Luz Ardiden ski resort is located in the southwest of the Midi-Pyrénées province near the Spanish border. Luz-Ardiden, with a top station at 2,240m above sea level, is a dynamic and colourful ski resort with a range of pisted runs that are mainly suited to intermediate skiers. There is also great cross-country skiing and snowboarding.

The main resort village of Luz-Saint-Sauveur is 15kms southeast of the ski field and lies at an altitude of 1,700m above sea level. Luz-Saint-Sauveur is a genuine picturesque village where life is pleasant for all. Accommodation is wide ranging, from pensions and apartments to four-star hotels, and the après-ski and nightlife is geared towards families, with a handful of bars and excellent restaurants.

There are 33 downhill slopes and over 60kms of runs at Luz Ardiden ski resort, with eight runs divided equally among beginners and experts, and the other 25 for intermediate and advanced skiers. Nineteen ski lifts, including five chairlifts, one six-seater, and 13 surface lifts, have a total capacity for 14,000 people per hour. The special ‘Ticket Toy’ gives access to other skiing areas and 60 lifts. There is also a ski kindergarten.

For alternative skiing, ‘Ticket Toy’ encompasses the nearby skiing areas of Gavarnie Gedre, Barèges and Luz-Saint-Sauveur Skiing Circus; the village of Aulian and Luz Ardiden resorts connect with Luz-Saint-Sauveur and Bederet. Away from the slopes and just over an hour away by car is the town of Pau. Situated in the foothills of the Pyrénées, Pau enjoys spectacular views and its 14th century chateau should not be missed.

The ski season runs from November to April with best deals offered before the Christmas holidays, in mid-January, and from mid-March to the season’s end. The most practical way to get to Luz-Ardiden ski resort is to fly to Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes Airport, take a bus/shuttle to Lourdes train station, and a SNCF shuttle to the village.