Alpe d’Huez - The Resort
- Nearby guides:
- Les Deux Alpes
- Grenoble
- Grenoble Ski Region
- Courchevel
- Sauze d’Oulx
- Sestriere
- Provence
- Geneva
- Courmayeur
- Lyon
- Other guides in France:
- La Rochelle
- Le Cap d'Agde
- Marseille
- Nantes
- Paris
- Paris - Disneyland - La Champagne
- Perpignan
- Poitiers
- Provence
- Reims
- More
Located in the central Northern French Alps, just an hour drive from Grenoble, Alpe d’Huez is one of Europe’s premier ski destinations. Created in the early thirties, it gained huge popularity when it hosted the bobsleigh events of the 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics.
Originally a relatively small resort, its expansion to higher altitudes and surrounding villages boosted the quantity and quality of intermediate grade slopes. Today’s Alpe d’Huez reputation is founded as a free skiing Mecca, drawing many steep skiing enthusiasts to its high altitude terrain. The Pic Blanc, reaching 3,330 metres at its highest point, offers and impressive and reviving panorama. From there, you’ll enjoy a 2,230 metres vertical drop, including one of the world’s longest black run, the Sarenne, with a length of 16 km.
In addition, the resort offers all commodities to enjoy your “après-ski” time, including a great nightlife and excellent local gastronomy from the Oisans region.
Slope Life
Alpe d’Huez’s is considered as a good all-around resort with a modern ski lift system and great slopes that should challenge all levels of skiers. The ski area offers 250 km of Alpine ski runs, 84 ski lifts, which makes it one of the world largest. Boarders will find their own park, which has a very good half pipe. Off-piste skiing is also excellent, with added beautiful scenery. Disabled skiers can benefit from easy access to ski lifts, the Sports and Convention Centre, swimming pool, Bergers shopping centre, specialist instructors and adapted equipment.
The one week (6 days) high season Visalp ski pass costs €215 and is valid for the entire Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine ski area. It includes additional activities such as cross-country skiing, night time skiing and the sled area 2 evenings every week, ice skating and much more. For more information about different ski passes and prices, visit the website: www.alpedhuez.com
+33 4 7680 3030 / +33 4 7611 4444
All levels and all ages’ skiers and snowboarders can take lessons at the following schools (prices depend on time, level, size of group. For details, contact the ski school). Here is a selection:
Ecole de Ski Français (ESF)
+33 4 7680 9423
www.esf-alpedhuez.com
Easyski Ecole de Ski
+33 4 7680 4277
www.mgm-international.com
British Masterclass
+33 4 7680 9383 / +33 6 7967 3456
www.masterclass-ski.co.uk
Mountain Guide Office - for the adventurous off-piste sowboard, freeride, mountaineering ski enthusisats!
+33 4 7680 4255
www.guidesalpedhuez.com
Those who need to rent their equipment will find plenty of good shops in town. Prices depend on equipment performances, lenght of rent. Here is a selection of the major rental providers:
Intersport Rent
+33 4 76 80 33 93
www.intersport-alpedhuez.com
Skiset
+ 33 4 76 80 33 50
www.skiset.com
MGM Sports
+33 4 7680 3503
www.mgm-international.com
