Are there any ski resorts for beginners in France? Yes indeed! As a beginner skier, you naturally do not immediately descend a black slope. Hence, starting in a ski area with lots of green and blue runs is nice. There are plenty of those pistes in the French Alps. Here you can practice your skiing technique at leisure while enjoying the real winter sports feeling. This blog lists six tips for ski areas for beginners in France.
France has a tremendous amount of choices regarding ski resorts for beginners. You will find some of the biggest ski resorts in the world but also small, lesser-known gems. There is plenty of ski resorts for beginner skiing in France. Even in the country's biggest ski resorts, less experienced skiers can get by. Indeed, most of the slopes are blue in the more than 600 km large Les Trois Vallées. Moreover, many French ski resorts offer another, easier level: green slopes. Are you a fan of sunshine while skiing? Then this is also the place to be! Due to its southern location, the French ski resorts benefit from many hours of sun. France also offers traditional villages with cosy restaurants and, of course, good après-ski!
The first tip in this list of ski areas for beginners in France is Espace Diamant. The ski area has a stunning location, between the Massif du Beaufortain and Val d'Arly, on the opposite side of the Alpine giant Mont-Blanc. Accommodation is available in the six different villages of Praz sur Arly, Flumet, Notre Dame de Bellecombe, Crest-Voland Cohennoz, Hauteluce and Les Saises. Espace Diamant is an ideal beginner's ski area. Of its more than 190 km of slopes, 90 km are blue and 42 km green. Ideal for practising on! Whichever lift you step into, there is always a blue or green run to ski on.
With over 600 km of slopes, Les Trois Vallées is one of the largest ski areas in France, the Alps and even the world. Suitable for beginners? Absolutely! Although, as a beginner skier, a handful of easy slopes will suffice, that need not stop you from choosing a large ski area. If advanced skiers are going with you, they will want to cover some kilometres. Afterwards, you will meet again in the après-ski! The range of slopes in Les Trois Vallées is very diverse. The majority is blue (240 km), and there is also almost 100 km of green. Accommodation is available in villages such as Val Thorens, Méribel and Courchevel. The ski area is also very snow-sure, thanks to its many glaciers and high altitude. Around Val Thorens, you can even hit the slopes from late November to early May!
Le Grand Domaine is an ideal ski area for beginners in France, formed by the villages of St François Longchamp and Valmorel. With over 160 km of slopes, every type of skier will feel at home. Beginners will find over 27 km of green and 77 km of blue here. Thanks to its sunny location, you will likely descend here with the sun shining in the background. Le Grand Domaine is also ideal for families with children. The ski area has been awarded the 'Famille Plus' label. There are possibilities for childcare, an extensive children's area and the cheerful mascot Goupy makes every ski day unique.
The Val Cenis ski resort lies in the Haute Maurienne, not far from the Italian border. From several authentic villages in the valley, you have access to over 125 km of slopes. Val Cenis is ideal for families with children and beginners. Most of the runs are blue (55 km), and there are also 18 km of green slopes to ski on. The ski area is unknown to the masses, so that you can practise your skiing technique peacefully and quietly. Under the guidance of professional ski instructors, of course.
A not-so-well-known name in this list of ski resorts for beginners in France is Galibier-Thabor. From the villages of Valloire and Valmeinier, you have access to over 160 km of slopes. There is no shortage of blue and green runs here, but there are also several easy red runs for more of a challenge. Ideal about Galibier-Thabor is that as a beginner, you can take almost any lift without having to ski a difficult slope afterwards.
The final tip in this list of ski resorts for beginners in France is another giant: Les Portes du Soleil. With over 600 km, no one will be bored here for a second. Beginners can have fun on more than 320 km of blue slopes! Unique to this ski resort is its location. You do not only ski on French but also on Swiss slopes. Cross-border skiing, in other words! French villages include Avoriaz, Les Gets and Châtel. Many accommodations are located on the slopes, so there is no need to lug ski equipment around.
In a country as big as France, the range of winter sports is enormous. There are plenty of ski areas for beginners, from the Jura to the Vosges and from the Alps to the Pyrenees. So the list is much more extensive than these six tips. Nothing above for you? These ski resorts in France are also ideal for beginners.
I grew up in Slovenia, close to the Julian Alps. Early on, my parents put me on skis and skates, and the winter sports enthusiasm hasn't left me since. I also enjoy cross-country skiing and have been a keen snowboarder for the past 20 years.
