Vars Village Guide 2026

Vars at a glance

Photos via Google, contributed by Luca Garnerone, Damien Noblecourt and Albert Dewas.

What Vars is really like

Vars is really four small hamlets strung up a sunny mountainside, of which the highest, Vars les Claux, is the main station and where most visitors stay. It is a high, snow sure, practical base built for skiing rather than sightseeing, with a decent spread of shops, ski schools, a swimming pool and family restaurants, and a good amount of accommodation close to or on the slopes. The lower hamlets of Sainte Marie and Sainte Catherine keep more of an old Hautes Alpes village feel for those who want it.

The honest trade off is charm. Vars les Claux is functional, not pretty, and the nights are calm. What you get in exchange is altitude, sunshine, real ski in ski out and a big intermediate playground at a price the headline resorts cannot match. For the full mountain breakdown see our Vars ski resort review.

Where to stay in Vars

The first decision is which hamlet suits you. Vars les Claux at around 1,850 m puts you on the snow front with the most ski in ski out apartments, the lifts, the pool and the shops, which is the easy choice for families who want lifts from the door. The lower hamlets of Sainte Marie and Sainte Catherine trade a little convenience for a more traditional village atmosphere and a quieter night, with a bus link up to the lifts.

Accommodation is mostly modern self catering apartments and residences, with a smaller number of catered and family chalets, so a week here often lands in the under $2,000 to $4,000 band per person, rising into the $4,000 to $8,000 band for catered chalets. Because the station spreads across several levels, ask any property how far the nearest lift is and whether the ski bus stops nearby before you book.

Skiing from the village

From Vars les Claux the lifts climb straight onto the Foret Blanche, a wide, sunny, larch lined ski area of around 180 km of pistes shared with neighbouring Risoul on a single pass. The terrain is a cruising intermediate's dream: long, well groomed reds and blues, gentle motorway runs for families and enough quiet corners that lift queues rarely bite outside peak weeks.

The altitude keeps the snow reliable from December into April even though the slopes face the southern sun, and the link over to Risoul roughly doubles the sense of space for the price of one ticket. Stronger skiers will find a handful of blacks and off piste lines to keep them honest, while families and improvers get one of the best value mileage areas in France. For a change of scene, Les Orres and Serre Chevalier are within reach for a day trip.

Apres ski and evenings

Evenings in Vars are relaxed and family friendly. Vars les Claux has enough bars and restaurants for a pizza, a fondue and a quiet drink, plus the pool and a few simple activities, but this is not a place people come for nightlife. Most families eat in or take an easy dinner out and turn in for an early start.

If your group wants the occasional livelier night, a few bars in the station get going in peak weeks, but the honest expectation is calm. That suits the value family and the mileage hungry intermediate perfectly: you are here to ski hard and sleep well, not to dance until late.

For families and non skiers

Vars is a strong, underrated family base. The high snow front at Les Claux means lifts and gentle runs from the door, the ski schools are used to English speaking children, and there is a dedicated beginner area plus a swimming pool for downtime. The compact station is easy to manage with young children and a buggy. Non skiers get a quieter menu, snowshoe walks, the pool and sunny terraces with valley views rather than a packed events calendar, so the appeal here is calm and convenience rather than spectacle. For the wider picture see our guide to the best French resorts for families.

Getting around

Within Vars les Claux you can walk to the lifts, the shops and the pool, and a free ski bus links the hamlets up and down the mountain through the day, so a car is not essential once you arrive. A car does help for a supermarket run or a day trip to a neighbouring resort. If you would rather not drive the mountain road in winter, a private transfer drops you at your hamlet and you ski from there.

Getting there

Turin airport is around 2 hours 30 minutes away by road over the border and Marseille around 3 hours, with Grenoble a further option. The drive ends on a mountain road, so a private transfer is the easy choice in winter, though a hire car adds flexibility for day trips. Arrange a transfer or car through our transfer partner and put cover in place through our travel insurance partner before you travel. For more arrival options see our guide to ski resorts near Turin.

Lift passes, lessons and ski hire

Most visitors buy the full Foret Blanche pass at around $50 a day, which covers both Vars and Risoul and is the obvious choice given the link is half the appeal. Multi day and family rates bring the daily cost down further, and a cheaper Vars only pass suits families staying on the home side. Compare current pass options through our lift pass partner, book lessons through our lessons partner, and sort skis or a board through our ski hire partner.

When to go

Thanks to the altitude, Vars skis well from December into April. January and early February give the coldest snow and the quietest, best value weeks outside the French holidays, while February half term is the busiest stretch. March and early April bring long, sunny days that suit this south facing area beautifully, with spring cruising on a still solid base. Aim for a holiday week only if you must, since the value and the space are best off peak.

The honest bottom line

Vars is one of the best value big ski weeks in France: a high, snow sure, sunny station with real ski in ski out, around 180 km of cruising terrain shared with Risoul, and prices that leave room in the budget. You trade a pretty village and a lively night for altitude, mileage and bills that stay polite, which is a trade plenty of families and intermediates are glad to make.

For families and cruising intermediates who care more about snow, space and cost than about charm, it is an easy recommendation. Anyone set on a postcard village or a buzzing apres scene should look elsewhere. 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 Vars and the Foret Blanche well.

Get chalet and lodging quotes

For a faster quote on where to stay in Vars, send the short form below and operators who know the station and the Foret Blanche will price your dates and group, including which hamlet and how close to the lifts suits you best.

Common questions