The French resort where you can ski until July
The resort is set to remain open to the public and not only to professionals
Les Deux-Alpes is unusual in that it is able to offer skiing well into summer
Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock
As the majority of ski resorts in France wrap up their winter season, one station in the Alps is set to remain open for public skiing until well into summer.
Les Deux-Alpes (Isère) is planning to remain open and available for winter sports for the public until July, snow permitting.
Members of the public who still want to take part in winter sports will be welcome in the resort, and permitted to use the ski lifts, alongside those seeking more summery activities such as hiking and mountain biking.
From now until May 28: Skiing scheduled to remain open from 2,600 metres altitude upwards
May 29 to July 6: Open from 3,600 metres altitude (as well as the Belvédère des Écrins area, at 3,400 metres)
A ski lift pass to access the mountain costs €49.50 per adult.
Public, not only professionals
This resort is unique in that it remains open to winter sport seekers well into the summer months, in contrast to some other stations that still receive enough snow at high altitudes but typically only open under certain conditions for professional sports training.
For example, Val d’Isère and Tignes open between June 14 and July 13 (snow permitting), but for professional skiers only.
The majority of ski resorts in the Alps and wider Tarentaise valley - such as Val Thorens, Les Grands Montets, and Chamonix - began their winter seasons in November and December 2024, but have now closed for winter sports.
The high altitudes of Les Deux-Alpes make the late opening possible whereas many lower-altitude resorts in the Alps and Pyrenees have struggled to remain open earlier in the season due to a lack of snow. Some have even announced the end of downhill skiing for good, with a view to replacing winter-only sports with year-round activities.
Read more: French ski resort in the Pyrenees announces end of skiing due to lack of snow
Read also: Ski stations in Pyrénées close early due to lack of snow
Read more: France’s only free ski slope closes: Which other resorts are considered at risk?
State-of-the-art ski lift
It comes after Les Deux-Alpes invested in a state-of-the-art télécabine lift system this year. The Jandri system, from the Rhone-based company Poma, cost a record €148 million, paid for by the Sata Group, which manages the mountain.
The 52-cabin, electric system can take skiers, pedestrians, and other mountain users on a 6.4 km journey up the mountain, from the base altitude of 1,600m to the 3,200m domaine at the top of the mountain (and at the heart of the skiing area), with a stop at 2,600m. The journey takes 17 minutes.
The investment is part of a wider €650 million improvement project across l’Alpe d’Huez and Les Deux-Alpes, said Poma spokesperson Fabrice Boutet, to Le Figaro.
