The international first-class resort of Alpe d’Huez (in the French transcription – Alpe d’Huez, Alpe d’huez, is located 60 km from Grenoble, on the high (1860 m) plateau of the huge Grand Rous massif, south of the Pic- Blanc (3330 m).

This is one of the oldest (opened in 1936) and universal resort regions of France, known both as a beautiful winter resort with a large number of various trails, and as a summer recreation center with the cleanest air and characteristic natural and climatic conditions. All its slopes face south, so during daylight hours the sun shines on the town and the valley constantly (more than 300 sunny days a year, the length of daylight in December – 7.5 hours, in April – up to 11 hours), for which the resort received the second name is l’ile au Soleil (“Island of the Sun”). And from the surrounding slopes of the mountain peaks, in good weather, you can see a quarter (!!) of the entire southern part of France, from the Italian border almost to the Massif Central.

Residents of Alpe d’Huez carefully monitor the ecological condition of the resort. Forest restoration work is underway, waste recycling and reuse programs are being developed, and reusable ski passes are being used.

Alpe d’Huez climate

As already mentioned, thanks to the location to the south, the resort owes a large number of sunny days a year (about 300 days). This fact serves to extend the time for skiing. Yes, in December and January you can ride until five o’clock in the evening. The resort has a reputation as an area with a good amount of snow, the lower parts of the slopes are provided with this same snow by more than 400 snow cannons.

Over the past two decades, the resort has grown in all directions. The location in the form of steps on the mountain and a well-developed system of lifts make it possible to ski even from the hotel itself.

Alpe d’Huez historical reference

The development of all ski resorts at one time went through several stages. Winter resorts arose on the basis of patriarchal mountain villages, which can provide guests with excellent rest and peace. Some of them were created for the survival of local residents after the closure of manufacturing plants with outdated technologies.

Alpe d’Huez in France belongs to such resorts. After the exhaustion of the silver mine in the village, a joint-stock company headed by the mayor was created and local residents invested personal funds in the construction of a ski center. And only years later he received worldwide recognition.

Winter rest

Alpe d’Huez is one of the most famous winter centers of the country, which is one of the few world resorts with a height difference of more than 2,000 meters (from 3,323 meters at the top of Lac Blanc to 1,100 meters in Anversin d’Oz). There are 118 tracks (38 “green”, 31 “blue”, 33 “red” and 11 “black”) with a total length of about 237 km. At the same time, the conditions of the resort, which is famous for its difficult “black” descents, make it possible to clearly separate difficult slopes from simpler ones and offer excellent conditions for both experienced skiers and young people or families with children.

Here is the longest ski track in Europe (and according to some data – in the world!), stretching from the Sarenne glacier (about 3300 m) for as much as 16 km! Together with the tracks and tunnels adjacent to it, it allows you to slide without a break for an hour to an hour and a half, while in the evenings, almost all of its sections are illuminated. You can go down this route at night with lanterns or torches.

At the same time, there are unique routes with 4-5 connected tracks of different levels of difficulty, which allow you to cover up to 8 kilometers in one descent! Particularly good in this regard are the descents from the mountains l Alpett (2050 m), Signal (2125 m) and Signal de Iomme (2176 m), Montfray (1650 m), Livre Blanc (2530 m), Rlat de Marmotten (2300 m) and , of course, the Lac Blanc peak itself (3323 m), among which you can find both relatively simple “red” and rather serious “blue” routes (for Alpe d’Huez, such a paradox with marking is easily explained by the variety of descent conditions even within one track).

The upper sections of the tracks follow a large glacier, and therefore are able to provide the most “stiff” slopes in the region. And taking into account the use of numerous lifts and gondolas (82, the total capacity of which is more than 102 thousand people per hour!) to go from one track to another, you can “ride” several tens of kilometers in a day and never go down to the hotel! The same applies to the easier descents that cover the southern and southwestern slopes directly in front of Alp d’Huez with a dense network.

Mountain skiing in Alpe d’Huez is also a wide opportunity for off-piste skiing. A skiing holiday in Alpe d’Huez will appeal to all categories and age groups of those who ski.

For professionals: a large selection of long black and red runs, special attention should be paid to the black runs from Pic Blanc, as well as the off-piste runs leading to Vožany. There is a long black Combe-Charbonnier downhill from the Clochet de Macle station, as well as two long red runs that have a pretty hard black section at the start.

For intermediates: a rich selection of pistes for advanced skiers in the area above Vaugany, as well as on the Plateau de Marmotten, from the stations of Signal (2176 m and 2115 m) there are easier pistes. The network of blue trails is located directly above the Alpe d’Huez resort.

For beginners: there is quite a lot of traffic on the blue and green tracks above the resort, so it is better to use the tracks in Oz-en-Uaza or Orys-en-Uazan. There are special free lifts for beginners.

 

Map of the resort

Specifications

Altitude of the resort: 1860 m.

Skiing area: 1860 m. – 3330 m.

The length of the tracks: ski tracks – 230 km, plain tracks – 50 km.

