Skiing and snowsports don’t have to stop with the arrival of spring. While most of France’s mountain ranges close to skiers at the end of March, the slopes of the Alps continue to welcome visitors in April, offering them the added benefits of milder weather, longer days and quieter resorts. It’s also the ideal season for ski touring, whatever your level.
So which resorts should you head for to ski in April in the Alps? This article will tell you everything you need to know…
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Why should you go skiing in April? The benefits of skiing in spring
Milder weather
The arrival of spring means you no longer have to fear the icy mountain winds. Expect sunnier days and milder temperatures, but don’t forget to protect your eyes and skin from the sun’s rays, reflected off the snow.
And with longer days, you’ll be able to spend more time on the slopes before nightfall. But if you want to ski in the afternoon, you’ll need to choose a shaded slope, where the snow remains compact for longer.
Fewer crowds
From the end of the February holidays, the region becomes less crowded and allows for a more relaxing experience. Spring brings quieter slopes and shorter queues at rental shops, ticket offices and ski lifts.
The smaller crowds also impact the bars and restaurants, which extend the season as long as they can. With less people in the resorts, it will be easier for you to find a table and you will get served more quickly.
Lower prices
If you choose to head to the mountains in spring, you’re guaranteed better prices on transport, accommodation, ski passes and equipment hire.
Most ski resorts offer great deals on ski passes from the end of March, so you can make the most of the last few weeks of the ski season.
For the same reasons, ski equipment hire specialists, both online and in-store, often lower their prices from the end of the February holidays.
Good to know: our partner Skiset, a specialist in ski equipment hire, is offering up to 55% discount throughout the season to all OVO Network guests.
As for accommodation, as well as lower prices, you’ll benefit from more choice if you take your ski holiday in April.
The perfect time to learn to ski
Spring skiing is particularly suited to beginners, who can enjoy soft snow and uncrowded slopes. There are also more slots available in the ski schools.
One of the main fears for beginners is colliding with another skier, which can cause serious injury. More space on the slopes will help them gain confidence and let themselves go.
April’s milder temperatures make the snow softer and more likely to cushion falls.
How to choose the best ski resort in April?
The Alps are vast and offer plenty of options for skiing at the end of the season. Many resorts continue to welcome guests, but the same advantages are not always available at this time of year.
As well as the level of snow cover, you should also consider the range of alternative activities and events on offer, as well as the availability of services and facilities dedicated to holidaymakers.
It can therefore be wise to choose a high-altitude resort, where you’re more likely to find fresh, quality snow, and which will also offer a diverse range of activities for you to try during your stay.
You’ll find below a selection of resorts that combine all these elements.
Closing dates for resorts in April
This table shows the closing dates for some resorts in the Alps in April. Low-altitude Alpine resorts, as well as all those in the Pyrenees and Massif Central, generally close in March.
Important! These forecasts are drawn up at the start of winter and are subject to change, depending on snow conditions. We advise you to check directly with your resort, or to obtain up-to-date information from the Météo France website.
| Resort | Closing date for 2025 |
| Valmorel | 13 April |
| Les Contamines | 13 April |
| Le Grand-Bornand | 13 April |
| Morzine | 20 April |
| Samoëns | 21 April |
| Les Menuires | 21 April |
| Avoriaz | 21 April |
| Châtel | 21 April |
| Méribel | 21 April |
| La Plagne | 26 April |
| Les Arcs | 26 April |
| La Clusaz | 27 April |
Every year, you can hit the slopes until the first week of May in the highest ski areas, such as Chamonix, Les Deux Alpes, Orelle, Tignes, Val d’Isère and Val Thorens.
Snowfall rates in previous years
This table shows the average snow cover in April for each resort, as well as the average snowfall for that month since the 2012-2013 season (according to the Ski Info website).
| Resort | Average snow cover in April | Average snowfall |
| Valmorel | 33 cm | 15 cm |
| Les Contamines | 50 cm | 40 cm |
| Le Grand-Bornand | 21 cm | 26 cm |
| Morzine | 27 cm | 31 cm |
| Samoëns | 50 cm | 29 cm |
| Les Menuires | 63 cm | 32 cm |
| Avoriaz | 128 cm | 45 cm |
| Châtel | 39 cm | 28 cm |
| Méribel | 48 cm | 31 cm |
| La Plagne | 96 cm | 51 cm |
| Les Arcs | 111 cm | 39 cm |
| La Clusaz | 19 cm | 56 cm |
The best ski resorts in April: our recommendations
Snow, sun and activities for a glorious April holiday in the mountains…
Chamonix: popular all year round
Chamonix’s reputation for spring skiing is well deserved. Its high-altitude ski areas allow you to enjoy the unbeatable thrill of skiing in the sunshine with views of Mont Blanc.
Off the slopes, many activities remain open in April, such as the Termes de Chamonix spa centre and the Aiguille du Midi cable car.
Where to stay in Chamonix: Chalet Choquette
This spacious chalet is set in woodland, 5km from the village of Les Houches. Chamonix is only 11km away and can be reached by bus, leaving your car parked in one of the three spaces next to the chalet.
Although well away from the hustle and bustle of the resorts, the property enjoys easy access to the Mont-Blanc ski area and all its activities: hiking, climbing, mountain biking, paragliding, etc. And at the end of the day, you can relax in the hot tub on the large terrace.
Les Deux Alpes: the wonderful glacier
Les Deux Alpes is a real paradise for spring skiing. Thanks to its high altitude and extensive snow cover on all of its 80 runs, you’re guaranteed good snow cover even under blue skies in April.
