Alpe d’Huez Overview
Les Grandes Rousses offers skiers 2230m vertical and the longest black run in Europe. The expansive domain is served by a modern lift system that encompasses Alpe d’Huez and the outlying villages of Oz en Oisans, Auris en Oisans and Vaujany. Alpe d’Huez, L’Ile au Soleil (the Island in the Sun) is so called because it is bathed in sunshine for an average of 300 days a year. Despite this remarkable statistic, Alpe d’Huez has a good snow record with frequent snow-laden fronts passing over and dropping plenty of the white stuff. The resort itself is purpose-built for skiing convenience at a reassuring 1860m of altitude and also boasts a fine selection of English bars and French restaurants.
Getting To Alpe d’Huez
Flying is often the quickest and cheapest way to the slopes and Chambéry is a good choice of airport if you’re travelling to Alpe d’Huez. From the airport, your transfer to resort should take around two hours, depending on the weather and the traffic. If you opt for car hire, ensure the vehicle is properly equipped with winter tyres and chains, since you will have to navigate 21 hair-pin bends on the final drive to Alpe d’Huez. Made famous as one of the most gruelling stages of the Tour de France, if there is snow on the road you will certainly be pleased of the precautions. On your return, plan to be at the airport at least 2 hours prior to your flight and be aware that there may be hold-ups on the roads, especially during the holidays or if snow is forecast.
The Mountain
Alpe d'Huez is the hub of Les Grandes Rousses, the fifth largest ski area in France and one which offers some excellent skiing for all standards. The resort is nestled in a sunny bowl with the gentle beginner slopes in the resort basin, more challenging intermediate runs at mid mountain level and the steep expert terrain at high altitude. The beginner and intermediate runs directly above the resort can get congested, but you can avoid the crowds by exploring some of the beautiful cruisey tree-lined runs leading down to the neighbouring villages of Oz, Vaujany and Auris-en-Oisans. A 6 day Grandes Rousses ski pass includes Alpe d’Huez and all its outlying villages as well as a day’s skiing in other nearby resorts, including Les Deux Alpes, Serre Chevalier, Montgenevre and La Grave. If you opt for the Visalp pass you also get free unlimited access to many of the non-skiing sports facilities in town. The all-encompassing pass is well worth the extra expense if you or your kids have energy to burn off the slopes.
Experts should head up Pic Blanc, the highest lift in the area. From the 3330m summit descend a pair of formidable black runs – La Sarenne, the longest black run in Europe, and steep mogul-tastic Le Tunnel. Pic Blanc is also the starting point for a number of outstanding off-piste itineraries, including the Grand Sablat, the Combe du Loup and a long, tricky descent via the Couloir de Fare. A 20-minute climb from the cable-car station leads to the top of La Pyramide from where you can freeride more than 2000m vertical to Vaujany. If you’re not a strong skier, a trip up and down the Pic Blanc cable car is to be recommended purely for the incredible panoramic views from the summit. Allegedly, on a clear day, almost a fifth of the French territory is visible, from the Italian border to the Massif Central.
There are two terrain parks in Alpe d’Huez - one just above the DMC lift where aspiring freestylers can get to grips with the basics, and a second close to Col de Poutran where experts can demonstrate their skills on the 1.5 km-long playground that features rails, quarters, big and bigger airs, and a massive 12m table top. For even more thrills and spills, try going head to head with your mates around the banks and over the rollers of the skier/boarder cross.
Bars & Clubs in Alpe d’Huez
There’s not a massive après ski scene in Alpe d’Huez, since the best bars are not bang on the piste. The Underground is the bar that really goes off after the slopes close, while The Melting Pot is the place to chill out in good weather on the well-positioned suntrap terrace. Later in the evening Smithy’s Tavern is a good bet. Once dinner service ends (tex mex is served until ten) dancing on the tables is strongly encouraged and usually encountered. Look out for theme nights, live bands and djs in Smithy’s, when the largest bar in town is guaranteed to be crammed to the gunnels. If you’re still going strong when the pubs kick out at 2am, late night venues Igloo and Les Caves are the only options. There’s not much to choose between the two, both are as cheesey as fondue and both will empty your wallet before you can get your second round in.
Alpe d’Huez Après Ski
If you still have the strength after a full day on the hill, head to the Sports Centre. The facilities are outstanding and 26 activities of the activities on offer are free to Visalp pass holders, including tennis, squash, indoor climbing, swimming, table tennis, ice skating and fitness classes. If you’re the adventurous type, why not get behind the wheel of a skidoo (think Jet Ski on snow) or take an ice driving lesson, a dog sled ride, a helicopter ride or light aircraft flight?
Something for the Kids
As well as the above there are several activities aimed specifically at kids. On Tuesday and Thursday nights the chairlift accessing the l’Eclose piste is open for tobogganing and on Fridays between 10am and 4.45pm the area adjacent to the Poutran ski lift is transformed into a snow playground. Here kids can experiment with some alternative and bewildering snowsports, such as Air Board, Snake Glisse, Be One and Snow Trike. And then there’s the skiing of course. You can introduce your progeny to skis as young as 2½ years old at either the ESF or the International Ski School.
Alpe d’Huez Accommodation Links
Other Snowjet.co.uk Resort Guides:
Alpe d’Huez Resort Guide
Chamonix Resort Guide
Courchevel Resort Guide
La Plagne Resort Guide
Les Arcs Resort Guide
Meribel Resort Guide
Montgenèvre Resort Guide
Sainte Foy Resort Guide
Tignes Resort Guide
Val d’Isere Resort Guide
Val Thorens Resort Guide
