Arrive in style on the ski train...
Enjoy extra days on the slopes and no surcharge for skis or boards with Eurostar Direct Ski Trains.
Book now!
Self-drive ski holidays in France
Travel to France by ferry and some of the best self drive skiing in the world. Enjoy the freedom of taking unlimited baggage and up to 9 people per car via .
Book your journey with P&O Ferries
Find a hotel
Booking a hotel has never been easier with accorhotels.com, Europe's largest hotel group.
Why pay for your skis?
Experience complete comfort on SWISS flights to Geneva and enjoy the added bonus of taking your skis at no extra cost.
Pick up and ski this winter
Forget about queuing for a bus at the airport, low cost car hire - with a ski rack if necessary, will get you to where you want to go with a minimum of fuss. See the
Great deals to ski destinations
Flights from Southwest England, Birmingham and the Isle of Man to Chambery or Geneva opens up a wealth of ski opportunities in the northern Alps.
Book with Flybe now!
Winter & Ski Home
Winter Activities
Insight: Mountain Activities
Snow-Shoeing: a gentle (or not so gentle) start
Head off to experience perfect peace in the kind of unspoilt natural scenery which even off-piste skiers don't get to see – including beneath a starlit sky, if you join a nocturnal group outing...
Technicality/Fitness Level: As relaxed (or as demanding) as you want to make it. Today's lightweight snow-shoes (raquettes de neige) incorporate special features to grip securely on steep, snow-covered terrain or even ice. Essentially, you just need to know how to distribute your weight in order to get the best out of them.
Getting Started: Join a group taster session for absolute beginners – a great way to combine fun with learning. You'll gain the few skills required, learn about your surroundings and perhaps make new friends.
If the group thing isn't for you, the classic option is to enlist the services of an ESF (Ecole de Ski Français) instructor or a qualified independent mountain guide whose detailed knowledge will also help you find exactly the kind of terrain you're looking for.
Where: Many ski resorts offer snow-shoeing among their activities (details at the Office de Tourisme) but for best away-from-it-all potential try areas with cross-country terrain.
Our favourites include: Chamrousse, La Clusaz, La Rosière and Sainte-Foy Tarentaise.
Dog-Sledding – the call of the wild
Discover how it feels to glide through a snowy, near-silent world behind a willing team of huskies or malamutes – just like a frontier trapper...
Technicality/Fitness Level: For the driver (musher) nothing too taxing, apart from an occasional brief hop-out-and-run moment to assist the dogs over steeper humps (which you might not encounter). And the passenger relaxes under a warm blanket and enjoys the ride.
Getting Started: Don't worry; you won't be doing this alone. Qualified professionals offering dog-sledding experiences will supply lightweight waterproof boots, provide basic instruction and accompany you, so you'll generally be travelling in convoy with other experience seekers. And at the end you get to get up close and bond with 'your' dogs.
Where: The recent revival of interest in dog-sledding in France means you can find this kind of activity on the menu of a steadily-increasing number of ski areas, including: Avoriaz, Barèges, La Clusaz, Les Houches, Le Mont Dore, Les Saisies, Méribel and Vars.
Catch an Event: Teams from throughout the world converge on the Savoie Mont-Blanc area of the French Alps in January to compete in La Grande Odyssée.
For more details read our feature.
Ice Climbing: scale a frozen waterfall
You'll be getting vertical (walking over glaciers or low angled snow or ice slopes counts as mountaineering) but you'll be roped-up for safety. Learn how to climb using special crampons and ice-axes – then round it all off with a warm glow of personal achievement...
Technicality/Fitness Level: You don’t need to be superfit, or have rock-climbing experience, but it's quite physical, so a reasonable level of fitness is a distinct advantage
Getting Started: The ice is normally in good condition from mid-December until the end of March (unless there are long periods of warm weather). Go with a guide or join a dedicated beginner's course to learn the essential techniques to help you make the most of this amazing experience safely and securely.
Where: Popular centres include La Grave, Bessans (Haute Maurienne), l’Alpe d’Huez and in the Southern French Alps. To find out more click to read our feature.
Snowkiting: now you can ski uphill, too
Ever wanted a near-effortless tow, whatever the slope might do? Snowkiting (or 'kite-skiing') offers just that, and the effects can be addictive.
Technicality/Fitness Level: Any intermediate skier will have the basic skills, to which you just add controlling a flexifoil-style kite, to go where you want to go.
Getting Started: Obviously you need snow, a stiff breeze and plenty of open space. If you're new to handling a big powerful kite some specialist instruction is a good idea - and you get the equipment provided, too..
Where: Kite Legende Ecole de Snowkite offers qualified instruction at the Col du Lauteret (2058m), near Serre Chevalier in the Hautes-Alpes.
Ski-Joëring: an age-old mountain tradition revived
Think dog-sledding, without the sled - and on skis behind a horse or pony. Once a practical way of connecting remote mountain communities, ski-joëring is currently undergoing a revival as the perfect way of getting right back to nature.
Technicality/Fitness Level: An intermediate skier should already have the basic skills, which are essentially in the legs and feet – just hang on and the horse does the rest.
Getting Started: Select a ski area whose activities include ski-joëring sessions with qualified professionals and book a session. Operators will provide the short, flexible skis required.
Where: The number of resorts offering this activity is steadily increasing (check with the local Office de Tourism) – we'd recommend La Clusaz and Arc1950.
Coming soon:
More great ideas to help you get Mountain-Active this winter!
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Living the Dream:
Ski Coaching
Ski coach Gavin Crosby and his wife Mel talk about their work and lifestyle based in Briançon in the Hautes-Alpes where Gavin runs the New Generation Ski School.
All About Ski-Lifts
Ski-lifts play a key role in providing the perfect ski experience. We look at different types and how they work.
On The Up:
All About Via Ferrata
Via Ferrata allows you to climb rock faces normally only accessible to rock climbers. Qualified mountain activity specialist Mark Tennent explains how in our guide.
All About High-Speed Gondola Lifts
A privileged insight into the inner workings of the Grand Massif Express, Samoëns.
Learn to Ski
MountainPassions gives some useful hints and tips for first-time skiers visiting the French Alps and other mountain areas.
Ski & Spa Breaks
We give holiday ideas for those in search of the ultimate in relaxing spa treatments coupled with all the fitness benefits of great skiing.
Skiing With a Disability
Snowsport is now a real possibility for virtually anyone, regardless of their disability. Disabled skiers now have more choice about where to ski with upgraded lifts and specialist ski school staff. We help you make the decisions to get you on the slopes, and offer a few ideas about where to go.
