Skiing in the Alps
France > Alps > Skiing

Avoriaz

It was the Winter Olympics of 1992, based around Albertville, which brought the French Alps into the international skiing spotlight. High altitudes (ensuring good and lasting snow cover), long and varied runs, extensive lift-networks, excellent facilities, superb vistas and relatively mild weather make for some of the most enjoyable skiing in Europe. At any of the resorts you can simply turn up, buy a pass (€15.39–45.73 a day, €76.22–304.89 a week) and rent equipment by the day, though if you're planning on coming just to ski, your best bet is to arrange an accommodation/lift-ticket package from home; the price will be better and you won't have to look for accommodation, which can be hard to come by. High season covers the Christmas and New Year period and February to mid-April, and should be avoided both for high prices and crowds. Finally, make sure your insurance covers you for ski-related mishaps. Detailed ski information can be obtained from local ski clubs and organizations, or online at www.skifrance.fr.