Where to practice classic or unusual winter sports?

Although it is usually the focus of mountain holidays, alpine skiing is far from the only winter sport you can practice in the valleys of the Alps!

From the Parc de la Vanoise to the Massif des Ecrins, the most renowned ski resorts offer many conventional or unusual winter sports. Between nature, relaxation and thrills, each of them is a new opportunity to discover or rediscover the beauty of the Alps.

At Courchevel, Val Thorens, Les Ménuires and many others, you have a wide selection of winter sports to choose from. Discover our selection of alpine destinations for an extraordinary stay.

Courchevel, pearl of the 3 Valleys

Courchevel is one of the most renowned alpine ski resorts in the world. With a ski area of more than 600 km and 157 ski lifts, it attracts nearly 6 million visitors from 5 continents every winter. Mountaineering is of course very popular, but the resort also offers heliskiing, off-piste skiing, snowboarding, split boarding, skijoring – skiing pulled by a horse – and freeriding, a wild hike far off the beaten track.

But the 3 Valleys are not only for skiers! The highlands of Courchevel also offer a wide choice of non-skiing activities, such as snowshoeing, orienteering, horse riding, outdoor yoga and many more.

Thrill-seekers take off from the summits by paraglider, hang-glider, helicopter or even in freefall at 200km/h, accompanied by a certified skydiving instructor.

When the weather does not play along, you have other, more mellow activities to choose from. There is an indoors ice rink, aquatic centre and the Courchevel bowling alley where you can spend a relaxing afternoon with family, friends or your better half.

Val Thorens, the pleasures of skiing without drag lifts

Val Thorens is the highest winter sports resort in Europe. At 2,300 m above sea level, the invigorating mountain air is a veritable source of inspiration. And quite fittingly, Val Thorens is particularly creative when it comes to non-skiing activities…

Its famous 6km long Cosmojet toboggan run offers 45 minutes of uninterrupted sliding with turns and varied slopes at the foot of the Péclet glacier. Free for children aged 5 to 9 on an adult's toboggan, this ride is often one of the highlights of the winter holidays!

The older ones may prefer the double zip line, a challenge as romantic as it is thrilling.

For even more fun for a bachelor party or a family stay, let yourself be seduced by the Snake Gliss. This serpentine of assembled toboggans keeps riders together while descending at high speed. After action, a little satisfaction! A good mulled wine awaits the older ones on arrival.

Tignes Val Claret, 1st snowtubing spot in the world

Snowtubing is a giant inner tube that slides down the slopes – it goes down straight, it turns and spins, it shoots over bumps, and it is a total thrill. The Tignes Val Claret snow front is set up in such a way that you spin down the slope at 45km/h in complete safety.

In 2021, a new unusual activity was introduced: human bowling. Climb into a Zorb ball and transform yourself into a bowling ball for the strike of a lifetime!

What else is there to do in Tignes when you're not skiing?

Horseback riding, snowshoeing, snow mountain biking and snowmobiling are excellent ways to discover the breath-taking landscapes of the Alps at your own pace by going off the beaten track. And to gain even more altitude, climbing the icefall will make you feel like a mountaineering pioneer. On the via Ferrata, the ascent is gentler and suitable for all levels.

Once summer arrives, whitewater enthusiasts descend the rapids of the Isère and the Doron de Bozel rivers by kayak or rafting.

Saint-Martin de Belleville, magical escape on sled dogs

A renowned family winter sports resort, Saint-Martin de Belleville is above all a village where people like to get together.

Young and old alike love to book a trip to the speed mountain, a tobogganing attraction on rails with exhilarating twists and tight turns. But whatever you do, don't miss out on spending a night under the stars with a team of sleddogs. Night mushing is a special experience, reminiscent of an expedition to the Far North.

La Rosière, a journey through time

La Rosière is an authentic mountain village. A former hamlet of alpine chalets converted into a Franco-Swiss ski resort, La Rosière remains proud of its history. Here you can indulge in a timeless winter sport, flying down the slope on a "Paret" sled.

This traditional wooden sled was used in the 20th century by all the children of this hamlet to go to school. There, in this village where old traditions are still very much alive, this activity is passed on from generation to generation during each winter vacation.

Les Menuires, a balance of sport and well-being

The resort of Les Menuires is at the heart of the largest ski area in the world, the 3 Valleys. However, its offer much more than just ski lifts.

Overlooking the wide-open spaces of the 3 Valleys, experiencing your first ride in a microlight or paraglider will give you a completely different perspective of the Franco-Swiss Alps.

Between the slopes, the forests of Savoy and the mountain pastures, the trails and activities are as numerous as they are varied: snowmobile, snow trail groomer, cross-country skiing, scooter, mountain kart, snowshoe hike, buggy, sled dogs – to name but a few.

And for after action satisfaction, there are two aquatic areas with a view of the mountains where you can dive into the large pool, relax in the jacuzzi, take a sauna or enjoy a scrub in the hammam.

In summer, the tournaments are more mellow than during the high season. Travellers compete in petanque tournaments, archery, basketball, badminton and tennis before gathering around a table of delicious Savoy specialities. Life is good in this 3 Valleys resort!