When winter sets in on the heights of the Maurienne, Saint Sorlin d'Arves is decked out in lights and a warm atmosphere, giving the festive season in the mountains its full meaning. From 20 December to 2 January, the resort-village is rolling out a programme of family-friendly activities, combining Alpine traditions, gourmet delights and festive events on the snow front. Throughout the school holidays, holidaymakers and locals alike are invited to share some convivial moments, both in the heart of the village and on the slopes. On 24 and 31 December, the snow front becomes the epicentre of the...
Author: Romain Boisaubert
For the first time in its history, Ailefroide, an emblematic village in the Écrins massif and the last inhabited village before the great high altitude faces, is opening up its landscapes to Nordic skiing. During the Christmas holidays, almost 15 kilometres of pistes will be opened in a setting that has remained untouched, silent and almost untouched. The pistes start at the Pelvoux icefall, with skis on. The first few kilometres immediately set the tone. The climb is an integral part of the adventure. After around 3.5 kilometres of gradual ascent, you reach Ailefroide by road, in a Nordic crossing atmosphere where...
In 2026, the Mountain of Hell is preparing to write a new chapter in its legend. The legendary mountain bike race in Les 2 Alpes returns from 18 to 21 June 2026 for a 26ᵉ edition that is already shaping up to be explosive. For over twenty-five years, the Mountain of Hell has been much more than a competition. It's an event in a league of its own, a concentration of mountain biking culture, self-transcendence and conviviality. The concept remains unchanged: a mass start on snow at an altitude of over 3,000 metres, followed by a hellish 25-kilometre descent with 2,300 metres of ascent...
Every winter, Orcières, which has been awarded the Famille Plus label, fine-tunes its range of activities to suit the needs of all the family, with children discovering the snow at their own pace, while parents enjoy the unspoilt surroundings and a variety of activities. Once again this winter, the resort is offering a host of good deals, immersive experiences and festive events. Here's a round-up of the reasons why the resort is such an inspired family haven. 1. A simplified stay thanks to the Pass Horizon At Orcières, après-ski isn't just about getting back to your flat. With the Pass Horizon, available for stays of two days or more, the resort offers an all-in-one package that...
At an altitude of 2,100 metres, in the heart of Tignes Val Claret, a new facility has arrived. On Friday 19 December, the INDIGO group inaugurated the Tufs car park, billed as the highest car park in Europe. It's a major project, designed to meet both the constraints of the high mountains and the changing needs of transport in the resort. Located at the foot of the pistes, the Tufs car park has 661 spaces spread over three levels. It took fourteen months to build, spread over two years in the off-season, in order to keep the ski area running smoothly. From the moment it opened, it stood out...
In Bourg-Saint-Maurice, as in the various sites of Les Arcs, the Christmas period is not limited to the slopes. With concerts, night-time walks, shows and markets, the region has a packed programme of events, designed for families and festive enthusiasts alike. Here's an overview of the highlights not to be missed between 19 and 25 December. At Arc 2000, a spectacular Christmas on the slopes On Wednesday 24 December, Arc 2000 will be hosting one of its most emblematic events of the winter season with the Christmas Shows. As soon as night falls, the arrival of Father Christmas will give...
Once again this winter, the Chartreuse is offering a number of different ways to experience the mountains, with or without skis. Here's a look at four of them, combining play, exploration, immersion and contemplation. 1. A life-size treasure hunt With L'Or de Chartreuse, the massif becomes the setting for an open-air treasure hunt. Conceived by Baptiste Billon-Grand, a local boy with a passion for local history, this treasure hunt is based on a series of ten enigmas combining observation, deciphering and moving around the area. Some of the answers can be found behind a screen, while others require you to explore the massif, understanding its landscapes, its...
Winter is arriving a little earlier than expected at Valmorel. The Aigueblanche valley resort is getting ready to welcome the first skiers of the season on 13 and 14 December, with an exceptional pre-opening of its ski area. An early break, at a single price of €20 for the day, which promises a great mountain experience for those who can't wait to put on their skis. Valmorel has enough snow to offer a glimpse of its ski area. For the duration of the weekend, several lifts will be open to give skiers the chance to rediscover the thrills of the early days...
The Serre Chevalier valley is entering the festive season with a packed and magical programme. From 19 December, the villages will be lit up, the markets set up and the parades come to life... until the big event on 30 December, when the resort will unveil a unique artistic creation in the mountains, designed as an end-of-year gift. It's sure to be a spectacular highlight. In Briançon, as in the villages of Chantemerle, Villeneuve and Le Monêtier-les-Bains, the festivities begin with Christmas markets. The one in Briançon - set up in the covered market hall - will be a lively place for a week...
In Méribel, Christmas is never just a box to tick in the calendar. From mid-December, the heart of the 3 Valleys is transformed into a veritable fairytale setting, with illuminated chalets, frosted fir trees and streets scented with mulled wine. Once again this year, the Savoyard resort has put together a packed programme designed to thrill families, fill children with wonder and remind adults that magic does exist. A show on ice by Candeloro, on 23 December The highlight of the week, Olivia Candeloro's great creation, La fille du marchand de sable, takes over the Méribel ice rink for...
