Are you learning how to ski or looking to book a trip with beginner skiers or snowboarders? We have put together our 5 top resorts in France that are the best suited for beginners. We spoke to some of our highly qualified instructors to get their feedback on which resorts offer the best terrain, easiest access and best lift pass options for beginners. Check out our list here!
What Makes a Ski Resort Suitable for Beginners?
A ski resort that’s well-suited for beginners should have features and facilities specifically designed to ease newcomers into skiing and snowboarding. Here’s what makes a resort beginner-friendly:
- Dedicated areas for beginners
- Free/discounted lift passes for beginners
- Nursery slopes and beginner-only ski areas
- Plenty of wide, gentle green and blue slopes
- Easy-to-use lifts like magic carpet lifts
- Friendly and supportive atmosphere
- Good snow conditions
Best Resorts for Beginner Skiers in France:
Les Deux Alpes
Les Deux Alpes is a great choice for beginner skiers with four beginner zones or nursery ski areas, 17 green pistes, and 45 blue pistes split across each side of the ski area. This setup allows you to learn the basics and then progress further up the mountain.
Three of the four nursery ski areas in Les Deux Alpes run along the base of the ski area on the glacier side of the mountain. They are easily accessible as they run parallel to the main road that goes through the centre of the resort. It’s one of the rare resorts where you’ll find beginner areas in the higher reaching, snow-sure areas, making it a great choice for early-season skiing. As an added bonus, Les Deux Alpes offers five free lifts, so if you’re a complete beginner, you can practice the basics before buying a lift pass.
Book a beginner ski lesson in Les Deux Alpes with Maison Sport!
Courchevel
Courchevel ski resort is made up of five different villages at various altitudes, each with its own beginner ski area, at least one free ski lift, and different grades of pistes. The beginner zones have gently sloping slopes that allow you to practice your turns before deciding whether or not to venture further up the mountain.
The whole area above Courchevel Moriond, as well as the Verdons area in Courchevel 1850, offers wide, flat slopes, creating a beginner skier’s paradise! Hundreds of hours of preparation go into ensuring the pistes are perfectly groomed every night and are in excellent condition by 09:00 every morning. These pistes are wide and shallow as they approach the lower part of the resort, providing areas where you can practice what you have learned and build confidence as you go.
Many of the beginner areas offer free lifts, including five in Courchevel 1850, three in Courchevel Moriond, two in La Tania, one in Courchevel Village, as well as one in Le Praz. So, if you’re a complete beginner, you won’t need a ski pass at all in these areas. Even better, children under 5 ski for free!
Book a beginner ski lesson in Courchevel with Maison Sport!
Les Arcs
Les Arcs is a very popular first-ski destination for beginners because of its gentle, wide pistes. Much of the accommodation is ski-in ski-out, meaning you can walk out of your apartment each morning and step onto the slopes right in front of you. The resort is split into four areas, each with its own beginners’ area featuring gentle slopes and lifts designed specifically for ease of use by beginners.
If you are starting as a complete beginner, you will benefit from nursery areas where a ski pass is not required. There are also a couple of offers on lift passes where you can buy 1, 2, 3, 5, or 10 trips on the lifts, which means you don’t have to spend money on a ski pass for the whole week.
Book a beginner ski lesson in Les Arcs with Maison Sport!
Avoriaz
Avoriaz is a great choice for first-time skiers or snowboarders who will start on the Écoles or Dromonts pistes in the centre of the resort. These pistes are both serviced by two gentle drag lifts, helping you gain confidence gradually. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can aim to progress onto the three nearby green pistes, which are accessed by the Proclou, Seraussaix, and Baron chairlifts. There are also four blue pistes in the same area: Proclou, Seraussaix, Qu’mont, and Gernues. These pistes are gentle and easy, allowing you to progress and gain more experience.
Avoriaz has plenty of nursery areas where a ski pass isn’t needed, so you can practice on the slopes for free without using any lifts at all. If you’re a skier looking to progress after already learning the basics, you can buy a ski pass for as little as 5 hours, and children under 5 can ski for free!
Book a beginner ski lesson in Avoriaz with Maison Sport!
Val Thorens
Val Thorens is one of the best places to learn and improve as a beginner skier. You will find 11 green runs and 29 blue runs. The resort’s wide and forgiving slopes provide ample space to master the basics. You will find the main beginner area right in the centre of the resort which provides easy access and offers a great meeting point if you are in a group of varying abilities.
Another great perk is that Val Thorens is one of the highest resorts in Europe and therefore has very reliable snow conditions making things much easier when you are first learning to ski or snowboard. The valley has over five designated beginner zones which covers the area between the Roc, Cascades and 2 Lac lifts, with 4 magic carpet lifts that are free of charge.
Book a beginner ski lesson in Val Thorens with Maison Sport!
Book Beginner Ski Lessons on Maison Sport
If you are a beginner skier, booking a private ski lesson is the best way to effectively and efficiently advance your skiing. On Maison Sport, you can choose from 1,000’s of expert instructors to find the perfect instructor to suit your needs. Ski lessons will help you to learn the correct technique in a safe environment and build confidence so that you can quickly advance your skiing and make the most of your time on the mountain!
For more ski resort inspiration, check out the skier review-based rankings of the Best Beginner Resorts in Europe from our friends at Snomad.
You might also like: Top 5 Best Value Ski Resorts in Europe for Beginner Skiers
