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There are lots of factors that come into play when choosing a ski resort. Size of the ski area. Number of lifts. Vibe of the village. But increasingly, altitude is becoming an important consideration. It's not the be all and end all, but it's one of the surest ways to get guarantee decent snow—especially as the world continues to warm.
And regardless of whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned pro, whether you're travelling with 2.4 kids or a rowdy group of uni mates, and whether you prefer first chair or last orders, everyone likes good snow. Which is why Les Deux Alpes, France's highest ski area, should be on everyone's list of potential destinations for their next winter trip.
Here, we've teamed up with Peak Retreats, current holders of the Telegraph Travel Awards Best Ski Operator prize to compile five compelling reasons to visit this French alpine Mecca.
Where is Les Deux Alpes?
Les Deux Alpes is one of the largest and best-known resorts in the département of Isère, in 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 easy, and the transfer times are relatively short. It's just 90 minutes from the terminal to Les Deux Alpes. There are direct flights to Grenoble from many UK regional airports.
If you'd rather hop on a train, Isère is one of the easiest ski regions to get to. You can hop on the Eurostar in London, change in Lille or Paris, and get a high-speed TGV train straight to Lyon or even direct to Grenoble in just a few hours. From there it's a simple bus or a transfer ride up to resort.
You could also choose to drive and stay in complete control of your journey, allowing you to tailor your holiday to your exact needs. This can also be great value for money as you'll have your own transport in and around resort, and you can bring as much luggage as you can fit into the car! Peak Retreats are self-drive specialists and have loads of tips and info for driving to the Alps.
Les Deux Alpes in Numbers
3,600m - The summit of the resort
2,300m - Total vertical drop
227km - Combined length of pistes
44 - Ski lifts
2 - Distinctive-looking mountains which give the village its name
Les Deux Alpes Goes Up to 3600
Like the ski resort equivalent of Spinal Tap's amplifiers, which famously went up to 11, Les Deux Alpes goes just that little bit higher than any other resort in the French Alps. This extra headroom means that not only are you guaranteeing yourself the best chance of good snow, but you have one of the longest top-to-bottom runs anywhere in Europe. The top lifts on the glacier reach 3,600m, and you can ski all the way down to the outlying village of Mont de Lans at 1,300m — a vertical drop of 2.3 kilometres.
Les Deux Alpes Has Brand New Lifts
In recent years, the resort has invested eye-watering sums totalling €145 million (£122 million) on updating its infrastructure and lift system. The most obvious improvement is the brand new Jandri 3S lift, opened at the start of the 2024-25 season, which runs from the main resort at 1,650m up to the base of the glacier at 3,200.
The distinctive barrel-shaped gondolas of the old Jandri Express have been replaced with massive 32-person cabins that can carry almost twice as many skiers per hour. The new lift has also massively improved access for wheelchair users, sit-skiers or people with reduced mobility.
Les Deux Alpes Does Food and Nightlife Brilliantly
Les Deux Alpes has excellent après ski bars, if that's your sort of thing, but it's also packed with cosy chalet-style pubs and brilliant restaurants. This winter, there's a particular buzz around two brand-new establishments: Les Copains (meaning "the friends" in English) is the brainchild of Melissa, Mickael, Chloe and Kevin, four friends who hail from completely different parts of France and combine the best parts of their local cuisines.
Monsieur K, meanwhile, sets itself apart by combining high-end dining with a cool, night-club vibe. The bar, we're told, often transforms into a dancefloor later on.
No matter if you prefer a quiet drink and some fantastic food at the end of your ski day, or prefer to be dancing on tables by 4pm, there's something for everyone in Les Deux Alpes' wide range of bars and restaurants.
Les Deux Alpes Offers Plenty for Non-Skiers
While some people want to shred all-day, every-day, there are plenty of others who like to sprinkle their week's skiing with a few days of downtime—or simply to try other activities from time to time. Les Deux Alpes caters well for both. There are the usual spas, snowshoe excursions, tandem paraglider flights and e-mountain bike safaris on offer. But there also are a couple of unique activities that really set Les Deux Alpes apart.
The Glacier Experience, which allows hikers with no previous ice experience to practise climbing a summit in crampons, roped up and supervised by a mountain guide, is a standout. As is the opportunity to spend an afternoon with the snowcat drivers, watching them work and learning about the science of snow, snow making, and snow management from the experts.
Les Deux Alpes Takes Sustainability Seriously
With a glacier of their own, the people of Les Deux Alpes hardly need to be reminded of the impact of climate change. In order to mitigate its worst effects, they've developed one of the most sophisticated snow management systems in Europe, using snow cats to monitor and protect the glacial ice as far as possible. The resort is also making serious efforts to cut carbon emissions from its operations. The electricity used in Les 2 Alpes is completely carbon-free—sourced either from hydroelectric power stations, or from the growing number of solar panels that are being fitted to its buildings.
Meanwhile, every aspect of the Jandri 3S lift has been designed to reduce its environmental impact. The new lift is not only far more energy efficient than its predecessor, it's made of more sustainable materials, and was built using as few transport miles as possible.
Take the trip with Peak Retreats
Book your Les Deux Alpes ski trip with Peak Retreats for an unforgettable winter holiday. Peak Retreats specialises in ski holidays in the French Alps, with years of experience and a passionate team leading the way. They offer a wide variety of accommodation types to suit all groups and budgets—including the gorgeous-looking 4-star self-catered Neige et Soleil apartments in Les Deux Alpes. Peak Retreats also offer easy ways to book the extras, like ski hire, lift passes and lessons, and as self-drive specialists, all packages booked with Peak Retreats also include a return Eurotunnel crossing.
Book your ski holiday to Les Deux Alpes now!
