Family skiing weekends
Winter has arrived and you can't wait to enjoy the snow, but first you need to find somewhere to stay! Perhaps, more than anything else, you just...
It’s time to hit the pistes… hard!
Mountain air and perfect pistes await you less than 2 hours from Lyon.
Last updated date : 21/04/2023
If Mont Blanc can sometimes be seen from the Notre-Dame de Fourvière Basilica, it’s because the snow’s not so far away!
Check out our selection of resorts within 2 hours of Lyon to enjoy a day or weekend of winter sports. Along with family or friends, going downhill or cross-country, for a high-octane or more chilled day out, grab your gear and let’s go!
Plans d’Hotonnes (1h20 from Lyon)
In the well-preserved natural setting of the Jura, the Les Plans d’Hotonnes resort welcomes you for a day of fresh mountain air just 80 minutes from Lyon. The Plateau de Retord has more than 150km of cross-country skiing tracks, including fun areas for beginners.Snow shoes more your style? Explore the great snowy wastes on one of the 11 available tracks.
And if you’re up for a little downhill, make the most of a value-for-money family-friendly resort, with 13 pistes perfectly suited to beginner and occasional skiers.
Fancy taking a shot at taking on Martin Fourcade? Head over to the biathlon stadium for a beginners’ lesson with a certified coach.
Or if you’d rather take it easy, sled dog rides are a great way to admire the stunning views!
http://www.plateauderetord.fr/hiver-sport.php
Autrans / Méaudre (1h45 from Lyon)
The 2 ski resorts of Autrans and Méaudre await you in the incredible Vercors countryside. With 33 pistes, the resort is perfect for both beginners and more experienced skiers, including long blue and red pistes, but also a special area just for kids or adults hitting the slopes for the first time.
Enjoy the region’s well-preserved natural environment and landscapes as you head down the 180km of cross-country ski tracks across plains, forests, and ridges. It’s the perfect place to combine sport, contemplation, and a breath of fresh air.
You can also try our beginners’ lessons: biathlon, dog-sled driving, or even ski-jumping!
https://autrans-meaudre.com/fr/hiver/ski/
Les 7 laux (1h50 from Lyon)
With 51 pistes spread across both mountain sides, the Les 7 Laux resort has 51 pistes for all ski skill levels, with a fair share of red and black pistes for battle-hardened skiers!
Against the beautiful backdrop of the Massif de Belledonne, the resort’s many chairlifts mean you can enjoy up to 1,000m of non-stop descent, giving you plenty of time to develop your style!
Powder lovers will be able to really let loose in the resort’s secure but unpacked areas. With 4 zones per skill level, the snowpark is a priceless play area for any rider.
Overlooking the Haut-Breda and Grésivaudan Valleys, the cross-country skiing pistes provide routes for all skill levels, including some at an altitude of nearly 2,000m.
Chamrousse (2h from Lyon)
2 hours from Lyon, Chamrousse is a really great resort for winter-sports weekends for all the family! For beginners (both kids and adults), the “limited access” ski pass lets you use 4 ski tows and 1 chairlift to get going on the green or blue pistes at a special low price.
For experienced skiers, the resort has plenty of red and black pistes.
For cross-country skiing fans, the resort has 9 pistes and 7 footpaths suitable for snow shoes.
How about a really unique winter sports experience? Try your hand at night skiing, head down a more than 2km-long piste on your sled, or defy gravity in the freestyle ski/snowboard area. Thrill-seekers won’t be disappointed!
To make your stay last a little longer, the resort offers a wide range of winter activities, from ice-skating to ice driving… and even ice diving.
Alpe du Grand Serre (2h from Lyon)
The Alpe du Grand Serre ski resort has 55km of mainly blue and green pistes, in a family-friendly and relaxed atmosphere just 45 minutes from Grenoble.
The cross-country skiing facilities offer you a chilled or high-octane experience, surrounded by the mountains of Oisans, Taillefer and Les Ecrins.
As for activities, you can try a first dog sled ride, get up early to enjoy the pistes on your own just as the ski slope teams open the resort, and even sit in the passenger seat of the snow groomer and see the resort either at night or sunrise!
https://www.alpedugrandserre.info
As some resorts are located at medium altitude, don’t forget to check the snow report before loading your skis onto the roof rack!
Eléonore is the romantic member of the team! Rumour has it that she knows her classics better than anyone else, and if you want to strike up a conversation with her, just mention Jane Austen, and you'll be away!
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