April in Deux Alpes: What's on and weather

As the winter draws to a close for another year the temperatures rarely dip below freezing, usually falling between a low of 0°C and a high of 7°C, plus there's still the chance of snow as April averages six days snowfall, and therefore a mini powder day isn't out of the question.

April is a popular month for families so the slopes are noticeably busier as soon as the Easter holidays begin. Here are our insider's top tips for the school holidays:

1. Group lessons are the best option in the busy period, as private lessons are almost impossible to book - unless you got in early. Make sure to get your ski and snowboard lessons booked well in advance to avoid disappointment.
2. If you're not in ski school, be an early bird. Arrive at the lifts before they open so that you get up and away before the ski school classes set out around 09:15.
3. Ski over lunchtime when the slopes are calmer (between 12:00 and 14:00) whilst the French take a leisurely lunch break.
4. Avoid the queues and make the most of your time in the mountains by pre-booking your lunch reservation - some restaurants offer a Click & Collect service.  
5. Seek out the peripheral areas - The Jandri Express and Diable chairlift can have big queues at times. Instead, use the White Eggs, Belle Etoile or Village lifts to access Les Crêtes. From here, the Bellecombes and Super Diable chairlifts give access to the central part of the ski area. To access the spectacular high-altitude runs on the glacier, ski past the queue for the Jandri Express 2 and follow the Pierre Grosse 1 blue piste towards the La Fée sector. From here, the Pierre Grosse gondola offers an alternate fast route to the top of the mountain. Finally, the smaller, lower Vallée Blanche sector is often overlooked. It holds some very pleasant blue runs, a challenging black, good off-piste with the right snow conditions and some unique views of the Romanche valley and the Bourg d’Oisans plain. It also tends to be a lot quieter than the main ski area.
6. Competent off-piste skiers can book a local mountain guide and explore the vast off-piste areas in the valley or even go touring to find complete solitude in the backcountry.

All good things must come to an end - over the last few weeks of the winter, many of the bars and venues will be hosting end of season parties. Keep an eye out for the publicity around the town, as these will mostly be advertised last minute.

Make the most of the snow, whether on skis, a snowboard or on two wheels - there's still some skiing to be had, plus the first mountain bike runs usually open up around mid-month.

As the winter turns to spring, locals and visitors alike begin to leave their skis behind and ride the mountains on two wheels, plus there are a whole host of events to celebrate the end of another wonderful season and the beginning of a fantastic spring/summer. 

For a look at what else is going on in the area during the month of April take a look at our events calendar from the link below.

As well as the special events, the regular weekly events will continue until the end of the winter.