With more options to ski than anywhere else in the world, it’s no wonder that skiers – and increasingly, snowboarders – flock to France every winter. Despite France’s reputation for astonishingly expensive ski resorts, January and March remain the best times to grab a bargain… just remember to book as early as possible.
Here’s our shortlist of the best places to take to the piste.
Beginner
Courchevel is famous for being the most fashionably expensive village in the in the Trois Vallées area; however, Moriond, away from the hubbub of Courchevel, with its gentle nursery slopes and far more reasonably-priced accommodation, is ideal for those just embarking on their skiing adventures. You’ll also find somewhere decent to stay in nearby Le Praz and La Tania. If you simply must ski Courchevel, then stick with the Altiport area, where the slopes are far more suited to the beginner.
Intermediate
Serre Chevalier comprises a dozen villages not far from the Roman garrison town of Brigantium – now called Briançon. Between them, the villages share around 250km of slopes suitable for intermediate skiiers. While not as glitzy as some of the resorts in the French Alps, Serre Chevalier is nevertheless friendly and welcoming, and with far more French charm than its A-list counterparts. We recommend staying in Monêtier Les Bains, a delightful picture-postcard village, which, as you can tell by its name, was once a popular 19th century spa destination.
Advanced
Val d’Isère & Tignes are communes in the remote Tarentaise Valley that share 300km of challenging terrain both on and off-piste. Tignes’ incredibly high altitude means it has snow for 10 months of the year. If you want to escape the busy central hub area of Solaise and Bellevarde, then take a lift up to Le Fornet, Le Laisinant, or La Daille. For sheer drama, the descent from the top of the Grande Motte glacier to the funicular at Val Claret, is 1400m, and can be skied from this month onward.