Accommodation
Quick answer: Les 2 Alpes is best for intermediates wanting big mileage, families and groups after good value, and freestylers drawn to one of Europe’s best snowparks, plus experts after linked access to La Grave’s off-piste. It’s not the resort for those wanting a chocolate-box traditional alpine village or a quiet, low-key atmosphere.
Quick resort facts
Ski area: 220km of pistes, 89 runs, 43 lifts · Altitude: 1,650m to 3,600m · Ski pass area: Les 2 Alpes, with linked access to La Grave · Season: December to April, plus year-round glacier skiing · Nearest airport: Lyon St Exupery (170km)
Written by the InTheSnow editorial team. Last updated: 29 July 2026. Resort facts checked against official Les 2 Alpes sources.
Les 2 Alpes is one of France’s most vibrant and snow-sure ski resorts, famous for its huge vertical descents, year-round glacier skiing, and lively après-ski. Sitting at 1,650m in the Oisans region, with pistes reaching up to 3,600m on the Glacier de Mont-de-Lans, it offers one of the largest vertical drops in the world – 2,300m without taking a single lift. Built up from the 1960s, Les 2 Alpes has grown into a resort with 220km of pistes, a thriving freestyle scene, and a reputation as one of the best all-rounders in the French Alps.
Its long, straight village strip has everything from budget apartments to smart hotels, ski shops, lively bars and restaurants. While it may lack the chocolate-box charm of Savoyard villages, it more than makes up for it with snow reliability, variety, and energy.
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Terrain split: of the 89 marked runs, official figures put the split at around 18% green, 52% blue, 19% red and 11% black – a solidly intermediate-friendly area, with the black-run and off-piste reputation coming more from the high-mountain and La Grave terrain than the piste count alone.
Les 2 Alpes sits in the Oisans region of the French Alps, between Grenoble and the Écrins massif. It’s one of the highest ski areas in Europe, with skiing possible on the glacier at 3,600m even in summer. The resort is a magnet for a young, international, and freestyle-oriented crowd, and its long vertical and reliable snow have made it a fixture of French skiing since the 1960s.
The village itself is a long strip running along the valley floor, mixing 1960s-80s architecture with newer developments. It’s not the prettiest resort in the Alps, but its convenience – shops, bars and lifts all along one main street – and its energy are hard to beat.
Les 2 Alpes offers 220km of pistes across 89 marked runs, with 75% of the terrain above 2,000m. The ski area rises in sectors from the resort at 1,650m through Vallée Blanche, Belle Etoile and La Fée (all around 2,100m), Le Diable (2,400m) and La Toura (2,900m), up to the high-altitude glacier area at 3,600m – the highest point in the ski area and a guarantee of snow even in poor seasons.
The lift network includes two 3S cable cars, 16 chairlifts, 3 gondolas, 14 drag lifts, 7 magic carpets (three of them free, at the bottom of the slopes) and a funicular. The neighbouring resort of La Grave, linked by lift, is a mecca for advanced skiers seeking untamed, unpisted descents and couloirs – guided skiing here is bucket-list material for experts.
Beginners are well catered for, with dedicated learning areas now set higher up the mountain at 2,100m and 2,600m for more reliable snow, plus free magic carpets and ski schools in the village.
Intermediates will find this a paradise. Long, rolling reds and blues sweep down from the glacier all the way to the resort, with runs like Jandri and Super Diable providing endless mileage and spectacular views. A new high-altitude blue, the Jandri Walk, follows the Jandri trail between 2,800m and 3,200m for a scenic, gentler descent.
Experts get tough blacks like Grand Couloir and access to legendary off-piste, including La Grave. The sheer vertical – from glacier at 3,600m to village at 1,650m – gives Les 2 Alpes a scale few resorts can match; skiing top to bottom in one go is an unforgettable experience.
Freestylers are well served by the 2 Alpes snowpark at 2,600m, one of Europe’s best, with pro-level kickers, rails and a boardercross as well as beginner-friendly lines. It has hosted international freestyle events and remains a magnet for snowboarders and freestyle skiers.
Snow reliability is one of Les 2 Alpes’ biggest selling points. With 75% of the ski area above 2,000m and a glacier reaching 3,600m, the resort guarantees skiing from December through to the following autumn on the glacier itself, while the main season runs through the winter months in the usual way.
