Haute Alpes

Hautes-Alpes is one of Europe’s great winter playgrounds. High-altitude resorts, vast ski terrain, deep snow history, and over 300 days of sunshine a year combine to create a distinctly different Alpine experience. Here, winter feels wilder, less crowded, and more connected to the mountains themselves. From the legendary slopes of Serre Chevalier and Montgenèvre to the freeride terrain of La Grave, the forest skiing of Les Orres, and the touring paradise of the Queyras and Névache valleys, the region offers something for every kind of rider. Skiing and snowboarding sit alongside ski touring, splitboarding, snowshoeing, ice climbing, cross-country skiing, fat biking, and winter mountaineering. Unlike some heavily developed Alpine destinations, the Hautes-Alpes retains a sense of authenticity. Traditional mountain villages, protected national parks, dramatic ridgelines, and vast open valleys create an atmosphere that feels both adventurous and grounded. The region is also set to play a big role in the 2030 French Alps Olympic and Paralympic Games. Winter here is not just about skiing. It is about crisp bluebird mornings, long lunches in mountain refuges, untouched snowfields, frozen forests, and evenings in villages that still feel genuinely alpine. It is a place where outdoor culture runs deep and where the mountains remain the main attraction.