Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez, known as 'l'Isle du Soleil' or The Island of the Sun, is a bustling year-round resort perched at 1869m above sea level in the heart of the French Alps' Oisans region. With its highest point reaching 3300m on the Pic Blanc glacier, accessible in both summer and winter, it boasts the most sunshine-filled ski slopes.
Part of the expansive Grand Domaine ski area, encompassing Alpe d'Huez, Auris-en-Oisans, Huez-en-Oisans, Oz-en-Oisans, Vaujany, and Villard Reculas, this resort caters to skiers and snowboarders of all levels, complete with excellent snowparks, earning it the 'Famille Plus' label for family-friendly vacations. In summer, Alpe d'Huez becomes a cycling paradise, featuring the iconic 21 hairpin bends of the Tour de France.
Hikers and mountain bikers can also make use of the lifts in July and August. Regardless of the season, Alpe d'Huez remains an affordable haven for outdoor enthusiasts.
Highlights
Activity
Experience the Alpine coaster with an exciting twist: don virtual reality goggles before embarking on the roller coaster journey. Brace yourself for an otherworldly adventure as you twist and turn down the track.
Après Ski
Folie Douce sits atop the Marmottes 1 ski lift, offering the perfect setting to bask in the sun, dance on tables, and enjoy breathtaking views.
Best Piste
Alpe d’Huez’s show piece has to be the descent from the Pic Blanc: the longest continuously pisted vertical descent in the world – 2,200m of leg burning fun. It’s referred to as the ‘champagne run’ because that’s exactly what you deserve if you can do it without stopping (which is nearly impossible).
History
Alpe d’Huez
Nestled in a vast south-west facing bowl atop an 1800-meter plateau overlooking Le Bourg-d'Oisans, Alpe d'Huez stands as one of France's oldest ski resorts. Bathed in sunlight, it has earned the charming moniker "l'île au soleil" or the "island of sunshine." This region has a rich history, with evidence of human habitation predating even the Roman conquest of Gaul.
The rugged terrain, with its steep slopes, outcrops, and gorges, provided easy access to the earth's treasures. Legend has it that the Romans once mined for a variety of minerals, including silver, copper, zinc, and coal, along these slopes. A tangible relic of that ancient era is the voie de Brande, a historic route that traverses the plateau and dates back to Roman times.
Things to do
Activities
Alpe d’Huez offers many other attractions like the alpine coaster (a 700m toboggan run on rails), dogs-sledges, snow bikes, aeroplane flights and many other winter activities.
Alpe d'Huez is also a fitness resort in the summer season, offering numerous activities like rambling, mountain biking, climbing, via ferrata, horse riding, fishing and pool swimming, to name but a few.
Additionally, Tomorrowland has also chosen this destination as the location of winter Tomorrowland.
Getting around
Transport
Traveling to Alpe d'Huez by train presents a fantastic option. Your journey can begin with the Eurostar, taking you to Paris, and from there, you can smoothly transition to the TGV heading towards Grenoble. Following that, it's a matter of catching a bus or securing a taxi ride to Alpe d'Huez. While this route may take slightly more time door-to-door compared to flying, it offers a decidedly more relaxed experience, with the added benefit of no baggage limitations – making it ideal if you plan to bring your own skiing equipment. If you require assistance planning your train voyage, don't hesitate to reach out to us.
For those who prefer flying, Grenoble Airport is the closest option, a mere 1 hour and 30 minutes away by car. Chambery Airport is slightly farther, at approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes' drive, while Lyon Airport is about a 2-hour drive away. However, arguably the most convenient choice is Geneva Airport, which is a bit more distant at around 2 hours and 40 minutes by car but offers a wider array of flight options and smoother transfers to Alpe d'Huez.
Après ski
Activities
The arrival of La Folie Douce for winter 2013/14 and Tomorrowland Winter festival in 2019 cemented Alpe d’Huez’s reputation as a party resort, joining a large number of lively bars and clubs in town where you can party from early afternoon until early morning.
Bringing its unique brand of “sweet madness” to the resort’s après scene, La Folie Douce has been a presence in Alpe d'Huez's apres scene since 2013. The bar and adjoining restaurants are located on Plat des Marmottes and can be accessed by both skiers/snowboarders and pedestrians via the Marmotte 1 chairlift.
How do I get Lift Passes?
Ski Pass
A ski pass at Alpe d'Huez gives you access to 250km of slopes, some awesome off-piste and the infamous 16km Sarenne glacier run - the longest black run in the world.
If you're coming to Alpe d'Huez for a week, you'll probably want a six day ski pass.
You can buy your Alpe d'Huez ski pass online and have it delivered to your home, or you can collect it from one of the ski pass offices in resort.
You can also buy your pass at any of the ski pass offices, but to get the best price we recommend you buy online at least three days in advance.
On top of the lift pass price, you’ll be asked to pay €2 for a hands-free card to use on the turnstiles. This goes for everyone, including children under five (who go free on the lifts).
You can buy lift passes online here.
