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 alpine skiing: since May 19, ski lifts and tourist trains can start. , 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, the 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 and local authorities make it compulsory.
See also
- Haute-Savoie: resorts limit breakage by offering alternatives to downhill skiing
Read also: Cozy and easy to access, five mountain huts for family summer vacations
Glacier skiing: the Deux-Alpes reopens on May 29, 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 wintery month of April, it snowed in abundance above 1,800 m from May 3 to 12, then in recent days around 3,000 m, 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
View of the snowpark, which is also reopening to the general public thanks to the excellent snow level, here on May 26.
Luka Leroy
Facing the peaks of the Ecrins, the Deux-Alpes glacier welcomes skiers and snowboarders from this Saturday, May 29 until the end of August. A start that takes place a week earlier than usual because "
people have itchy spatulas",
rejoices Jeanne Mounaut of the tourist office. And also because the snow cover remains exceptional to this day, and it has fallen more than 1.50 m of powder above 3000 m this last fortnight. From 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., you can take a dozen ski lifts, including the Jandri Express which takes you from the station to 3200 m, at the foot of the glacier, where you can go on the "pickaxes" of Puy-Salié and Lauze , to reach 3568 m, the pinnacle of the domain. Good news, the slopes are open up to the Toura part at 2600 m, thanks to the quality of the coat. Enough to afford 1000 m of quiet elevation on the Jandri 5 and 4.
At the start of the season, the general public will be able to slide within 120 hectares for a dozen marked trails.
The snowpark is also open.
The price of the package will change from € 36.50 (single price) from May 29 to June 18;
then at € 43.50 / adult and € 35 (child 5-12 and senior 65-71) until the end of August.
In keeping with the gauges, the number of packages sold each day will be limited.
Reservations can be made online or at the terminals of the Isère station.
Read also: In Deux-Alpes, in the great white of Oisans
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
On the Grande-Motte glacier, in Tignes.
Opening scheduled for June 19, with 20 km of slopes.
Andy Parant
Under the peaks of the Vanoise, 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 are gradually putting an end to the hibernation imposed on October 29.
As soon as the gradual deconfinement was announced, tourist trains and large cable cars have been in battle order to welcome the public since May 19.
A selection of possible getaways in the coming weeks.
Hautes-Pyrénées: the
Pic du Midi cable car
resumed service on May 19
The suspended pontoon, at the top of the Pic du Midi.
Florent Gay
The Pic du Midi cable car started up on May 19.
You can therefore 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 restarted on May 22
He resumed service on May 22.
The Sancy cable car leads to the top of the highest point of the Monts Dore.
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 are 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 take a little 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 service from June 12 to take you to the Nid d'Aigle, on Mont-Blanc.
