Getting to Alpe d’Huez
This Alpe d’Huez resort guide outlines the potential options for visitors traveling to Alpe d’Huez by independent means:
Air. The most popular route to the ski resort is by air. Several budget and charter airlines fly to the three closest airports of Grenoble, Chambery and Lyon. The transfer times are as follows although these can vary considerably depending on traffic and more importantly the weather!
Grenoble 2hrs – 2.30hrs, Chambery 2hrs – 2.30hrs, Lyon 2.30hrs – 3hr
Rail. Although not on the overnight snow train route it is possible to travel via Eurostar from London St. Pancras International to Grenoble changing at Lille. Journey time 8 hours.
Coach. There is a 3 times weekly service from London Victoria to Grenoble operated by Eurolines. Departs 6.30 PM. Arrives 10.15 AM.
Self Drive. To drive from the channel coast of France to Grenoble takes approximately 9 to 10 hours via the French motorway system. Toll charges are in the region of £40.
On the Piste
Beginners. The central bowl of Alpe d’Huez naturally divides into zones catering for different abilities. The resort is an excellent place for beginners to learn as the large number of green pistes testify.
These currently stand at 38 and occupy the shallow bowl situated immediately above the resort centre. There are a number of chairlifts serving this area such as Romans, Fontbelle, and Lac Blanc.
Intermediates. The view to the west of the bowl is dominated by the Signal 2115 station with a mixture of straight red and blue runs. Night skiing takes place on the Signal piste itself as well as hang gliding and paragliding. To the north, the terrain steepens and above 2100 m the runs are a mixture of blue and red graded pistes.
Access to this area from the western end of the resort is via the Troncon I and II gondolas. The Marmotte I gondola takes Les Berger’s visitors up to the Plat des Marmottes. These stations are at 2700 m and 2300 m respectively. Good runs for intermediates include the Couloir and Vachettes blues (although the former can become somewhat of a motorway) and the Chamois red.
Advanced. Above the 2300 m and 2700 m stations the pistes on the south facing slopes below Pic Blanc top station are mainly categorised as black. These include the Tunnel, so named because it passes through a tunnel before dropping away steeply and Sarrene which at 19 km (2 km drop) is the longest black run in Europe.
As these pistes are concentrated at altitude, bad weather can wreak havoc. Less confident skiers are able to take the Marmotte III cable car to the 3060 m station and ski the blues and red just off the glacier before returning by the same means. This is useful if the snow low down is poor. It’s also possible to join Sarrene at the end of one of these blues so avoiding the relatively steep top section.
Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine Ski is the domain that includes Alpe d’Huez as its central resort. Whilst Alpe d’Huez has more than enough to keep visitors stimulated and happy (considering that there are 135 pistes running for a total of 250 km), it is thoroughly recommended to make the most of the rest of the domain. This includes the linked resorts of Vaujany, Oz-en-Oisans, Villard Reculas and Auris. These surrounding areas provide some great runs with a slight emphasis on intermediate abilities.
Click the link below for more information
Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine Ski