At 1850 metres altitude in the heart of the Hautes Alpes, the Vars ski resort has become one of the most desirable resorts in the Southern Alps. The resort is right on the edge of some of the biggest mountain chains in the French Alps and is nestled amidst splendid larch forests which are tremendously well preserved. The surrounding mountains (Massif des Ecrins, the Queyras and Ubaye) are stunning and the ski runs top out at close to 3000 m in altitude.
Made up of 4 small hamlets which span the length of the Route des Grandes Alpes, Vars has successfully combined authenticity and charm of a traditional village mountain village with the comfort of a large winter sports resort. Its natural history and good climate make Vars a very desirable place to spend your holiday.
Vars - La Forêt Blanche (The White Forest) is the union between the Vars and the Risoul ski areas. The ski area is vast offering 185 km of marked ski runs. There is a huge diversity to the skiing; the ski area is a huge recreation area enabling skiers and snowboarders to learn what great skiing really is. With its network of artificial snow covering all the main ski slopes, La Forêt Blanche (The White Forest), ensures quality snow from mid-December to late April.
There are also 2 very famous snow parks in Vars:
- The freestyle area, at 2400 metres in altitude, spans 8 acres right at the heart of the ski area.
- The Jib Zone welcomes all amateur lovers of the new urban style skiing, right at the bottom of the slopes.
Finally, it's worth a note that Vars was the destination for many of the world's most famous speed skiing records (the legendary Chabrières slope is the home of numerous speed records and other KL World Cups).
For freeriders, the Eyssina and Chabrières mountain chains overlook the ski area and have a veritable choice of skiable couloirs. There are nearly a hundred available, 20 of them directly accessible from the lifts.
The "Y", the "Entonnoir (Funnel)", the “Virgule (comma)", "Petit Col", or "Le Caché” and “La Banane" boast descents between 30 and 50% accessible in less than an hour walk from the lifts. Here you will find dreamy powder and some amazing skiing.
For those looking for a little bit of culture, you won't be disappointed. The local history in Vars is very interesting; discover the local cultural and sporting traditions. Vars offers a range of activities that will satisfy the most demanding of non-skiers: snowshoeing, winter walks, health centre (Nordic bath, Zen workshop, massages, spa, steam room, sauna, shiatsu, gym, etc.), Ice climbing, helicopter rides, ice skating and a cinema...