Most important things you need to know before booking a vacation in Alpe D’Huez
Alpe D’Huez is located at an altitude of 1860 meters above sea level, 59 km southeast of Grenoble, in the French Alps. Famous for the most demanding ascent in the Tour de France, Alpe D’Huez is making a comeback in the last years to the top line of ski resorts. And awarded in the previous two years “best ski resort in Europe” by 120000 voters, through EDEN, or the European Destinations of Excellence Network, an EU organization.
In this article, we will show you the most important things you need to know before booking a vacation in Alpe D’Huez,
How to get to Alpe D’Huez?
The closest airports to Alpe D’Huez are Grenoble, Lyon, and Geneva, with transfer times of one and a half hour, two hours, and two and a half hours, accordingly.
Here’s a link to the best online flight engine.
Here’s a link to the best online car rental website.
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One of the tips we can give you is not to book during the “vacance” because the accommodation prices are much higher. Also, the ski school groups are usually full to their limits, and the private instructors are usually pre-booked at the best hours.
Also, the best nightlife happens before and after the vacance, as the young crowd usually avoid the top prices of the vacance.
Where to stay in Alpe D’Huez?
Alpe D’Huez lies on a south-facing plateau and is famous in France as “l’isle du Soleil” – the island of the sun, in French.
This is why the call Alpes d’Huez the Island of the sun
A network of lift systems covers the village, so it is very convenient, and the worst-case scenario is to be located 5 minutes’ walk from a lift or ski trail.
The Télévillage lift system connects Alpe D’huez to the old village of Huez and runs south-west northeast.
televillage top station
Our recommended hotel near the Televillage is Grandes Rousses *****. The hotel added lately a new wing with a new outdoor pool and Whirlpool tub in addition to the indoor
pool and Spa. It is ski in, ski out, and in the centre, a 3-minute walk from the best clubs, bars and restaurants in Alpe d’Huez, as well as the ice rink.
It is better to book this hotel in the summer for the winter because it is sold out very fast. Here are the best deals for Hotel Grandes Rousses*****.
The Alpe express gondola system connects the village centre and the quarters of Passeaux, and Eclose to the lift hub at Les Bregers, and runs east-west.
The most recommended hotel in these quarters is the new Hotel Daria-I Nor***** .This amazing hotel also has a luxury apartments wing with good prices.
There is an actual Alpe express station connected to the ski room!! Here are the best deals for Hotel Hotel Daria-I Nor*****
Alpe Express gondola. on the top left you can see the Daria-I Nor hotel station
There is a green ski run that crosses the village parallel to the televillage system.
Green run is parallel to televillage system. on the background is Hotel Grandes Rousses during the built of the new wing
The main street is ave des Jeux, which include an indoor shopping centre, ice rink, outdoor heated public pool.
ave des Jeux from south
Ice rink at Ave des jeux. Signal mountain in bkgd
Ave des jeux from north
You can find the village indoor sport center with indoor pool, squash courts, and many other sports facilities just south of the street.
Alpe d’Huez sports centre
The primary two ski schools’ meeting points and lifts hob:
The first, At the highest point in the village, Rond point the pistes under the snowpark and signal mountain.
We recommend here to stay at Hotel Au Chamois d’Or*****. Ski in – ski out. The rooms are a bit small, but everything else is perfect. The Hotel has free parking.
Here are the best deals and price comparisons of Hotel Au Chamois d’Or*****.
Rond point des pistes. The big hotel above the DMC chairlift poll is Hotel Au Chamois d’Or
Rond point des pistes.The big hotel behind the big Poll of DMC chairlift is Hotel Au Chamois d’Or
From here, you can ride the DMC lift system to Les Jeux pic, Lac Blanc peak, and eventually to Pic Blanc cable car that will carry you to Pic Blanc.
pic blanc cable car at lac blanc peak
Pic blanc. The start of the longest black run in the world, Sarrene. village in bkgd
The 2nd important hob and ski school meeting point and lifts hob is Les bregers:
From here, you can ride the alpauris chairlift towards Auris en Oisanns and signal de l’homme mountain or the marmottes chairlift that will carry you to the Foulie Douce apres-ski bar and the rest of the ski area.
This area is a bit remote from the village centre and nightlife scene, but great for families or quiet seekers.
Our recommended hotel here is Hotel Le Pic Blanc****. probably the best 4 stars hotel in town.
Here are the best deals and price comparisons of Hotel Le Pic Blanc****.
alpauris chairlift in Les bregers
The ski area
The ski area of Alpe d’heuz itself has 250 kilometres of ski runs, divided into 70 km of blue and green runs, 130 km of red runs, and 50 km of black runs.
From the latter, 16 km belongs to the longest black run in the world, Sarenne. This piste starts at the top of the pic blanc at 3330 meters above sea level and has a vertical drop of 2 km.
Sarrene. The longest black run in the world.
But don’t worry. almost all of the 16 km are not really black, so take the challenge, intermediates people!
Sarrene. Most of it is not really black
The ski area of Alpe d’heuz lies between the altitudes of 3330 meters above sea level to 1135 meters above sea level. One of the highest elevation differentials in any ski area.
The ski area topography characterized by very gentle and easy slopes close to the village and gradually steeper slopes as you move away from the town to the higher altitudes ski areas.
gentle, south facing slopes close to the village
Most of these gentle beginner’s runs are south-facing; therefore, they constitute an excellent nursery for beginners.
The ski area of Alpe d’Huez has 70 off-pistes locations and consider one of the best in Europe in that regard. In addition, there is a unique ski school specialized in backcountry skiing, ski touring, and heliskiing, with many options.
Alpe d’huez. More than 70 off-piste location and specialized ski school
Apres ski in Alpe D’Huez
Alpe d’Huez offers many other attractions like the alpine coaster, dogs-sledges, snow bikes, aeroplane flights and many other winter activities
snow bikes tours at sunset
les Bregres. exit point for the dog sledges and the snow bikes tours
As part of the awakening of Alpe d’Huez, we can mention the fact that Tomorrowland chose this destination as the location of winter Tomorrowland.
winter Tomorrowland
The resort has a very young and kicking vibe. Many young people are attracted to this resort because of its livelihood. regarding the apres-ski schedule, we recommend you to give a visit to foulie douce on your skiing back to the village
Folie Douce. marmottes chairlift top station at the right end
BTW, the marmottes chairlift allows nonskiers to ride round trip from Les Bregers to Foulie Douce. This Foulie Douce definitely respect the brand. After having dinner, we recommend you to go to Le sporting club in ave de Jeux.
le sporting club
and if you still have the energy for the after-hours, go down the stairs and continue on rue du coulet towards les caves
les caves club
or L’Igloo, where the parties run till dawn.
Igloo club
Before sharing our special tip for a vacation in Alpe D’Huez,
these are our numbers for Alpe D’huez:
for snowboarders: 9
beginners: 8.5
intermediates: 8
advanced skiers:9
freestylers: 8
free-riders: 10
nightlife: 8.5.
apres ski: 9
Resort Charm: 7
Total score Alpe D’Huez is 8.7
Our bonus tips for Alpe D’huez:
When you buy six days ski pass or more, you can ski two of these days at Les Deux Alpes for free. As the bus to there is almost one and a half hours and costs 12 euros, we recommend you book a round trip helicopter flight for 75 euros, and arrive at Les Deux Alpes in minutes, like a Rockstar. Take note to book that in advance, and these flights happen every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday if the weather allows it.
Updating! The lift project that was supposed to connect to Les Deux Alpes was cancelled.
