France Ski Holidays

France caters to all snowsports and outdoor enthusiasts, with its ski regions consistently ranked among the world's finest. Whether you're a family seeking safety, comfort, and enjoyment on the slopes, complete with spacious lodging and entertainment for kids, or a large group of friends eager for thrilling adventures on intermediate to advanced slopes and vibrant apres-ski scenes, France warmly welcomes you.

From charming Alpine villages to contemporary ski-in, ski-out resorts offering accommodations ranging from standard to luxurious, France's ski destinations offer diverse options to suit every preference. Here's a rundown of the country's top ski areas according to Erna Low:

• The Three Valleys is the largest ski domain globally, boasting remarkable figures: it features 600km of skiable terrain accessible by skis, with 328 downhill pistes and 1512 hectares of meticulously maintained slopes, encompassing a vast area of 10,500 hectares. Within this expansive region lie renowned destinations such as Val Thorens, hailed as the world's premier ski resort, alongside the picturesque Méribel and Courchevel.
• The Paradiski ski area, another captivating French skiing expanse, spans elevations ranging from 3937 to 10,662 feet. Nestled amidst breathtaking natural landscapes, Paradiski showcases scenery that could be considered its most exquisite feature, hosting captivating resorts like Les Arcs and La Plagne.
• Portes du Soleil emerges as a prominent Alpine skiing haven, comprising thirteen resorts stretching from Mont Blanc in France to Lake Geneva in Switzerland, offering a total of 600km of ski runs. The array of resorts within Portes du Soleil is extensive and diverse, each possessing its own unique allure, including Les Gets, Avoriaz, and Morzine.

Additionally, you might explore other Swiss ski regions such as Aravis, Chamonix Mont Blanc, Espace Diamant, Espace San Bernardo, Evasion Mont Blanc, Forêt Blanche Domain, and the Milky Way.

France's abundance of high-altitude ski resorts ensures consistently excellent snow conditions throughout the season, providing ample opportunities for skiing enjoyment whenever the resorts are operational. Here are a couple of noteworthy destinations:

Val Thorens stands out for its exceptional snow quality, boasting a resort altitude of 200m and offering 150km of pristine slopes, ranging from 1800m to 3230m in elevation, including two glaciers. Its season typically spans from late November to early May, making it an ideal choice for winter festivities or family trips during the Easter school break.

Similarly, Val d’Isère offers delightful snow conditions, situated at an altitude of 1850m within the Tignes-Val d’Isère ski area, encompassing 300km of pistes with elevations between 1550m and 3455m. Nestled on the north side of the Alps near the Italian border, the resort benefits from glaciers and occasional snowfall from the southeast, ensuring optimal snow coverage. The Val-d’Isere season extends from November to May, with the glacier typically reopening from mid-June for approximately six weeks.

For some French Alps holidaymakers, the hospitality that awaits after a day’s exertions on the slopes is just as important as the action on the piste – this is perfectly understandable, because no matter the makeup of your group, evening entertainment, relaxation and socialising makes for a more satisfying experience. Luckily, Alpine excursions and apres-ski culture fit snugly together like feet and ski boots – here are a few resorts where the ambience heats up as the sun goes down:

• Val Thorens isn’t only famous for being one of the world’s most snow sure resorts, it’s also home to Europe’s highest open-air club, La Folie Douce. Here you can enjoy delicious dishes like octopus carpaccio and Savoy rainbow trout with mountain views on La Fruitiere terrace restaurant, before enjoying live DJs, tabletop dancing and toffee vodkas with fellow revellers as the evening unfolds.

• Val d’Isere is another vibesy ski resort where you’ll never be bored – its bustling night time economy is supported by Cocorico, where you can slake your thirst with a few ice cold beers while listening to the live band that plays daily, after which the resident DJ hits the decks and turns the party up to maximum overdrive. After hours, shimmy across to Dicks Tea Bar where partygoers with stamina shake their tail feathers til 4am.

