Les Deux Alpes is a resort that offers far more than snow. High-altitude and high-energy, it’s a destination for property buyers seeking a place to enjoy personally in both winter and summer.

From Europe’s largest skiable glacier to mountain biking trails that drop a vertical mile, Les Deux Alpes combines reliable snow, excellent infrastructure and year-round activity. Whether you’re looking for a base for family holidays, off-season adventures or a future home in the Alps, Les Deux Alpes is a location worth serious consideration.

Contents

• A year-round alpine retreat
• Winter skiing for all abilities
• Summer: active, scenic and varied
• Local life and amenities
• Après and entertainment
• A practical choice for lifestyle-focused buyers

Les Deux Alpes is an unusual resort – its hardest slopes are at lower altitudes

A year-round alpine retreat

Les Deux Alpes, located in the Isère department of France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, is one of the most prominent ski resorts in the southern Alps. The resort village sits at 1,650 metres, with lifts running up to 3,600 metres on the glacier, making it home to the largest skiable glacier in Europe.

With a full on-piste vertical of 2,300 metres and snow reliability throughout the season, it offers both immediate enjoyment and long-term potential for property buyers.

While Les Deux Alpes holds strong investment value, its primary appeal lies in its usability – owners can enjoy winter sports, summer adventures and a lively alpine atmosphere for most of the year.

Winter skiing for all abilities

The resort features 220 kilometres of marked pistes and a famously varied terrain profile. Unusually, the steeper, more technical runs are found on the lower slopes back to the village, while gentler pistes lie higher up, especially on the glacier. Less experienced skiers often opt to descend by gondola rather than attempt the challenging return runs.

The glacier provides a dependable snow base, and a newly upgraded lift – Jandri 3S – now transports skiers from base to summit in just 17 minutes, reducing congestion and making access to the upper slopes more efficient. The snowpark is among the most developed in Europe, redesigned each season with new features, including a halfpipe, kickers and boardercross routes.

Advanced skiers will find extensive off-piste options and access to La Grave’s legendary terrain via the glacier. For all off-piste routes, the resort strongly recommends hiring a local guide.

Summer transforms Les Deux Alpes into a mountain activity park

Summer: active, scenic and varied

Les Deux Alpes offers a full summer season with mountain biking, high-altitude hiking and outdoor events. The area becomes a magnet for cyclists and trail runners, especially during signature events like the Mountain of Hell downhill race and the Défi de la Muzelle trail challenge. Riders can climb or descend a vertical mile from the glacier to the valley floor, with lift access enabling varied itineraries.

The resort borders the Parc National des Écrins, home to over 150 peaks above 3,000 metres, 740 kilometres of walking trails and a rich alpine ecosystem. Visitors can hike to glacial lakes, observe protected wildlife or explore waterfalls such as the Cascade de la Muzelle. The neighbouring villages of Vénosc, Mizoën and Besse en Oisans offer quieter alternatives to the resort centre, alongside views of the Meije and Romanche valleys.

It’s important to look at an ski property purchase as more than a winter home: you’re buying into mountain living.

Local life and amenities

Though much of the resort was built during the 1970s, Les Deux Alpes has retained older quarters with traditional charm. Mont-de-Lans and Vénosc, the two original villages connected by gondola, provide cobbled streets, independent shops and artisan producers. In the main resort, the 2km-long Avenue de la Muzelle is a hub for shopping and dining, with sportswear outlets, delicatessens and local craft shops.

The food offering is wide-ranging, from mountain restaurants serving regional dishes to vegan cafés and street food kiosks. The glacier and mid-mountain areas also feature panoramic restaurants accessible by lift, allowing property owners and their guests to enjoy the scenery without skiing.

A particular highlight is Le P’tit Polyte, the region’s Michelin-starred restaurant. It’s been in the Mounier family since it was founded in 1933 and has a menu that revels in citrus fruits.

For non-skiers or those taking a rest day, options include the ice cave exhibition at 3,400 metres, snowshoeing, spa treatments and an outdoor swimming pool.

Off the slopes entertainment is easy to come by in Les Deux Alpes

Après and entertainment

Les Deux Alpes is known for its busy social atmosphere. Après-ski begins early in the afternoon at the Pano Bar on the slopes and continues at venues like the Umbrella Bar and Les Saloon (formerly Smokey Joe’s). Later in the evening, bars and clubs in the resort centre attract a younger crowd, with the Avalanche nightclub often staying open into the early hours.

For those looking for a quieter evening, there are wine bars, brasseries with views and a full programme of summer and winter events, including festivals, concerts and sporting competitions.

A practical choice for lifestyle-focused buyers

Les Deux Alpes is well-suited to buyers who want regular personal use of their property across multiple seasons. Its range of activities, dependable snow conditions and lift infrastructure support both winter and summer stays. The glacier ensures a long ski season and reliable conditions even in warmer years, while summer tourism adds value for those interested in occasional rentals.

With a combination of modern apartments, traditional chalets and quieter satellite hamlets, the property market here offers a variety of entry points. Infrastructure improvements, including the new lift system and potential future connections to neighbouring resorts, support long-term confidence in the area’s growth.

To explore property options in Les Deux Alpes and learn how to manage international payments with confidence, speak to our team today. With the right guidance, you can make the most of this high-altitude retreat, season after season.