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SKIING
AND RIDING
From
Le Monêtier
les Bains,
Serre Chevalier 1500, you can access the whole Serre Chevalier
network of more than 250km
of marked pistes.
The
nursery slopes are right at the bottom of the ski area
which makes it easy for beginners to make their first turns without
worrying about getting on chairlifts or cable cars. Two chairs
access Monêtier's
lower pistes which navigate the expansive Larch forest (great
for when it's snowing) and a further four chairs access the higher
runs which take on a complete mix of terrain –
wide and cruisy
blue runs, reds that sweep around mountain peaks,
black runs that take you down steep faces..., and there
is varied off-piste terrain everywhere! If you're an experienced
skier or boarder, you can choose to ski or ride between the pistes,
or venture into the incredible
'La Montagnole' valley where you'll see glaciers perched above
and you'll pass alongside rivers and over bridges (we advise you
to hire a guide or instructor for this route).
More than 35km
of Nordic tracks between 1400 metres and 1700 metres
altitude are available – the cross-country skiing starts
in December and usually lasts until late March. Nordic skiers
will adore the routes between Monêtier and the mountain
villages of Le Casset and Le Lauzet, both situated in the Ecrins
National Park. Monêtier even has
its own biathlon range with 27 targets.
And
that's just the Monêtier
sector
... take the Cucumelle lift and the rest of Serre Chevalier unfolds
before you!
Why
do we love Serre
Chevalier 1500 so
much?
Well, it's the highest sector (1500 - 2830 metres altitude) and
is mostly North-facing which means that it holds the snow longer.
Plus, to let you into a secret (but not much of a secret now is
it?!), we often hear people saying "We were the only people
on the piste!" –
Yes,
Monêtier,
in particular,
has extremely quiet pistes outside of New Year and February and
is unusually quiet when compared to the rest of Serre Chevalier
during these key holiday periods. If you're used to busy Northern-alpine
resorts, you're in for a real treat!
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