Les Orres Ski Resort Review 2026
Les Orres is a sunny, forested family value station high above the turquoise Serre Poncon lake, one of the best kept secrets of the southern French Alps. It pairs around 100 km of well groomed, larch lined pistes with strong southern sunshine, dependable altitude snow and prices well below the famous names to the north. Book it if you are a family or intermediate who wants sun, value and tree skiing without the crowds. Skip it if you want a big linked area, lively nightlife or short airport transfers.
By the Ski Resorts for Kings editorial team · Last reviewed May 2026
Mountain stats at a glance
| Village altitude | around 1,650 m |
|---|---|
| Top lift | around 2,720 m |
| Vertical | roughly 1,070 m |
| Pistes | around 100 km |
| Run split | roughly 20 percent green, 40 percent blue, 30 percent red, 10 percent black |
| Lifts | around 18 |
| Season | roughly mid December to mid April |
| Nearest airport | Turin or Marseille, roughly 2 hours 30 minutes, Grenoble around 2 hours |
| Day pass | around $45 |
Photos via Google. Contributed by Station Les Orres, Tom Pierrot, Sandrine DIDIER, Brnice Perez.
Who it suits
Les Orres suits families and intermediates who want sunshine, value and quiet, scenic skiing over size and status. The forested setting is a real asset, sheltering the pistes from wind and giving good visibility on a snowy day, and the gentle blues and flowing reds are ideal for improving skiers and confident families. The southern French Alps sun and the lake views below make it a genuinely uplifting place to ski for a relaxed week.
It suits experts and party seekers far less. The terrain tops out at moderate difficulty, with only a few short blacks and limited off piste, so strong skiers will want more. The village is friendly but low key, so anyone after a big apres ski scene or marquee dining will be underwhelmed, and the long airport transfers count against it for a short break. This is a resort for skiers who value the experience over the postcode.
The skiing
Les Orres spreads around 100 km of pistes across two linked sectors, Les Orres 1650 and the higher Bois Mean, rising from the village at about 1,650 m to a top near 2,720 m. The lower slopes thread through beautiful larch forest, which makes for atmospheric tree skiing and reliable visibility, while the upper mountain opens into wider, sunnier bowls with long cruising runs and the best lake views in the region. It is a flowing, friendly mountain that rewards intermediates who like to keep moving.
The honest read is that Les Orres is about quality of experience rather than sheer challenge. The grooming is good, the pistes are quiet outside the holidays, and the altitude keeps the snow honest despite the southern latitude. After a storm the tree runs offer fun, sheltered powder, but the serious off piste and steep terrain are limited, so experts should treat a visit as a sunny, scenic change of pace rather than a test piece. For families and cruisers it is close to ideal.
The village
Les Orres is a purpose built resort with a warmer feel than most, built largely in wood and stone and wrapped in forest rather than parked on a bare slope. The main village at 1,650 m holds the shops, ski school and lifts within easy reach, and a newer development at Bois Mean adds ski in ski out apartments higher up. It is practical and pleasant rather than picturesque, and the surrounding scenery does the heavy lifting.
Evenings are quiet and family oriented, with a handful of restaurants and bars and the occasional resort event rather than a nightlife scene. The old village of Les Orres lower down the mountain adds a touch of genuine Hautes Alpes character for an afternoon's wander. For families wanting calm and convenience this is a plus, for anyone craving buzz it will feel sleepy.
Where to stay
Lodging is mostly self catering apartments and residences, with the most convenient ski in ski out options up at Bois Mean and a wider choice in the main 1650 village. Booking on the snow removes the daily shuffle to the lifts and keeps a family week affordable, which is the whole point of a resort like this. For more comfort and catering, chalets can be arranged, and the total still undercuts the northern Alps comfortably.
Our guide to booking a catered chalet explains how the catered formula works. If you want Les Orres priced for your dates and group, use the form below and we will route your brief to operators who plan value trips.
