
ESF Family
Looking for an activity for the whole family this winter? This ski school has you covered.
© Refuge de la Fare
© Refuge de la Fare
Small refuge perched in the mountain pastures between the lakes and glaciers
Built in 1887, it is the oldest refuge in Oisans and will take you back to the old days of mountaineering in Oisans.
Accommodating 11 people in one dormitory, this family-friendly refuge welcomes hikers, climbers, mountaineers, fishermen and wildlife enthusiasts of all ages. It is open with guardians in the summer, and in winter there are no staff but you'll find blankets and mattresses to sleep on. You can book half board, B&B or bed-only, and there is a reduced rate for under 18s and for children aged 8 to 12 years.
Their restaurant has a non-stop service of homemade food with all fresh ingredients made by their in-house chefs. Dishes available include soup, pastas, omelettes, planchers with desserts like tarts and crèpes.
They have a small library and board games are available.
Payment is by cash or cheque - cards are not accepted.
Take the Alpette cable car from Oz en Oisans or the Vaujany cable car, then hike the 280m altitude difference in around an hour.
Take the small road after the Alpe d'Huez resort, which crosses the Poutran pass, to the end, and start from the Besson lake car park.
Take the flat path leading to the refuge which slopes after the Alpette fork, and will delight fauna and flora enthusiasts: the areas around Besson and Faucille lakes are teeming with marmots, cotton grasses and even specimens of carnivorous plants.
Follow the GR549 - for good walkers this takes about four hours with over 1,000m elevation gain.
Looking for an activity for the whole family this winter? This ski school has you covered.
Are you looking to get into ski touring but don't know where to start? This ski school offers a friendly and safe environment to learn and progress.
Strap on your snowshoes and discover the Alpe d'Huez trails this winter with a qualified instructor.
Escape the busy slopes this winter and get a biathlon lesson!
You'll be sure to enjoy some amazing views and an experience like no other!
Golf de l'Alpe d'Huez is open every day throughout the summer. The 9-hole golf course is accompanied by a large driving range, pro-shop and a clubhouse serving snacks and drinks.
This great value self-service restaurant adjoins the Folice Douce and is situated at the top of the Marmottes lift.
Dine in or on the sun terrace, and choose from a selection of Italian and local French dishes like their "Tartiflette Valdotaine" or the "Lasagne au Reblochon".
French run restaurant and bar with a nice terrace to sit out in the sun.
A reasonably priced restaurant serving typical French dishes with specialities such as Cassolette de St Jacques (scallop casserole) and medallion of veal with Beaufort cheese.
Just on the outskirts of the centre of Alpe d'Huez this restaurant has traditional charm, with a wood fired oven and seating for up to about 40 people.
Chef Patrice Blot presents a menu full of fusion cuisine, French classics combine with exotic touches for a refined and sophisticated experience.
Winter ice caves with sculptures that change every year.
Learn the secrets of the wildlife of the Oisans. Qualified staff leads this fun and realistic wildlife discovery, using interactive terminals offering a choice of virtual walks with activities featuring mountain fauna.
This museum houses permanent and temporary exhibitions about the production of electricity in the valley.
The ibex, a typical animal of the Alps fauna which was on the brink of extinction at the end of the 19th century, is now being reintroduced in different parts of the Alps.
This museum showcases the lives, tools and exploits of miners between the 12th to 14th centuries.
The highest medieval village in Europe (XII-XIV) related to the operation of a silver mine.
Located in the same building as the tourist office and the ESF ski school meeting point. You can buy your lift passes in person in both summer and winter.
Situated up at the top end of resort, at the bottom of the slopes, is Alpe d'Huez's recently refurbished head lift pass office.
This lift pass office is located at the top of the Les Bergers chairlift, on the first floor of the Les Bergers commercial centre, 'Centre Commercial Les Bergers'.
Situated next to the ESF office, this lift pass office is at the top of the Eclose chairlift across the piste from the Centre Notre Dame.
This lift pass office is located near the Office de Tourisme (the Tourist Office), right in the heart of Alpe d'Huez.
Vaujany is a charming alpine village set at 1,250m with stunning views and a blend of traditional and modern Alpine architecture. Connected to the Grande Domaine ski area by the Vaujany-Alpette cable car, it offers chalets, hotels and apartments close to lifts and village facilities. Ideal for those seeking a peaceful base with a few good restaurants and bars, while the nearby town of Bourg d’Oisans provides all the essentials just a short drive away.
The ski station of Oz en Oisans is a small, purpose-built, primarily north-facing resort set at 1,650m, above the tiny village of Oz. Built around the two main lifts serving Oz, the town centre consists of several purpose-built apartment blocks and chalets.
Set at around 1,800m at the top of the world-famous Tour de France climb of the 21 bends, Alpe d’Huez is a large south-facing, purpose-built resort with a fantastic record for both snow and sunshine. Often sitting above the clouds, Alpe d’Huez is referred to by the locals as “Ile du Soleil” or “Island in the Sun”.
Find out all about what is happening in Allpe d'Huez and how to make the most of your time here. The latest news, reviews of fun activities, current events and the trendiest restaurants, as well as interviews with leading locals, insider's guides and our top choices for things to do, see and experience in the valley. Plus, during the winter season, our famous snow reports and dump alerts all in the same place.
See allLatest News & ReviewsAlpe d'Huez hosts a wide range of events throughout the year. In the winter, you can expect motor racing on ice, comedy festivals, ski races and various live music gigs. During the summer months, the focus turns to cycling with the Tour de France usually passing through town. The Megavalanche, a mass-start mountain bike race that draws thousands of MTB fans from around the world, takes place in July.
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