Serre Chevalier

SERRE CHEVALIER SKI AREA

With 250 km of north-facing pistes, Serre Chevalier is highly rated for its snow record, skiing conditions and scenery.  The area has some of France's best terrain for skiing during bad weather and white-outs, with many sheltered woodland runs (trees cover two-thirds of the mountain).

Most of the ski area is above 2000m, and Serre Chevalier has 477 hectares of groomed and maintained ski runs. The majority of the slopes face North or North-East and so snow is usually pretty reliable.

In good weather, there’s exceptional scenery, with 360-degree panoramic views over the Ecrins mountains, the Italian Alps and across to Mont Blanc. And there are runs as long as 1500m long to enjoy the views from!

SERRE CHEVALIER SKIING

SERRE CHEVALIER BEGINNERS

For beginners there are several easy areas at mid-mountain (at Serre Ratier and Grand Alpe for example) with green runs leading back to Chantemerle and a nursery slope at the bottom.

SERRE CHEVALIER INTERMEDIATES

Intermediate skiers will enjoy the breadth of the ski area and its efficient lift system, with some of the longest lifts in Europe - and runs of varying gradient and difficulty above and below the tree line. Ski Serre Chevalier’s knee-burning Vauban red run is an experience not to be missed!

SERRE CHEVALIER EXPERTS

Advanced skiers have a good selection of red and black runs but can head off-piste for more challenging runs. The tricky 6km Luc Alphand Olympic black run (1000 vertical metres) down to Chantemerle is a must to finish the day in style. If you’re not an expert, don’t worry, you can take the green La Briance run back to the village - a beautiful route between the larch trees.

SERRE CHEVALIER SNOWBOARDING

With its superb natural terrain, Serre Chevalier is regarded as one of the top snowboarding destinations in France.

SERRE CHEVALIER OFF-PISTE

There are huge amounts of off-piste – both high up and in the trees above Villeneuve and Chantemerle. And La Grave, an off-piste Mecca, is close by.

SERRE CHEVALIER NORDIC SKIING

Stretching from Chantemerle to the Lautaret pass the cross-country ski area in Serre Chevalier has a wide variety of trails. there are 40km of loops from one for beginners (graded green) to longer advanced trails. There's even a biathlon stadium. 

Other

At Serre Chevalier’s Chantmerle, ski lockers are available at the foot of the slopes.

Three new fast six-seater chairlifts have been added above the l’Arvet, Fréjus and Grand Alpe areas.

Serre Chevalier ski hire & lift passes (pre-bookable)

Pre-book your 6 day+ Serre Chevalier ski hire and/or Serre Chevalier lift pass with Peak Retreats.

To download the ski extras form see 'Helpful links' further down the page. Please note that prices are for indication only. They will fluctuate based on Euro/£ exchange rate. Please call us for the latest prices.

Other lift passes are available to buy in the resort such as half or full-day passes (for those who only wish to ski the odd day) or one-use lift passes for pedestrians. Some resorts also offer specific beginner area passes and cross country passes.

Serre Chevalier group ski school (pre-bookable)

Ski school for children is available to book from 3 years to 12 years in St Martin de Belleville with Peak Retreats. Children can learn to snowboard from 8 years+. 

To download the ski extras form see 'Helpful links' further down the page. Please note that prices are for indication only. They will fluctuate based on Euro/£ exchange rate. Please call us for the latest prices.

Serre Chevalier private lessons (not pre-bookable)

Private lessons with an instructor can only be arranged directly with the ESF ski school. Peak Retreats cannot pre-book these. Private lessons are usually around €40-60 per hour (depending on resort, time of day and period) and becomes cheaper the more hours you take and the more people you have to share the hours with i.e with family members or friends. Some resorts insist on a minimum of 3 sessions to be booked at once.

Contact ESF Serre Chevalier for private lessons - 0033 4 92 24 17 41

Serre Chevalier childcare (not pre-bookable)

Childcare from 8 months-6 years (non-skiers) in Saint Chaffrey

Your children, aged 8 months to 6 years, will be looked after in a fun environment. They will be offered a variety of activities tailored to the needs of each child.

Open daily (except Saturday).

