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As France’s third largest ski destination, the Isère region is home to some incredible, world-class skiing with accessible ski resorts to suit every kind of skier. From quiet family-friendly centres to the liveliest of après scenes, from gentle beginner slopes to the wildest freeride terrain, and from the largest skiable glacier in Europe to the longest black run in the Alps – everything you could want from a ski holiday is found here.
Its resorts range from big household names, such as Alpe d’Huez and Les 2 Alpes with their high-altitude ski areas, to more intimate, little-known family-oriented centres like Les 7 Laux, Chamrousse, and Villard de Lans-Corrençon. Isère is also home to high peak playgrounds, glaciers, forested valleys, three natural parks (Vercors, Chartreuse, and the Ecrins National Park), wide-open slopes, plus pretty traditional villages.
Such unrivalled diversity means you really can choose from resorts and accommodation to suit all budgets, as well as explore a huge range of winter activities. Paragliding, hot-air balloon rides, ice climbing, ski touring, biathlon, snowshoeing and even ice diving are all on the menu here.
And with tour operator Peak Retreats, booking your Isère ski holiday is simple.
Where is Isère?
The Isère ski resorts are nestled within dramatic mountain scenery, in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region of south-eastern France.
Isère's resorts have superb transport links and are very easy to reach from the gateway city of Grenoble. Flying to Grenoble Alpes Isère airport is a great choice, offering visitors short transfer times - just 90 minutes to the main resorts, but as little as 30 minutes to many smaller ones. There are direct flights to Grenoble from many UK regional airports.
And if you'd rather ride the rails to resort, Isère is one of the easiest ski regions to reach by train with the Eurostar and a couple of changes at Lille and Lyon.
Which Isère resort is right for you?
Sporty and lively, family-friendly or a hidden gem. Which resort will you choose?
Sporty and lively ski resorts in Isère
Isère’s most famous resorts are undoubtedly Les 2 Alpes and Alpe d’Huez. Both top out above 3,000m, are crowned with glaciers for high altitude skiing, and have large ski areas, each with hundreds of kilometres of runs, and a remarkable diversity of slopes, from beautifully-groomed pistes to exciting freeride.
In Les 2 Alpes - one of the most snowsure destinations in Europe - you can ski that incredible vertical drop of 2,300m in one go, if your legs can take it! Set at the heart of the Ecrins massif, Les 2 Alpes has seven distinct sectors to enjoy. And even those taking their first turns on the ski slopes can ski from the highest point at 3,600m, so no one misses out on the spectacular scenery in this popular resort. This resort's lively atmosphere also makes it an ideal location for group trips. And new this winter: a new updated Jandri lift will halve the time it takes to get from 1,600m up to the 3,200m – from 40mins to just 17.
Set high on a large south-facing sunny plateau at 1,860m, Alpe d’Huez ski resort is one of the oldest in the Alps; the first ski lift was built here in the 1930s. This friendly ski resort has an excellent snow record and offers glorious sunshine all day long – up to 7½ hours per day in December and 11 per day during April! The high altitude of Alpe d’Huez, which reaches 3300m combined with the high-tech snowmaking equipment, guarantees snow cover from December to April.
There are few places to rival Alpe d'Huez for the extent and variety of ski terrain. The main bowl of Alpe d’Huez is conveniently naturally divided into zones suiting the different levels and abilities of skiers and snowboarders. It is suited to all levels from complete beginners to the elite, encompassing an impressive 250km of piste.
Don't miss:
Les 2 Alpes: Ski an incredible vertical drop of 2,300m without taking a single lift on your way down.
Alpe d'Huez: Ski the mythical Sarenne (at 16km, Europe's longest black run), and find some seriously technical off-piste descents off the Pic Blanc.
Perfect ski resorts for families in Isère
Brilliant as it is for the sportier, livelier skier, the Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine ski area also has a host of smaller, more family-friendly satellite resorts dotted around it, all of which enjoy the same impressive ski area. These include laid-back Auris-en-Oisans, exciting Oz 3300 (formerly known as Oz-en-Oisans), and charming Vaujany.