Snowmaking covers 86 hectares (around 19% of the ski area) via some 300 snow-making machines, helping guarantee good conditions on lower runs even in lean years. Early and late season visitors benefit most from the glacier access, which few other French resorts can match.
Lift passes in Les 2 Alpes cover the full 220km of pistes, plus optional La Grave access for advanced skiers.
Family passes, reduced-rate beginner passes, and season passes with summer glacier access are all available – see the official ski pass page for current prices.
Comparing options for an Oisans trip? See the latest ski holiday deals or browse more resorts in our ski resort search.
Several ski schools and guiding outfits operate in Les 2 Alpes, offering group and private lessons for all ages, plus specialist off-piste and La Grave guiding for confident skiers. Ski and boot hire is widely available along the main village strip, and ski-in/ski-out convenience is widespread.
Sorting kit before you travel? Our ski gear guides can help you choose the right gear.
Les 2 Alpes has a wide variety of accommodation, catering to every budget, and is generally more affordable than high-end destinations like Courchevel or Val d’Isère – making it popular with families and groups of friends.
Browse options via the official accommodation search.
Dining in Les 2 Alpes is diverse and affordable. On the mountain, restaurants such as Le Diable au Cœur and La Troïka offer hearty fare with panoramic terraces; in town you’ll find everything from pizza and crêpes to traditional Savoyard specialities.
Après-ski is one of the resort’s strong points. Umbrella Bar and Le Pano Bar are slope-side party spots with DJs and live music, while in town Smithy’s Tavern and the L’Avalanche nightclub keep the nightlife buzzing into the early hours. The vibe is youthful, international, and high-energy.
Les 2 Alpes has plenty to offer away from the pistes: ice skating, bowling and a cinema in the village; snowshoeing and paragliding for adventure seekers; indoor swimming pools and spas for relaxation; and snowmobiling and dog sledding for family fun. Summer glacier skiing and mountain biking add year-round appeal. Its lively atmosphere ensures non-skiers won’t feel left out.
Travelling with children? Our family skiing guide has more tips for planning a family ski trip.
Comparing Les 2 Alpes with other options? See our full guide to skiing in France for more resorts across the Alps.
Pros
Cons
Les 2 Alpes offers big skiing, big vertical, and big atmosphere. Its glacier ensures excellent snow reliability, its terrain caters to every level from beginner to expert, and its après-ski is among the liveliest in France. The connection to La Grave gives advanced skiers one of Europe’s most legendary off-piste areas, while families and intermediates enjoy the wide, rolling pistes.
It may lack the picture-postcard looks of traditional villages, but for snow-sure skiing, variety, and vibrant atmosphere, Les 2 Alpes is one of the most exciting resorts in the French Alps.
Yes – dedicated learning areas at 2,100m and 2,600m, plus free magic carpets, make it a solid choice, though the resort’s reputation is built more on its intermediate and freestyle terrain.
The ski area runs from the village at 1,650m up to 3,600m on the Glacier de Mont-de-Lans, giving one of the biggest vertical drops in the world at 2,300m without taking a lift.
Indicative pricing is around €63 per day for an adult, or around €315 for six days. Check the official site for current-season prices.
La Grave is a neighbouring off-piste mecca reached by lift from the Les 2 Alpes glacier area, offering unpisted, ungroomed descents for experienced and guided skiers only.
Yes – the 2 Alpes snowpark at 2,600m is regarded as one of the best in Europe, with kickers, rails and a boardercross for all levels.
Fly to Grenoble, Lyon or Geneva and transfer by road (around 2–3 hours), or take the Eurostar or TGV to Grenoble followed by a bus or transfer (around 1.5 hours).
Yes, it’s generally more affordable than high-end Savoie resorts like Courchevel or Val d’Isère, making it popular with families and groups on a budget.
Yes – the glacier at 3,600m offers summer skiing and snowboarding, one of relatively few places in Europe where this is possible.
Ice skating, bowling, a cinema, snowshoeing, paragliding, indoor pools and spas, snowmobiling, and dog sledding are all available in and around the resort.
Lively and youthful. Slope-side spots like Umbrella Bar and Le Pano Bar get going as the lifts close, while Smithy’s Tavern and L’Avalanche nightclub keep things going in the village into the early hours.
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