Please contact the ESF club direct as we cannot pre-book this kids club - 0033 4 79 48 92 41

It is advisable to book before you go and in good time as spaces get filled quickly, especially in Peak times. A childhood vaccination record will be needed. 

Babysitters (not pre-bookable)

A list of babysitters is available from the tourist office.

Top winter activities to experience in Serre Chevalier!

Please note Peak Retreats do not book any activities and most activities are payable.

Snowsport activities:

Night skiing
Under a starry sky and on beautifully floodlit runs, skiing takes on a magical new dimension!

First tracks
Open the resort’s slopes with the ski patrol team and get on the slopes before everyone else!

XXL ski
Extra-large ski days! A selection of lifts open from 8.30 for extra skiing.

Bruts de Neige zone
Ungroomed snow on marked runs to get the feeling of fresh snow safely.

Ski-mojo
This exoskeleton designed for skiers and snowboarders allows you to ski longer with less stiffness and muscular pain in the legs and knees. The concept is a light and comfortable neoprene harness and splints adaptable to all shapes and sizes to bear 1/3 of the body weight, thus reducing pressure on the knees.

Snooc
Combine ski-touring and sledging for completely new sensations! This activity is available in Serre Chevalier, which is a pioneer Snooc resort. Going up, the skier wears two skis with bindings and seal-skins. At the top, he takes off skins and bindings, stacks the skis one on top of the other, fits the seat and suspension in just a few minutes, and sits on the sledge to enjoy the ride down!

Snow kite
This is the winter version of kitesurfing. Snow kite sessions take place on the mythical Lautaret Pass, on skis or on snowboards pulled by a kite!

Ski-joering
Old and young alike will enjoy this unusual activity for horse-lovers: on skis or sledges, pulled by a pony or horse on specially- prepared tracks.

Ski touring:
Nature-lovers are invited to try out ski touring on safe and permanently marked trails in Serre Chevalier’s Villeneuve and Monêtier sectors. The uphill trails are in the forest, away from the ski slopes, but with easy escape routes to the runs if necessary. For the descent, you can use the ski runs (during opening times) or go off-piste.

Mountain Kart + Mountain Bob sledge
From the top of the cable car at 2491 metres, speed down 300m. Vertical for a 2km descent on a “Mountain Kart” or on a “Mountain Bob” sledge. Incredible sensations to experience with friends and family (kids must be over 1.3m tall).

Deval’bob
It’s a fun 4km sledge run with a 573m. Vertical drop and 26 turns through the larch forest! Deval’Bob is a crazy activity to enjoy with friends and family (kids must be over 12).

Snow groomer ride
Here is an original idea for discovering the ski area differently, on board a specially-equipped grooming machine. You will have amazing views of sunrise or sunset from the top of the mountain and learn about the life of the people who work at night to give you perfect skiing conditions; you will witness the magical work of our snow-groomers or snow-makers by visiting the snow-making facilities, and hear about the history of the resort over breakfast or dinner with a driver, who will tell you stories and anecdotes about the development of the ski area that only he can know.

Ruisseling
Climb up a frozen waterfall using crampons, and through the advice of your guide, learn to understand the ice.

Ice climbing
Initiation courses to climbing on ice are offered on the La Schappe frozen waterfall. For the more adventurous, there are also day-outings with a guide to discover the frozen waterfalls of the valley!

Go-kart on ice
Feel go-kart sensations, but on ice! Skidding, sliding, steering, finding the best curves in safe specially-equipped karts, with studded tyres for a better grip on snow, on the first Go-Kart on Ice circuit in the Hautes Alpes department!

Driving on ice
The famous circuit greets those who love amazing thrills to discover driving on ice, offering an introduction to driving on ice in real racing conditions, on board a vehicle driven by a pro, or with driving lessons with an instructor, to learn how to react in the most extreme road-conditions; perfect for learning how to control your vehicle on snowy roads.

Snowshoeing by night
Go out at night on snowshoes and discover a different aspect of the mountain, enjoy the magical atmosphere of the darkness, admire the stars and learn about the constellations before the return journey with headlamps or burning torches.

Snowshoes and sledges
Go uphill on snowshoes through the forest, with 500m vertical and a 2 to 2.5-hour hike, to reach a magnificent mountain refuge, for a rest and a meal before an hour-long descent on a sledge!

