Advanced Ski Areas in Alpe d'Huez
Discover the top Alpe d'Huez advanced skiing
Alpe d'Huez has so much more to offer than the oft-skied pistes of the Sarenne and Tunnel up at the top of the Pic Blanc (3,300m).
The Grand Domaine ski area has plenty of long and challenging pistes for those in search of a thigh burning run.
Many longer runs will take to you the neighbouring villages of Villard Reculas (La Souveraine is particularly lovely), Mont Frais, Oz-en-Oisans, Vaujany and down through the forest to the picturesque village of Maronne passing a few good coffee stops along the way.
Jump to
Watch this
Advanced areas in Alpe d’Huez
Private Ski Lessons & Instructors in Alpe d'Huez
See all Private Ski Lessons & Instructors in Alpe d'Huez-
Private ski lessons
This small independent ski school is dedicated to ensuring its students make real progress in a friendly environment with easy free flowing dialogue between teacher and student.
-
Private ski lessons
Oli Sebbar is a certified ski instructor in France and New Zealand. He loves sharing his passion and knowledge of the mountains and will help you understand and learn how to deal with different types of snow conditions you may encounter while riding on piste and off-piste.
-
Private ski lessons
This ski school connects snow sports enthusiasts of all abilities with expert ski and snowboard instructors across Europe’s top resorts. With thousands of top-rated, verified instructors to choose from, their private lessons offer a flexible and personalised learning experience.
-
Private ski lessons
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British-run ski schools in France. Their team is known for going the extra mile, offering excellent customer service and delivering outstanding lessons and guiding.
-
Group ski lessons
This ski school is part of the prestigious Ecole du Ski Français. With schools throughout France in all major resorts, they are one of the best known and well-trusted ski schools in the Alps.
-
Private ski lessons
This ski school is part of the prestigious Ecole du Ski Français. With schools throughout France in all major resorts, they are one of the best known and well-trusted ski schools in the Alps.
Beginner areas in Alpe d’Huez
Ski School Lessons in Alpe d'Huez
See all Ski School Lessons in Alpe d'Huez-
Group ski lessons
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British ski schools in France and is renowned for its fantastic instructors and excellent customer service.
-
Group ski lessons
This ski school is part of the prestigious Ecole du Ski Français. With schools throughout France in all major resorts, they are one of the best known and well-trusted ski schools in the Alps.
-
Group ski lessons
This ski school offers group ski lessons for both children and adults, catering to all ability levels. Their group lessons provide a great and affordable way to improve your skiing in a safe, social and supportive environment.
-
Group ski lessons
This small independent ski school is dedicated to ensuring it students make real progress in a friendly environment with easy free flowing dialogue between teacher and student.
-
Private ski lessons
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British-run ski schools in France. Their team is known for going the extra mile, offering excellent customer service and delivering outstanding lessons and guiding.
-
Private ski lessons
Oli Sebbar is a certified ski instructor in France and New Zealand. He loves sharing his passion and knowledge of the mountains and will help you understand and learn how to deal with different types of snow conditions you may encounter while riding on piste and off-piste.
Beginner ski hire
Ski Hire in Alpe d'Huez
See all Ski Hire in Alpe d'Huez-
Les Bergers
Ski & Snowboard Rental Close to Marmottes Ski Lift & Bergers Residence. Save time and money by booking online with Intersport. Have your equipment ready to pick up as soon as you arrive and hit the slopes straight away!
-
Altitude Sports
Phillippe welcomes you to the Altitude Sports ski rental store in Alpe d'Huez! It is conveniently located on the Route d'Huez, near the ESF ski school and the gendarmerie.
-
Cornerski
No need to carry your ski equipment around with you! Simply pick it up from the ski shop in resort. You can collect your equipment from at least 5pm the day before your 1st skiing day.
-
Pied des Pistes
Snowboard & Ski Hire by the Telepherique des Grandes Rousses. Save time and money by booking online with Intersport. Have your equipment ready to pick up as soon as you arrive and hit the slopes straight away!
-
Henri Sports VII MMV
You can’t wait for your next ski trip? Everything is already booked except your ski equipment? Don’t worry, they’ll help you find the perfect equipment to fully enjoy your ski holiday in Alpe d'Huez!
-
Huez Sport
Want to rent skis or snowboards in Alpe d'Huez? Just visit the Huez Sports store!
Beginner ski lessons
Ski School Lessons in Alpe d'Huez
See all Ski School Lessons in Alpe d'Huez-
Group ski lessons
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British ski schools in France and is renowned for its fantastic instructors and excellent customer service.
-
Group ski lessons
This ski school is part of the prestigious Ecole du Ski Français. With schools throughout France in all major resorts, they are one of the best known and well-trusted ski schools in the Alps.
-
Group ski lessons
This ski school offers group ski lessons for both children and adults, catering to all ability levels. Their group lessons provide a great and affordable way to improve your skiing in a safe, social and supportive environment.
-
Group ski lessons
This small independent ski school is dedicated to ensuring it students make real progress in a friendly environment with easy free flowing dialogue between teacher and student.
-
Private ski lessons
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British-run ski schools in France. Their team is known for going the extra mile, offering excellent customer service and delivering outstanding lessons and guiding.
-
Private ski lessons
Oli Sebbar is a certified ski instructor in France and New Zealand. He loves sharing his passion and knowledge of the mountains and will help you understand and learn how to deal with different types of snow conditions you may encounter while riding on piste and off-piste.
Off-piste areas in Alpe d’Huez
Mountain Guides Alpe d'Huez
See all Mountain Guides Alpe d'Huez-
Oli Sebbar - off-piste and ski touring guide
Experience freedom and adventure in the mountains with an excellent off-piste and ski touring guide.