• Avoriaz is also synonymous with apres-ski, thanks to the terrific tapas and chilled champers available at chic JaJa Bar, live DJs and themed evenings at Le Globe Trotters Café, and Le Shooters, which has a staggering 50 flavours of shots available.

When you’re expending energy all day on the slopes, you need congenial accommodation where you can rest and relax of an evening – and whether you’re a couple looking for a romantic bolthole or an extended family that needs to unwind in a spacious apartment, your ski package can be customised to suit your needs.

Here are some of the advantages of ski apartments in France:

• If you want to spoil yourself and can’t be bothered cooking, choose a catered apartment where you wake up to breakfast, return from the slopes to tea and cakes and enjoy a full meal with refreshments in the evening. It’s such a pleasure knowing that you don’t need to worry about everyone being fed and watered each day.

• Self-catered apartments are preferable when you enjoy cooking and the independence of choosing what you eat daily on a more ad hoc basis. Pick up some fresh local ingredients at the supermarket and impress your significant other by throwing together your signature dish and serving it up with a smile.

• Many apartment complexes have facilities like hot tubs, spas and swimming pools, so there are several ways to recharge your batteries and massage those leg muscles.

• Apartments offer privacy – you can relax in your own surroundings and if you’re travelling in a large family group, it’s possible to book apartments adjacent to each other. Here are some of the advantages of ski hotels in France:

• Ski hotels have excellent availability and flexibility in terms of types of room or suite.

• They’re usually centrally located, close to shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as ski lifts and slopes.

• They’re very convenient for short stay ski trips.

• If you like to mix and mingle, ski hotels are more sociable.

• Options from bed and breakfast to half board and all-inclusive are available.

• Your room can be made up each day – you can relax without worrying about cleaning up.

Self-drive ski holidays are popular with many customers, but for others it’s hard to beat the convenience of a package that includes ski flights and transfers.

For example, if you’re travelling with kids of various ages in tow, sometimes taking the car, making regular pitstops and ensuring no one has been left at the last service station can feel a little like herding cats, in which case a hassle-free complete package is preferable.

We can offer flights to all of our French ski resorts from airports across the UK – including Heathrow, Gatwick, Belfast, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle, Manchester and practically everywhere else. And transfers can be arranged at the other end from Geneva to Morzine, Moutiers to Courchevel, Grenoble to Alpe d’Huez and Geneva to Les Trois Vallees, La Plagne or Les Arcs.

For a flexible and stress-free French ski holiday, the ski flight and transfer combination option is worth serious consideration.

To complete your customised French ski package holiday, you’ll need ski passes and possibly a few other ski extras. Here are a few hand tips:

• It’s possible to pre-book ski passes for many resorts – these can be sent to you beforehand so that when you arrive there’s no time wasted and you can hit the slopes tout suite.

• You can also easily arrange ski and snowboard hire from trusted partners at reasonable prices, which saves the hassle of having to shop around on arrival.

• Ski school can also be included in your deal – there are lessons available for intermediate and more experienced skiers as well as novices because there are always pro tips to pick up which improve your technique and help you stay on top of your game.

• Ski insurance is another must-have and you should make sure that it covers all of the activities you plan to undertake for the full duration of your French ski holiday – we can advise on the most robust policies.

And voila – as you can see, French ski resorts offer a kaleidoscopic range of attractions for all types of travellers. Whether you’re a confirmed powderhound, a keen novice or appreciate apres-ski culture as much as your time on the slopes, you’ll be completely satisfied.

Furthermore, the range of resorts is so diverse that you’ll find somewhere you slot in perfectly as a solo skier, couple, family group or extended group of friends and family.

At NUCO Travel, skiing and snowsports are much more than mere pastimes – they’re passions that influence every aspect of our lives, which we have the privilege of sharing with others thanks to being lucky enough to work in an industry that we adore.

We’re very proud to be longstanding players in the international snowsports community and we can’t wait to welcome you with open arms!