Nordic skiing and biathlon
From Chante merle to the Lautaret Pass, the Nordic skiing area offers an exceptional setting for all levels and disciplines: beginners, sporting, families (a ‘nature trail’ with picnic area and events), snow-shoes, Nordic hiking and a biathlon stadium offering introductory instruction. 45 km. of trails – 20 km. for snowshoes – a Biathlon stadium with 24 targets certified for European Cup events (the only one in the Hautes Alpes department).

Paintball on snow
With an instructor, you can test your team spirit and competitiveness, using biodegradable paintballs to respect the environment, in a snowy setting.

Fat bike
On this mountain bike equipped with extra-wide tires, you can ride on snow! Ride fat bikes on the ski area leaving from Chantemerle on a specially-prepared trail; you can also find marked trails along the valley, enabling you to ride up and down the valley from the Pontillas Lake in Villeneuve to the hamlet of Le Lauzet above Monêtier-Les-Bains.

Dog sledges
A truly magical activity where you are in contact with the dogs and close to nature.

Snowmobile and dinner
An excursion through the larch forests up to a mountain restaurant where a local dinner awaits you.

Gourmet outing with snowshoes and sledge
Leave on snowshoes for a 2-hour hike in the woods going 500m. Uphill and you will reach a mountain refuge where you can enjoy a mountain-style tea or dinner. After your meal, you will love this crazy descent on an 8km sledge-run, at sunset or by moonlight!

Other activities:

Grands Bains de monetier spa
You can get the benefit of this natural hot water which springs at 44°C in the Grands Bains de Monêtier (nearby), in a gentle setting offering a variety of options for relaxation or recovery after physical strain. The water of the Grands Bains is rich in minerals and promotes total recovery from fatigue thanks to its recognised properties. Facilities include outdoor and indoor pools, a Jacuzzi, a trilogy of different pools from 17° to 40°C, a sauna, hammer, beauty treatments and a restaurant.

Play pool aquatic centre
The water sports Centre in nearby offers both sport and relaxation, with a 25m. Indoor pool, lessons for beginners and experts, water aerobics, aquafit with flippers and training sessions for a triathlon. For your relaxation, the Centre offers a 300 sq. m. play pool with currents, massage sprays, bubble beds, waterfalls, geysers and a river, as well as a giant water-slide and a paddling pool with a water-mushroom. For your well-being, a hammer, a sauna and a Jacuzzi complete the range.

Giant zip line
Located between the Grand Serre (2,491m) and the Grand Alpe (2,193m), experience the zipline of Serre Chevalier for a flight over the slopes at over 100km per hour! You can do this in pairs or alone, and it's accessible to skiers and pedestrians. Enjoy!

Heritage tours
Our Heritage Service organises guided tours all winter to reveal the exceptional cultural heritage of the valley: its forts and monuments classified UNESCO World Heritage, tours of the historic villages of Serre Chevalier, including the Museum of Sacred Art in Monêtier Les Bains, are also available.

Snowshoes and yurt
Starting with a snowshoe outing in the late afternoon up an easy trail through the larch forest, no need for any particular technique, you will come to a real Yurt from the Mongolian steppe, completely fitted with everything you need for a fireside meal and a warming drink.

Snowshoeing in the fortifications
These fortifications are classified UNESCO World Heritage. A visit with a guide takes you up where the view embraces the spectacular landscape. This is a cultural activity unlike any other!

«Gourmands d’histoire» tours
A knowledgeable mixture of history and cookery. This workshop and tour will take you back to the old life of the locals and then invites you to learn how to prepare delicious local dishes using local organic produce.

New escape room
An unusual and fun experience nearby – a mixture of riddles to solve, objects to find and padlocks to open to escape from a closed room; you will go back in local history and discover an incredible universe!

Please note: All the above information is for information only. For the most up-to-date information please visit the resort tourist office website. All prices for activities are in local currency (€ Euros) and are bookable and payable locally in resort.     

Serre Chevalier Tourist Office

Office de Tourism de Serre-Chevalier

Tel: +33 492 24 98 98
www.serre-chevalier.com

Serre Chevalier news & events

What's new this season:

• Brand new lift opening in December - part of their strategy to adapt the ski area's carbon footprint, the new Pontillas gondola will link La Salle les Alpes village to the Méa sector in Villeneuve, in just 8 minutes, able to transport 2,800 passengers per hour, more than 500 more per hour than the previous two lifts combined!

