The station
The Deux-Alpes plateau unfolds under the aegis of La Muzelle, the summit of the Ecrins culminating at 3465 m.
The origin of its name is simple: it is the mountain pasture between the villages of Venosc and Mont-de-Lans, where the first ski lift in the Isère resort was installed in 1946.
75 years later, these "Deux-Alpes" have become the highest ski area in France: starting from Mont-de-Lans at 1300 m, the lifts and slopes rise to the glaciers of Mantel and Girose , at 3568 m.
This layering promotes orientation: the newcomer quickly finds his way around the 200 km of slopes (9 black, 13 red, 36 blue and 13 green) and the 44 ski lifts.
The Jandri Express double gondola is the backbone of the area: its intermediate, located at 2586 m, is a crossroads, arrival and departure point for many slopes and chairlifts.
It is also a gathering place for friends or families, as even non-skiers can easily access it.
In winter, Deux-Alpes has two faces: festive, when it welcomes thousands of young English, German or Romanian people at the start and end of the season (Rise Festival, Snowfest, etc.), and family, during French school holidays.
Playing on this duality, the station seeks to be both friendly and sporty.
It begins its ecological transition by seeking to obtain the Flocon Vert label, and its elected officials wish to gradually banish cars from the plateau, on the model of Avoriaz.
Read also Ranking of the 200 French ski resorts: snow cover, ski pass prices... Which one is right for you?
What's new for winter 2023
The new Super Venosc gondola, accessible to pedestrians and skiers, transports you in less than 5min to an altitude of 2100m from the Clarine sector.
Pyrene DUFFAU / Les 2 Alpes
The winters of 2022 and 2023 have seen major investments by the operator, Sata (which also owns the neighbors of Alpe d'Huez and La Grave), with the arrival of
two gondolas
and
two "telemixes"
, these lifts combining chairlift and gondola.
The Pierre Grosse gondola, first of all, actually saw the light of day in early 2020, shortly before the start of the pandemic.
Over more than 1,000 meters of vertical drop, it takes skiers from the La Fée sector to the bottom of the glacier, at 3,100 meters.
Its construction led to the construction of the long blue
Pierre Grosse 1
track , which facilitates the passage of the Col des Gours.
A little further down, the north of the station now benefits from the new generation telemix.
Named "Devil", it takes skiers from 1650 to 2400 m.
On the slopes of Vallée Blanche, last winter saw the launch of the new
Super Venosc
gondola .
With a maximum flow of 2,200 people per hour, this lift replaces the old four-seater chairlift, dismantled in 2018 to allow the construction of a residence.
The new infrastructure will make it possible to enhance the Vallée Blanche sector, traditionally more confidential, by giving direct access to the ski area to the inhabitants of the southern part of the resort.
This novelty is accompanied by the creation of a first green run in this area and a telemix, also reaching the summit of Vallée Blanche at 2100 m.
The major project for the next two years will be the replacement of the station's framework, the
Jandri Express
.
30 years old, this double gondola will be dismantled to make way in December 2024 for a modern infrastructure, capable of withstanding strong winds and taking skiers from 1650 to 3200 m (glacier front) in 15 minutes, against 40 currently.
Read alsoSki clothing: 3 reasons to buy second-hand or rent this winter
Deux-Alpes ski area: our favorite slopes
For beginners, it is on the Mantel glacier at 3200 m that the best space for progression is located.
Adobe Stock
The structure of the domain allows that from the same point, a group can split up according to their desires, take a blue, red or black one, and meet again a few minutes later at the bottom of the lift.
The structure of the ski area also offers a rare opportunity: it is possible to ski non-stop from 3600 m (top of the glacier), to the village of Mont-de-Lans at 1300 m, i.e. a total drop of almost 2300 m.
For beginners, it is on the Mantel glacier at 3200 m that the best space for progression is located.
Jandri 5
or
Puy Salié 1
, debonair blue runs, are an excellent extension of the green runs located lower down, and allow you to progress in the majestic setting of the high peaks of the Écrins and Oisans.
Advanced skiers will have more fun on the long red
Les Vallons du Diable
run , accessible from the Diable or Les Crêtes chairlifts, or the black
Pierre Grosse 3 and 4
.
In the middle of the ski area, the
Thuit 2
blue run is a good choice in difficult snow conditions: facing north, it is located in a valley that keeps the snow cold.
Apart from the slopes, the site constitutes a good playground for
freeriding
, with more than 8000 hectares of potential.
Neophytes will try their hand at moderate risk on the slopes overlooking the resort, under the White Eggs and the Belle Étoile chairlift.
The most experienced will set off, preferably with a guide, in the Chalance, Saint Christophe or Aiguilles Rouges sector.
Equip yourself, whatever the case, with the DVA-Excavator-Probe triptych and find out about the conditions from professionals.
Read alsoWinter holidays: skiing, how to make life easier with toddlers
To see, to do this winter
Before, during or after the day's skiing, you can learn about electrically assisted mountain biking on snow.
Trail Hunter MTB / Photo press
If skiing is still the heart of the Deux-Alpes economic model (85% of visitors are skiers), the resort has been able to diversify its range of activities.
Before, during or after the day of skiing, you can learn
about electrically assisted mountain biking on snow
.
