Help support this website. Buy your ski passes direct here at no extra cost.
Thrills and adrenaline highs in Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez is renowned for its year-round outdoor adventures.
Alpe d'Huez is a vast alpine playground, where legendary mountain terrain provides endless opportunities for outdoor adventure. Whether you're drawn to gravity-fuelled descents, high-altitude hikes, aerial thrills or white-water excitement, there's an activity to suit every ability and level of experience.
Alpe d'Huez's varied terrain makes it an excellent destination for guided off-piste skiing and snowboarding. Local mountain guides lead everything from introductory freeride sessions to advanced descents through glaciers, steep couloirs and hidden powder fields, helping visitors discover parts of the mountain they wouldn't find on their own.
Escape the lift system and head into the backcountry on a guided ski touring adventure. Whether you're trying touring for the first time or looking to tackle longer alpine routes, qualified guides provide instruction, safety equipment and access to quieter, untouched terrain.
Tandem paragliding flights are available throughout both winter and summer, allowing visitors to soar above Alpe d'Huez and enjoy panoramic views of the Oisans mountains. No previous experience is required, making it one of the most accessible ways to experience the Alps from the air.
Experienced mountain guides offer climbing, Via Ferrata and mountaineering outings across the Oisans and Écrins ranges. From introductory rock climbing sessions to more technical alpine ascents, there are guided experiences for every level.
During winter, frozen waterfalls and ice formations around Alpe d'Huez provide the setting for guided ice climbing. With specialist equipment and expert instruction, it's a unique way to experience the mountains and develop technical climbing skills.
Strap on your snowshoes and explore the winter trails of Alpe d’Huez with a qualified instructor, discovering the mountains at a slower pace and in complete tranquillity. Snowshoe walks are suitable for all ages and require only a basic level of fitness, making them perfect for families, mixed groups, or anyone looking for a peaceful winter escape. Each outing is rated by difficulty, allowing you to choose the walk that best suits your group.
Specialists in off-piste skiing and heliski with plenty of experience and knowledge of all the best places and hidden spots of the Grandes Rousses mountain range.
Step away from the bustle of the ski slopes and try your hand at biathlon, a brilliant winter adventure that mixes cross-country skiing with precision rifle shooting. It is an exciting blend of endurance and focus, and it suits mixed groups beautifully. With adapted equipment and clear guidance, it is accessible to absolute beginners as well as those keen to push themselves a little.
Take your skiing or snowboarding to the next level with expert off-piste lessons in Alpe d’Huez. Designed for experienced skiers and snowboarders, these guided outings offer a chance to explore the resort’s hidden corners and pristine powder away from the crowds. With their extensive knowledge of the area, instructors know where to find the best snow and secret spots for every level of adventure.
Discover a brilliant line-up of family activities in Alpe d’Huez, perfect for bringing everyone together on the snow. Whether your crew loves a challenge, prefers shared adventures or wants to try something completely new, there is an experience for every age and level.
Discover the freedom of ski touring and explore the quieter side of Alpe d’Huez, where wide-open landscapes, peaceful summits and fresh air set the tone. With friendly, uncompetitive groups and routes for every level, you can take things at your own pace and enjoy the mountains in a whole new way.
The glacier-fed Vénéon River is the centre of rafting around Alpe d'Huez, with everything from family-friendly descents to exhilarating rapids. Running from May to September, guided trips make the most of the powerful meltwater flowing from the Écrins mountains, creating one of the Alps' best white-water experiences.
For something a little extra you could also try canyoning – swimming, scrambling, abseiling, cliff jumping and sliding down natural rock chutes, or hydrospeeding using a specialist foam float and fins as you navigate the fast-flowing waters of the Vénéon River.
Paddle the rivers of the Écrins National Park, including the Vénéon, Romanche, Eau d'Olle and Rive, where routes range from gentle sections for beginners to more technical white-water challenges. Guided sessions and equipment hire are available.
This watersports centre is located between Venosc and St Christophe, not far from the Ecrins National Park.
