Serre Chevalier Ski Resort France
Serre Chevalier ski resort in France has everything for the Powderhound and their family. Whether it is riding powder in high alpine terrain, ripping it through some of Europe's best trees in its larch forests, cruising the piste or having the children looked after in one of the best organised children's' programs going around, Serre Chevalier ticks the box.
A huge ski area of nearly 4000 hectares, Serre Chevalier ski resort extends for 15km along the valley to include the towns of Briançon, St Chaffrey, Chantemerle, La Salle Les Alpes and Le Monêtier-les-Bains. More than just a ski resort, the area's wonderful history is best expressed in the old Vauban Fort that dominates the skyline above Briancon. The fort's main street, the Grande Rue, was originally constructed in the year AD1345!
Somewhat let down by too many ancient ski lifts (currently being addressed!) & indifferent mountain dining, Serre Chevalier is nonetheless a fantastic ski resort, worthy of a bigger worldwide reputation than it has.
Pros & Cons for Serre Chevalier Ski Resort
Pros
- Consistent & reliable snowfall, superb snow quality in the alpine!
- Massive skiable vertical.
- Huge diversity of lifts, terrain & back-country to suit everyone.
- Awesome children's programs - exceptionally family friendly.
- Europe's best tree skiing.
- Great value lift pass price.
- Two of the world's best alpine BBQ & picnic lunch areas!
- Wonderful old town & fort in Briancon which reminds us why we love skiing Europe.
- Authentic village of Monêtier-les-Bains a short stroll from the lifts.
Cons
- Accommodation is often of a lower standard than many other European ski resorts (though it is improving).
- Dated lift infrastructure (that is finally being improved).
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- No single, central resort base.
- Après, nightlife & vibrant village feel is missing in most base areas.
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
A vast ski resort like Serre Chevalier has something for everyone, whether you are a rank beginner or seasoned expert. The ski area is made up of three smaller domains - Briançon, Chantemerle - Villeneuve and Monetier. Each area has its own lift pass, or one can simply buy a full Serre Chevalier lift ticket to make it simpler.
See the Serre Chevalier ski trail map.
Serre Chevalier Vallée has nearly 4,000 hectares of skiable terrain, oodles of lifts & 250km of piste trails on a solid 1,600m vertical making for a great ski resort. Long groomed piste, top to bottom valley runs, all levels of tree skiing, natural half pipes, challenging steeps and wide-open alpine bowls top it all off. Snowboarders may struggle on some traverses, but the resort is generally snowboard friendly.
For detailed information of lifts, terrain, trail maps and lift passes, see our Serre Chevalier Skiing & Snowboarding page.
Snow & Weather
Serre Chevalier has a consistent snow record, receiving snow from multiple weather directions. Recent seasons have seen Serre Chevalier & surrounding areas receive excellent early season snow setting up a deep solid base and surpassing many other locations in Europe.
Snow quality up high is superb & snow-making ensures lower beginner areas and valley runs are well covered but becoming increasingly ‘climate challenged’ - POW - Protect Our Winters. The Powderhounds easily found fresh, untracked snow in the alpine aspects 6 days after the last snowfall - a big thumbs up.
Where is Serre Chevalier France?
Serre Chevalier is in south-east France, 240km south of Geneva and 110km west of Turin. Marseilles is 260km to the south. Gateway airports for international travelers are Milan (MXP), Geneva (GVA) & Lyon (LYS). Any of the Paris airports are also an option, but the ground transfer is long - see train travel below. The regional airport of Turin (TRN), and to a lesser degree Chambery & Marseilles are options for travelers from the UK & Europe. The quickest way to Serre Chevalier from the airports is private transfer or rental car.
From the north, trains from Paris, Geneva, Turin or Milan are conveniently met at Oulx train station by buses which swiftly complete the 30km trip to all Serre Chevalier towns and villages via Montgenevre. From the south, connections to Serre Chevalier by train from Marseilles to Briancon are straight forward but time consuming. Alternatively, trains to Grenoble can be linked with a bus to Briancon.
Two to three public bus trips a day link Grenoble to the Serre Chevalier Vallee & Briançon. Local buses easily link Briancon to the other Serre Chevalier base areas.
For detailed information see the Travel to Serre Chevalier page.
Serre Chevalier Accommodation
With effectively 4 main base areas spread along 15km, the Serre Chevalier Vallee has a huge choice of accommodation options awaiting the powder hound. The resort is let down though by some dated, relatively ugly, high-rise apartment blocks fronting the ski resort in some locations, but there are also some real gems.
Search & book all Serre Chevalier Vallee Ski Accommodation.
The best of the valley villages is the authentic Monetier les Bains. Several hotels & loads of apartments are available in the delightful & lively village centre, near all the best restaurants & bars, plus only a short, pleasant stroll down the ski lifts. The centrally located & slopeside village of Chantemerle (near St-Chaffrey), has several good hotels & apartments close to the base of the Ratier gondola. Shops, services & restaurants are conveniently nearby. The larger La Salle Les Alpes has several excellent slopeside hotel & spa options. Sadly though, it also has the worst kind of multi-storey apartments as well, making it our least favourite Serre Chevalier village option.
The Powderhounds loved the old Cite Vauban fort at the top of Briançon. The old city is car-free & has a wide range of shops, bars & restaurants within the fabulous setting of the fort's walls. Several excellent self-contained apartments & small hotels are available. Hotels are also in various locations down the road between the old town & the base of the Prorel gondola. The many high-rise apartments of the Prorel base area should be avoided as an accommodation option as the area appears to be rather seedy at night.
For more detailed information see the Serre Chevalier Hotels & Apartments page.
Ski Rentals, Lessons, Guiding & Equipment
Ski rentals are available throughout the Serre Chevalier valley via our local partners. Receive a discount when you search & book via our Serre Chevalier Ski & Snowboard Equipment Rental page.
Some off-piste ski lessons & guiding can make all the difference to a stay at Serre Chevalier. For more information & booking, see our Serre Chevalier Ski Lessons & Guiding page.
If you need a new outfit for your ski trip comprising modern jacket, pants, gloves & goggles, Serre Chevalier is one of the French ski resorts served by our local partner ski clothing rental company, Ski Chic. Order online & your ski outfit is delivered direct to your accommodation at the resort.
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Activities
If you are staying somewhere without a spa, Les Grands Bains thermal spa in the village of Le Monetier les Bains is worth a visit to soothe weary muscles. The valley is replete with all kinds of winter activities ranging from cross-country skiing to ice-driving!
Nearby Ski Resorts
Several great ski resorts are close to Serre Chevalier. To the north is Montgenevre and the Via Lattea resorts in Italy including Sestriere & Oulx. A paltry 38km to the west over the Col du Lautaret is the legendary freeride mountain of La Grave & the extensive ski resort of Les Deux Alpes.
Review
The Powderhounds reviewed Serre Chevalier in 2017 & had a great time. We returned again for quick visit in 2020. Click on the review link in the left column to read its inciteful & witty prose! We will return to 'Ser Che' once all the lift developments/replacements are complete.
See how Serre Chevalier compares to the rest of the European ski resorts on the Europe ski resort ratings page.
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