On 31 January 2026, Serre Chevalier will be hosting a 4-star stage of the Freeride World Tour Qualifier for the first time in its history. It's a date that will count, both for the international riders and for the resort, which is determined to assert its status as a major freeride destination in the run-up to the 2030 Olympic Games. There will be eighty of them, not one more. Eighty skiers and snowboarders chosen from among the best on the circuit, from Japan, the United States, Europe and elsewhere. They will all meet at the summit of Yret, at 2,800 metres, on the north face, where the...
At a time when resorts are redefining their relationship with the mountains, Val Cenis has sent out a strong signal. Four years after its first Flocon Vert award, the Haute Maurienne resort has been awarded a second distinction, along with the congratulations of the jury. This is a first for the Maurienne region, and confirms a long-standing but profoundly renewed commitment to more responsible tourism. The new label not only rewards the state of the art, it also underlines the progress that has been made. On the heights of Lake Mont-Cenis, where winter sculpts a silent and grandiose landscape, the resort has a clear vision: to preserve, transmit and imagine...
Before opening continuously from 13 December to 11 April, the Savoyard resort of Les Saisies is offering a pre-opening weekend (6-7 December) that smacks of the great winters of yesteryear, with an area that is already largely skiable and a very «early season» atmosphere, where excitement mingles with surprise at the amount of snow. December has barely begun and Les Saisies is already living in a picture-postcard setting. Nearly a metre of fresh snow fell at the end of November, covering the fir forests and slopes of the Beaufortain in a dense, luminous white. «Winter...
Saint-Martin-de-Belleville clearly didn't want to wait any longer for the official winter. Taking advantage of long-lasting dry weather, exceptional snow cover for the beginning of December and teams working day and night in the field, the Savoyard village resort has brought forward the opening of its ski area by more than a week. The first skiers will be able to hit the slopes on Saturday 6 December, at the same time as Les Menuires, with access to the 3 Vallées links. It's a quick start that marks the real launch of the season, before the big «Saint-Martin s'illumine» weekend scheduled for 13 and 14 December. Ideal snow conditions and fast-track work by the teams Ce...
From 13 to 20 December, the Savoyard resort hosts the 17ᵉ edition of the Arcs Film Festival, a time when European cinema is unveiled in all its diversity, just before the hustle and bustle of the end-of-year holidays. This year, the programme hits hard with over 80 feature films and 40 shorts, a dense, cutting-edge selection carefully crafted to reveal the most daring, vibrant and committed European cinema today. At the head of the feature film jury is a name that resonates far and wide: Dominik Moll, acclaimed director of La Nuit du 12, Harry, un ami...
At Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves, the winter season never gets off to a timid start. At the heart of the Sybelles ski area, the Savoyard resort is setting the tone from 13 and 14 December 2025 with a new event called St S'Opening, designed to be a real festive kick-off for the season. Featuring entertainment, music, exclusive offers and great ski deals, the event promises to be a key moment to launch the winter season and attract visitors and locals alike with a rich and lively programme. Behind this first edition, the Tourist Office has a clear ambition: to create momentum as soon as the resort opens, to strengthen cohesion with the socio-professionals...
From 4 to 7 December, the iF3 festival returns to Chamonix with a packed programme of exploits, high-altitude safety and passionate encounters, all firmly rooted in mountain culture. Chamonix is getting ready to vibrate to the rhythm of the images that make the hearts of mountain dwellers beat faster. Now in its fifth year, the iF3 Chamonix festival is continuing its mission of bringing together enthusiasts, athletes and film-makers to explore the most inspiring aspects of mountain film. For four days, the valley will be hosting screenings, conferences, workshops led by professionals, and meetings that will make this one of the most important events in the...
Just a stone's throw from Grenoble and Chambéry, the Chartreuse offers an unusual winter of immersion, listening, snow and rejuvenation. Hike in silence, sleep in the forest, explore a cave or try your hand at a cold bath: the massif offers unique, accessible and deeply disorientating experiences. Listen to the mountain: Simon Pochet's sound hike Just walk behind Simon Pochet for a few minutes and you'll realise that the Chartreuse has a language all its own. As a mountain guide and sound designer, his outings are designed to immerse you in the surroundings. By his side, the paths become scores, the trees...
La Plagne is kicking off the season with an evening that has all the makings of a major event. On 13 December, the resort awaits you at Plagne Bellecôte for an Opening Night designed as a popular mountain party, where holidaymakers, locals and seasonal workers come together to rock out to electrifying DJ sets and local tastings. From 4.30pm, the atmosphere shifts into party mode. DJ VINC, a well-known figure on the La Plagne après-ski scene, gets the ball rolling. His feel-good set, perfectly calibrated to heat up the atmosphere, kicks off the festivities with the solar energy for which he is renowned....
Good news for winter sports fans. Les Menuires, the friendliest resort in the 3 Vallées, is launching its winter season with a spectacular offer. To celebrate the opening of the season, the Saturday ski pass is priced at just €39, a rare opportunity in one of the world's largest ski areas. The resort officially opens on 6 December with excellent snow cover and booking trends ahead of last winter's all-time record. The end-of-year festivities are shaping up to be particularly dynamic: +3.6 points for Christmas, according to the...
EN 
FR