Alpe d'Huez is one of France's top mountain biking destinations, with a huge network of downhill, enduro and cross-country trails spread across the Grand Domaine. Its renowned bike park features everything from flowing berms and jump lines to technical singletrack and demanding downhill descents, while the surrounding Oisans mountains offer endless natural terrain for more adventurous riders. Lift access makes it easy to maximise your time on the trails, including the legendary descent from Pic Blanc, one of the longest continuous downhill runs in Europe. Bike hire shops throughout the resort provide equipment, protective gear and experienced guides to help you discover the area's best rides.
Auris en Oisans, located to the east Alpe d'Huez, has a shuttle bus service running back and forth from the centre of Alpe d'Huez, plus its own chairlift equipped with bike hooks.
The mountain biking trails of Alpe d'Huez are immense, weaving their way across the spectacular terrain of the Oisans region including Auris, Oz, Vaujany, Villard-Reculas, Allemont, Freney d'Oisans and Bourg d'Oisans.
Vaujany is linked to the rest of the mountain bike area via the two sections of the Dome des Rousses cable car.
The main part of Alpe d'Huez is serviced by two cable cars and a gondola - the Télévillage, the DMC and the Pic Blanc.
Oz en Oisans sits to the west side of Alpe d'Huez and can be accessed by the MTB trails from the centre of Alpe d'Huez and the two gondolas that run from that side (the Poutran and the Alpette).
Tandem flights are available throughout both winter and summer, offering spectacular aerial views over the Oisans mountains. With no previous experience required, it's one of the easiest ways to experience the landscape from above.
Combine cross-country skiing with precision rifle shooting in a guided biathlon session. Suitable for beginners as well as more experienced participants, it offers a fun introduction to one of the Alps' classic winter sports.
Test your car control on a dedicated ice circuit with professional instruction. Held on the famous track used for the Andros Trophy, it's a unique winter activity that blends speed, skill and adrenaline.
Step away from the bustle of the ski slopes and try your hand at biathlon, a brilliant winter adventure that mixes cross-country skiing with precision rifle shooting. It is an exciting blend of endurance and focus, and it suits mixed groups beautifully. With adapted equipment and clear guidance, it is accessible to absolute beginners as well as those keen to push themselves a little.
Discover a brilliant line-up of family activities in Alpe d’Huez, perfect for bringing everyone together on the snow. Whether your crew loves a challenge, prefers shared adventures or wants to try something completely new, there is an experience for every age and level.
Strap on your snowshoes and explore the winter trails of Alpe d’Huez with a qualified instructor, discovering the mountains at a slower pace and in complete tranquillity. Snowshoe walks are suitable for all ages and require only a basic level of fitness, making them perfect for families, mixed groups, or anyone looking for a peaceful winter escape. Each outing is rated by difficulty, allowing you to choose the walk that best suits your group.
Discover the freedom of ski touring and explore the quieter side of Alpe d’Huez, where wide-open landscapes, peaceful summits and fresh air set the tone. With friendly, uncompetitive groups and routes for every level, you can take things at your own pace and enjoy the mountains in a whole new way.
You'll be sure to enjoy some amazing views and an experience like no other!
For everything horse related, you'll find a wide range of activities here for all ages in both summer and winter.
Walking, hiking and trail running might sound more relaxing than adventurous, but Alpe d'Huez's dramatic mountain scenery quickly changes that perception. The resort is surrounded by high-altitude trails, rugged peaks and panoramic ridgelines. From scenic walks to alpine lakes to demanding summit hikes and technical trail runs, there's a route for every ability. Local guides can introduce you to hidden corners of the mountains, while the lift network provides easy access to higher terrain, opening up spectacular routes without the long climb from the valley floor. Browse our favourite routes below to discover where to head first.
Especially suitable for families or those looking for a relaxed introduction to alpine hiking.
Starting at approximately 1,860 metres near the Vieil Alpe area of the resort, the trail descends through terraced meadows, coniferous woodland, and timeworn hamlets.
Beginning directly from Alpe d’Huez, the trail gradually ascends to the Col de Sarenne, which sits at 1,999 metres.
This hike offers so much, making it a top choice for a well-rounded alpine hiking experience.
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.
See allUpcoming Events