-
ESF off-piste mountain guides, Alpe d'Huez
This ski school offers off-piste lessons in Alpe d'Huez for those looking to take their skiing or snowboarding to the next level.
-
Pure Ski Guiding and mountain guides
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.
-
ESF ski touring
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.
-
ESF cross-country skiing, Alpe d'Huez
Cross-country skiing is the perfect way to enjoy the peace and scenery of the Alps. This ski school offers lessons every weekday morning to teach you the technique of this graceful sport.
What should I wear when skiing or snowboarding?
Ski Hire in Alpe d'Huez
See all Ski Hire in Alpe d'Huez-
Les Bergers
Ski & Snowboard Rental Close to Marmottes Ski Lift & Bergers Residence. Save time and money by booking online with Intersport. Have your equipment ready to pick up as soon as you arrive and hit the slopes straight away!
-
Altitude Sports
Phillippe welcomes you to the Altitude Sports ski rental store in Alpe d'Huez! It is conveniently located on the Route d'Huez, near the ESF ski school and the gendarmerie.
-
Cornerski
No need to carry your ski equipment around with you! Simply pick it up from the ski shop in resort. You can collect your equipment from at least 5pm the day before your 1st skiing day.
-
Pied des Pistes
Snowboard & Ski Hire by the Telepherique des Grandes Rousses. Save time and money by booking online with Intersport. Have your equipment ready to pick up as soon as you arrive and hit the slopes straight away!
-
Henri Sports VII MMV
You can’t wait for your next ski trip? Everything is already booked except your ski equipment? Don’t worry, they’ll help you find the perfect equipment to fully enjoy your ski holiday in Alpe d'Huez!
-
Huez Sport
Want to rent skis or snowboards in Alpe d'Huez? Just visit the Huez Sports store!
More inspiration...
Take a look at this year's ski pass prices and find your way around with piste maps for Alpe d'Huez.
The Tunnel and The Sarenne
No advanced piste guide would fail to mention these two runs.
Le Tunnel
Beneath the Pic Blanc cable car it has a standard 'black' level steepness and is not for the faint-hearted.
The snow can be very hard in the mornings due to it only getting late afternoon sun, which therefore also means it can be super-mogully in the afternoons. Those who realise they may have bitten off more than they can chew can 'escape' onto the cat-track for a less challenging route down.
Bear in mind that this piste can be subject to quite a few last minute closures due to condition changes.
The Sarenne
By contrast this run can be enjoyed by fearless intermediates.
This really long black from the top of Alpe d'Huez has two ways that you can approach it:
The Classic Route
Accessed from the Tunnel run by simply passing the entrance of that run and continuing as far as you can go. You will have to cope with the black that precedes the Tunnel, but it's not as daunting as its grading suggests.
The Sarenne then continues for about 17km and alternates between blue and affable red until it enters the Sarenne gorge when it rather fizzles out into a 5km flat path.
Where it distinguishes itself is that the scenery is stunning, the run is undoubtedly long and you ski a non-stop vertical descent of nearly 2km, whilst feeling that you are skiing in an undeveloped area of mountain (which you are!).
The reason that the Sarenne is rated black is partly because there is a wide steep 'nearly' black section at the top, but mostly because once you commence the run it is not possible to turn back.
The Alternative Route
By taking the Marmotte III lift you can ski a couple of very high altitude red and blue runs that liaise at the bottom with the Sarenne run (and also miss out the 'black' aspect of the Sarenne).
There is no run back from the Marmotte III lift that will return you to Alpe d’Huez other than via the Sarenne.
So once you've gotten those bad boys out of your system, what else can you turn your skis and snowboards to?
Clocher de Macle
Elsewhere, a cluster of black pistes worth a mention include the runs off the Marmottes II gondola from the Clocher de Macle.
Balcons is a steep and quiet run.
Clocher de Macle itself is slightly easier but often busy.
Combe Charbonnière is the long which requires a fairly long traverse at the start.
Time to explore
For some variety, why not try these runs and see more of the area:
Auris-en-Oisans
Take the AlpAuris chair and once across the locally known ‘scare chair’ jump on the Fontfroide lift.
From the top you have unimaginable views across to Les Deux Alpes and plenty of options for nice red and black runs, such as Col de Cluy or Bergeries which take you to the bottom of the Sarenne gorge.
Alternatively the Fontfroide red piste takes you towards the village of Auris, and the black run La Fuma will take you to Maronne, where the restaurant at the bottom of the piste is a real hidden gem.
Oz-en-Oisans - Vaujany
If you'd prefer to start in the main Alpe d'Huez area, from the mid-station of the DMC lift head to the right and pick up the red Poutran piste, a lovely run towards Oz-en-Oisans.
Tree-lined with some nice speedy sections, this run is a lot of fun and is better in the morning sun rather than afternoon shade, plus the trees make it great in snowy conditions.
Oz has some fantastic little cafes and restaurants for a pit-stop, and then from Oz centre hop onto the L'Alpette cable car. From here pick up the blue run Chalets for a couple of hundred metres, then head left onto La Fare, a lovely tree-lined black piste that takes you all the way to Vaujany village, again a real treat with plenty of bars and restaurants.
After a mooch around in Vaujany, jump on the Vaujany-Alpette lift, then take the 'James Bond' cable car to the Dome des Rousses (2,800m). From here you have a plethora of red runs and spectacular views, an area not to be missed. When it's time to head back jump back in the 'James Bond' cable car, and from the top of the Dome head down 'Le Dome' to the DMC lift station past the end of the Tunnel run.
There is no better way to get in the last run of the day than head to the black Combe Charbonnière. It has fantastic views across to Les Deux Alpes and the Sarenne gorge, and naturally joins the red Campanulles that brings you out above the gorge, eventually landing you back to resort at Les Bergers lift.
