Les Orres vs Serre Chevalier: which should you book?
Last reviewed June 2026
The short answer
Serre Chevalier wins decisively on size, snow up high, tree skiing and off piste. Les Orres wins on value, calm and family ease. A powder hunter should book Serre Chevalier and ski the larch forests after a storm.
Les Orres and Serre Chevalier both sit in the Hautes Alpes, where cold clear high pressure pairs sunshine with proper altitude. Both are known for skiing through beautiful larch forest, which is gold for a snow chaser because trees hold powder and give you something to ski when the light goes flat. But the two are very different in scale.
Serre Chevalier is one of the largest ski areas in the Southern Alps, around 250 km of pistes climbing from the valley towns up to roughly 2,800 m, with a deep network of tree runs and open bowls. It has a real off piste reputation and the vertical to match. Les Orres is a smaller, sunnier area of around 100 km above the Serre Poncon lake, lovely for families and value seekers but limited for anyone wanting big mileage or steep terrain.
| Les Orres | Serre Chevalier | |
|---|---|---|
| Resort altitude | around 1,650 to 1,800 m | around 1,200 to 1,500 m in the valley |
| Top lift | around 2,700 m | around 2,800 m |
| Pistes | around 100 km | around 250 km |
| Lift pass | around $42 | around $55 |
| Snow reliability | Decent, sunny, helped by altitude | Stronger, big area, snow sure up high |
| Off piste and trees | Modest, pleasant larch runs | Excellent, famous larch forest freeride |
| Village style | Compact purpose built, family | Old valley towns plus ski stations |
| Best for | Families, value, quiet weeks | Snow chasers, mileage, tree skiing |
| Nearest airport | Turin or Marseille, roughly 2.5 hours | Turin, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours |
The skiing
Serre Chevalier is much the bigger and more varied mountain, with around 250 km of pistes spanning gentle valley runs, long reds and genuine steeps, plus an enormous spread of tree skiing. Les Orres is a tidy area of roughly 100 km, mostly blue and red cruising through larch, fine for a relaxed week but quickly explored. Winner: Serre Chevalier.
Snow security
Both benefit from Hautes Alpes altitude and sunshine, but Serre Chevalier's larger area and higher reaches give it more dependable cover and more options to chase shade and fresh snow. Les Orres holds snow reasonably for its size thanks to altitude and snowmaking, but it is smaller and sunnier. Winner: Serre Chevalier.
Off piste and tree skiing
This is Serre Chevalier's calling card and the reason a snow chaser books it. The larch forests above the valley hold powder for days after a storm, and there is serious lift accessed off piste for those who know where to look or hire a guide. Les Orres has pleasant tree runs but nothing on this scale. Winner: Serre Chevalier, by a distance.
Cost and value
Les Orres is the cheaper week. The pass is lower, the resort is compact and self catering is easy and affordable, which makes it a strong value family base. Serre Chevalier costs more but gives you far more mountain. Winner: Les Orres on cost, Serre Chevalier on value per kilometer.
The villages
Serre Chevalier is really a string of old valley towns and purpose built stations, anchored by the historic walled town of Briancon, which gives it character and good dining. Les Orres is a neat, sunny, purpose built resort that does the family basics well but lacks atmosphere. Winner: Serre Chevalier.
Families
Les Orres is the easier family choice for a calm, affordable week with young children, with gentle terrain and short distances. Serre Chevalier works for families too, especially mixed ability ones, but it is bigger and busier. Winner: Les Orres for simplicity, Serre Chevalier for variety.
The verdict
If you are chasing snow, tree skiing and mileage, book Serre Chevalier, one of the finest all round mountains in the Southern Alps and a true powder day reward. If you want a quiet, sunny, affordable family week and you do not need a huge area, book Les Orres. Read our reviews of Les Orres and Serre Chevalier, compare Risoul vs Serre Chevalier, Les Orres vs Risoul and Les Orres vs Vars, and browse the best resorts in the Southern French Alps. If you want this trip priced by specialists, tell us your dates and budget and we will route your brief to the right operators.
Common questions
Which is bigger, Les Orres or Serre Chevalier?
Serre Chevalier, by a wide margin. It has around 250 km of pistes against roughly 100 km at Les Orres, with far more vertical, variety and tree skiing. Les Orres is a compact, sunny area best suited to a relaxed week.
Which has better snow and off piste?
Serre Chevalier. Its larger, higher area holds snow better and its famous larch forests offer some of the best lift accessed tree skiing in the Southern Alps. Les Orres has pleasant larch runs but nothing on the same scale.
Which is better value?
Les Orres costs less for a week, with a lower pass and cheaper, easy self catering, which makes it a strong family value pick. Serre Chevalier costs more but offers far more terrain, so it wins on value per kilometer.
Which is better for tree skiing in bad weather?
Serre Chevalier, clearly. Its extensive larch forests give you sheltered, defined skiing when the light is flat or it is snowing, which is exactly when a snow chaser wants trees. Les Orres has some tree runs but far fewer.
Which is better for families?
Les Orres for a calm, affordable week with young children, thanks to gentle terrain and short distances. Serre Chevalier suits mixed ability families who want variety, though it is bigger and busier.
How do you get to each resort?
Serre Chevalier is roughly 1.5 to 2 hours from Turin. Les Orres is more remote, around 2.5 hours from Turin or Marseille. Both reward a hire car given their Southern Alps location.