Skiing Les Deux Alpes | Apres Ski in Les Deux Alpes | Accommodation in Les Deux Alpes

Ski Resort Guide: Les Deux alpes and La Grave

Les Deux alpes streches along a spectacular valley and from its mountain village origins has developed into a large popular ski resort.

The whole ski resort lies alongside the main pistes - so you are never far from one of the many lifts - which extend on both side of the valley and finish in the village: beyond these, high altitude skiing ang magnificent scenery can be enjoyed from the top of the glacier. With the Grande Galaxie pass also offering a day's skiing in neighbouring ski resorts.

Two things should be remembered about la Grave, apart from the couple of drag lifts at the top it is an off-piste ski domain and a lot of the skiing is on glaciated terrain. Now you may have skied glaciers over the hill at les Deux Alpes or elsewhere and think, "so what?". Well those ski areas were secured by the pisteurs. Crevasses are filled and dangers are marked with signposts and fences. So long as you stick to the pistes you are pretty much safe. At la Grave, along with the avalanche risk you have the complications of a high mountain environment: variable snow conditions, crevasses, rimayes, stone, ice and sérac falls. The snow conditions can vary from day to day and season to season. A 40 degree slope with ice is very different from one with powder. The locations of crevasses can change and the glacier can move making slopes steeper or exits impossible without a rope. Unless you are very familiar with this kind of environment we recommend hiring a guide who will also be able to find the best conditions.

Getting There:
Lyon to Les Deux Alpes: 160km (100 miles).
Grenoble to La Grave: 77km (48 miles).
Grenoble to Les Deux Alpes: 75km (47 miles).
Bus service from Grenoble to Les Deux Alpes.

Height:
Les Deux Alpes: 1,650 - 3,600m (5,410 - 11,810ft).

Marked Pistes: 200km.

No of Lifts:
Les Deux Alpes: 59.
La Grave: 4.

Types of Pistes:
Les Deux Alpes: 27% beginner, 43% intermediate, 30% advanced.
La Grave: 15% beginner, 85% advanced.

Main Advantages:
Les Deux Alpes: High-altitude skiing; modern lift system.
La Grave: Quiet resort; huge off-piste area.

Drawbacks:
Les Deux Alpes: Most skiing above the tree line.
La Grave: Severe terrain, suitable only for advanced intermediates and above.

Skiing Les Deux Alpes | Apres Ski in Les Deux Alpes | Accommodation in Les Deux Alpes