Skip to main content

Les 2 Alpes

A high-altitude resort with glacier skiing and year-round mountain adventures

Located in
Les Deux Alpes
Featured in
Towns & Villages
Updated

Les 2 Alpes is a high-altitude resort with 225km of pistes and the largest skiable glacier in Europe. The village stretches along a wide plateau with stunning views and a huge choice of self-catered apartments plus a few central chalets. Staying in the heart of the resort puts you close to lifts, bars and restaurants, while free shuttle buses make it easy to get around. The nearby market town of Bourg d’Oisans is perfect for a day trip or to stock up on supplies.

A former mountain pasture perched at 1,650m, Les 2 Alpes is France’s second oldest ski area after Chamonix and home to the largest skiable glacier in Europe. With 225km of pistes and skiing up to 3,600m, it’s a year-round destination for snow lovers and summer adventurers. The resort sits at the heart of a vast lift network linking it to surrounding villages, including Mont de Lans, Venosc and even La Grave, so wherever you stay, you’ll have easy access to the slopes.

The name ‘Deux Alpes’ comes from the two sides of the valley in which the resort was built. It stretches along a wide plateau with magnificent views to the Muzelle on the far side of the Vénéon valley. Accommodation is strung along the main road from Petit Plan to Place de Venosc, with most places within walking distance of shops, restaurants and bars. Staying right in the centre means you can be first on the lifts in the morning and last out of the bars at night, with everything on your doorstep. You’ll find a huge choice of self-catered apartments here, from compact studios to luxury penthouses sleeping ten or more. Chalets are a little rarer in the centre but there are still a few to choose from.

Free shuttle buses run through the resort to help you get around, so it’s worth checking where the nearest stop is to your accommodation. And if you need to stock up or fancy a day off the slopes, the lively market town of Bourg d’Oisans is just 20 to 30 minutes’ drive away with a big supermarket, garages, car hire, a Saturday market and plenty of cafés for a sunny lunch.

Le Village 1800

Village 1800 sits at the top end of Les 2 Alpes and is a quiet, purpose-built base with direct access to the slopes via the Village chairlift. Most accommodation here is in self-catered apartments ranging from compact studios to large chalet-style options for bigger groups. The accommodation here is simpler and in a quieter area than the main resort, but with super-easy access to the pistes. You’ll find free covered parking and a couple of handy shops and eateries, but for a livelier evening out, you’ll need to head down to the main resort.

LocationKm from Les 2 AlpesBest for
Les 2 Alpes-Being at the centre of everything
Le Village 18001.1Purpose-built, easy access to slopes
Venosc6Peaceful medieval village, linked by lift
Villages of Les 2 Alpes

Sights & Attractions in Les Deux Alpes

The pretty village of La Grave, notorious for its challenging off-piste terrain is about 30 minutes away by road - ride the old gondola for some of the most spectacular mountain views in the region. The ride up to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez an hour away offers views of distant Mont Blanc. Further afield you can tour the Chartreus distillery at Voiron on the other side of Grenoble, visit the museum and grounds of the chateau at Vizille on the D1091, or take a ride on the old funicular railway at St Hilaire du Touvet towards Chambery.

Sights in Les Deux Alpes

See all Sights & Sites

Dining in Les Deux Alpes

Deux Alpes caters for everyone from the gourmet to the fast food fan. At the top end, the Chalet Hotel Mounier offers tasting menus and an extensive wine list, and the Raisin d'Ours is owner-run by the Mounier's Michelin-starred former chef. Les Sagnes serves excellent crepes and a range of local specialities in a rustic atmosphere in front of a roaring log fire. Tribeca at one end of town and l'Etable at the other both have great pizzas, and anyone looking for a decent burger 'n' chips need look no further than the British-run Le Takeaway in the centre of town.

Restaurants in Les Deux Alpes

See all Restaurants

Events in Les Deux Alpes

In the winter the resort is host to a number of freestyle events in the snow park and also in the summer where ski camps and racers come to train. Summer snowcamps and freestyle competitions take place on the galcier every year, attracting teams from all over the world.

Events in Les Deux Alpes

See all Events Calendar

Things to do in Les Deux Alpes

In winter, 2 Alpes and neighbouring La Grave are renowned for their incredible ski areas - on and off piste. There's something for every level of skier or snowboarder, plus a snow park and access to the glacier. The glacier can also be skied in summer when the resort transforms into a mountain biking and hiking mecca. There are so many summer activities to choose from, including golf - the nine-hole course at Deux Alpes starts appearing out of the snow around May, and is open for business when the resort opens for summer in June. Golfers looking for more of a challenge should head for the course at Uriage les Bain near Grenoble, just over an hour's drive away.

Things To Do in Les Deux Alpes

See all Activities & Trips

See our Activity Guide

Nightlife in Les Deux Alpes

Deux Alpes has a well-deserved reputation as a party town. The fun starts daily at the Pano Bar at 2,600m, with a regular DJ. Later you can find live music and DJs at British-run bars Smithy's Tavern, Smokey Joe's and The Secret, and follow it up with a visit to the popular Avalanche nightclub next door to Smithy's. The Boardroom is popular with French seasonnaires, instructors and lifties, the Red Frog and Smokey Joe's show big screen sport, and the Brasilienne has a late-night club atmosphere.

Bars & Clubs in Les Deux Alpes

See all Bars & Clubs

See our Nightlife Guide

Chalets in Les Deux Alpes

There are a small handful of chalets to choose from in 2 Alpes and the surrounding villages.

Chalets in Les Deux Alpes

See all Chalets

Holidays Rentals in Les Deux Alpes

There are literally hundreds of apartments to choose from in 2 Alpes, mostly self catering, suiting couples right up to large groups of 18 or 20 people.

Holiday Rentals in Les Deux Alpes

See all Holiday Rentals

Hotels in Les Deux Alpes

There are a number of hotels in 2 Alpes from chalet-hotels with traditional fixtures and fittings to the more contemporary ones with swimming pools and spa facilities.

Hotels in Les Deux Alpes

See all Hotels

How to get to Les Deux Alpes

Transfers for Les 2 Alpes

See all Airport Transfers

See our Getting Here Guide

Location

Map of the surrounding area
6 reasons why Les 2 Alpes is great in summer 2019
Latest gear - best new clothing for spring 2019
Latest gear - Mountain running equipment for 2019
Latest gear - Camping equipment for summer 2019
a mountain biker jumping in the air

Events

See allEvents
What's on in Les 2 Alpes April 2019
French food market in Mont de Lans
Crazy Race Les 2 Alpes
Rise Festival 2022, Les Deux Alpes