Alpe d’Huez

A self-proclaimed "island in the sunshine", Alpe d'Huez boasts over 300 sunny days per year, as well as varied terrain, epic scenery, a high snowsure glacier, an excellent lift system, a bustling main resort and quieter lower villages, and skiing for all levels.


The Dauphin of the Oisans Valley, Alpe d’Huez is a purpose-built resort set at 1850m on a wide open flank of mainly south-facing mountainside about 60 kms to the east of Grenoble. An ugly duckling hastily constructed for the 1968 Winter Olympics, it may yet turn into a swan as more of its amorphous buildings are either demolished or reclad in sympathetic timber, and new attractive chalet suburbs are constructed on its flanks. For now, though, it’s a large bustling, sprawling resort, so if you want something smaller and quieter, try the lower villages to which it’s linked.

With about 80 lifts and 250km of pistes the Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine is not quite as large as the biggest French ski areas, but it’s big enough for almost all skiers for a week, particularly if they take advantage of the opportunity offered by the lift pass to have a day in Les Deux Alpes as well. Although the two resorts are not (yet) linked by lift, there are buses and even a helicopter service between them.

And just by itself Alpe D’Huez has a lot to offer: varied terrain catering for all levels of skiers, beautiful scenery, an excellent lift system, a 3,300m snow-sure glacier, epic off-piste itineraries, a 13km long black run that has challenges for experts but which most confident intermediates can also manage, and a wide range of accommodation – from hotels and apartments in the centre of Alpe d’Huez to chalets in its suburbs. The lower villages are worth considering too. They each have their own character: Villard Reculas has rustic charm; Oz-en-Oisans and Auris-en-Oisans offer purpose-built, family-friendly convenience; Vaujany is a good all-rounder; and Huez is good value.

But what really sets Alpe D’Huez apart is the sunshine. The ‘Isle au Soleil’ allegedly has 300 sunny days per year, and its runs predominantly face South. The resort is sufficiently high and has enough artificial snow-making to make sure the pistes generally remain skiable from Christmas through to Easter but you have to expect some ice in the morning and slush in the afternoon. For many skiers, though, this is a price worth paying for the joy of skiing (and lunching) in the sunshine.

Helpful Links

  • Accommodation in/around Alpe d’Huez. Hotels, Chalet Holidays, Self-Catering Apartments, Club Med, Tour Operators… Read more >>>
  • How to get to Alpe d’Huez. Nearest Airports and Railway Stations, Airport Transfers… Read more >>>
  • Ski Schools & Guides in Alpe d’Huez. Ski & Snowboard Schools, Mountain Guides, Private Instructors… Read more >>>
  • Discounted Ski & fSnowboard Rental in Alpe d’Huez and the surrounding villages
    • SKISET has 10 outlets in Alpe d’Huez, and more in Oz, Vaujany, Auris and the other surrounding villages, and will give discount of up to 50% if you book online in advance here.
    • ALPINRESORTS.com works with several shops in the main resort and in the surrounding villages and can get you discounts of up to 60% if you book online in advance here.

Alpe D’Huez Pros & Cons

+ High sunny slopes
+ Big enough area
+ Amazing views
+ Efficient modern lifts
+ Good runs for all standards
+ Choice of big main resort or smaller lower villages.

– Slush and ice are common
– Sprawling, charmless main resort
– Experts depend on the top lifts which close in bad weather

Read More...

Alpe d'Huez is about 90 minutes' drive away from Grenoble Airport. Lyon Airport is slightly further but is still within 2 hours range and has more international flights. Alpe d'Huez and the surrounding villages are also easy to reach by...

Accommodation in Alpe d'Huez ranges from 5 star chalets and luxury hotels to a campsite for the truly hardy (or thrifty). There is a good choice of apartments too, ranging from smart ApartHotels to simple studios. It's also worth  considering...

Book Ski Schools & Ski Lessons in Alpe d'Huez Looking for private or group ski lessons in Alpe d'Huez?  Ultimate-Ski and partner CheckYeti work with leading ski schools and ski instructors in over 500 ski destinations throughout Austria, France, Germany,...

Alpe d'Huez Ski Area Alpe d'Huez has an almost perfect mix of pistes, with easy greens and wide blues above the village, more challenging reds higher up and steep and bumpy blacks off the top. The Grande Domain also covers...

Alpe d'Huez Ski Lifts & Lift Passes The lift system in Alpe d'Huez is modern and efficient, with some old bottlenecks recently removed. Alpe d'Huez Ski Lifts The lift system is comparatively modern and efficient in Alpe d'Huez. The old...

Alpe d'Huez Beginner Skiing Alpe d'Huez offers some of the most convenient beginner facilities anywhere and there is also a special beginners lift pass. Photo: Copyright © Alpe d'Huez Tourisme | Laurent Salino Beginner Skiing in Alpe d'Huez The best...

Intermediate Skiing in Alpe d'Huez Both early and strong intermediates are spoiled for choice in Alpe d'Huez. Early and strong intermediates are spoiled for choice in Alpe d'Huez, particularly in good snow conditions when there are choices of fabulously long...

Alpe d'Huez Advanced & Off-Piste Skiing The main area for advanced and expert skiers in Alpe d'Huez is the top of the Pic Blanc Glacier, both on and off-piste. There are several alternatives following the ridge down towards the Sarenne...

Alpe d'Huez Snowboarding & Freestyle For boarders, Alpe d'Huez has three snow parks and some excellent off-piste. Alpe d'Huez offers some excellent off-piste accessible to boarders and there are also three snow parks. The main park, under the Lac Blanc...

Alpe d'Huez Mountain Restaurants Alpe d'Huez has a good collection of charming mountain restaurants. In contrast to any other purpose-built French resorts, Alpe d'Huez has a good collection of charming mountain restaurants. Under the first stage of Marmottes La Cabane...

Alpe d'Huez Villages Alpe d'Huez is spread out and purpose-built; the smaller lower villages of Auris-en-Oisans, Villard Reculas, Oz-en-Oisans, and Vaujany (and its hamlet Villette) are much smaller and quieter. Oz and Vaujany also have quick access to the higher...

Alpe d'Huez Apres Ski, Bars & Restaurants Alpe d'Huez is somewhat of a party town with a good selection of English, Scandinavian and French bars. Restaurants range from traditional French to spicy Indian to late-night sandwich, the Alpe d'Huez restaurant...

Alpe d'Huez Activities Alpe d'Huez is famous for ice-driving; lift passes give free access to many sports facilities. Alpe d'Huez is famous for ice-driving and there is a big circuit where you can drive both cars and carts with studded...

Search for Hotels, Apartments & Chalets in Alpe d’Huez

Booking.com

Alpe d’Huez Map

Back To Top