Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez, like nearby Les Deux Alpes, is a great resort for all levels of skiers. It is one of France's oldest resorts and has plenty of high altitude snow sure skiing.
The skiing is extensive and has some great off piste, but it also gets a lot of sun which can cause the pistes to suffer, especially towards the end of the season. However, after a fresh dump of snow its hard to beat.
The resort itself is a bit of an architectural mess, but the lift system extends to some more pleasant resorts in adjoining valleys and there is a good range of Alpe d'Huez accommodation to choose from.
Pros
- Great nursery slopes and an efficient lift system.
- Extensive high altitude ski area and good snow making coverage.
- The resort is quite lively and there are some good mountain restaurants.
Cons
- The resort is sprawling and charm less.
- A lot of the challenging runs are high up and can close in bad weather, and there’s virtually no tree skiing to fall back on.
- Some of the main runs get very busy and the south facing runs suffer from the sun.
The Skiing
Alpe d'Huez is a good all round resort with something for everybody. With 249km of pistes there is plenty to explore, with some great runs down to Oz and Vaujany.
The 3330m Pic Blanc has breathtaking views and is a good starting point for a number of off piste itineraries as well as the 16km Sarenne, the longest black run in Europe.
Most of the slopes are above the tree line so there is little to do if a storm comes in and, because of the mainly south facing slopes, the snow can be affected by the sun during the end of the season, but are generally snow sure in midwinter.
Facts And Figures
- Resort altitude 1860m
- Highest lift 3320m
- 86 lifts and 249km of piste
- Ski in ski out accommodation is available
The Town And Apres Ski
For a high altitude ski resort the range of activities off the slopes is not bad. There's an indoor and outdoor pool, ice rink and excellent sports centre which are all covered by the lift pass. There are well marked walking trails, a pedestrian lift pass and an ice driving school and toboggan run.
The mountain restaurants are generally good, although the more easily accessible restaurants get quickly overbooked. If you’re looking for gourmet food then head to La Cabane du Poutat, whilst the Chalet du Lac Besson is an excellent restaurant full of French rustic charm. For the best panoramic views go to Le Signal.
There's plenty going on in Alpe d'Huez with a good selection of bars to choose from. You can expect to get a lot of action in Smithy's. Other favourites include the Underground and Pacific whilst both Crowded House and O'Sharkey's are popular choices.
Useful resources
www.alpedhuez.net
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpe_d'Huez
www.alpedhuez.com
