  Airport
About Alpe d'HuezWhen the snow glitters wildly in the sun and you can feel the warmth start to seep through the layers and warm your morning-cold limbs, you know its going to be a good day on the mountain. For a good chance at a sun-kissed ski holiday, head to Alpe d'Huez, where the slogan is "L'ile au Soleil" (Island of the Sun). They've got the goods to back up this claim as well - most of the slopes are south-facing, and they boast average figures of 300 days of sunshine a year. High in the Oisans Alpes, Alpe d'Huez is the central resort of the Grandes Rousses Massif ski area. It links the traditional mountain villages of Auris-en-Oisans, Villard Reculas, Oz-en-Oisans, Vaujany and La Garde. Its central bowl naturally divides into zones catering for different abilities. Beginners, this is an excellent place for you to begin your soon-to-be lifelong love of skiing. Many slopes and facilities are laid out for you here. The black, expert runs accessible from the top of Pic Blanc and Les Marmottes III cable car attract thrill-seekers and the more technically advanced skiers to experience the maximum vertical drop of 2200m. Made up for several quarters, the resort offers something a little different at each. Quartier des Vieil Alpe isa charming, quieter area with lots of original buildings, Quartier des Jeux is the pulse of the resort, with good bars, shops and restaurants, Quartier Bergers is the most modern area, with a good few places to eat, drink and make merry as well. Huez is the original village of the resort, overlooking the Sarenne gorge. A pretty mountain village with a labyrinth of tiny alleys to wander around. Covering an area of 10,000 hectares the domain boasts 249km of linked pistes. The Sarennes ski run, the world's longest at 16km, joins the Pic Blanc to the Sarenne Gorge. If you're lucky, you can time your trip right to be a part of a monthly outing to ski the run by moonlight! Pic Blanc (3330m), the highest point of the ski area, offers breathtaking views of the Alps including Mont Blanc, Mont Cervin and the Meije. On a clear day a fifth of France can be seen from this point. Not to be missed: the amazing ice cave at 2700 m, which was created by two high altitude guides and hosts a different ice sculpture each year. For beginners
This is a great place for beginners! There are many of green slopes (38 in total) in the shallow bowl immediately above the resort. Catch the Romans, Fontbelle, or Lac Blanc chairlifts to get there and be occupied for days.
For intermediates
Some good runs for intermediates, which include the Couloir and Vachettes blues and the Chamois red which has just a short steepish narrow section. The west of the central bowl is a mix of blue and red runs, and to the north (if you are looking up from the resort) the terrain steepens and above approximately 2100m, there's a good mix of blue and red here, maybe just a bit more challenging. Catch the Troncon I and II gondolas. For the advanced
With 16 black and 33 red runs, there's a lot of fun to be had here for good skiers and boarders. Try the black runs from the top of Pic Blanc and Les Marmottes III cable car, and feel the burn of the maximum vertical drop of 2200m. Above the 2300m and 2700m stations the pistes on the south-facing slopes below Pic Blanc top station are mainly black. These include the infamous Tunnel, coined so because it passes though a tunnel before dropping away steeply and Sarrene which at 18.75km (1.82km vertical drop) is the longest black run in Europe.
Ski school
There are excelling ski school facilities here, no matter where you are visiting from. There are great, friendly, patient instructors speaking French, English, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, Japanese, Danish, German, Portuguese, Russian and Polish. Try the French Ski School, the International ski school or British Masterclass. British Masterclass French Ski School International Ski School Après Ski
Après-ski is always happening at Alpe d'Huez. Finding a good bar here is no problem, with lots to choose from. The best place to head is the Quartier des Jeux, as most of the bars and restaurants are clustered there. Smithy's Tavern has lively après Tex-Mex fare and hamburgers. The Piano Bar is a large eastern influenced bar/restaurant is a more relaxed option; The Sports Bar's great for watching...sports unsurprisingly, and has a music lounge with a DJ spinning tunes. O'Sharkeys is a traditional Irish pub, and in the old town, The Underground is a cosy theme bar based on the London tube. If you like to carry on the party into the night, Igloo is one of the top dance clubs in the resort located under Smithy's Tavern. You can also catch live bands and DJs at The Yeti bar, or head to local favourite Tropicana. Food-wise, if you're in the Alps you have to try at least one of their traditional mountain specialities whether it is tartiflette, raclette or fondue. Try Le Passe Montagne on Route de la Poste or Le Petit Taverne in L'Eclose. L'Authentic on Avenue des Jeux. Is a delicious Italian restaurant that serves gnocchi, fresh fish skewers and a selection of fresh pastas served with homemade sauces. The popular Pizzeria L'Origan is located opposite the ice rink, as is Le Fromagerie, known for its good seafood dishes. Off the Mountain
A definite must-see when not skiing, the Alpe d'Huez ice caves are a magical grotto of glistening sculptures and fairytale figures. Dug out many years ago by two local guides they have become an annual feature; each winter expert ice sculptors arrive to create a new exhibition based on a different theme every year. Another activity that is totally different (but may not appeal to everyone) is ice diving. Although plunging under the icy waters of Lake Besson (altitude 2000m) in the middle of winter may not sound much like fun this is a fascinating and magical experience. Cavities in the ice and huge air bubbles trapped under the surface create an eerie but spectacular environment. Accompanied by experienced instructors you can go beneath the frozen surface of the lake and submerge yourself in the alien world beneath. For adrenaline-junkies, there's Airboarding. This relatively new twist on snow sports is a bit like body boarding down the piste. Lying stomach-down on an inflatable sled-like cushion you slide head-first down the mountain, picking up speed and using your bodyweight to shift direction. Also available: Cross country skiing, glacier walking, helicopter tours, heliskiing, horse drawn sleigh rides, husky sledding, ice climbing, ice driving, ice rink, paragliding, piste basher excursion, quad biking, snow mobiling, snowshoeing, tobogganing, winter walking trails, fitness and sports centre, night skiing, swimming pools, spa, massage, yoga, sports, skidoo, microlight flights, French bowls, library, cinema, museum, classical music, trampolining... Getting there
By 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 a lot depending on traffic and more importantly the weather): Grenoble 2hrs - 2.30hrs, Chambery 2hrs - 2.30hrs, Lyon 2.30hrs - 3hrs. Airport transfers
There are several fantastic airport transfer companies operating to Alpe d'Huez. The firms we recommend and use oursleves include: By train
You can jump on the Eurostar from London St. Pancras International to Grenoble changing at Lille, the trip taking about 8 hours. There is a 3 times weekly service from London Victoria to Grenoble operated by Eurolines. This departs 6.30pm, and arrives 10.15am. By car
Distances from the resort:
Resort rating and reviews
Resort ratings out of 10
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