The mountains of France are ready for another sparkling winter season that promises a wealth of ski and non-ski activities, accessibility for all, greener resorts and varied accommodation – following a vibrant winter launch in London on 10 September.
The event was held at The Nest, Treehouse Hotel's foliage-filled rooftop bar and wraparound terrace with 360-degree views of London, just moments from Oxford Circus. It welcomed 46 journalists and influencers to hear the latest news from the French ski industry, presented by France Montagnes alongside 19 partners.
Key investments: new and reopening lifts and a Magic Pass addition - The new, faster and more comfortable Vallon gondola – with a strict limited environmental impact – will open in the Val d'Isère ski area, taking passengers up to the Pisaillas glacier at 3,185m in just six and a half minutes. In Courchevel, the 120-capacity Saulire cable car is set to reopen in December, having been closed for the last three winter seasons. Meanwhile, the traditional family-friendly resort of Thollon-les-Mémises, an hour's drive from Geneva beside Lac Léman, has joined the huge 'Magic Pass' uniting 80 ski resorts, offering pass holders 1,500 km of pistes, two glaciers and 19 snowparks across both France and Switzerland!
Non-ski activities to try this winter: Many can't wait to feel skis or boards under their boots again, but the range of activities is much wider. Test your nerve climbing a frozen waterfall in Peisey-Vallandry under the guidance of an instructor. Speed demons should visit La Plagne, home to France's only bobsleigh track – you'll descend this Olympic course at a top speed of around 80 km/hour! If you want to see the mountains from the inside, head to the Plateau des Petites Roches in the Isère department, where you can enjoy a day of caving in the Dent de Crolles. If you prefer to stay outdoors, take a snowshoe hike in Les 2 Alpes under the 'Esprit Parc National' label to spot chamois in their natural winter habitat.
To find out more about the local flora, arrange to meet Émilie, who picks medicinal plants and sells them in her shop, Cairn Plantes du Val d'Arly. She also organises workshops to find out more about plants and how to transform them into balms and teas.
Experience the world of the trapper at 1,500m in La Clusaz, staying in an authentic tipi in a forest of larch and spruce. And in the neighbouring resort of Le Grand Bornand, with its traditional feel, farm visits and activities are available for young and old alike! Sometimes with a snack at the end...
French ski school ESF, which celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2025, has special equipment and trained instructors to enable all snow lovers to enjoy winter sports. Everyone is welcome: people with intellectual disabilities (autism and Down's syndrome), the visually impaired and people with physical disabilities, whether temporary or permanent. At Vaujany, eight instructors have already been trained in handiskiing: they can organise family outings and teach you to use the adapted equipment independently. At Les Menuires and Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, where inclusion is paramount, no fewer than 17 instructors are ready for fun sessions of handiskiing or handibiathlon. And did you know that 39 ski lifts in Serre Chevalier are accessible to disabled skiers? Find out more at one of the five tourist offices with the 'Tourism & Handicap' label. For visitors from disadvantaged social backgrounds, there are opportunities to holiday off season, share large flats or stay in hostels in the satellite resorts of major ski areas, as well as take advantage of good deals with 'tribe' packages.
New and renovated resort accommodation: Every year brings new and renovated properties to the French mountains. At the edge of the Vanoise National Park, Brides-les-Bains has added Villa Parcs' Résidence Méri-Bellecombe, with 22 flats. A new luxury accommodation will also open in Méribel this winter, namely the Fleur des Alpes. The iconic four-star La Chaudanne and five-star Le Kaïlav hotels are teaming up with the Lego brand to completely redesign their kids' clubs. Looking for a B&B? Head to Les Matins Bleus in Villard-de-Lans, Isère, where you'll receive a warm welcome from Madame Vergne and a choice of two rooms on the ground floor of her private home.
Sustainability commitments: On the initiative of the Mountain Riders association, which has been fighting waste for 20 years, France Montagnes and other stakeholders signed the Montagne Zéro Déchet Sauvage charter in 2023. The aim? To end waste in the French mountains by 2030. In addition, 29 ski resorts have now been awarded the Flocon Vert label for their efforts to protect the mountains in a sustainable way. For example, the ski lifts at Les Sybelles run entirely on renewable energy. Les Arcs is the only destination to have a funicular linking the ski area to a station, allowing holidaymakers to leave the car at home. Val Cenis was the first resort in France to invest in an entirely electric snow groomer and uses its own hydroelectric resources: 100% renewable energy with no greenhouse gas emissions.