What was new last season: 

• New giant zip line in Serre Chevalier - Located between the Grand Serre (2,491m) and the Grand Alpe (2,193m), experience the zipline of Serre Chevalier for a flight over the slopes at over 100km per hour! You can do this in pairs or alone, and it's accessible to skiers and pedestrians. 
• New Eychauda and Cibouït chairlifts (Monêtier area) - a brand new 6-person high-speed chairlift will be replacing the actual Eychauda, making it much faster to go from Monêtier to Villeneuve. The Cibouït chairlift will also be replaced with a 4-person chairlift. 8 million euros have been invested in the replacement of these two lifts.
• New investments in Renewable Energy - last winter, Serre Chevalier Vallée was the first ski resort to produce its own electricity combining three types of renewable energy: hydroelectricity through the snow-making network, photovoltaics with 1420 solar panels, some of which were designed in Serre Chevalier, and micro-wind turbines with 2 wind energy devices. With very positive results after this first winter, new infrastructures are being added: a new wind turbine will be installed near the one already in place at the top of Prorel, 4 extra sites of photovoltaics will be added.

Events taking place in the 2022/23 season:

• 10th Edition of Ice Kart Trophy 14th January - 28th January 2023
• Altitude Jazz Festival 20th January - 28th January 2023 In the sun for the concerts during the day, and under the stars by the fireside for the evening concerts.
• Serre Chevalier Snow Trail 21st January - 22nd January 2023
• Ski Show 9th February - 2nd March 2023
• "The Four Elements" show 15th February 2023
• DJ set The Avener 23rd February 2023

Serre Chevalier Après-ski, Bars & Restaurants

Serre Chevalier offers restaurants and bars, as well as a cabaret, cinemas, nightclubs, theatre, cinema.

Serre-Chevalier Restaurants

Le Royal
Place du Telepherique, 05330 Serre-Chevalier

Le Loup Blanc
Tel. 0033 4 92 24 14 27
1 Route Neuve, 1 route Neuve à Chantemerle, 05330 Serre-Chevalier

Le Petit Chalet
Chantemerle, 05330 Serre-Chevalier

1420
Tel. 0033 4 92 55 41 10
Centre Commercial Pre Long, 05240 Serre-Chevalier

Serre Chevalier Amenities

Serre-Chevalier is home to a whole host of amenities including supermarkets, banks, post offices, dry cleaners, garage, doctors, dentists, cash points and a bureau de change.

Market days Serre Chevalier 1200 Wednesday mornings, Serre Chevalier 1350 Thursdays, Serre Chevalier 1400 Tuesdays, Serre Chevalier 1500 Fridays (to be confirmed).

Getting to Serre Chevalier, France

By Road: 

Driving distance from Calais 613 miles (9hrs 50)

Take A36 through Reims, Dijon A6 Maçon, Lyon then A432/A48 to Grenoble. Take N91 then follow signs for Serre Chevalier.

Airports:

Turin Airport (Italy) is 125km from Serre Che (1 ½ hours)
www.aeroportoditorino.it

Grenoble Airport is 154km from Serre Che (2 ¼  hours)
www.grenoble-airport.com

Chambery is 174km from Serre Chevalier (2 ¼ hours)
www.chambery-airport.com

Lyon-St Exupéry is 251km from Serre Chevalier (2 ¾ hours)
www.lyonaeroports.com

Connection by bus from Saint Exupéry airport or Grenoble railway station –
www.vfd.fr  

Geneva Airport to Serre Chevalier is 295km (3 ¼ hours)
www.gva.ch

Marseille is 300km from Serre Chevalier (3 hours)

Getting around Serre-Chevalier

Serre Chevalier's free ski shuttle buses take you from one end of the valley to the other, stopping at many convenient points along the Route Nationale. It is free for all those with a valid lift pass or Carte d'Hote.

Serre Chevalier Airport Transfers

For pre-bookable private transfer rates with Peak Retreats, view here. 

Serre Chevalier Opening Dates

Serre Chevalier ski area is open: 10/12/22 - 16/04/23