Snowsure: 4.3
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Alpe d'Huez is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Alpe d'Huez Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
January 31, 2025
Jean from
France
Jean from
France
First time here having visited many French resorts. We were part of a large party in a chalet. The general opinion was that whilst we had an enjoyable week we wouldn’t rush back. The runs in the bowl above the resort are boring. There are some good blacks off the top as well as good off-piste areas.!The runs down into Oz and Monfrais are more interesting as is the area above Auris. Eating on the mountain was a pain, having a drink was even worse. One place wouldn’t let us inside for a drink even when it was snowing and mid morning claiming it was food only, but that wasn’t available until noon. The resort itself feels disconnected and is very spread out. The snow was excellent and the lifts generally good with only the odd antiquated chair.
April 20, 2022
Baz from
United Kingdom
Baz from
United Kingdom
I hadn't been to Alpe d'Huez for a while and visited there for a few weeks in March and early April this season (2022). They have clearly invested a fair bit in the lift system over the intervening period. Many new high speed lifts around.
The area itself is still basically the same, and is really what you would expect from a large alpine resort in the French Alps. A high degree of variety in terrain, runs, off-piste and aspect of slope and lots of ski-in ski-out options. Skiing around town is all easy stuff really and offers a perfect domain for people that are starting out, or have not got much skill yet. But as mentioned the options for up to expert level are also excellent.
The on-mountain facilities are rather decent and well maintained including toilets, restaurants, information and the general maintenance of the resort to a high standard including grooming and prep work of pistes / lifts. The snowpark in Alpe d'Huez has improved significantly from the last time I went there. They now have a very decent setup. There was an extensive area for intermediates and loads of rails and boxes around. Their large line had a couple of decent booters. Then in the run up to the French Freeski Slopestyle Champs at the end of March they built up two insanely large, very poppy kickers to go with the two large kickers that were there before. The comp jumps basically became little more than decorative following the comp, but they were there if anyone felt either mental or exceedingly brave. The park is very popular, no doubt owing to location and design. The location of the park is perfect, being as it is about 2100m elevation and west facing, meaning the kickers don't get the sun on their take off in the afternoons, and the landings will soften in the sun, which is exactly what you want. This season has been rather unseasonably warm, but even so the park was skiing beautifully until 08th April.
The main downside for Alpe d'Huez, I would say, is the car parking situation, if you are travelling there by car. It is almost all paid for parking in the town, which I'm sure helps the residents, but is a pain in the you know what if you're holidaying there. And there simply isn't enough. But difficulty finding a space is not an uncommon thing in ski resorts generally...
All things considered I would not hesitate in recommending Alpe d'Huez to anyone for a trip as it will not disappoint any level of skier/boarder. The resort is also mainly above 1800m making it fairly well snow sure for the vast majority of any season, even ones like this one which was very low snowfall and warmer than average generally.
February 09, 2022
Ski Bum from
United Kingdom
Ski Bum from
United Kingdom
Having read a few of the reviews here of Alpe d'Huez I can say it does depend on your ability level and obviously the snow and weather conditions when you are there. But that is the same as everywhere, in reality. I was there in March about 10 years ago and had a great time. We got a load of fresh and it stayed untracked in many places for days after the event. This cannot be said to be the case in Les 3 V or Tignes/Val. These places have great infrastructure, but those 8 man high speed chairs come at a cost, the entire place can be tracked out by lunch time during the school holidays. Anyway, as another reviewer mentioned there is some excellent Hors Piste available. I liked the Auris area, which was lower down and sheltered from wind, also has trees for those weather days, But up high is really good, you can ski from the top down towards Vaujanay and get well over 1000m vertical off piste all the way. I hired a local EFS instructor for off-piste guiding for the afternoon, after the snow came, and it was excellent. He also thanked me and bought me a beer after because it wasn't your average day at work for him either. He asked what I wanted to ski, I said anything you can and enjoy. Really opened up the area, there are lots of cliff around there, so you cannot afford to wing it as you will end up having to hike back up if you end up that lucky. It is worth spending 160 Euros as I did to get the knowledge. Of course, if you're just there to end up skiing a few blue runs in the sunshine from lunchtime and end up in Folie Douce by 3pm maybe this review won't help you.
April 01, 2019
Derion from
Greece
Derion from
Greece
I skied in Alpe d' Huez 29-3-2019. This ski resort is 90 min. away from Grenoble. The bus company Transaltitude organises day trips from Grenoble there and return. The bus departs at 07:30 and returns at 18:45 (departing from ski center at 17:05). Bus ticket including ski ticket at the price of 45 Euro. If you buy the ski ticket it costs 53,50 Euro per day. Ski equipment at the price of 37,50 Euro. It is a huge resort consisting of more interconnected ski resorts. The snow was icy and hard until 12:00 and after, soft and even slushy. This is due to sun and high temperatures. However, the pistes were very well maintained and preprepared. I skied approximately 5 hours and about 21 pistes with the following order: lift Marmottes 1, blue piste Ancolies, red piste Poutran, lift Champclotury, blue piste Champclotury, blue piste Chevreuils, gondola L' Alpette, blue piste Chalets, blue piste Les Travers, green piste Ecureuils, lift Montfrais, red piste Stade, lift Vallonnet, blue piste Edelweiss, blue piste Vaujaniate, gondola La Villette, lift Montfrais, blue piste Cascade, black piste La Fare, gondola Vaujany - Alpette and Alpette - Rousses, red piste Le Belvedere (here took a break), red piste Chamois, green piste Chez Roger, list Alpauris, lift Louvets, blue piste Le Col, lift Auris Express, blue piste Les Demoiselles, lift Fontfroide, red piste Fontfroide, lift Alpauris, lift Rifnel Express, green piste Clarines, lift Signal, piste La marcel, lift Les Jeux, green piste Chez Roger and this is the end. It is not possible to ski all the pistes in one day. I tried to do as much as possible and had a really good time. This ski resort consists mainly of blue and red pistes, totally recommendable for intermediate skiers.
