Situated on a sunny balcony at 1650m Les Deux Alpes is a purpose-built resort with snow sure, glacier skiing. In recent years the resort has developed a reputation as an upbeat and lively destination for ski and snowboard holidays, with events such as the Mondials du Snowboard and Freeski, two pre-season events where the public and professionals alike can test all brand new equipment for the forthcoming season. The glacier means that skiing goes on throughout much of the year, and in late October and November Les Deux Alpes is a popular venue for ski and snowboard training camps.
Located in the Southern French Alps, Les Deux Alpes is just an hour from Grenoble, in the area known as the Oisans, between Alpe d'Huez and Serre Chevalier. The Italian border is also a little over an hour's drive, which accounts for the large numbers of Italian visitors, particularly at weekends.
The skiing is located high above the village and it takes around 45 minutes to get to the top - going up to 3600m. At the top you will find the gentle blue slopes on the glacier, with the steeper, more challenging runs heading down from the glacier itself. So the ski area is, in effect, reversed. This means that from very early on beginners can appreciate the high mountain scenery and snow quality, rather than having to spend days on a shady, nursery slope in the resort.
For advanced skiers and snowboarders there is La Grave-La Meije, reached by a 20 minute hike, with legendary off piste and a favourite amongst professional freeriders.
Although purpose-built, you will not find the concrete blocks common in other French resorts developed around the same time. Instead this large village sprawls along a wide main road, with a massive choice of bars, restaurants and shops. Nightlife is lively but there is enough choice to avoid the crowds if you're looking for something more intimate. There are restaurants to suit all budgets and tastes, including Italian (of course), Mexican and local alpine specialities.
