Alpe d'Huez, France ski guide.

How you rate it

4.3 / 5  

4.3 / 5  

4.3 / 5  

4 / 5  

3.8 / 5  

3 / 5  

3 / 5  

ALPE D’HUEZ SKIING

Alpe d’Huez is a serious ski area. It ranks in the big league of French ski resorts and with over 80 lifts and around 250km of ski pistes the area is impressive. One of the rare features of the skiing Alpe d’Huez is the geographically segmented variety of pistes. In an ideal world then the further one ventures up the mountain, the more challenging the terrain. The geography of the mountains around Alpe d’Huez has ensured this commendable and convenient rule is in operation. Just above Alpe d’Huez and the neighbouring settlement of Les Bergers, there is an extensive area and network of green ski pistes that are ideal for the beginner skier. Above this there is a band of red (and just a few blue) ski pistes.

THE GOOD, THE BAD

  We like:
Superb segmentation of the different ski piste classifications

  We don`t like:
Lack of trees means some pretty tough skiing in poor weather

  You like:
You comment on Alpe d Huez skiing

  You don`t like:
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REVIEW RESORT AND WIN

ALPE D’HUEZ SKI INFORMATION

Heading further up the mountain toward Pic Blanc from Alpe d’Huez, there is a band of black ski pistes that run from the Pic Blanc. Included in these more challenging ski pistes is the longest black ski piste in the Alps. At 16km and travelling over the Sarenne Glacier, the piste runs down through the Gorges de Sarenne, offering some stunning scenery, if at times barely truly black classified skiing. There are a number of terrain parks on offer for different abilities, whilst one is an impressive 1.5km in length.

ALPE D'HUEZ LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Stuart Adamson knows Alpe d'Huez, having skied there for 17years. Stuart is a director of British Masterclass

Q - The best ski area for a beginner after 6 days?
Les jeux

Q - Best intermediate ski circuit?
Chamois Font froid

ALPE D'HUEZ LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Q - Best place to ski carve?
Any run first hour of morning except blacks

Q - The piste with the least ice?
Grande rousse

Q - The best steep skiing?
Col de cluy, Tunnel, Balcon

Q - Your favourite off-piste area?
Grande Sablat

ALPE D'HUEZ LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Q - Your favourite mountain hut?
Les airelles for the Plat du jour

Q - Your favourite après ski bar?
The Underground

Q - The best après ski drink for tired ski legs?
Le plage de neige

Review by Rachael Lomax
holiday taken

Snowboarding

3 / 5  

Beginner skiing

5 / 5  

Intermediate skiing

5 / 5  

Advanced skiing

5 / 5  

Off-piste skiing

4 / 5  

Terrain Park

3 / 5  

The ski lift system

4 / 5  

Review by Sam Robinson
holiday taken December, 2003

Beginner skiing

4 / 5  

Intermediate skiing

3 / 5  

Advanced skiing

3 / 5  

Off-piste skiing

3 / 5  

Terrain Park

3 / 5  

The ski lift system

3 / 5  

More suited to the intermediate skier I felt. I did not find it a great enough challenge.