Les Deux Alpes
Les Deux Alpes is one of France's great high altitude resorts, built around a long ribbon village in the Oisans with a summer skiable glacier at its top and one of the liveliest party scenes in the Alps at its base. It is the place for confident intermediates, freestylers and night owls who want guaranteed snow and a buzz. First timers and families who want gentle slopes by the door are better served by the Alpe d'Huez villages just across the valley.
By the Ski Resorts for Kings editorial team · Last reviewed May 2026
The honest verdict: Les Deux Alpes is the most snow sure party resort in the French Oisans, with a glacier that skis into summer and a famously big apres scene. It rewards intermediates and freestylers who like high, open cruising and late nights, and it disappoints anyone wanting a gentle valley layout, since the easy terrain is up top and the runs home are steep. Reached in around an hour and a half from Grenoble, it pairs naturally with Alpe d'Huez over the hill for a varied Oisans trip.
What Les Deux Alpes is
Les Deux Alpes sits high in the Oisans, southeast of Grenoble, on a long shelf at around 1,650 m with skiing that climbs to a glacier above 3,400 m. That altitude is the whole point: the snow is among the most reliable in France, the glacier holds into summer, and the upper mountain offers wide, gentle cruising while the lower slopes back to the village turn steep and serious. It is one of the few resorts where beginners ski high and experts find their challenge dropping back down.
Two things define the place. First, the freestyle and party culture, with a strong snow park and an apres ski scene that rivals anything in the Alps for energy. Second, the links and neighbours: a lift and bus connection toward La Grave's legendary off piste, and Alpe d'Huez a short hop across the valley, give the wider Oisans real depth for a week or two.
The resorts we would actually pick, ranked
We rank the Les Deux Alpes area and its Oisans neighbours on terrain, snow reliability, village quality and who they suit. Each links to a full review.
| Rank | Resort | The verdict in a line |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Les Deux Alpes | High, snow sure and lively, with a summer glacier and a big apres scene. Best for intermediates and freestylers. |
| 2 | Alpe d'Huez | The sunny giant across the valley, with vast varied terrain and an easier layout for families. |
| 3 | Vaujany | A quiet, characterful village with fast lifts into the Alpe d'Huez area. Calm base, big skiing. |
| 4 | Auris en Oisans | A small, sunny balcony village on the Alpe d'Huez network. Gentle and family friendly. |
| 5 | Oz en Oisans | A modern, convenient gateway into the Grand Domaine with good value ski in ski out. |
Who the region suits
Book it if
You are a confident intermediate or freestyler who wants guaranteed snow, high open cruising and a proper night out. Les Deux Alpes delivers all three better than almost anywhere in France, and the glacier means early and late season trips are a safe bet. Off piste skiers can reach the legendary terrain around La Grave nearby.
Think twice if
You are a nervous beginner or a family wanting an easy run back to the door, in which case the gentler Alpe d'Huez villages suit better, or you want the single largest lift linked area in France, where the Trois Vallees is bigger. Anyone seeking a quiet, traditional village will find the long, modern resort centre too busy.
Pass, access and when to go
- Main airport Grenoble, around an hour and a half by road
- Other gateways Lyon, Geneva
- Snow sure backup the Les Deux Alpes glacier, skiable into summer
- Best for intermediates, freestyle, apres ski, snow security
- Best months December to April, glacier beyond
- Nearby Alpe d'Huez and the off piste of La Grave
Les Deux Alpes sells its own area pass, and combined Oisans tickets can add days at Alpe d'Huez and La Grave. Compare options through our lift pass partner, arrange a Grenoble transfer with our transfer partner, book ski school through our lessons partner and pick up gear via our ski hire partner.
For the wider view, read our guide to skiing in France and the head to head Alpe d'Huez vs Les Deux Alpes. If you want this trip priced by specialists, tell us your dates and budget below and we will route your brief to the right operators.
Plan My Ski Trip
If you want a Les Deux Alpes trip priced by specialists, from a snow sure glacier week to a lively apres base or a quiet Oisans village, tell us your dates, your group and your budget and we will route your brief to operators who know the region.
Questions worth asking
Is Les Deux Alpes good for beginners?
It is good for confident beginners who learn on the gentle greens high up the mountain, but it is not ideal for nervous first timers because the runs back down to the village are steep. The trick is to base lessons on the upper slopes and download by lift. Families wanting an easy valley layout are better off at nearby Alpe d'Huez.
Does Les Deux Alpes have a glacier?
Yes. Les Deux Alpes has a glacier that rises above 3,400 m and is skiable into summer, which makes the resort one of the most snow sure in France and a reliable choice for early and late season trips. The gentle glacier pistes are also the best beginner terrain on the mountain.
Is Les Deux Alpes good for apres ski?
Yes. Les Deux Alpes has one of the liveliest apres ski and nightlife scenes in the French Alps, with busy bars from mid afternoon and clubs running late. It suits groups and younger skiers who want energy in the evenings, and is less suited to anyone seeking a quiet night.
How does Les Deux Alpes compare to Alpe d'Huez?
Les Deux Alpes is higher, more snow sure and more freestyle and party focused, with a summer glacier, while Alpe d'Huez is larger, sunnier and has a gentler layout that suits families better. They sit across the valley from each other, so many trips combine both. Our full comparison weighs them category by category.
How do you get to Les Deux Alpes?
Fly to Grenoble for the shortest transfer at around an hour and a half, or to Lyon or Geneva for more flight choice and roughly two to two and a half hours by road. Transfers can be booked ahead to time with your flights.