Located in the southeast of the Isère region, Alpe d'Huez is a huge ski resort above the village of Huez. There are hundreds of kilometres of superb pisted and off-piste runs suited to beginners, expert skiers and snowboarders alike. The resort has the added attraction of one of Europe's longest ski runs as well as summer skiing on La Sarenne Glacier.

The town is a modern, purpose-built resort with ski-in, ski-out accessibility and, although less appealing than some, it has a vibrant atmosphere and plenty of facilities to keep visitors busy, including a large range of shops.

Alpe d'Huez has 32,000 beds in a range of lodgings, from large four-star hotel/resort establishments with every possible amenity, to the more modest and affordable pension/apartment. There are alternative lodgings in the nearby villages. Après-ski is lively and exciting and there are many pubs, bars and discos.

Over one hundred marked runs stretch over 220kms of varied skiing and snowboarding terrain. The longest run is a whopping 16kms (La Sarenne). There is an efficient, well-maintained system of 87 lifts, including: five cable cars; 10 gondolas; 25 chairlifts; 45 T-bars, and two others, with a total lift capacity of 94,000 people per hour.

For alternative skiing, nearby Les Deux Alpes is an ancient resort with modern facilities, and offers over 200kms of varied terrain. Just to the south of here is Ecrins National Park, with its 4,000m peaks, while Grenoble lies one hour to the northwest and has a fantastic setting. Surrounded by mountains and bisected by the river L'Isère, parts of the 16th century old town remain intact.

The Alpe d'Huez ski season runs from late November to late April, and there is also summer skiing on the Sarenne Glacier. The most convenient way to get to Alpe d'Huez is to fly to Lyon and hire a car, or take a combination of buses.