Les Deux Alpes Ski Resort, France

Overview of Les Deux Alpes

There are only two things associated with the number two in Les Deux Alpes; the two mountain villages and the 2km long strip that joins them to create the resort. Otherwise, it's all about the number ones; the highest skiable glacier in France, the greatest lift-served French off-piste ski area, the largest snowpark in Europe, the hub of the European freestyle scene and, if you’re down with the right crowd, the best party experience in the Alps!

Situated on the cusp of the Northern and Southern Alps only two hours from Grenoble airport, Les Deux Alpes ski area brings together beginner and expert skiers, as well as families and party people.

Despite the fact that development of the Les Deux Alpes has not always been in keeping with its historic alpine village roots (make sure you head to the Venosc end of town if you are looking for a bit of alpine charm), there are still some beautiful traditional chalets and buildings, plus the lift that takes you down to the old village of Venosc below the resort itself.

The main strip is a venerable entertainment highway, with ski lifts leading up the hill on each side by day and bars and restaurants enticing you in by night. While this may not appeal to all, there’s no denying that Les Deux Alpes holiday-goers will not be disappointed.

3 Things We Love About Les Deux Alpes

1. Snow-sure and good access to the pistes - Spread out along the main road with beginner and intermediate skiing high up and snow-sure.
2. Off-piste skiing - Renowned for excellent off-piste skiing, in addition to its 225km of marked runs.
3. Glacier skiing - Glacier skiing that’s perfect for beginners and intermediates at an altitude of up to 3,600m.

Skiing and Boarding in Les Deux Alpes

With good snow, high slopes, and gradients ranging from friendly to fearsome, Les Deux Alpes skiing is a good place for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. It has the largest skiable glacier in Europe and is France’s second oldest ski resort after Chamonix. The ski area is made up of 7 sectors, 40 ski lifts, and 80 pistes (13 green, 43 blue, 15 red, and 9 black).

Beginner

• You'll find a good range of nursery slopes stretched along the east mountain side of the town (take the Diable or Belle Etoile lifts up and you'll find green routes all the way back down).
• Cretes is one of the best green runs for beginners: it is a long wide run and also has a magic carpet running alongside it with allocated space for those who are complete beginners.
• You'll also find some green runs on the west side of the town.
• Once you're feeling more confident and ready to try some blue runs, you'll find a selection of these all the way from the top of the glacier, meaning, unlike lots of resorts, even beginners can still enjoy the best views in resort and ski all the way from the top to the bottom of the mountain.

Intermediate

• The often-quieter Pied Moutet side (the west mountain side of the town) has some fun blues and reds of varying difficulty levels.
• Have a go on the so nicknamed 'Bumpy Bons' which is the track that snakes down through the trees to 1300m.
• There are some nice blues and reds to explore in the La Fée 2200 area (left side of the piste map).
• From the top of Bellecombe chair lift, there are some nice red runs you can follow all the way back down into town.
• The Signal run, which runs underneath the Signal chairlift on the left side of the piste map, is a nice intermediate level blue that is normally a lot quieter being a bit more out of the way to the rest of resort.

Advanced/Off Piste

• There are almost as many black runs as reds runs in Les Deux Alpes so plenty of more challenging runs to try.
• Try the Pierre Grosse black runs down to La Fée, one of which is un-pisted if you want some moguls to get your knees working.
• There are a couple of black runs just above the town centre to have a go on: Valentin and Diable 1.
• In Les Deux Alpes there is also 1400 hectares of accessible off-piste terrain to explore
• Grand Couloir Chutes: an open bowl with three short chutes - accessible from Bellecomes chairlift
• La Dome Glacier: from the glacier funicular, join the blue traverse along the side of the mountain. When the piste cuts left, cut right and explore the big open face which eventually joins the Signal blue run.
• Just a little further along the valley is the famous La Grave ski area: famous for having no pistes, and instead lots of steep and dangerous terrain. Freeriders flock here to explore the unique mountains above this small hamlet. There is one old-school bubble lift that takes you to the summit and then it's a 2150m descent. However, there is only one marked piste, otherwise, as the resort's website says, "each run is to imagine".

Park

• Accessed from the Toura chairlift, the Les Deux Alpes snowpark is great for slopestyle, big air, pipe, half pipe, and it also has a kids area. Considered one of the best snowparks in Europe, it's a great park for all levels, and includes nice big rollers, smaller, medium and XL jumps for all levels, and winds round nicely instead of just being in a straight line, so it gives a nice, more varied feel.
• There is a button lift running alongside the far side of the park allowing keen park rats to lap the park again and again.

