Ski holidays in France

In the French Alps, linked ski areas connect valleys by slope or shuttle, opening long days across high mountain terrain, Alpine pastures and fir forests. Routes suit a range of abilities. Where slopes link resorts, skiers can cross between villages without relying on a bus. The Pyrenees bring quieter, less built-up terrain, lower prices and a shorter, more variable season. Glacier access adds high-altitude options in the Alps.

In Chamonix, off-piste skiing, ski touring and the Vallée Blanche sit alongside groomed runs, with more demanding terrain at the top end. A single lift network can contain beginner, intermediate and expert terrain. The French Alps will host the Winter Olympics, with freestyle and snowboard events around Briançon and alpine events in Savoie. French school-holiday weeks bring higher prices and lift queues, while hard snow calls for extra vigilance.

A rest day in Annecy can start with a walk through the old town, threaded with three canals and the Thiou river. The twelfth-century Palais de l'Isle sits in the middle of one canal. In June, the lake is warm enough for a swim. Later, a tartiflette, featured among France Montagnes’ mountain recipes, makes a fitting meal. For an indoor stop, the Musée de Grenoble holds a collection worth making time for.

• Ski across linked valleys

  The Three Valleys connect pistes between valleys, allowing skiers to move on skis without buses.

• Rail reaches the Alps

  The Eurostar ski train runs from London St Pancras to Bourg-Saint-Maurice.

• Glacier skiing beyond winter

  The Grande Motte glacier can offer summer skiing in the French Alps.

• Ice climbing off the pistes

  Ice climbing is available alongside skiing in the French Alps as an off-slope activity.

• Crevasses on Vallée Blanche

  The unpatrolled descent from Aiguille du Midi crosses crevasses; a guide is strongly recommended.

January suits skiers who favour colder midwinter conditions and can travel after the New Year rush. Shorter days and cold starts can trim useful time on snow. February brings the broadest scheduled operation, but overlapping French and European school holidays put pressure on pistes, lessons, lodging and transfers. For quieter slopes, later January is often a stronger choice.

March and April suit spring skiing, with longer days, milder temperatures and often fewer people on the slopes. Some French resorts stay open into early May, while the Pyrenees’ main ski season is December to March, so spring availability varies by mountain area. The trade-off is a changing surface: sunny pistes can soften as the day warms, and overnight conditions affect the morning reset. Lower-altitude pistes may lose snow, making higher terrain and slope aspect more important. A storm can still bring fresh snow, wind holds and poor visibility.