Ski Serre Chevalier - Ski or Snowboard in Serre Chevalier

Ski Serre Chevalier - Ski Resort and Snow Summary

Serre Chevalier (Grande Galaxie), Hautes-Alpes, France (1200m to 2800m)

Serre Che is made up of thirteen villages (three main ones) spread out for 6km along the Guisane Valley floor from Briancon. The north facing larch-lined slopes above (most over 2000m ) are lift linked all the way from the town.

Serre Chevalier Ski Facts

Serre Chevalier in brief Serre Chevalier Ski Resort is:- Excellent for Expert Skiers. Fantastic for Intermediate Skiers. Excellent for Beginners. Fantastic for Snowboarding.

for Expert Skiers for Intermediate Skiers for Beginners for Snowboarding    15 Black Runs (32km)    42 Red Runs (80km)    32 Blue Runs (81km)    25 Green Runs (57km) 250km Downhill Pistes 35km Cross Country Trails 77 Ski Lifts 1600m Max Vertical 2800m Highest Lift 1350m Resort Altitude 1200m Lowest Piste Full Page Map of Serre Chevalier

The French ski resort of Serre Chevalier (in Hautes-Alpes) is part of the Grande Galaxie Ski Area with access to 256 individual pistes. In addition to the skiing in Serre Chevalier itself (250km of pisted ski runs), the appropriate ski Lift Pass will allow you to ski or snowboard in the other Grande Galaxie ski resorts of Briançon, La Grave, Les Deux Alpes and Puy Saint Vincent.

With pistes above 2500 metres, skiing and snowboarding is assured throughout the season.

Snowmaking :- Serre Chevalier is able to augment natural snow, on 146km of ski runs, with 493 Snow Cannons.

Ski Lift Capacity :- The 77 Ski Lifts of Serre Chevalier are able to uplift 70,500 skiers / snowboarders per hour.

There is an airport within two hours drive, so ski weekends, snowboard breaks and short ski holidays to Serre Chevalier are perfectly feasible.

Skiing in Serre Chevalier

Serre Chevalier is big, and with more than a dozen points from which to access the ski area there are few bottle-necks getting up to the most snow sure terrain, which is located up above the treeline at 2000 metres. Runs for all abilities are spread around the mountains so you shouldn't get stuck with only a tough route back if you're beginner, or only near flat terrain in front of you if you're an expert.

Beginners have gentle trails by all the villages and separate beginner slopes up the mountain. Intermediates have the most to en-joy with a mixture of glorious long cruising trails up to 10km (6 miles) in length. At Bachas above 1500 there are lots of runs criss-crossing down through the larch forest . Favourite trails include Le Petit Alpe, Grand Gargouille and Bois des Coqs. The lift pass also takes in Montgenèvre on the Italian border, from where it is possible to ski, if conditions are right, all the way over to Sestrière and Sauze d'Oulx in Italy, although you need to purchase an 'add on pass' and start early to be able to do so.

Advanced skiers also have a lot to enjoy here, including very extensive off-piste and ski touring terrain for which a number of guiding services are available. Those looking for on-piste excitement will find the Olympic Luc Alphand run one of the fastest on the mountain. For moguls try Le Bez and for sheer fun the gullies, chutes and forest of the 'Porridge' trail.

There are five cross-country trails in the valley of varying length and difficulty.

Snowboarding in Serre Chevalier

A Snowpark was added for 2002 in the Alpage sector which includes a big air jump. In addition to these man-made features the terrain includes numerous natural half-pipes and couloirs, and guided off-piste 'boarding is available to those wishing to make the most of this vast terrain. The snow park was extended in 2006-7

Whilst the ESF and International Ski school both offer snowboarding courses, the resort does have one dedicated 'boarders-only school - Génération Snow based at Chantemerle. It runs three or six day courses with group size limited to 8, as well as 90 minute private lessons and children's courses.

Serre Chevalier Après Ski

Not known for having an especially lively nightlife, thanks in part to its varied multiple centres, there are, none the less, usually one or two lively bars in each centre, particularly Villeneuve at 1400. Here the White Hare Bar in the Hotel Liève Blanc is popular as is Le Frog.

In Chantemerle at 1350 Le Pub Ullivan is a good choice and there's a rare French Karaoke bar, L'Escapade. The resort's two discos La Baita and Bam Bam are both located in Villeneuve.

The local Bière des Alpes is brewed in a small brewery run by Luc Alphand and his brother Lionel in Vallouise is served in the area.

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Also of interest for Serre Chevalier, France

Airport Transfers Chambery to Serre Chevalier Get Quote

Serre Chevalier Ski Chalets from £205 per week

Serre Chevalier Ski Holidays from £339 per person