Additional Tips

• If you feel like exploring more of the surrounding mountains, hop on a helicopter (or bus) over to Alpe d'Huez or Serre Chevalier.

When skiing or snowboarding in any un-patrolled / un-pisted area, you should always have the correct equipment and employ the services of a qualified mountain guide. Skiing or snowboarding off-piste can result in injury or death even with a professional mountain guide or instructor. Our partner ski school in Les Deux Alpes, European Ski & Snowboard School, offers off-piste lessons and guiding.

Activities in Les Deux Alpes

Fancy doing something else besides skiing and snowboarding? Here are some of the top things available in the resort:

• Ice skating - An open-air ice skating rink.
• Laser Quest - For all ages. Booking is required.
• Bowling Le Strike - Open everyday 8pm-2am. Booking recommended for larger groups. There is also a bar and lots of arcade games.
• Cinema - Cinéma le Slalom shows an English film every Wednesday evening.
• Parapente and hangliding - See the resort from a birds-eye view, with or without skis.
• Snowmobiling - For both adults and children, see the resort by night and snowmobile up the green runs in the dark.
• Helicopter to Alpe D'Huez  - A 6-day Les Deux Alpes lift pass includes two possible days spent in Alpe d'Huez, so why not travel there in style via helicopter.

Après Ski in Les Deux Alpes

• The Spot - A restaurant and bar with a relaxed atmosphere. Tuesday and Wednesday nights are 'Acoustioke' nights, where you can karaoke with live accompaniment.
• Polar Bear - Chalet style bar with live music and a cosy fire. Always a busy spot for tourists and seasonnaries alike.
• Jukeboxx - A trendy bar with a great atmosphere and delicious cocktails. They also do a lot of themed nights during the season.
• Secret Bar - Chilled bar with a pool table and TVs that show all the big games.
• The Mini Bar - A little bar that has drum and bass nights as well as other themed music nights. This place plays great music and attracts a big party crowd. | 
• Smithy's Tavern - A very popular English bar in resort, with the upstairs restaurant also doing great cocktails. This bar puts on loads of themed nights and is sponsored by DC so there are lots of giveaways throughout the season.
• Avalanche - The main nightclub in resort. It tends to get busiest after midnight when other bars start to close for the evening. Open until 5 am every night.
• Bresilien - Another venue open until 5 am, with great music and always busy with seasonnaires and tourists.

Places to eat in Les Deux Alpes

As in all ski resorts, especially in peak season (or when heavy snow brings everyone on the mountain!), it is best to book your restaurant in advance.

On the mountain

• La Fée - Has both a snack bar and a restaurant serving traditional french dishes. Also serves great crêpes.
• Le Diable au Coeur - A mountain restaurant overlooking the Écrins National Park and serving great food.
• Le Refuge des Glaciers - Located at the foot of the glacier, choose between self-service or a sit-down bistro. Also serve nice cocktails.

In town

• The Spot - A great menu including pizzas, steaks, massive salads, duck pancakes, build your own burgers, best Bloody Mary's in town, ice cream sundaes and more!
• Smithy's Tavern - Chargrill, fajitas, burgers, salmon, poke bowls, and great options for veggies and vegans. The BEST steak in resort.
• Secret Bar - Affordable, delicious pizzas and homemade Italian specials.
• Le P'tit Polyte - The highest altitude Michelin starred restaurant in the Isère region. A cosy and intimate fine dining restaurant offering 3 tasting menus, located in Hotel Chalet Mounier.
• La Porte d’à Côté - Serving traditional French food including Savoyarde specials. Huge salads, frogs legs, snails, truffle ravioli, steaks, tuna steak and the best carbonara you will ever have.
• Le Chalet a Pizza - Take away pizza and they also deliver for free anywhere in the resort.
• K's Croute - Take away pizza open until 4 am.

Family Features Les Deux Alpes

Please also see the 'Activities' and 'Ski Schools' sections for a wealth of non-skiing and skiing options for families.

Depending on the age of your child, there are a few childcare options available in Les Deux Alpes.

• Bonhomme de Neige - Childcare centre for children from ages 6 months to 5 years.
• Ann' Sitter - Private babysitter.
• Jardins des Neiges Piou Piou Clubs - A ski learning area run by ESF for children from age 3 to 5 years.