Tracks: 235 km in total

– Blue – 110 km

– Red – 85 km

– Black – 40 km

Number of lifts: 85 in total

The ski season lasts from the beginning of December to the end of April.

Renting a set of ski equipment or a snowboard will cost 160-190 euros for an adult for 6 days, 100-120 euros for a child, classes at a ski school – from 51 euros per day for adults and up to 180 euros for children (with meals), rental ice skating – 3 euros, a visit to the swimming pool or baths of the sports complex – from 12 euros, a helicopter excursion – from 50 euros, delivery of skiers to the nearby ski resort Les Des Alpes – about 60 euros.

There are two snow parks on the slopes – one for beginners and the other for extreme extremes. There are lighted tracks for night skiing.

50 km of trails are equipped for cross-country skiing. 30 km of hiking trails have been laid.

Ski pass

The approximate cost of accommodation and recreation in Alpe d’Huez is quite moderate for such a modern resort. A one-day Grand Rousses ski pass (valid for Alpe d’huez, Huez, Auris-en-Oisans, Oz-en-Oisans, Vaujany, Villard-Reculas) will cost 38 euros for adults (13-59 years) and 26 euros for pensioners (over 59 years old) and for children aged 5 to 13 years.

The Ski Visalp pass (includes all sports and entertainment complexes of the Rousse Valley, 2 days of skiing in Les Des Alpes and free use of the resort bus) valid for 6 days will cost 199 euros for adults and 142 euros for children and senior citizens, on 13 days – 388 and 265 euros, respectively. Ski Visalp can be purchased in numerous sales centers or ordered online with home delivery.

Apres-ski

In addition to mountain skiing, you can visit the Sports Palace with numerous sports fields and clubs, as well as three modern snowboard parks (in Alpe d’Huez, Oriz-en-Oisani and Montfrey). There are 3 ski schools, a crèche (for children from 6 months to 2 years), the Les Marmottes ski kindergarten (from 2 to 4 years) and a school (from 4 years), the municipal museum (Musee d’huez et de l Oisans), a grotto with ice sculptures (located at an altitude of 2700 meters near the lift to Pic Blanc), 2 swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), 2 cinemas, an Olympic outdoor ice rink (open from 10.00 to 23.00), snowmobile trails and 50 km. cross-country skiing, 30 km of hiking trails, a paragliding club, a helipad (excursions are conducted and skiers are delivered to 20 off-piste skiing areas), a 9-hole golf course, a toboggan run (1350 m long), a school for learning extreme car driving and many other objects.

Summer vacation

In Alpe d’Huez, all opportunities for summer recreation are developed. At the resort, you can take many kilometers and various walking routes: in the tourism office you will be offered more than a dozen different routes with a length of 30 minutes to 5 hours. There is a riding school. More than 200 km have been laid for mountain biking.

Alpe d’Huez offers great climbing opportunities. About 150 routes have been created on the 2,200-meter-high Lac Besson cliff, which are suitable for athletes of various levels. There are also two Gorges de Sarennes Via Ferrata routes in the mountains, equipped with all the necessary fasteners and devices for climbing.

Entertainment

In addition to ski passes, there is a Visalp pass at the Alpe d’Huez resort . Its owners have the right to visit ice rinks, swimming pools, museums, concert halls and rent equipment for cross-country skiing.

In winter, everyone can try their hand at driving a car on ice. An ice cave is open for visitors at an altitude of 2,700 meters. There is a winter kiting training school.

In the modern Palace of Sports and Congresses, you can practice 26 different sports – squash, tennis, football, golf, aerobics, etc., there is a fitness club, a swimming pool, and two cinemas.

Among the popular sports entertainment is a helicopter flight to the nearby ski resort of Les Des Alpes. This pleasure costs about 60 euros.

At the resort itself, you can find 12 restaurants, 5 discotheques and numerous bars, as well as various sports and entertainment facilities in the nearby villages of Vožani, Oz, Ori and Villar. And after going down to the foot of the mountain, you can visit the picturesque villages along the Romanche Canal and Lake Chambon.

Hotels

In total, there are 19 hotels of various levels, as well as numerous cottages and chalets in the mountains and almost fifty places of accommodation in the surrounding towns (in total, the resort can accommodate up to 32 thousand tourists at the same time).

3-star Hotel Les Bruyères

Les Bruyères is located in Alpe d’Huez, 1 km from L’Alpe d’Huez Ski School, and provides various facilities, such as ski-to-door access, a terrace and a shared lounge. Located around 8 km from Villarda Recoulas Ski School, the hotel with free WiFi is also 600 meters from Rif Nel 1 Ski Lift.

At the hotel, all rooms are equipped with a desk and a flat-screen TV. All rooms have a private bathroom with a shower, and some rooms have mountain views. The rooms have a wardrobe.

Skiing is one of the activities that guests can enjoy near Hotel Les Bruyères.

The signal is 700 meters from the premises, and the L’Eclose lift is 700 meters away. The DMC ski lift is 700 meters away. The nearest airport is Grenoble-Isère Airport, 106 km from the hotel.