What’s more, its snow parks are among the best in France, and its large skiable glacier offers a unique skiing experience and incomparable scenery.
Morzine: skiing in the sun
Surrounded by immaculate, beautifully-groomed pistes, Morzine is a snowy paradise that sparkles under the spring sky. It’s part of the Portes du Soleil ski area, which offers 650km of pistes for all abilities and a wide variety of terrain.
And at the end of the day, the resort offers numerous après-ski bars, as well as alternative activities such as bowling and ice skating.
Where to stay in the Morzine area: Chalet Bolay
Located in the small village of Essert-Romand, just a few kilometres from Morzine, Chalet Bolay is ideal for enjoying both the slopes of the Portes du Soleil area and the water activities at the Lac de Montriond.
This family-friendly chalet has all the facilities you need for a stay with children, including a comfortable games room. Also catering for cyclists, it has a bike rack for 6 bikes, a pump, a maintenance rack and tools.
Val Thorens: all the end-of-season action
Val Thorens is part of the Trois Vallées, the world’s largest ski area. Every year, visitors continue to enjoy its extensive network of pistes well into April, and often even into the first week of May.
This is due to the resort’s high altitude, which means it benefits from a natural snow cover, and its well-maintained snowparks.
La Clusaz: a relaxed atmosphere
In April, La Clusaz not only offers snow-covered slopes but also a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere. It’s the ideal time and place to enjoy both the joys of skiing and the serenity of the mountains.
You’ll also find a wide selection of bars and restaurants where you can get together with friends and family when you return from the slopes.
Where to stay in La Clusaz: Chalet Cristal des Neiges
This 5-star chalet, with its cosy decor and stone fireplace, is ideally located, close to the centre of La Clusaz. It’s a 20-minute drive to Annecy and you can get to Geneva airport in an hour.
The property has a practical ski room and top-of-the-range facilities, including a sauna and an outdoor hot tub, perfect for relaxing after a day on the slopes. The view from the large panoramic balcony is breathtaking.
Samoëns: peaceful and authentic
The charming village of Samoëns is one of our favourite destinations for a ski holiday in April. It is ideally situated for both snow and summer activities.
At an altitude of 2,500m in the Grand Massif ski area, this resort has held on to its Savoyard authenticity, guaranteeing snow-covered slopes, the beauty of the Alpine landscape and a peaceful end to the season.
Where to stay in Samoëns: Chalet Nahuel Huapi
This 12-person chalet is close to the centre of Samoëns and less than 2km from the Grand Massif ski runs. It has five bedrooms, including a delightful children’s room under the eaves, which can also be converted into a family suite.
April’s milder temperatures will also allow you to enjoy its flat garden, as well as water sports activities at the Lac aux Dames leisure centre. There are numerous hiking trails to explore in the area.
How to make the most of skiing in springtime
Because the temperatures are so different from those in winter, spring skiing requires a different approach.
Don’t pack your big, padded ski suit, which will make you sweat unnecessarily. Dress more lightly and wear several layers of clothing, which you can remove as the day goes on, depending on the temperature. Don’t forget a rucksack to store them in.
The sun can be harmful in the mountains. It’s important to protect your skin with sun cream and your eyes with sunglasses.
While it’s always a good idea to stay hydrated during physical exertion, this is all the more important in April when temperatures are warmer.
Don’t go skiing too early, when the snow cover is still icy from the night. To get the most out of your skiing session, get some height and choose slopes that are sunny in the morning, while shady slopes will remain usable for longer in the afternoon.
The ideal time to try ski touring
Differences between ski touring and downhill skiing
Ski touring is practised on ungroomed routes, both in the mountains and in ski areas. The skier doesn’t just ski downhill, as in alpine skiing: he also goes uphill, using a special binding that lifts the heel.
Unlike downhill skiing, you’ll spend most of your time going uphill. It’s a much slower sport, giving you the chance to appreciate nature and the mountains at your own pace.
Good to know: ski touring was originally called “spring skiing” because it was the best way to make the most of the last snow after the ski lifts had closed.
Level requirements and safety rules
As with hiking, there are different types of trails, with varying degrees of difficulty. So you don’t have to be in peak physical fitness to enjoy this sport.
However, it is important to comply with strict safety rules, especially if you are going to tackle the high mountains. The peaks can be unpredictable, so it’s a good idea to arrange a guide through your resort’s “Bureau des Guides de Haute Montagne” (High Mountain Guides Office), such as the Bureau des Guides des Aravis.
Don’t forget to check the weather forecast for the risk of avalanches. Every day, Météo France publishes the “Bulletin d’Estimation du Risque d’Avalanche” (Avalanche Risk Estimate Bulletin), giving a risk index on a scale of one to five.
Many resorts offer safe ski-touring trails not far from the slopes. Although they lack the charm of the wilderness, they can be an excellent way of getting to grips with the activity, in complete safety.
Equipment for ski touring
Touring skis are different from downhill skis. They must be fitted with bindings so that you can go uphill, as well as “skins”, which are glued to the underside of the skis. You’ll also need poles and boots with inserts, different from those used for downhill skiing.
If you’re venturing into the high mountains, you’ll need a safety kit including a shovel, probe and avalanche transceiver, so that you’re prepared in the event of an avalanche.
Good to know: all this equipment can be hired online or at the resort. If you’re not sure what you need or how to use it, ask at your hire shop.
In April, the crowds have gone but the snow is still there in most of the high-altitude resorts. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced skier, it’s the perfect time for some great downhill or cross-country skiing, while enjoying the peace and quiet of the resorts and the serenity of the mountains.
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