Lift pass prices and how to save
A Les Orres day pass runs around $45, comfortably below the northern giants and good value for 100 km of varied, well groomed skiing. Six day and family passes cut the daily rate, and because most skiers happily fill a week on the home area there is rarely a need to pay for anything wider. Booking the pass and your gear ahead of the season rush saves more again.
Compare current prices and buy ahead through our lift pass partner.
Lessons and ski hire
Les Orres has a welcoming ski school geared to families, with gentle nursery areas and wide blues that make it a fine place to learn or progress. Book children's group lessons early for the February holiday weeks, and a private lesson can fast track a nervous adult on the quiet pistes. Ski hire is straightforward in both village sectors, with multi day and family deals that fit the budget feel of the resort.
Arrange lessons through our lessons partner and skis, boots and helmets through our ski hire partner before you arrive to skip the first morning queue.
Getting there
Les Orres sits above the Serre Poncon lake near Embrun in the Hautes Alpes, which means longer transfers than the northern resorts. Grenoble is roughly 2 hours by road, with Turin and Marseille around 2 hours 30 minutes and Nice a little more. There is a train station at Embrun in the valley below, a short transfer from the resort, which makes a rail trip feasible. A car is useful here for reaching the lake and the wider region on a flat light day.
Book an airport transfer through our transfer partner, and sort cover for the trip through our travel insurance partner before you travel.
When to go
January and early March outside the French school holidays are the value sweet spot, with quiet pistes, low prices and reliable cover at altitude. The forested, north influenced slopes hold snow well into the season, and the strong southern sun makes for gloriously bright skiing days. February holiday weeks bring the crowds and the highest prices, while spring afternoons soften in the sun, so late season favors morning skiing and the higher Bois Mean runs.
The honest bottom line
Les Orres is a sunny, forested, excellent value family resort with lake views and quiet, well groomed pistes, a real find in the southern French Alps. Book it if you are a family or intermediate who wants sunshine, scenery and value over size and scene. Skip it if you are an expert, want a big linked area or need short transfers and nightlife. For a relaxed, scenic week that respects your budget, it is hard to beat.
If you want this trip priced by specialists, tell us your dates and budget below and we will route your brief to operators who know the southern French Alps.
Nearby alternatives
Higher up the valley, Risoul and its linked neighbor Vars share the larger Foret Blanche area for more mileage on one pass. For a bigger, more varied all rounder with real village character, Serre Chevalier is the regional benchmark a short drive north.
Common questions
Is Les Orres good for families?
Yes, it is one of the better value family resorts in the southern French Alps. Gentle nursery slopes, wide blues, sheltered tree skiing and ski in ski out apartments at Bois Mean make it easy and safe for children, all at prices well below the northern Alps.
How big is the Les Orres ski area?
Around 100 km of pistes across two linked sectors, rising from the village at about 1,650 m to roughly 2,720 m. That is plenty for a family or intermediate week, though strong skiers chasing big mileage or steeps will want a larger area.
Is the snow reliable at Les Orres?
Generally yes, thanks to altitude and forested, north influenced slopes that hold cover well despite the southern sun. The pistes are backed by snowmaking, and midwinter and the higher Bois Mean runs give the most dependable conditions.
How much does Les Orres cost?
It is good value. The day pass is around $45, lodging is mostly self catering apartments on or near the snow, and family and multi day deals lower the total. A week here costs well below the famous Tarentaise resorts.
How do you get to Les Orres?
It sits above the Serre Poncon lake near Embrun in the Hautes Alpes. Grenoble is roughly 2 hours by road, with Turin and Marseille around 2 hours 30 minutes. There is a train station at Embrun in the valley below, a short transfer from the resort.
Is there much for experts at Les Orres?
Not a lot. The terrain is mostly gentle to moderate, with only a few short blacks and limited off piste. Experts should treat Les Orres as a sunny, scenic change of pace and look to Serre Chevalier or La Grave for serious terrain.
Where should you stay and when should you go?
Plan your Les Orres trip with specialists
Send one brief and vetted operators return tailored proposals covering lodging, lessons, transfers and passes. No fee to you, ever.