Résidence Pierre & Vacances Les Bergers 4 star hotel

Résidence Pierre & Vacances Les Bergers is a residence in the Domaine des Grandes Rousses building, located 100 meters from the Alpe d’Huez ski lifts and the district center of Les Bergers. It offers apartments with balconies, a heated outdoor pool, a relaxation room and 2 saunas.

Each apartment at Résidence Pierre & Vacances Les Bergers has a kitchen with a microwave with grill function, a dishwasher and a coffee machine.

Résidence Pierre & Vacances Les Bergers has a La Fondue restaurant serving traditional dishes from the Savoy region. Guests can relax at the bar or on the terrace by the pool with views of the valley and the Ekreni mountains. There is a fireplace in the reception area.

The restaurant serves bread and pastries. Breakfast, half board and meal plans are available at an additional cost.

With advance booking and depending on the date of stay, guests can take advantage of reduced rates for passes and equipment rental.

Hotel Daria-I Nor 5-star hotel

Located in Alpe d’Huez, 1.3 km from L’Alpe d’Huez Ski School, Hôtel Daria-I Nor provides accommodation with a fitness centre, private parking, a bar and ski-to-door access. Among the facilities of this hotel are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and room service, as well as free Wi-Fi. The non-smoking hotel is 9 km from Villard Reculas Ski School.

At the hotel, the rooms are equipped with a desk, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. All rooms have a wardrobe.

Guests at Daria-I Nor Hotel can enjoy a buffet breakfast.

The accommodation offers guests a spa and wellness center with a hammam, a hot tub and an indoor pool. The area is popular for skiing, and ski equipment hire is available at Hotel Daria-I Nor.

Popular points of interest near the hotel include Bergers Ski Lift, Romains Ski Lift and Rif Nel Express. The nearest airport is Grenoble-Isère, 107 km from Darya-I-Nor, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.

Chalet LALPEDU

Located at an altitude of 1,800 meters in the historic center of Alpe d’Huez, Chalet LALPEDU offers rooms with mountain views. Guests can get a discount on ski equipment rental at their partner store.

The chalet has 2 living areas, 2 equipped kitchens and 2 balconies. It also has 2 bathrooms.

Shops and restaurants are 500 meters from the hotel. Guests can reach the ski slopes by public shuttle bus.

The area is popular for skiing, and in summer guests can enjoy mountain biking. The nearest airport is Saint-Georges Airport, 104 km from the hotel.

Sights in Alpe d’Huez

The resort gained the most popularity when the Winter Olympic Games were held here in 1968. It was from this time that the small village received the status of a world ski resort, which is known even outside of France. Distinctive features of Alpe d’Huezy are the provision of excellent service and the availability of various and long trails.

Below Alp d’Huez is the Romanch valley, from which roads lead up through the Grand Rouss mountains. Thanks to the presence of France’s highest peak, Mont Blanc, there is always enough snow here.

The total length of all tracks is more than 240 kilometers, half of which are on difficult tracks highlighted in red and black.

The popularity of the resort is connected with the availability of tracks for any physical training of vacationers. Ski masters and beginners will feel equally comfortable here. The communication system between the tracks is perfectly thought out and, therefore, the resort works without failures, which delights numerous guests. A novelty of the resort is the ascent of skiers to the highest peak of the Alps called Blanc at a height of 3300 meters. Even in summer, tourists are brought to the glacier, who do not stop admiring the views of the Ekren National Park and the famous alpine peaks.

The southern location of the ski slopes is considered a disadvantage, which leads to the flooding of the snow and its transformation into a hard ice crust. It is this coating that does not allow skiers to get the maximum pleasure from free sliding. The owners of the resort are trying to eliminate such a serious disadvantage with the help of snow cannons.

Alpe d’Huez attractions include two snow parks, as well as an illuminated area for skiing or sledding at night. All tracks are certified by the International Ski Federation and allow competitions of even the highest level.

At this resort, disabled skiers have the opportunity to practice winter sports. For this purpose, the station has easy access to lifts, special ski equipment is available for rent, and assistance is provided by special accompanists.

The very way of life of local residents contributes to the good condition of the ski resort. Thus, in the summer, a large number of cows and sheep graze on the pastures located at the site of the ski slopes, thanks to which good conditions for winter skiing are maintained: the animals eat grass, which prevents the first snow from sliding and prevents avalanches after the first snowfall.

In the summer, the popularity of Alpe d’Huezy is achieved due to mountain bike races. The Megavalansch mountain bike marathon is held here, and the most prestigious multi-day cycling race “Tour de France” starts from here.

How to get there

The nearest airports are Grenoble (63 km), Lyon (163 km) and Geneva (220 km), and due to the proximity to the Grenoble railway station (TGV line Paris – Grenoble), you can also get here by train (special trains depart from the station 3 times a day buses).

The nearest SNCF train station is in Grenoble. There you can change to a local train that goes directly to the Alpe d’Huez station (1.5 hours on the way).