Vars & Risoul

Located in the Hautes-Alpes department, and closer to Turin & Nice than Geneva, Vars & Risoul are located further south than most of the big name resorts in France and that may be the key to their appeal!

With an extensive ski area, attractive, affordable villages and beautiful scenery, these resorts would be as popular and well-known as the likes of Flaine, Les Arcs and La Plagne if they were closer to Geneva. But thanks to their location at the heart of the Southern Alps, these resorts are not beset with crowds or queues like their cousins further north, and they enjoy a more serene atmosphere. 

The villages of Vars-Les-Claux & Risoul both sit at 1850m and have a mixture of bulky, old school apartment buildings and more appealing newer, chalet-style developments. As a result both villages look a little brutalistic when viewed from the slopes but in the villages there is more traditional feel. Bustling with shops, bars and restaurants, these villages have a friendly local atmosphere with plenty of activity.

With 185km of pistes and 7 popular snow parks, this is a substantial and well-linked ski region with plenty to do for beginner and intermediate skiers especially. In Risoul, especially, there is some nice off-piste terrain including some great tree-skiing. 

Snowmaking is extensive across the La Forêt Blanche ski area, altitudes are good and most slopes face north above Risoul and East above Vars, so all in all the snow reliability is pretty great!

Queues and crowds are rare in these areas outside the French holiday weeks, and even then pale in comparison to resorts futher north. The slopes are characterised mainly by tree-lined descents and pleasant views, with some spectacular vistas from the Pic de Chabrières.