La Grave

For legendary off piste, huge vertical and some of the world’s finest freeriding, look no further than the cult resort of La Grave.

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Current conditions:

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Ski Club offerings

Freshtracks holiday

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Vertical drop

Pistes

Runs

Lifts

Terrain by difficulty

Don’t come here unless you’re intending to ski or board some serious terrain.

There is nothing here for beginners, intermediates or those with little off piste experience. But for those with the skills, La Grave is arguably the world leader for lift-accessed off piste. The couloirs, powder fields and glaciated terrain offer up some spectacular descents, dropping over 2000m from the top of the iconic gondola to Les Ruillans.

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Resort Activities
Advanced
Aprés
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Value

Pros and cons

Legendary off piste terrain and huge vertical
Endless touring opportunities from the gondola
Snow conditions are usually good right through into Spring

This is only a resort for experts, even advanced skiers and boarders may

struggle
Gondola can close in bad weather due to its exposed setting
Little to do away from the slopes or in town

On the Slopes

This is a true expert-only resort. Whilst advanced skiers and boarders could tackle some of the marked itineraries from the top of the gondola, to really make the most of what’s on offer you need to be confident on all slopes in all conditions. Hiring a guide will make the experience even more special.

Long descents drop either side of the gondola line, either through the Vallons de Chancel or les Vallons de la Meije. Good snow is usually guaranteed on the upper parts, just be aware that in bad weather the gondola may not run. Short ascents on touring skis or on a splitboard then opens up an even wider array of options – again make sure you have a guide.

In the Resort

The resort itself is small and quaint, with no frills and no distractions. Other than a few cosy bars and local amenities, there is not much in the way of après or off-snow activity, but after a long day of skinning, conquering couloirs and skiing powder, there’s no need for much else!

Getting to La Grave

The drive from Geneva is very quick and easy, making this an excellent weekend destination – it takes around an hour depending on traffic. It is also one of the easiest resorts to drive to from the UK.

Geneva airport: 3 hours
Calais: approximately 10 hours driving (534 miles)
Lyon Airport 3 hours
Grenoble Airport 1.5 hours