If you are new to skiing, choosing a destination for your next winter holiday can be nerve-racking! Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, having access to the right kind of pistes for your level is important to make the most of your ski trip – especially if you prefer learning outside our recommended ski schools in the Alps. With this in mind, we asked our team for their top 5 best french ski slopes for beginners. Read on to find out what they are!
Best french ski slopes for beginners
La Plagne
La Plagne highlights
- Great beginner & intermediate slopes
- Glacier skiing
- Beautiful hors-piste views
Part of the extensive Paradiski area, La Plagne has 225km of its own pistes, most of which are wide and gentle. In fact, the resort is a fantastic all-rounder; with its tree-lined trails, wide open cruisers and beginners’ areas in each of the villages, La Plagne is the perfect destination if members of your group have different ski levels. Head over to the Belle Plagne area for slopes that are particularly suitable for beginners. If you’re feeling comfortable enough for a step up in difficulty from the nursery slopes, have a go at the blue run between Les Bauches and Montchavin – you can even ski through the Tunnel for a colourful crossing under the mountain!
Morzine
Morzine highlights
- Pistes adapted for beginners to advanced
- Family ski destination
- 650km of pistes
Browse our selection of properties near Morzine
Nestled in the vast Portes du Soleil ski area, the pistes around Morzine provide plenty of scope for all abilities. The resort is the perfect destination for families and beginners on the whole, with a choice of excellent nursery slopes and gentle, sheltered pistes all set in the heart of Morzine’s ski area. And if you feel comfortable enough by the end of your trip, you can even try the chair lift up from Morzine and make your way down to Les Gets for a nice day out!
La Clusaz
La Clusaz highlights
- 220km of skiing
- Slopes suitable for all levels
- Great value for money
One of the most popular ski areas in France, La Clusaz offers not only a wide choice of great OVO Network ski chalets, but also a huge ski area with 151 snow cannons to cover the lower slopes for beginners. You can also head over to Beauregard for the sunniest, easiest pistes, or try out the five different ski schools in the area. Known for producing many Winter Olympic medallists in a range of events, you can experience yourself La Clusaz’s fantastic conditions, facilities and tuition for a great first ski holiday experience!
La Rosière
La Rosière highlights
- Great for families and beginners
- Ski in both France and Italy
- Quiet resort for all ski levels
If you prefer a quieter resort, try heading over to La Rosière! Not only can you cruise around the beginner slopes, but you can also hop between France and Italy with the standard San Bernardino lift pass. Furthermore, the resort is accredited with the Famille Plus label, making it perfect for family ski holiday. You can learn how to ski with your little ones on the wide, short beginners’ pistes, or take the Manessier draglift and the Tapis de Lutins magic carpet for a free test run!
Méribel
Méribel highlights
- Excellent ski schools
- Great for families and large groups
- Large ski area (3 Valleys)
Discover our properties in Méribel
Méribel is a fantastic area if you want to discover a large variety of slopes. Beginners can enjoy a long, sheltered green run at the Altiport in the Méribel valley, or the Yeti park around Mottaret with space to gain confidence on the slopes. Also, if you are looking for activities outside the pistes, the resort has plenty of other activities to offer – find out more through our Méribel area guide!
Going on a mountain retreat during ski season can be just as fun for beginners as it is for pros. If you need further help with planning a beginner’s ski retreat, check out our posts on what to bring and how to plan a ski holiday; with so much to learn and discover, get ready for a fun-filled holiday on the pistes!
Don’t forget to follow @ovonetwork on social media, and tag us in your pictures #ovonetwork to share your favourite slopes!
