Summer Skiing in Les Deux Alpes – A Glacier Getaway
- Les Deux Alpes is ski-ready in the summer as well as during high season – thanks to its well-known, popular glacier skiing area.
- The Glacier season takes place in Les Deux Alpes from June to September.
The glacier skiing here is quite sizeable – in fact, it’s technically the biggest glacier skiing area in Europe! It’s a fantastic area for beginner and improver skiers who want to try things out during the summer, with blue, green and red runs up at the top all accessible by the chairlifts and draglifts that remain in operation for the glacier season. From there, you have access to the longest, full on-piste vertical in the world – lots of room for some serious practice in France’s second oldest ski resort (the first being Chamonix).
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The fun of glacier skiing in Les Deux Alpes
If you are a beginner – don’t let the altitude put you off. Les 2 Alpes is also known for being ‘topsy turvy’, where the easier, wider runs are actually at the top, while the steeper runs are a little further down from the glacier runs. As you’re venturing higher up that normal to get to the snow, the lower oxygen levels means you’ll need the time to acclimatise, so it’s estimated that your body has to work even harder in the altitude to keep you going, which could make for really effective training if you’re an experienced beginner or improving. Just make sure you know you’re medically OK going higher up and give yourself enough time to do so. You’ll find everything in the lower and steeper parts of the mountains are taken over by mountain bikers in the summer who flock here to make the most of the jumps!
Your summer ski day passes (if you’re around for more than one day on the slopes) to the peaks in Les Deux Alpes will also unlock access to the facilities at lower altitude, including the pool and tennis courts – which makes for a seriously active holiday if you want one, particularly if you’re keeping up with your fitness as well as your snow skills. It’s also worth seeing if there are any local hikes or treks that you can go on while you’re in the area. Summer hikes in the Alps are also great muscle boosters after a few days hitting the skis.
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Les Deux Alpes in the summer
The town is in the heart of the French Alps, so there’s a great selection of shopping and restaurants along the main streets, as well as plenty of bars and cafes dotted around the area. While summer is probably more of a social affair than a hardcore sports holiday, you’ll probably appreciate the balance between the more relaxed summer après vibe and making the most of the sunshine. The village is pretty large with a good selection of hotels for all budgets, or you can opt for a chalet in the summer which has a really different feel to it than usual. The town is incredibly convenient for the ski runs – the funicular links the town to the main peaks, up to 3,450m high. At the top, you’ll obviously be able to take in 360° views of the Alps and beyond, including Mont Blanc which is practically in front of you – showing itself off with a grassy vista to enjoy for a change of pace!
A family-friendly summer ski option
Les Deux Alpes is a great summer ski option, thanks to having eight summer-ready runs between June and September, half pipes and a snowboard area, and some surprisingly cost effective pass prices in August. That’s handy if those flight tickets to North America or New Zealand are a little bit out there; if you want to experience a totally different ski vibe that you can mix up with a hiking holiday, or, if you simply want to keep the holiday stash stocked for your winter ski season or another trip.
The summer ski *perfect* holiday for active people
If you’re over in the south of France, then you’ll know that it is hotter than the rest of France, with temperatures often over 30°C – even the nearby Val d’Isère in the south east can get a bit warm! That’s why Les Deux Alpes is a good choice if you don’t want to be ‘extreme’ climate switching between very hot sea level air and the cooler mountain air like you might elsewhere. March – April and June are hot for sure in Les Deux Alpes, but both these months do see a good mix of rain and sun – which makes anywhere you’re staying a little cheaper too as much of the accommodation will priced on the weather during these months, prior to charging full for the main summer season from the end of June through to August.
Les Deux Alpes is popular with families, especially those with young children with high energy levels. With so much on offer, it’s also great for active families looking for some free time, and so families can divide themselves between the mountain, tennis, hiking, biking, the spa and the pool. Les Deux Alpes offers plentiful accommodation choices too: everything from traditional chalets, to hotels and apartments to, increasingly, campsites and pitch space a little further out. All apartment will have twin or large double rooms, or a few of both, as the chalets and hotels. All the summer campsites near Les Deux Alpes have WCs, maintained showers and full laundry facilities. Everything in once place for an active summer holiday. Summer skiing in Les Deux Alpes – really, what more could you ask for?
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