A long time out of the spotlight, Pelvoux-Vallouise has established itself as one of the most affordable resorts in France. With day passes priced at €23 for children, €26 for young people and €27 for adults, this destination in the Pays des Écrins has set itself apart from the crowd.
Here, there's no ostentatious architecture or oversized snow fronts. Skiing takes place as close as possible to the village, in a raw, open and soothing environment. The area attracts families as well as skiers looking for natural slopes, peace and quiet and wide open spaces. There's more to skiing at Pelvoux-Vallouise than just downhill.
One of the local attractions is the Snooc, a fun activity par excellence. Halfway between skiing and tobogganing, this intuitive machine can be used day or night.
A self-service vending machine allows you to try the experiment on your own, for €2 for 15 minutes. It's a simple and original way to vary your pleasures.
The atmosphere is different with joëring skiing, offered on the Vallouise plain in the Nordic area. Towed by a horse, you can glide to the rhythm of the hooves from the age of 6. Initiations for adults, towed buoys for the youngest: this activity inspired by Nordic traditions has a poetic and intergenerational appeal. It costs €45 for half an hour.
Nature experiences in the heart of the Pays des Écrins
As well as skiing, the region offers a wide range of immersive experiences. In Pelvoux, Amandine from Alp'agaga invites you to take a winter walk with her alpacas.
After meeting the animals, the group sets off on a gentle walk of around 1? hours between the forest and the Nordic area. The experience continues with a wool workshop or a storytelling session by the fire, before a local snack at the farm. A sensitive interlude, ideal for families. Price: €50 per person.
- READ MORE: Pays des Écrins: what's on this winter's agenda in terms of nature and unusual experiences
During the February holidays, take another step back in time with a guided tour of the Fournel Silver Mine.
This exceptional site, one of the very few still open to the public in France, offers visitors the chance to explore old galleries that were mined from the Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution. Accompanied by a guide, visitors discover a spectacular underground heritage, a blend of mining history and immersive adventure.