Just a few minutes from Orcières Merlette 1850, This hamlet of 25 inhabitants hides one of the most confidential ski spots in the Hautes-Alpes. Three lifts, ten kilometres of pistes, a larch forest and often exceptional snow. Welcome to Serre Eyraud, This is the favourite playground for locals who want to ski away from the crowds.
No XXL snow front, no buildings or endless queues. Serre Eyraud is more like a well-kept secret than a classic ski resort.
A single building serves as a bar-restaurant, lift ticket office, tourist office and hors sac room. You can even leave your boots by the stove to find them warm when you return from the slopes. It's a ski version of a mountain refuge.
Perched at an altitude of between 1,450 and 2,100 metres, the resort boasts three ski lifts, a vertical drop of around 600 metres and around ten kilometres of pistes of all colours. But there's more to it than that.
Less than 20 euros a day
Thanks to its north-easterly aspect, the snow is often light and cold, protected from the sun. Between the larch trees, lovers of natural snow sports will find a rare, silent, almost meditative off-piste terrain, with the added bonus of an open view over the Champoléon valley.
«This is clearly the powder spot for Orcières regulars».» says a local ski patroller. «When it has snowed, those who know how to ski come up here. You ski between the trees, you track without stepping on each other, and you get a real feeling of the mountains.»
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At Serre Eyraud, you come to ski, breathe and take your time. The area attracts families looking for a quiet ski as well as ski-hikers, and the resort is also an excellent starting point for the ski touring.
As far as prices are concerned, the philosophy is just like the place itself. You can expect to pay 18 euros for a full day for adults, 14.50 euros for children, and just 12.70 euros for a half day. Better still: for every week's ski pass purchased at Orcières, access to Serre Eyraud is included free of charge. A rare luxury.