Curves in the snow or long crossings at altitude are finally back on the menu in the Alps, the Pyrenees and the Massif Central.
This is one of the announcements of the deconfinement calendar that went almost unnoticed, except for mountain lovers and those disappointed with a winter season without downhill skiing: from May 19, ski lifts and tourist trains will be able to finally reopen, after a winter season at a complete standstill in the French massifs, Chance or not, this timing corresponds more or less to the traditional opening of glacier skiing in four resorts.
In any case, this will allow tourists to reconnect with these pleasures of altitude, in this spring of bridges and with a view to summer.
Read also: Covid-19: find all the dates of deconfinement in our detailed calendar
This reopening remains subject to health constraints.
Initially, enclosed spaces such as cable car cabins or tourist train cars can only accommodate half of their usual capacity and pre-reservations will be advised.
Only 50% of available tickets will go on sale on May 19;
65% on June 9 and 100% on June 30, if the epidemic situation continues to improve.
As for the wearing of a mask, the public authorities and local authorities make it compulsory.
Read also: Cozy and easy to access, five mountain huts for family summer vacations
Glacier skiing: Deux-Alpes, the first resort to reopen at the end of May, Val d'Isère and Tignes will follow
It's a helping hand for snow lovers.
This spring 2021 has been rather cold in the Alps.
After a winter month of April, it snowed in abundance above 1,800 m from May 3 to 12, so much so that at present the peaks of the Vanoise or the Ecrins, in the northern Alps, remain largely snow covered.
Thanks to these conditions and to the work of snow engineers, the glaciers of Deux-Alpes, Tignes and Val d'Isère are preparing to reopen the ski lifts and the slopes of their glaciers to the general public, who will rub shoulders with ski clubs and teams. national.
Les Deux-Alpes (Isère): summer skiing starts on May 29
Facing the peaks of the Ecrins, the Deux-Alpes glacier will welcome skiers from the weekend of May 29-30.
Or a week earlier than usual because "
people have itchy spatulas",
rejoices Jeanne Mounaut of the tourist office.
From 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., you will be able to slide within 90 hectares of marked trails between 3200 and 3568 m.
The price of the package will change from € 36.50 per adult between May 29 and June 18 to € 43.50 from June 19 to August 29.
In keeping with the gauges, the number of packages sold each day will be limited.
Val d'Isère (Savoie): the Pisaillas glacier accessible on June 12
Glacier skiing will be available from June 12 to July 11 this year.
OT Val d'Isère
Summer skiing has been practiced since the end of the 1960s on the Pisaillas glacier and this season will be no exception.
From June 12 to July 11, you will enjoy two ski lifts and three slopes between 2,725 and 3,300 meters above sea level.
The day will start at 7 a.m. and end at 12 p.m., for € 31 / adult per day or € 179 for 6 days.
In addition to the maximum gauges imposed by the government, wearing a mask will be mandatory in queues and ski lifts.
On the other hand, “
you can take off your mask when going down the slopes and the panorama is not masked!”
Enthuses Lauranne Boccone of Val d'Isère Tourisme.
Read also: How Val-d'Isère is preparing for a Christmas without classic alpine skiing
Tignes (Savoie): the glacier open to skiers from June 19 to July 31
Under the Vanoise summits, Tignes will open its Grande-Motte glacier to skiers from June 19 to July 31.
On the menu: 20 km of slopes, accessible from 7.20 a.m. to 1.15 p.m.
The price will be 38 € / adult.
The Covid protocol has not yet been established, but "
we can imagine that it will be similar to what we experienced last summer and this fall: mask required on board the ski lifts and in the queues",
foresees Amandine Renévot, head of the station's communication department.
Read also: Espace Tignes-Val-d'Isère, life-size skiing in Haute-Tarentaise
Vallée Blanche and the Girose glacier… Reopening of the cable cars but see you next year for general public skiing
In the heart of the Mont-Blanc massif (Haute-Savoie), the Aiguille du Midi cable car will resume service on May 19 to propel you in 20 minutes to 3,777 meters above sea level from the center of Chamonix. The opportunity to enjoy the dream panorama but, unfortunately, not to undertake the descent of the Vallée Blanche on skis. It is not only late in the season - the descent remains optimum until April - but, moreover, the Montenvers train does not resume service, on the lower part, until May 29.
Further south, La Grave-la Meije (Hautes-Alpes), a Mecca for
freeride
skiing
, takes a middle position: from June 10, ski clubs will be able to train on the Girose glacier, but the great The public will only be able to take the old cable car to go on a hike or mountaineering race.
Read also: Chamonix: our advice for preparing the ski descent of the Vallée Blanche
Mountain tourist trains and transport: successive reopening in the Pyrenees, the Massif Central
and the Alps
The other tourist attractions also had to go into forced hibernation from October 29.
As soon as the gradual deconfinement was announced, tourist trains and large cable cars were in battle order to welcome the public from May 19.
A selection of possible getaways in the coming weeks.
Hautes-Pyrénées: the
Pic du Midi cable car will
resume service on May 19
The suspended pontoon, at the top of the Pic du Midi.
Florent Gay
The Pic du Midi cable car starts operating on May 19.
Come and observe the stars during a night at the top or simply contemplate the sea of clouds during a round trip during the day.
Plan some warm things, because the atmosphere is still wintry up there!
Prices and information
Read also: In the heart of the Pyrenees, five experiences in a grandiose and unspoiled nature
Puy-de-Dome: the Sancy cable car will restart on May 22
The Sancy cable car will take you to the top of the highest point of the Monts Dore from May 22.
From there, you have exactly 860 steps to climb to reach the top of the Puy de Sancy at 1886 m, and admire the 360 ° panorama over the whole of Auvergne.
The cabins will be disinfected daily.
Mask compulsory during the trip.
Capacity reduced to 28 people maximum, instead of the usual 45.
Prices and information
Read also: Auvergne: four little-known hikes in the Chaîne des Puys
Haute-Savoie: the Montenvers train then the Mont-Blanc tramway leaves on May 29 and June 9
The Montenvers train and the Mont-Blanc Tramway will take some time to carry out their usual pre-season work, to welcome the public as soon as possible. The first will transport you to the Mer de Glace from May 29. Details of timetables and prices are online. The gauge will be reduced to 50% capacity until at least June 9. The Tramway will resume its service from June 12 to take you to the Nid d'Aigle, on Mont-Blanc.
