toura (snowpark): Toura is the go-to for freestyle enthusiasts. The Snowpark here features various elements, making it a freestyle heaven.
La Fée: La Fée appeals to freeriders who seek off-piste adventure.
Le Glacier: As the highest skiable domain in Europe (3,600 m/11,811 ft), the Glacier sector guarantees natural snow and offers gentle runs for all levels, with breathtaking 360° views.
Skiing in Les Deux Alpes
Beginners
For beginners, Les Deux Alpes offers a variety of nursery slopes and free lifts for initial practice. As they progress, they can explore the numerous green runs within the main ski area.
Intermediates
Intermediate skiers will find Les Deux Alpes to be a paradise, boasting an array of cruising blue and red runs, including some of the highest skiable slopes in the Alps.
Advanced
Les Deux Alpes also caters to advanced skiers with challenging moguls, steep black runs, couloirs, and exceptional off-piste opportunities. Notable runs include the formidable Le Diable and the exhilarating mogul fields of Fée 5.
Off-piste
With a vertical drop of 2,300 m (7,545 ft), Les Deux Alpes offers an exhilarating downhill experience for all freeride aficionados.
Glacier skiing
Les Deux Alpes boasts the prestigious Glacier du Mont de Lans, offering a unique high-altitude skiing experience at 3,570 m. The glacier presents predominantly blue runs that are both gentle and expansive, making it an exceptional spot for skiers seeking less challenging terrains. Beyond these, freeriders can venture to the off-piste terrains of La Grave.
Snowboarding
Les Deux Alpes is an exhilarating playground for snowboarders, with the 'Freestyle Land' snowpark in the Toura area at 2,600 m (8,530 ft). This pristine snowpark caters to freestylers of all levels, featuring a dedicated beginner area and a more challenging slope-style line with rails, hips, boxes, tables, and a big air jump. Additionally, the park’s half-pipe is perfect for those looking to perform gravity defying stunts.
Les Deux Alpes ski season dates
The ski season in Les Deux Alpes typically runs from early December to late April. While the official 2025/26 opening and closing dates have not yet been confirmed, we’ll update this page as soon as they are announced. Please note that these dates can vary depending on snow conditions and other operational factors. Planning ahead? Don’t forget to check out our Les Deux Alpes deals for the best offers available.
Les Deux Alpes snow history
The Les Deux Alpes offers optimal snow conditions from December through April, each month presenting unique opportunities for skiers. December and January consistently bring about 42 cm (16.5 in) and 36 cm (14.1 in) of snow respectively, dispersed across roughly 2.9 days each week, ensuring regular fresh snow. February's snowfall slightly decreases to 31 cm (12.2 in) but occurs more frequently, averaging 3.1 days per week. The pinnacle of snowfall arrives in the second week of December, traditionally the snowiest week in the Les Deux Alpes, with an impressive 54 cm (21.2 in) of snow over 3.1 days, making it a paradise for those who cherish Bluebird Powder Days, when sunshine and light winds follow fresh snowfall. The season stretches into April with enjoyable conditions, accumulating 26 cm (10.2 in) of snow over 3.7 days, perfect for softer snow under brighter skies.
The resort boasts a variety of dining options, from traditional Savoyard eateries to international cuisine.Notable establishments include:
Chalet De La Toura: located at the top of the Jandri Express gondola, it has a large terrace with panoramic views.
Le Melezes: located at 2,200 m (7,217 ft) in the Crete sector, this restaurant has over 30 years of experience, and their specialities include tartiflette, grilled meat, pastries and crepes.
La Patache: located at the foot of the Viking chairlift, this restaurant, with its view over the Massif de la Muzelle has been awarded the "Maitre Restaurateur" label for their high culinary standards.
La Grange: located in the heart of the village, its menu features a wide variety of dishes, all made with fresh, local ingredients.
Le Paellou: this restaurant serves up delicious paella made with fresh, seasonal ingredients and is cooked to perfection in a wood-fired oven.
Le P'tit Polyte: a local favourite, serving up classic French dishes.
Le Rustique: located in a small chalet in the village, it's known for its wood-fired pizzas and its cozy atmosphere.
Things to do in Les Deux Alpes
Skidoo
Tandem flights
Huskies, and horse-drawn sleigh rides
Ice skating
Snowshoeing
Ski touring
Sport & fitness
Spa & wellness
Cinema
Museum
Les Deux Alpes après-ski and nightlife
Les Deux Alpes is renowned for its lively après-ski scene, offering a plethora of venues to unwind after a day on the slopes. Highlights include:
Le Pano Bar: located at the top of the Jandri Express gondola, it has a large terrace with plenty of seating, so you can enjoy the views while you sip your drink.
Smithys: located in the heart of the village, it is known for its live music and DJs.
The Umbrella Bar: a popular après-ski spot located in the centre of the resort, it is known for its lively atmosphere and wide selection of drinks.
Avalanche: a nightclub located at the bottom of the slopes offering large dance floor, a state-of-the-art sound system, and a VIP area.
The Secret: a hidden bar located in a small alleyway in the centre of Les Deux Alpes.
