While most ski resorts are preparing to gradually close their doors, a handful of them, mainly the highest in altitude and therefore with the most snow, are staying open until May.
Tignes (Savoie)
Tignes offers skiing almost all year round, even in summer, thanks to the Grande Motte glacierperched at an altitude of 3,656 metres.
This year, the ski area will close on 6 May but will reopen on 17 June.
With 300 kilometres of pistes and a wide range of off-ski activities, such as ice diving, ice driving, horse riding on snow and much more, Tignes has something for skiers all spring long.
Val Thorens (Savoie)
Val Thorens, situated at an altitude of 2,300 metres in the 3 Valleys, Europe's largest ski areaThis guarantees snow even in spring.
In recent years, it has been possible to ski in Val Thorens until the first week in May. The resort offers a 99% ski area above 2,000 metresThis means that, even at this time of year, the snow conditions are plentiful and of a high quality.
While the resort remains open until 8 May, the other 3 Vallées resorts generally close their doors at the end of April.
The resort is also offering festive events to mark the end of the season, such as the "La Grande Dernière" race or the "Big Der", a 3km downhill derby race from the summit of Péclet scheduled for Saturday 7 May.
L'Alpe d'Huez (Isère)
Thanks to its high altitude and the presence of the Pic Blanc, culminating at 3,330 metres, Alpe d'Huez is one of the Alpine resorts where it is still possible to ski at the beginning of May.
Whereas Tomorrowland Winter Festival in full swing until 25 March In the Isère resort, Alpe d'Huez offers a ski area with more than 90% of skiable terrain operational until the end of the season.
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Chamonix, the world capital of mountaineering, is also an internationally renowned ski destination.
Even in spring, the resort offers a wide range of on-snow activities.
The Grands Montets, open until 8 May, stands out for its altitudes ranging from 1235 to 3300 metres, offering some of the greatest vertical drops in the world, in the heart of the high mountains and close to the glaciers.
La Clusaz (Haute-Savoie)
The La Clusaz ski area has excellent snow cover, even at an altitude of 1860 metres.
Its geographical location makes La Clusaz a prime destination for spring skiing until 1 May, marked by the annual "Défi Foly" event, which celebrates its 30th edition on 24 April.
The high point of the season is also marked by the 'Der des Ders', a final run on 1ᵉʳ May, enlivened by a human slalom, bringing the season to a spectacular close.
READ MORE: Opening dates for ski resorts 2023-2024: we take stock