The largest resort in the southern Alps, roughly in the middle of a line that extends from Grenoble (France) to Turin (Italy), Serre – Chevalier ski resort offers an extensive variety of ski terrain and usually sunny skies. For eager snowboarders, there is also some incredible off-piste in tree-lined powder fields.
The ski area towers over the 10-kilometre long Guisane Valley, which contains 13 villages, all with stunning scenery and sitting between 1,200 and 1,500m above sea level. The chief villages are Chantemerle, Villeneuve and Le Monetier. These villages are characterised by their narrow streets, village squares and traditional stone buildings, while facilities are first rate.
Accommodation is usually in traditional wooden chalets or equally attractive two- to four-star hotels, and there are some 30,000 beds available. Non-skiing activities are numerous and include ice-skating, swimming and natural hot baths, while après–ski is enlivened by the scores of excellent restaurants and bars. Each village has its own childcare facilities.
Every type of ski and snowboard terrain is available along Serre – Chevalier ski resort’s 120 pisted runs, which are spread over 250kms. There is an emphasis on intermediates, while off-piste powder opportunities also exist for upper-intermediates. The longest run is 6.8kms. Seventy-four lifts, featuring seven gondolas, three trams, 19 chairlifts and 45 surface lifts, have an hourly capacity for 76,500 people and service the entire field.
For alternative skiing, the resort of Montgenevre is lift-linked with Claviere in Italy, which itself is linked to the huge ski region affectionately known as the Milky Way, boasting 400kms of prepared runs and superb off-piste terrain. Turin is only 1 hour, 30 minutes away by car and is one of Italy’s most opulent and frequently visited cities.
The ski season at Serre – Chevalier resort runs from early December to early May, with cheaper rates at the beginning and towards the end of the season, while those under 6 years of age and over 75 years get free access. The most convenient travel method to Serre – Chevalier is to fly to Turin and transfer by hire car.
