Airport

About Vars

Vars sits bordered by high mountains in the Hautes Alpes, a preserved environment hidden in the middle of larch woods and surrounding mountain tops (including the Ecrins, Ubaye and Queyras Massifs). As part of the La Foret Blanche ski area, Vars shares with neighbouring Risoul a high altitude (1850 m), good snow cover and a ridiculously good climate - approximately 300 days of sunshine a year! Its altitude also means that you can swoosh right back into the resort at the end of the day. Buy a pass for the whole La Foret Blanche area, and you'll tap into 106 pistes, up to a towering 2500 m, 57 ski lifts and great snow parks for boarders.

The skiing is split over two huge bowls either side of a high mountain ridge, dividing the village from neighbouring Risoul. The connection to Risoul is easy and opens up lots more skiing. Both are dominated by long blues and reds manageable by almost everyone and some really beautiful tree runs. Beginner and intermediate skiers and boarders are best catered for at Vars, but there is some good skiing for experts - the Chabrieres peaks give way to some stunning steep gullies.

The resort is made up of four different villages, with Les Claux by far the largest and home to the most facilities. The most modern of the villages, it blends into the woods at the base. Hit Les Claux for the best bars and après-ski atmosphere. The smaller villages include Sainte Catherine, a sunny village with typical Vars architecture; traditional old farms with the ground floor made out of stones, upper floor out of wood, and a balcony to dry the clothes. The village has kept its communal wash tub, its traditional larch wooden balconies, its "gruate" (pulleys to store ricks) and its communal oven. Saint Marcellin is the oldest village, and objects and jewels dating back to bronze age have been unearthed close by during excavations. The gateway to the ski areas, Sainte Marie, is the administrative centre and site of the first tourist developments, and with the Peyniers and the Olympic snow fronts, where some of the Forêt Blanche's most beautiful pistes remain. With good snow, great sun and cheaper prices than some French resorts, Vars is a guaranteed good ski holiday for a lower cost.

For beginners

For intermediates

For the advanced

Ski school

Après Ski

Off the Mountain

Getting there

By air

Airport transfers

By train

By car

For beginners

Beginners are well catered for as there are lots of wide, nursery slopes that are perfect for practicing turns and building confidence. Progression is fast here so once they find their snow legs then beginners will quickly head up the mountain to enjoy the good choice of easy blues.

For intermediates

Intermediates will find big cruisers, exciting runs through the trees and big snow bowls to keep them busy.

For the advanced

To attract off-piste skiers, the Chabrières peaks give way to numerous gullies. For advanced skiers there are a variety of testing black runs. There's also plenty of off-piste around Risoul.

Ski school

Whether you are a beginner or an expert, alone or with a group or family, into skiing or into new winter sports, Vars instructors will help you discover the pleasures of a skiing holiday. Staff qualified in all sorts of skiing techniques will make you appreciate the Forêt Blanche's exceptional surroundings.

Après Ski

Don't look here for a wild nightlife. Après-ski is on the quiet side and the restaurants tend towards traditional home cooking (spectacular meals!). The cinema shows all the latest releases in the evening and though pub life is mainly restricted to the hotels, you will find some lively places with music, but this is more a resort where friends get together after a days skiingand chat over drinks. That said, the bars can come alive especially at weekends when the crowds arrive from Provence. There are more than 20 bars to choose from. For occasional live music in try the piano bar Le Gruate in the Hotel Les Escondus. Nightclubs open to the early hours include Le Lem, Le Lynx and Le Look. Everyone will find something to arouse their taste buds among the good typical Vars food, restaurants still speak the language of our most typical dishes with tasty resonances: "crousetons", donkey ears, nettle soup, full-flavoured wines and liquors.

Off the Mountain

Haven't gotten enough natural beauty on the slopes already? Kick off your skis and try a little waterfall ice climbing. Check out some beautiful natural ice waterfalls - but be warned - it's pretty physical! Your limbs will be aching after that, so hop in a Nordic bath. A wooden fire lit in a aluminium stove, heats up the water of the bath making for a relaxing outdoor hot bathe with essential oils.If you'd like to show off the new tricks you've learnt, the Urban JIB Playlist is a fun mix of freestyle skiing / boarding and music. Once a week you can meet up for this contest of best tricks on handrails for beginners. Grab a hot chocolate or mulled wine, and watch the magic. Also on offer: Snowshoeing, winter walks, a relaxation and fitness centre, helicopter flights, library, multimedia room, kids playroom, ice skating, cinema, dog sledding, night skiing, torchlight descents and snow biking.

Getting there

By air

The closest airports are Marseille, Turin and Grenoble.

Turin Airport , caselle (Italy) : 00 39 0 115 676 361
Cunéo-Levaldigi Airport (Italy) at 1h30mn from Vars
00 39 0 172 374 374
Marseille-Provence Airport : 04 42 14 14 14
Grenoble-St Geoirs Airport: 04 76 65 48 48
Lyon-St Exupéry Airport: 0 826 800 826
St Crépin Aerodrome: 04 92 45 02 95

Airport transfers

Snow train
Connection from Marseille to VARS.
15 € return trip by train+ Shuttles
Information : 04 891 70 3000
Taxi Loïc DURAND
Cars from 1 to 9 seats
Connections with train stations and airports, rapatriation
Loïc DURAND 05560 Vars Sainte Catherine
Tel: 06 24 03 27 23
Mail: taxidurandloic@wanadoo.fr

By train

The closest train station is Montdauphin Guillestre train station (15 km from Vars). You can also get direct trains and night trains with berths Paris/Briancon, and daily connections Marseille/Briançon. Alturnatively try the TGV connection, from Paris-Valence or Paris-Grenoble.

Montdauphin Guillestre
Enquiries and booking : 36 35
IMBERT Coaches
Regular service Vars - Montdauphin Guillestre SNCF train station
Tourist coaches from 10 to 63 seats and coaches with berth
Taxis
ETABLISSEMENT IMBERT - 05600 Guillestre
Tel: 04 92 45 18 11 - Fax: 04 92 45 17 30
Mail: car.imbert@wanaddo.fr
Internet: www.autocars-imbert.com

By car

From Marseille, take the A51 motorway until Gap/Tallard, then follow Embrun-Guillestre-Vars. From Paris, take the A6 motorway until Lyon then take the A43 motorway until Grenoble, then follow Briançon through the col du Lautaret or Gap through the col Bayard then Embrun-Guillestre-Vars. From Turin, go to the border at Montgenèvre, then follow Briançon-Guillestre-Vars.

Resort rating and reviews

04 November 2010

Traveller rating: 5 star