Most Snow-Sure Ski Resorts in France
The Alps is where as a family we do the majority of our skiing and are home to several incredibly snow-sure ski resorts. Here's my take on a list of snow sure ski resorts across France.
Val Thorens is the highest point of The Three Valleys, the world’s largest interconnected ski area! Sitting at an altitude of 2,300m, it is officially the ski resort with the highest village in Europe and one of the most snow-sure ski resorts in France, with incredibly reliable snow cover both in resort and on the slopes. Linked to the neighbouring ski resorts of Méribel and Courchevel, The Three Valleys ski area offers over 600km of terrain to explore and is home to six glaciers. Additionally, 90% of the runs in Val Thorens sit above 2,000m and the resort stays open until early May.
The Tignes-Val d’Isère ski area at an altitude of 2,100m, Tignes is one of the best ski areas in the world for reliable snow and offers ideal conditions for skiers of all abilities. Tignes takes one of the top spots for snow reliability in the Alps with the majority of its slopes sitting above 2,100m! Its position near the Italian border creates a unique microclimate that means it gets snow not only from the north but also from the south-east. The Grande Motte glacier in Tignes sitting at a staggering height of 3,456m allows for excellent skiing almost all year round.
The neighbouring ski resort of Val d’Isère sits slightly lower than Tignes at an altitude of 1,850m. Val d’Isère also forms part of the snow-sure Tignes-Val d’Isère ski area which offers 300km of high-altitude skiable terrain and is often regarded as having the most reliable snow in the Alps. Val has its own glacier – the Pisaillas glacier, which reaches up to 3,300m in altitude and allows for summer skiing. Better suited for intermediate and advanced skiers, Val d’Isère offers some incredibly thrilling runs, such as La Face, that will be sure to get your heart racing.
Avoriaz village sits at 1,800m with the highest ski lift reaching 2,466m. The resort is situated on a sloping shelf high above the town of Morzine and is a gateway to the expansive Portes du Soleil ski area, which offers 600km skiable terrain. With a seasonal snowfall average of nearly 8m, it is statistically the snowiest resort at the resort village level. The picturesque, car-free resort is one of the best ski resorts for families, offering lots of ski-in-ski-out style accommodation and incredible snow-sure skiing throughout the season.
Les Arcs is made up of five villages, but Les Arc 1950 and Les Arc 2000 are the two highest, so head to these for reliable, snow-sure conditions. Due to their high altitude, both villages and their slopes are incredibly snow-sure. Their location on a sheltered north-easterly facing bowl bolsters their reliability for excellent snow conditions and makes the area one of the most snow-sure locations in the French Alps. Les Arcs’ glacier, Aiguille Rouge, offers skiing at 3,226m and most of the runs sit at an altitude above 2,000m!
We have skied in all these resorts many times, feel free to get in touch about your next ski trip.