Les Deux Alpes

Les Deux Alpes, France

Rated: 5/5 (from 7 ratings)

Les Deux Alpes

World class resort with one of the largest ski areas, summer ski areas and maximum verical drops to be found anywhere. Add to this a huge range of apres-ski options and the now lift-linked descent to La Grave - a legend which attracts all advanced skiers, although a local guide is essential for these unmarked trails. It is easy to reach the main slopes from most points in the resort. There is also a free ski bus. The resort has its own radio station at Radio 2 Alpes (96.2 FM),

Summary

The French ski resort of Les Deux Alpes is in the French Alps at an altitude of 5,413ft, with 137 miles of marked runs.

Les Deux Alpes is part of the Grande Galaxie ski area with access to 330 miles of downhill skiing, with 264 marked pistes, served by a total of 150 ski lifts. In addition to the skiing in Les Deux Alpes itself (137 miles of pisted ski runs), the appropriate ski Lift Pass will allow you to ski or snowboard in the other Grande Galaxie ski resorts of Puy Saint Vincent and Serre Chevalier.

The ski resort itself is at 5,413ft, so skiing or boarding back to the resort is usually possible. With ski lifts as high as 11,811ft, skiing and snowboarding is assured throughout the season.

Ski Area Stats

Les Deux Alpes Overview

Now officially known as 'Les 2 Alpes', the resort formerly spelt 'Les Deux Alpes' began life shortly after World War 2, when in 1946 the local ski school was formed and three ski instructors employed, with an impressive 45 pupils on the first day. It was in fact based on the old French ski area of La Berarde which sprang up in 1925 after the first road to the area was completed. That was France's second ski area after Chamonix so its had plenty of time to establish its excellent snowfall and sunshine records.

Today with around 60 lifts, including an underground funicular, serving 220km (143 miles) of terrain including year round glacier skiing, over one of the world's biggest lift-served vertical drops, and accommodation enough for over 35,000 guests per night, Les 2 Alpes may safely be regarded as one of the guest success stories of the global ski industry.

Although now more than 50 years old, it was ten years after it began life that the resort really started to take off. Success followed the opening of the Diable gondola in 1956 and a year later the creation of one of the world's first known ski pass - covering all the lifts in the young resort. By 1970 there were 40 hotels and 46 lifts, including two gondolas and six chairs and by 1980 150km of trails were groomed and lift-served.

In 1984 the lifts extended to the current peak of 2568m giving year round access to the glacier ski area with the fast Jandri Express gondola, the world's fastest, up to the glacier opening the following year and one of the world's few underground funiculars, the Dome Express, following in 1989.

 Notable Ski Runs

The longest possible descent in Les Deux Alpes is 7 miles long.

Skiing

The vast vertical of Les 2 Alpes ski area extends from the wooded slopes by the resort itself up to the year-round snow fields of the glacier. With the upper lifts reached by walk-on lifts and the resort itself at quite a healthy altitude despite being one of the more southerly of the major French resorts, snowcover is not a problem. More than 78 snow cannons cover the lower slopes to make double sure.

It's an unusual ski area in that the ski area does not fan out around the resort as so many do but instead keeps going backwards, up to the glacier and away from Les 2 Alpes itself - rather like Keystone in Colorado. Beginners have a good selection of runs with more than 20 greens (very easy) trails around the resort, mostly served by more than a dozen parallel drags that run next to one another up from this high valley floor. They have either the Ecole de Ski Français (ESF) with about 150 instructors (rising to 200 in February peak season)and the ability to offers tuition in Portugese or Russian as well as the more mainstream languages if required, or there's the International Ski School.

Intermediates have the most to excite them - with this huge terrain rising up to the snow sure Glacier du Mont Lans which has the remarkable subterranean funicular actually running underneath the glacier you ski back down over. For a bit of added fun the slalom stadium features a free parallel slalom course. Although Les 2 Alpes alone does not have a particularly highly thought of ski area for experts, its off piste lift link to La Grave is a major asset. The 2100 metre descent from the top lift above the Girose Glacier down to the tiny village is regarded as one of the most challenging, and dangerous, lift served descent on earth. It has claimed the lives of several expert skiers. The route is normally open from late January through to April.

La Grave is one of a handful of small European ski centres off the tour operators maps and lacking in any facilities but none-the-less legendary for their incredibly expert and off-piste skiing. A couple of cable cars make the return trip back up from La Grave and only experts, ideally with guides should take this and other off piste routes down.

There are eight black pistes of which the most popular are Super Diable and the Belle Etoile returning to the village. The area ski pass includes a day's skiing on the Milky Way or in Alpe d'Huez or Serre Chevalier if Les 2 Alpe's skiing fails to satisfy for long enough.

There are a variety of pistes to suit all levels of skier ability, from Beginner to Expert.

Snowboarding

Les 2 Alpes 'World Snowboard Exhibition' staged at the top of the glacier in late October each season is one of the longest established annual events in the still short history of 'boarding. It is also believed to be the 'highest' snowboarding event staged and is open to the general public as well as pros. Throughout the season the snowboarding park is one of the best, with boarder cross, half pipe and various competitions staged. Events include barbecue and test days and the park has piped music.

There are three Snowboard Schools operational in Les 2 Alpes. In the summer boarding continues on the glaciers with camps, competitions, events and tuition on offer, along with free riding up on the largest glacier summer sliding area in Europe. A Fun Park is also created up top.

Aprés Ski

One of the livliest of the French resorts there are more than 30 bars to choose from and later on four night clubs which remain open until dawn in peak season. There are ten piano bars - one of which offers a selection of 200 different beers. Several have a 'British' theme, including Mike's Bar, Smokey Joe's and the Windsor with its selection of whiskys.

The Café Bresilien has a reputation for great music. Later on l'Opera night club is one of the best. More unusual après ski options include full moon mountain hikes to mountain restaurants for dinner.