Alpe du Grand Serre Snow Report

At the entrance to the Oisans area of the Alps, you will find the ski resort of Alpe du Grand Serre. Perched on top of the 1368 metre high mountain pass leading from the Romanche to the Roizonne Valley, the town is over looked by the massive Taillefer and Grand Serre mountain ranges. The ski resort is made up of 6 hamlets (Désert, la Blache, Chabottel, La Cascade, Le Couvent and Jean-Poncet), 150 permanent inhabitants and nearly 700 holiday homes. To find the bottom of the slopes, the ticket desks and a good range of shops go to La Blache. A far cry from the crowded skiing of the larger resorts, Alpe du Grand Serre has it all with high altitude skiing offering 55 kilometres of marked ski slopes and an undulating wooded area with 20 kilometres of cross-country skiing tracks. The upper part of the Alpe du Grand Serre ski resort is invisible from the town itself and the lift and ski run network is well spread out amongst the Pérollier mountain range which rises up to 2184 metres in altitude. The 817 metres of vertical descent back to the resort (1367 m) is indeed an important factor in providing an overall pleasurable skiing experience, but it is ultimately the layout of the resort network itself that really makes the Alpe du Grand Serre stand out. The ski runs are positioned around the peak of the Pérollier, offering skiing on each side of the mountain. This relatively unique set up in Europe allows the skier to choose their ski routes according to the sun throughout the day or the quality of the snow. The ski area of the Alpe du Grand Serre is made up of a large majority of blue and red runs. The skiing is great for intermediate skiers looking to improve their technique, but also highly accessible to families of all kinds. It is also worth noting that there are two specially set-up areas at the bottom of La Blache which are great for children learning to ski. The bonus: take a trip to the resorts of Oz en Oisans and Vaujany located in the Alpe d’Heuz ski area which are only 50 minutes away by car. If you are skiing at the Alpe du Grand Serre for at least 3 days, you can enjoy from the ski pass exchange program that the two ski areas have put in place. A mountain holiday doesn’t necessarily mean skiing and snowboarding; for those that prefer something a little different you can sure to enjoy yourself just as much on snowshoes, tobogganing or simply a walking through this beautiful setting with those who you love. The ‘Club des intrépides’ welcomes children between 6 and 11 years old who have accomplished either their 2nd or 3rd level ski star. The team helps kids to gradually master skiing and ultimately prime them for eventual ski racing. The children are able to participate in group ski activities including basic slalom and as well as a chance to discover snowboarding. For younger children, the nursery "Les Bout'Choux" welcomes children from 6 months to 6 years old throughout the winter season from 9am to 5pm every day (except Thursdays outside of the holiday periods). The nursery welcomes babies and organises themed activities such as fun in the snow, Eskimos, natural discovery, scientific discovery and outdoor games. The nursery works in partnership with the ESF (French Ski School) to offer ski lessons in the ‘Piou-Piou’ (Piwi-Piwi) Club.