Oz has two gondolas that take you onto the higher slopes in no time: one goes to Alpette above Vaujany, where there are further beginner slopes; the other continues on into the heart of the Alpe d'Huez ski area. Oz offers dog-sledding for children on a specially designed sled, and for the more adventurous, an introduction to ice climbing. For experienced skiers it also offers an unforgettable sunset skiing descent from the stunning Dôme des Rousses (2,800m). And thanks to the tree-lined slopes, the terrain above Oz is probably the best area for skiing when snow is actually falling.
Vaujany is a pretty little Alpine village with easy access to the vast Grand Domaine ski area - so you get the best of both worlds: a rural, rustic place to stay and all the skiing you could want. The slopes of Oz-Vaujany are on the west side of the Grandes Rousses mountain ranges, where the snow stays fresh and light throughout the season. Off the slopes, in Vaujany visitors can twirl around on an impressive ice rink in the brand-new leisure centre, or try curling or ‘Eisstock’, a cross between curling and boules, or relax in the swimming pool.
In Auris-en-Oisans, the local ski area has its own 45kms of piste and 12 lifts, and is especially good for beginners. However, it also links easily with the main Grand Domaine, so no-one misses out. As well as its own beginners' area there are also 'fun pistes' with brightly coloured statues of Jacques Le Bucheron (Jacques the Lumberjack) and his friends lining the slopes. And the whole family will enjoy the programme of winter and snowshoe walks.
Don't miss:
Auris-en-Oisans: For family fun, try the all-terrain electric 'fat' scooters.
Oz 3300: A new climbing room has just opened here and includes dedicated bouldering areas for children and adults.
Vaujany: Families will appreciate the impressive range of child-friendly and exciting activities to try off the slopes.
Hidden gems in Isère
Isère is also home to some delightful off-the-beaten-track ski areas, for visitors wanting a more rounded, fully-French atmosphere.
Overlooking the Grenoble basin and the Grésivaudan valley, Les 7 Laux offers winter sports and nature and mountain enthusiasts a fantastic world of splendid scenery. Just 35km from Grenoble, the resort is the largest ski area in the Belledonne massif, and home to one of the top three most modern lift parks in France. As well as the 120km of pistes and the unspoilt freeriding wilderness of the Pra valleys, Les 7 Laux is a multi-activity ski resort, as it offers numerous outdoor activities such as Nordic skiing, ski touring and snowshoeing. And for families, don't miss the Wiz Luge mountain coaster.
Grenoble’s ‘home’ resort is Chamrousse, which hosted the alpine skiing at the 1968 Winter Olympics, and at just 30km from the city. It is easy to reach and features a varied alpine ski area set among attractive fir trees. Feeling daring? Fly through the air on the new 2km zipline, or for a unique experience, try night skiing, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city lights below. There are many other winter activities in Chamrousse, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledging, snow games, dog sledding, ice diving, snowmobiling, and ice skating...
In the Vercors Massif you’ll find two authentic French ski villages - lively Villard de Lans and the quietly charming Corrençon-en-Vercors.
Their large, shared ski area has a rich history going back a long way, with the first skiers on their slopes dating back to 1906. Here you’ll find 125km of wide cruising pistes, tree runs and powder fields, and 110km of cross-country skiing tracks. Both villages are very family-friendly, which attractions such as an innovative luge and ski park, the Colline des Bains, where kids can have a go at tobogganing, bobsledding, group 'snake' sledging and snowtubing in Villard-de-Lans.
Don't miss:
Les 7 Laux: Enjoy the unspoilt freeride wilderness of the Pra valleys.
Chamrousse: Try night skiing with panoramic views of the city lights.
Villard de Lans: Offering wide cruising pistes, tree runs and powder fields, lively Villard also has an innovative luge and ski park.
Corrençon-en-Vercors: Test your stamina with biathlon, cross-country or showshoeing trails.
Take the trip with Peak Retreats
Book your Isère ski trip with Peak Retreats for an unforgettable winter holiday! The company offers holidays to all nine resorts featured here, with a wide variety of accommodation to suit all party types and budgets. All of these resorts have been awarded the prestigious Famille Plus Montagne quality hallmark by the French Ministry of Tourism, meaning the whole family can enjoy a special welcome, top-notch facilities and activities. All packages booked with Peak Retreats also include a return Eurotunnel crossing.
Go to peakretreats.co.uk for more information and to book your trip!
