These super-sized ski areas are generally born when several ski resorts decide to link their ski areas together by cable car or ski lift and the new ski area can accessed with a single ski pass. What characterizes these super-sized ski areas in the first place is, of course, their XXL size in terms of ski slopes, altitude differences and number of lifts but also in terms of level of services, facilities and accommodation options. They usually include several charming smaller ski resorts, often offering a different choice of après-ski and festive and sporting events giving you plenty of choice when booking your ski holiday.
In the French Alps there are many large ski areas which are shared by a group of smaller ski resorts between the Alps and the Pyrenees. Although it is difficult to be really certain as no-one can truly measure the number of kilometers in a ski area, it appears that the two largest French ski areas are:
Not forgetting the other big players:
Portes du Soleil
These huge ski areas with hundreds of miles of trails, of course offer endless opportunities for skiers of all levels. Beginners have an amazing choice of practice areas, specially adapted equipment and blue runs that slope off into the sunset. These ski areas are a real heaven on earth for intermediate skiers who are looking for a good mix of slopes where they can gain confidence but also put their skills to test. And of course, expert skiers and snowboarders will never be able to claim they got bored after a couple of days in these vast territories – on and off-piste! To give you an idea… You can start from the top of the Klein Matterhorn, 3883 meters, pass by the Theodule glacier, taking the 25 km run down to Zermatt and then returning to Italy via the cable car Plateau Rosa (3480m) dropping down to Breuil-Cervinia (2050m) for a spot of lunch in Italy! Here you can enjoy an excellent, and well-deserved, pizza, !
Breuil-Cervinia
The large ski areas have an international reputation with some ski resorts attracting stars from around the world. To keep these demanding customers happy, they offer top-class accommodation and high-end restaurants with at least one Michelin star! They are usually very well equipped for après-ski in terms of partying as well as indoor and outdoor sports and activities, spa and beauty treatments. These ski areas are where we find the larger areas of freeride, boardercross , often the best snowparks, cross-country skiing, and recreational activities and facilities for children.
These super-sized ski areas are generally born when several ski resorts decide to link their ski areas together by cable car or ski lift and the new ski area can accessed with a single ski pass. What characterizes these super-sized ski areas in the first place is, of course, their XXL size in terms of ski slopes, altitude differences and number of lifts but also in terms of level of services, facilities and accommodation options. They usually include several charming smaller ski resorts, often offering a different choice of après-ski and festive and sporting events giving you plenty of choice when booking your ski holiday.
In the French Alps there are many large ski areas which are shared by a group of smaller ski resorts between the Alps and the Pyrenees. Although it is difficult to be really certain as no-one can truly measure the number of kilometers in a ski area, it appears that the two largest French ski areas are:
Not forgetting the other big players:
Portes du Soleil
These huge ski areas with hundreds of miles of trails, of course offer endless opportunities for skiers of all levels. Beginners have an amazing choice of practice areas, specially adapted equipment and blue runs that slope off into the sunset. These ski areas are a real heaven on earth for intermediate skiers who are looking for a good mix of slopes where they can gain confidence but also put their skills to test. And of course, expert skiers and snowboarders will never be able to claim they got bored after a couple of days in these vast territories – on and off-piste! To give you an idea… You can start from the top of the Klein Matterhorn, 3883 meters, pass by the Theodule glacier, taking the 25 km run down to Zermatt and then returning to Italy via the cable car Plateau Rosa (3480m) dropping down to Breuil-Cervinia (2050m) for a spot of lunch in Italy! Here you can enjoy an excellent, and well-deserved, pizza, !
Breuil-Cervinia
The large ski areas have an international reputation with some ski resorts attracting stars from around the world. To keep these demanding customers happy, they offer top-class accommodation and high-end restaurants with at least one Michelin star! They are usually very well equipped for après-ski in terms of partying as well as indoor and outdoor sports and activities, spa and beauty treatments. These ski areas are where we find the larger areas of freeride, boardercross , often the best snowparks, cross-country skiing, and recreational activities and facilities for children.
Being lucky enough to have parents who were crazy about skiing, my love for the mountains started when I was 4 years old on our first family ski holiday to Austrian ski resort of Obergurl. One ski holiday a year was never enough and tears rolled down my face as I looked out the back window of the car on the drive down the valley on the way home!