March 10, 2019
Jerry daniels from
United Kingdom
Jerry daniels from
United Kingdom
Some interesting reviews below.
I’ve been skiing for 45 years. I’ve owned for about the last 12 and skied there extensively. Clearly, seasons do vary in terms of snow quality. Many of the comments below don’t seem to appreciate this. The skiing is good. I would not say excellent. There is certainly a wide range for all levels if you really want some more challenging and exciting skiing. Well worth hiring a guide who will take you over the back of Pic Blanc off-piste. This powderbowl rivals any I’ve skied in. The runs to results are ideal for beginners; moguls clearly only appear when there’s been a lot of skiing and not fresh snow so the Surrender is full of moguls when conditions allow this. Some of the best off-piste is down towards Vaujany area. Try Obar and Indianna in the old village; both are slightly less full. The restaurant next to Obar is, in my opinion, the best in the resort. Very different feel to Val d'Isere: far fewer English teenagers throwing up and demanding kebabs! Good family resort. Probably not the liveliest at night time that you can go to. People should also take advantage of the ski pass; covering letter does Alpes.
January 14, 2019
Gary from
United Kingdom
Gary from
United Kingdom
Just come back from a weeks skiing and really enjoyed the cruising around the different villages and the main resort of Alpe d'Huez. But won't be going back as we'd completed it all in 4-5 days except for the Tunnel. But a great resort for beginners and families and those progressing onto the blues.
The Sarenne isn't 16km/10 miles long, it's 7 miles long and a third of it is a blue/green flat track at the end but it is a lovely run and wasn't mogully as I'd previously read.
Local food was really good especially the burgers at Smithys and the pizzas at Roti in Bergers. Watch being double charged at Chez Leo which was a nice chilled out bar but didn't go back after this.
Also the restaurant at the bottom of Font Froid is very good and the service and welcome you get is good too. The Scare Chair is fun but not for those with a faint heart.
The apres-ski is ok and the reason for the ok is that they are all spread around the slope. But, if like me, you don't mind walking then they are all good. We frequented Indiana & the Underground; both had Happy Hours, 8 Ball & O'Sharky's.
The €17.50 for the local tax is downlight robbery for a non-existent bus service in the evenings and also during the day. Due to the apres being all over the place it was a nightmare walking back with your skis. I honestly don't know what you get for this except for the clean paths
But we did have a great week
March 18, 2018
Sara F from
United Kingdom
Sara F from
United Kingdom
Just to update - there is now an excellent Night Bus that runs 'til around midnight, including out to the Altiport.
And the Sarenne is not a green traverse - the run out along the valley floor beside the river is certainly flat but pretty fast, and you need your wits about you. You can ski on and ignore the old, slow, Chalvet ski lift (but do stop at the excellent Haut Combe restaurant first) and get on the much faster ski lift that takes you back to Bergers very quickly.
Snow this year has been superb. And every resort has issues with overcharging on the pistes, but there are some excellent 'value for money' places like Le Lac Blanc and the P'tit Poz.
January 09, 2018
Andy from
United Kingdom
Andy from
United Kingdom
I agree with another reviewer.
In 40 years skiing I've wrecked skis twice due to poor snow (rocks) in Three Valleys one year and The Arcs another year. I've also had a pair stolen in Tignes. You live and learn.
Off-piste at Alpe d'Huez is superb from Pic Blanc and Grandes Rousses and benefits from not being as heavily skied as the equivalent areas at other large French resorts.
Regards, Andy.
December 13, 2017
stuart adamson from
France
stuart adamson from
France
Once again I have to comment on some of the unfair views. Reviewer (March 15, 2017) is a lucky man. In my day a weekend was Sat night, not 5 nights! Green traverse? You need a spirit level, my man! So you were in a bar and you lost all that kit, very careless. Three valleys? (note spelling) Take a word of advice from someone who has been skiing longer than you have been alive. Never leave a pair outside a bar anywhere in the world. Always split them and Alpe (if you can be bothered to learn a bit about it) is shedloads better than Val d'Isere. Val plus Tignes? That's a good area. Trois Valleys? If you can afford to go there you can afford to lose skis, wallet, helmet and your phone. My mum would have called you careless! Don't expect this to be published but couldn't resist it. Honestly, some people!
[note from the editor: couldn't resist displaying a slightly edited version of it.]
March 15, 2017
Paul from
United Kingdom
Paul from
United Kingdom
Spent 5 nights last weekend in Alpe d'Huez. Skiing is average to poor. Top lifts either drop you over into what starts as a black, and is called the longest black in the Alps, when it's really a green traverse for the majority of it. Then it's a slow two man to get back over. Doesn't compare to Three Valless, Espace Killy, or the big Austrian resorts. Lifts too slow, runs too short in between, plus in 5 nights we had a set of skis stolen from a lunch place, a phone, a wallet, goggles and helmet from an 'apres' bar. First ever in 18 years to experience these type of thefts. Will not visit this resort again.
Nearest