Camping in resort
On busy weeks the car park on your left just before you get into resort can be rammed with Italians in huge motorhomes, interspersed with a few French and the odd Dutchman. This is the closest official camping option to the lifts, with access to the ski area via navette to the town centre or the Petit Aiguilee and Village chairs.
Venosc
There’s space for 20 to 40 campers or caravans at Camping Champ de Moulin a short walk from the Venosc télécabine. Pitches come with electricity supply, and the site maintains heated shower blocks, a TV room and a sauna.
If bringing your own caravan sounds like a lot of faff in the mountains in the depths of winter, the site also has mobile homes and apartments for rent. It also offers a discount on equipment hire at Venosc Sports in 2 Alpes.
Bourg d’Oisans
Slightly further afield, there’s a choice of sites at Bourg d’Oisans, where you’ll also find a few restaurants and bars within reasonable walking distance.
Camping La Piscine, La Cascade and A La Rencontre du Soleil at the bottom of the Tour de France climb to Alpe d’Huez all open for the winter season, and offer facilities such as heated shower blocks, drying rooms and cottage or mobile home accommodation.
Camping in the valley also makes it easy to take advantage of the away days included on your lift pass – ski a couple of days in Alpe d’Huez, and get over to Serre Chevalier without spending the extra time on the drive down the hill from resort.