Tailor-made holidays in Serre Chevalier

Skiing and snowboarding in Serre Chevalier

Serre Chevalier Vallée, which the resort presents as one of the largest ski areas in Europe, stretches along the Guisane valley from Briançon to Le Monêtier-les-Bains. About 250 km of pistes and 82 runs climb from around 1,200 m to 2,830 m at the top of the Yret chairlift, a vertical drop of roughly 1,600 m. The ski area is divided into four linked sectors, Briançon, Chantemerle, Villeneuve and Le Monêtier, so you can ski a different part of the valley each day.

What sets Serre Chevalier apart is its forest. Much of the lower and middle mountain runs through larch and pine woods, giving shelter and better visibility on snowy or flat-light days. Above the trees, high bowls such as the Vallon de la Montagnole, reached by the Yret chairlift, offer steeper slopes and extensive off-piste, best explored with a qualified mountain guide. The long Tabuc black run winds down through the forest to Le Monêtier, and the famous freeride terrain of La Grave is a short drive away over the Col du Lautaret.

Serre Chevalier for families and beginners

Beginners are well looked after, with nursery slopes in the different sectors, including at the foot of Le Monêtier and on Serre Ratier above Chantemerle, so first-timers can learn close to where they stay. The ESF French ski school teaches in Briançon, Chantemerle, Villeneuve and Le Monêtier, with children’s groups and private lessons.

Gentle runs through the trees make the step up from the nursery slopes less intimidating, and the villages are relaxed rather than built around late nights. Off the slopes, families can try sledging, snowshoeing and the swimming pools in the valley.

Where to stay in Serre Chevalier

Each of the four bases has its own character. Briançon, at 1,326 m, is often described as the highest town in France: a real town with shops, restaurants, the railway station and the Prorel gondola up to the slopes, and the resort says it is the only French ski area backed by a town of more than 10,000 inhabitants. Chantemerle (1,350 m), in the commune of Saint-Chaffrey, is the historic heart of the resort, where one of Europe’s longest cable cars opened in 1941, and is still a busy hub of shops and restaurants.

Villeneuve (around 1,400 m), in La Salle-les-Alpes, has many residences right at the foot of the slopes, while Le Monêtier-les-Bains (1,500 m) is a quieter, traditional village with the Grands Bains thermal spa and the quickest access to the highest slopes. Accommodation across the valley is mostly apartments, residences and chalets, with a selection of hotels.

Getting to Serre Chevalier

Serre Chevalier is in the Hautes-Alpes, close to the Italian border. Turin is the nearest airport, about 110 km away or roughly 2h by road via Oulx and the Col de Montgenèvre. From Grenoble Alpes Isère allow about 2h30 to 3h, from Lyon-Saint Exupéry about 3h to 3h30, and from Marseille Provence about 3h30. All times depend on traffic, snow and Saturday changeovers, and the road from Grenoble crosses the Col du Lautaret, which can close temporarily in bad weather.

By rail, an Intercités night train runs from Paris Austerlitz to Briançon, arriving in the morning, and TGV trains from Paris Gare de Lyon to Oulx, in Italy, connect with a shuttle bus to Serre Chevalier and Briançon. Timetables and engineering works vary, so check them for your dates.

Beyond the slopes in Serre Chevalier

The Grands Bains du Monêtier are the valley’s signature: a 4,500 m² thermal spa opened in 2008, with indoor and outdoor pools fed by naturally warm spring water, jacuzzis, a hammam and saunas. In Briançon, the fortifications built by Vauban are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the walled old town makes a fine afternoon away from the skis.

In summer, the lifts carry mountain bikers to the bike park and to long routes such as the Grand Serre Che loop, and the neighbouring Écrins National Park offers hiking to lakes and high valleys. Road cyclists come for legendary passes such as the Izoard, the Galibier and the Granon, which are closed to motor traffic on certain summer days.

When to go to Serre Chevalier

The ski season usually runs from early December to mid-April. January offers quiet slopes and good value outside the French school holidays, February is the busiest month, and March brings longer, sunny days; Briançon promotes around 300 days of sunshine a year. Thanks to its forests, Serre Chevalier is also a good choice for snowy weeks, when the tree-lined runs stay enjoyable.

The summer season usually runs from late June to the end of August, when the lifts reopen for walkers and mountain bikers. Check the official dates for your year.

Your Serre Chevalier holiday with AlpAway

We build Serre Chevalier holidays around your group: the right village, passes, equipment hire, lessons and transfers from Turin, Grenoble, Lyon or Marseille, or from Briançon station. In recent seasons a six-day Serre Chevalier pass has included a free day in partner resorts such as Alpe d’Huez and Les 2 Alpes, and we can check the conditions for your dates. Send us a request with your dates and who is travelling, and we will come back with a tailored proposal.