Serre Chevalier Ski Area

Serre Chevalier’s ski area includes four ski villages – Monetier les Bains, Villeneuve, Chantemerle and Briançon – between 1,500m and 1,200m above sea level and nine peaks of which Le Pic de l’Yert (2,830m) is the highest. Serre Chevalier’s ski area is good for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities and a typical day involves skiing well-groomed slopes from one side of the ski area to the other with a choice of 103 runs including 12 black, 39 red, 29 blue and 23 green runs. Artificial snowmaking covers two thirds of Serre Chevalier’s 250km pistes to ensure good snow conditions all season from early December until late April. 

Monetier les Bains

Monetier le Bains (1,500m) is the quietest of four villages and provides the most challenging skiing, however, the ski lift system is the oldest and slowest in the valley. The base station on the outskirts of the village includes a small arcade of shops, ski schools and wide open slopes for beginners with two-drag lifts servicing the nursery slopes beside the main chairlift that rises to Bachas mid-station at 2,176m. The groomed slopes below Bachus include numerous red and blue runs that weave through the trees to the base station and the Tabuc black run around the back of the mountain, which is gentle to begin with then plummets down a steep, mogul filled face ending with a flat stretch some distance from the base station at the Ski du Font.

Monetier’s treelined slopes reach as high as the Bachus mid-station. From Bachas the Cibout chairlift climbs a further 319m to the top of an open bowl and a red run or a black run down. There’s also a natural half pipe which is great for thrill seekers looking for big air and entertaining for those riding the Yert chair which takes skiers to the highest point in Serre Chevalier at 2,398m, and from where you can ski to Villeneuve. The views from the top of the Yert chairlift are of steep edgy cliff faces with sharp rocks and mean looking couloirs that form the back of the Cucumelle peak, but the route across the valley is via a red or black run to the Cucumelle chairlift that leads to Villeneuve.

Villeneuve

Villeneuve (1,400m) is arguably the most popular of Serre Chevalier’s four ski villages with a massive variety of runs and many interesting features. The Villeneuve base area has two parts, the biggest of which is between the Frejus gondola and the Case du Beouf chairlift. The base area is near a modern shopping arcade where both the Tourist Office and the ESF and Ski Connnections Ski School offices are situated. The base area has two draglifts and a rope pull for novices. It’s also the meeting point for ski schools and can be busy at times. Situated beside the base area is the Le Mickey green run, which is a hive of activity and can be accessed by Place de Aravet, a square with parking, restaurants, ski schools and bars. The Aravet gondola starts here and alights at Aravet, a mid-station at 1,972m with a beginners’ area with a magic carpet. A long and gentle green run weaves its way from Aravet back to the base and is a perfect picturesque tree run for beginners. 
Back at the base, the Case du Beouf high-speed chairlift is the quickest way to ride back up the mountain; taking less than 10 minutes to reach 2,273m and passing above the epic Case du Beouf black run, which cuts dramatically through the trees. On sunny days skiers are silhouetted by sunlight, illuminating their snow trails as they speed down the face. The top of the Case du Beouf offers marvelous views of the Cucumelle and the possibility to ski towards Monetier or Chantemerle. More advanced skiers should head towards Monetier via the Clot Gautier chairlift. The Clot Gautier red run passes the Eychauda draglift that leads skiers to L’Eychauda, the highest peak in Villeneuve. There is a black or red run down to choose from which are part of the Brut Neige area, meaning runs are not groomed yet are secure. This allows skiers to experience off piste sensations in safe conditions. There are many ways one could ski back to the Clot Gautier chair allowing this area to be easily lapped, using a different route down each time, with a good chance of cutting fresh lines in the powder. 

From the top of the Clot Gautier chair 2,490m there are wide-open blue runs leading to the area known as La Balm, which is serviced by two draglifts and also has a green run which is ideal for beginner skiers. Ski passed La Balm to reach the Vallon Express chairlift, opened in 2011, which rises to the base of La Cucumelle 2,221m and means that one can now reach Monetier from the base area in Villeneuve by riding just two chairlifts.

From the top of the Case du Boeuf it’s also possible to ski to Chantemerle using the Marteau blue run which passes the snow park and leads into the Luc Alphand black run, named after the former French ski world champion who lives locally. The impressive black run plunges into the valley allowing dramatic views of Chantemerle beneath. For intermediates there are also blues and greens that meander through the trees passing through the Melizone snow park in the forests with natural park features sculpted from wood and huge logs. 

Villeneuve is also home to Club Med with its own base area, which is located about one kilometer away from the main base station where the cable car Pontillas leads to Frejus at 2,065m. The ‘Club Med’ cable car provides an alternative way up the mountain to the area beneath La Cucumelle and is open to all, but it’s seldom used by non Club Med clients and the runs down to Pontillas are often icy and crowded with Club Med clients, and best avoided if possible. 

Chatemerle

Chantemerle is small with no beginner slopes at the base station, but the Bletonet chairlift and Troncon cable car both provide access to the mid-station at Serre Ratier (1,900m), which is a main centre of activity with wide-open area with nursery slopes, cafes and Le Chalet Hotel Ratier. The Café Soleil is a popular place for lunch and breaks, with ample deck chairs and seating facing a broad and flat area, served by two draglifts and a magic carpet, which is ideal for novices. 

The Combes and Oree du Bois chairlifts leave from here, rising above the tree line and providing access to the Genepi blue run to Villeneuve, and a big open bowl with excellent blue runs leading to the Gran Serre chairlift which rises to Serre Chevalier at 2,491m and offers spectacular views from the summit. Advanced skiers can drop off the back of the Serre Chevalier peak and ski off-piste to the Villeneuve ski area arriving at the bottom of Clot Gautier chairlift. Piste skiers can enjoy an excellent blue run that follows the ridgeline into the bowl below which ample blue and red runs that lead to the Prorel chair lift which rises to Prorel (2,400m) and is gateway to Briancon. 

Alternatively, the Saludes red run leads into the Edutis red run that winds through the trees to the Aiguillette chairlift which rises above the 3km long Aiguillette red run. The Aiguillette chairlift is slow and this part of the ski area is often very quiet and thanks to its trees, provides shelter and better visibility in bad weather. A choice of blue and red runs at the top of the Aiguillette chairlift lead back to the Serre Ratier mid-point. To return to Chantemerle from Serre Ratier, advanced skiers and plucky intermediates can ski the Luc Alphand black run, while beginners and less confident intermediates can ski the easy Briance green run.

Briancon

Briancon is the smallest of Serre Chevalier’s four ski domains. There is no skiing at the base area and the ski area is accessed by the Prorel cable car, which rises to the Plateau de Pralong mid-point (1,600m) where there is a restaurant and a small nursery slope with one draglift for novices. The cable car continues from mid-point to the Le Prorel peak at 2,360m where two red runs or two blue runs and the Serre Blanc draglift lead to the ski area above Chantemerle.

The best slopes in Briancon are the long classic red runs between the top of Le Prorel and mid-station. The Remparts red run splits into three red runs which are wide, steep and often very quiet, but sometimes icy in the mornings so are better skied once the sun has softened the snow a little. Briancon’s ski area is south-facing has more sunshine than the rest of the Serre Chevalier valley and offers spectacular views of the town below. There’s also night skiing once a week during the high season from 7-10pm on the floodlit Vaubaun red run from the Plateau de Pralong mid-station down to the base station with lovely views of the town lights shimmering below.