Skiing in France

The biggest linked ski areas in the world, high purpose-built villages and long seasons in the Savoie and Haute-Savoie.

Courchevel and its pistes seen from the slopes, with the Vanoise peaks behind

France has the largest linked ski areas in the Alps, most of them in the Tarentaise valley in Savoie: the 3 Vallees, Paradiski and Tignes-Val d'Isere. Many villages were purpose-built at altitude in the 1960s and 70s, which means ski-in, ski-out apartments and reliable snow, if not always charm. The Portes du Soleil, on the Swiss border near Geneva, offers lower, more traditional villages and short transfers.

French ski resorts we cover

The Belleville valley in the 3 Vallees, with Les Menuires below the pistes 1300 to 3230 m3 Vallees5.0The best ski area in the world, with a few nuances: huge, beautifully kept, and expensive.Mountain restaurants at Courchevel 1850 at lunchtime 1850 mCourchevel 18505.0The place to be. Superb skiing and food, the most expensive ski resort you can think of.Meribel village at the foot of its pistes, with the Aiguille du Fruit behind 1450 mMeribel5.0A proper village in the middle of everything. Premium, but not extravagant.Meribel-Mottaret village and pistes 1750 mMeribel-Mottaret5.0The best base in the 3 Vallees for keen skiers. Central, practical and cheaper than its neighbours.Val Thorens, the highest village in the 3 Vallees 2300 mVal Thorens4.5The highest village in the area: open terrain, young crowds and the most famous après in the Alps.Les Menuires and its slopes 1850 mLes Menuires4.5The most underrated village in the 3 Vallees: great skiing, real prices.Avoriaz perched on its cliff in winter 1,800 m villageAvoriazGuideA car-free, ski-in, ski-out village at 1,800 m, at the snow-sure heart of the Portes du Soleil.Arc 1950 and Arc 2000 seen from a chairlift 1,200 to 3,226 mLes ArcsGuideFour purpose-built villages above Bourg-Saint-Maurice, with long runs from the Aiguille Rouge and a cable car link to La Plagne.Les Deux Alpes ski area seen from across the valley 1,650 m villageLes Deux AlpesGuideA long village at 1,650 m beneath one of Europe's biggest vertical drops, with a glacier for summer skiing.Portes du Soleil ski slopes near Morzine 1,000 m villageMorzineGuideA real Savoyard town at 1,000 m, linked to Les Gets and Avoriaz and into the huge Portes du Soleil.Solaise above Val d'Isere in winter 1,850 m villageVal d'IsereGuideA high, snow-sure resort at 1,850 m, linked with Tignes to make one of the great ski areas for strong skiers.