Trail Hunter MTB, Sport Emotion and Chez Bob offer guided rides in the Vallée Blanche sector, equipped with tires suitable for snow or extra-wide tires
(fat bike)
.
The practice of
ski touring
is concentrated near the Vallons du Diable, and unfortunately remains quite close to the resort's infrastructure.
The guide office and the ESF accommodate this by offering
headlamp outings in the
evening, and by launching the physical challenge of the 5,500 m of elevation gain: in three or four days, you have to climb skins from Mont -de-Lans to the glacier at 3600 m, accompanied by a guide.
Specific trails are also planned for ski touring, particularly in the Vallée Blanche sector.
Seeking to seduce thrill seekers, local instructors also offer an activity that is still not very widespread in our mountains:
speed-riding
, combining paragliding and skiing.
With his supervisor, the practitioner forms a pair under a wing shorter than that of the paraglider, and glides along a slope with the idea of playing in the air and with the relief.
"Skiing first tracks", an experience within ski reach to discover behind the scenes of the Les 2 Alpes ski area and the profession of tracker.
Les 2 Alpes / Press photo
This winter, the "
Skiing first tracks
" offer also offers holidaymakers the opportunity to discover the work of a tracker.
Meet at 8am to immerse yourself behind the scenes of this hidden profession: workstations, securing the slopes, rescue, fireworks, opening of the slopes... And for those who are intrigued by the snow groomer, a tour snow grooming is possible every Wednesday from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the foot of the Jandri Express gondola.
Read alsoSki: why do the French desert the slopes in the afternoon?
Where to sleep in Les Deux-Alpes?
At the Base Camp Lodge, the decor gives pride of place to wood, as with these very graphic headboards that draw the line of a mountain ridge.
Base Camp Lodge / Photo press
Designed to accommodate 20,000 people in high season, the accommodation offer in Deux-Alpes naturally includes residences, hotels and small chalets.
Some accommodations stand out, such as the
BaseCamp Lodge
, which just opened in December 2021. Its concept?
Offer affordable prices, including large dormitory-type rooms from €35 per night per person, but also a multitude of services such as a fitness room, sauna, bar (the BC7) and restaurant.
Read alsoSnow: ten very affordable new generation hotels for resort holidays
A few meters from it, we find the upscale
Chamois Lodge.
With 19 rooms, this hotel tries to revisit the mountain spirit with a more modern decoration, between quirky objects and rustic wooden tables.
On the first level of this large chalet is a luxury restaurant, where redesigned traditional dishes rub shoulders with great vintages.
Read alsoHotel Ibiza in Deux-Alpes, the expert opinion of Figaro
Where to have lunch (and more) on the slopes?
On the ridges, at 2100 m, the
Diable au Cœur
restaurant hosts both a snack bar for those who want to have a bite to eat between two slopes, and an upscale bistronomic restaurant, facing the Écrins and the Muzelle.
The dishes, prepared only with French products, are offered from around twenty euros.
In the resort, the
bistro Les Lutins
is the meeting place for locals, who taste the classics revisited by chef Louison.
A newcomer in 2022-2023, the
Yonder Café
is a place with Scandinavian inspirations, which places the quest for healthy food and short circuits at the heart of its philosophy.
At the end of the plateau, the historic chalet Mounier hotel (present on the summer pasture since 1879) welcomes gourmets in its starred restaurant,
the P'tit Polyte
, directed by chef Tanguy Rattier.
À la carte, "Murgat" trout or sweetbreads, in an atmosphere made up of light wood, white tablecloths and red armchairs.
Read alsoMountain: restaurants to discover this winter in the heart of the resorts
Ski passes 2022/2023: prices and good deals
Ski with family or friends with the Tribu skipass.
2 Alpes / Press photo
Different formulas are offered to holidaymakers staying for a week and to occasional skiers:
4-hour pass
to be used only at the bottom of the slopes: €21.50.
Small domain
and Vallée blanche day pass: €30.
Half-day
pass that can be used across the entire area: from €47.
Day pass usable on the whole area
: €56.
6-day
pass: €279 (i.e. €46.50 per day).
Tips :
It is possible to obtain a 50 to 55% reduction on passes of 2 days or more when booking an accommodation stay with ski pass on the 2 Alpes Reservation website.
In addition, the resort offers permanent and free access to six ski lifts at the bottom of the resort (Petit Bosquet, Limaçon, Viking 1 and 2 and Coolidge 1 and 2), ideal for warming up for an hour after a long trip. .
Go
The station is accessible by TGV, the nearest station is Grenoble.
From Grenoble bus station and the region's airports, shuttles run regularly to take you to the foot of the slopes.
By car:
access from Paris: A6 to Lyon then A48 and D1091.
From Marseille: A7 to Valence, then A49, A48 and D1091.
By train:
TGV from Paris (3h) or Marseille-Grenoble (3h to 3h30 with connection).
This is followed by a 1h15 drive by car, or 1h45 with the Cars Région and Transaltitude buses.
ASK ABOUT
Tourist Office of the 2 Alps.
4 place des 2 Alpes, 38860 Les Deux-Alpes.
Such.
: 04 76 79 22 00.