Deux-Alpes
As one of France’s oldest ski resorts, Les Deux Alpes has secured its reputation as a center for winter sports in the French Alps. Located southeast of Grenoble in the Isère department, Les Deux Alpes is at an altitude of 1650m and offers year-round snow thanks to the glacier located at the top of the resort. The ski station got its “deux alpes” (“two alps”) name from the two villages, Venosc and Mont de Lan, which are at opposite ends of the resort.
Les Deux Alpes is known as being an upside-down ski resort, in that most of the easier slopes are near the top, while the more terrifying blacks are at the bottom. To get visitors around the mountain, there are 51 lifts, including the underground Dôme Express Funicular and the Jandri Express, the world’s fastest gondola. Many of the lifts can be ridden both up and down, so beginner skiers don’t have to worry about getting through the tough lower terrain.
The layout of Les Deux Alpes can be confusing and it is important to get a map before heading down the slopes. Most of the mountain is intermediate blue slopes, although there are plenty of options for beginners and advanced skiers and snowboarders. There is a big snowpark with a beginner, intermediate, and advanced area that includes a half pipe. There are also slide areas and a boardercross scattered around the mountain. In addition to downhill skiing and snowboarding, there are trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The mountain hosts several big events throughout the year, including the Mondial du Snowboard in late fall where snowboarding gear can be tested and there are demonstrations and live music.
For beginners or those looking to polish their skills, the Ecole du Ski Français (ESF) offers classes in French, English, Italian, Russian, and Swedish. It is France’s largest ski school company and its range of lesson levels includes private instructors for advanced skiers and snowboarders. While ESF is the main ski school presence at Les Deux Alpes, there are several other ski companies that offer lessons in English that can be found through the tourism office.
While skiing and snowboarding dominate the winter months, mountain biking, hiking, and climbing make Les Deux Alpes a popular summer destination. There is also summer skiing on the glacier, located at an altitude of 3200m with green, blue, and one red slopes.
Several restaurants operate on the mountain itself, most in the main lift areas. There are also restaurants in the town and many of these serve Alpine specialties like fondue, raclette, and tartiflette. Les Deux Alpes has plenty of cafes and bars for “après-ski” vin chauds and clubs for late night partying.
For accommodation, there are chalets and apartments for rent or hotels.
Les Deux Alpes is accessible by car from the nearby town of Bourg d’Oisans and is about 1 1/2 hours by car from the Grenoble airport. The Altibus company also has bus service from Grenbole, Lyon, Chambery, and Geneva. Once in Les Deux Alpes, there is a free shuttle bus with two lines that run through town.
See more Alpine Ski resorts or search for ski holidays in France.
Visit Deux-Alpes (Rhone-Alpes, Isere) travel, gites and hotels
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The Deux-Alpes hotels listed feature descriptions, guest reviews, ratings, location maps, online booking etc. as well as the 'best-price' guarantee. The search for hotels in Deux-Alpes is provided by booking.com. General holiday / vacation optionsSEE OUR GREAT DEALS ON SKI HOLIDAYS IN FRANCE - See Rhone-Alpes chalets for Deux-Alpes holiday rentals - Holiday villages in Rhone-Alpes Holidays nearbyLooking for something close by? See a wide choice of hotels, holiday villages and holiday rentals at: Places to Stay near Deux-Alpes VisitSee Visit Deux-Alpes for places to visit near Deux-Alpes including: a detailed map, villages in bloom and most beautiful villages DiscussAsk questions or leave a comment about Deux-Alpes in our Rhone-Alpes forum Chambery airport at 74 km Deux-Alpes property for saleSee Rhone-Alpes property for sale
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Places to visit near Deux-Alpes, France
Explore places of interest within about 70 kilometres on a map at places near Deux-Alpes.
Some places to visit within 30 km: 
11 km: Alpe-d'Huez (Skiing and Tour de France) 28 km: Ecrins National Park (National Parc) 20 km: La Grave (Most beautiful village)
See also Deux-Alpes (version Francais)
