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8 Best Snowboard Resorts in France!

by Tom
by Tom

Snowboarding in France? Magnifique!

I’ve spent many years exploring the French Alps, so who better to bring you the ultimate rundown of the best snowboard resorts?!

(Don’t answer that). 

Imagine cruising down world-class piste with breathtaking alpine vistas, each turn sprinkled with that irresistible French charm. Sounds good to me.

Ready to conquer the crème de la crème of ski and snowboard spots?

Let’s dive in! 🇫🇷

The Short Answer

  1. Morzine
  2. Tignes
  3. Chamonix
  4. Les Deux Alps
  5. La Clusaz
  6. MĂ©ribel
  7. L'Alpe d'Huez
  8. Bonneval-sur-Arc

1. Morzine

Suitable for individuals of all abilities, Morzine is one of the top ski resorts in France. It offers an extensive selection of excellent turquoise and green pistes for families and novices alike. It’s in one of the world’s largest ski regions, the Portes Du Soleil. 

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Because it is a mere hour and a half from Geneva, it is convenient to travel and a terrific place to spend a weekend. The resort has several ski schools with bilingual trainers that speak French and English. Most of the simple piste is found at the apex of Pleney’s primary cable car, the intersection point. Book your Morzine ski holidays now to avail of a range of possibilities if you’re seeking things to do off the piste.

2. Tignes

To be honest, Tignes is a little bit of a riskier place to ski. At an elevation of 2,100 to 3,400 meters, most of its pistes are positioned far above the treeline. Consequently, anytime the clouds roll in, vision becomes problematic. However, the opportunity to ski Tignes' stunning U-shaped slope and its towering Grande Motte glacier makes the occasional white-out a minor inconvenience. They nearly have been made for skiing by Mother Nature. The defined, well-groomed pistes are remarkably stable and spacious. Off-piste descents, in the meantime, await everywhere you turn. They vary from beginner-friendly powder fields to rugged terrain that will challenge your legs and instincts.

3. Chamonix

Nestled under the shadow of Mont Blanc, close to the borders of Switzerland and Italy, Chamonix is more than just your average French ski resort. One of the most well-known and esteemed ski resorts worldwide, Chamonix hosted the first Winter Olympic competition in 1924. Although not the ideal choice for an absolute novice, having 106 pistes spread across 119 kilometers and an excellent ski school, winter splendor is at the height of its popularity. It has become much more suitable for families in recent years thanks to its dedication to pistes and places set aside just for families.

4. Les Duex Alps

Ideal for amateurs who prefer blues over reds and for those who appreciate a casual après-ski encounter. Les Deux Alpes is an inverted ski resort. The most accessible terrain is near the summit of the ski slope, where the couloirs and cliff leaps are located, while the most challenging pistes are near the bottom, where one would anticipate coming across the mild blues. Because of this, experienced and skilled skiers often sniff at it; you'll like riding its lengthy, icy glacier, though, if you're still getting the hang of your parallel spins. At 3,500 meters above sea level, the snow is typically grippy, tender, and uplifting, and the panoramic vistas of Mont Blanc are breathtaking. Additionally, if you continue skiing, you can descend almost 2,000 meters to the resort.

5. La Clusaz

La Clusaz is a fantastic location for a skiing vacation in the French Alps despite being less well- known than other French skiing destinations. For international skiers, its proximity to the Geneva airport in Switzerland—just an hour's drive away—is a further incentive. La Clusaz is an excellent place for backcountry skiing and even offers freeriding courses. It boasts 120 km of pistes with breathtaking vistas. Professionals will enjoy the problematic, lengthy trails in the La Balme region, while moderate skiers will find it excellent (half the runs are classified as blue).

6. Méribel 

Ideal for robust hearts and powerful limbs. It’s also a good choice for those who enjoy vacationing in classic serviced chalets, as plenty are in the valley’s bottom half. MĂ©ribel’s neighbors can include Val Thorens and Courchevel. But it’s distinct from both, primarily because of the form of its broad, long valley. 

It’s typically more challenging to ski here, with a few noticeable deviations (like the flattish section by the altiport). The terrain is more complicated, winding, and the snow quality is more unpredictable. Even MĂ©ribel and MĂ©ribel- Mottaret, the city’s two main lodging centers, climb steeply in lung-busting steps.

7. L'Alpe d'Huez

Snowboarding in the French Alps is incredibly lucrative at L'Alpe d'Huez. The closest major city is Grenoble, which is roughly 60 kilometers away from Isere. To get there, you have to be ready to go up a high, narrow road. Alternatively, you will need to hire one of the airport buses if you have limited access to an on-site car. You will be provided with an abundance of options with 111 ski slopes. Most blue and green slopes are close to the hamlet, meaning you won't have to travel far to reach them. ESF Alpe d'Huez is the primary ski school in the village's center. Ski passes from L'Alpe d'Huez let you explore seven areas, which is one of its most appealing characteristics. But take caution—you can find yourself stranded in one of the other towns if you don't get back to your preferred resort by 3 p.m.

8. Bonneval-sur-Arc

Before the curving road vanishes under a mound of snow, Bonneval-sur-Arc is the last settlement in the Maurienne Valley. That the vast, bustling Val d'Isère is located on the distant side of the Col de l'Iseran alpine pass is insignificant. This is the final stretch in the winter when the exhilarating pace of skiing drops to a reflective stroll, and spending a morning consuming a novel on a sun-drenched balcony feels just as crucial to the adventure as smashing down a perfectly groomed piste. To speak of, Pistes scarcely span 32 km and are serviced by 11 ski lifts. You may decide to give it a shot and schedule some time with a trainer. It's also necessary to take short excursions down the valley—Bessans, a village in France home to a few credible cross-country skiing destinations.

Final Thoughts

That was an overview of the 8 best snowboard resorts in France. So, which is the most appealing for a French getaway?

Let me know in the comment section below!

Happy riding!

Tom is British but has been living in the French Alps since 2015. He's a passionate snowboarder and spends as much time on the mountain as possible, especially as he lives at the foot of the slopes! His year-round mountain lifestyle allows him to disclose insider and local information to our visitors. Learn More >

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