France is an immensely popular location for skiing. Whether you’re looking for a French ski holiday for your family or luxury skiing in France to enjoy with a group of friends, our destination collection features some of the best ski resorts in France. With stunning alpine vistas, picturesque mountain villages, fine dining and luxury ski in-ski out chalets, French ski resorts never disappoint, with access to an abundance of ski runs for fun-filled days of sunshine and pristine powder.
Oxford Ski Company have years of experience in crafting the perfect luxury ski holiday. Our expansive knowledge of French ski resorts ensures we can find the best resort in France for skiing with friends and family. From ski chalets with luxe amenities to historic alpine villages with a bustling atmosphere and some of the best apres ski destinations in the alps, luxury skiing in France has it all.
Explore the top five luxury ski resorts France has to offer.
- Val d'Isère, France
- Courchevel 1850, France
- Méribel, France
- St. Martin de Belleville, France
- Morzine, France
Val d'Isère, France
As one of the best ski resorts in the world, this luxury ski resort has to be at the top of the list.
Val d'Isère is located in the heart of the French Alps and perched high in the Tarentaise Valley in southeast France. Combined with its neighbouring resort Tignes, Val d'Isère forms the famous ‘Espace Killy’ ski domain with 300 km of pistes. This expansive ski area offers stunning slopes to suit every ski level with gentle runs that can be easily cruised by beginners as well as more challenging pistes for advanced skiers to explore.
What to expect:
Val d'Isère is one of the best ski resorts in France for beginners, but also for advanced and expert skiers as it is incredibly snow sure. This means you can expect to enjoy the snow nearly all year round. The town itself is attractive with well-maintained architecture of wood stone and metal constructions. You can also expect some of the best après ski in the country.
What to do:
This luxury resort is world-renowned for its vibrant après ski and lively nightlife. Some must-do Val d'Isère après ski include:
- La Folie Douce - sparkling champagne and dancing the night away.
- Dick’s Tea Bar - legendary alpine institution with international DJs.
- Underground Café - chic French atmosphere with upbeat music all night long.
Where to stay:
We recommend staying at the luxury 380 sqm ski chalet, the Chalet Face à Face. This exquisite chalet offers it all from it's elegant design, superb ski in, ski out location and only being a 15 minute stroll into the heart of Val d'Isere. Some of the features you can expect include:
- Outdoor hot tub
- Indoor pool
- Steam room
- Sauna
- Cinema room
- Resort driving service
Why not check out the luxury chalets and hotels in Val d'Isère.
Courchevel 1850, France
A jewel in the Alps, Courchevel is spread over five villages that are elevated along 1100 and 1850 m in altitude.
Courchevel 1850 is one of these villages and stands in a class of its own. If you’re serious about skiing, Courchevel 1850 is one of the best well-known luxury ski resorts in France, offering sublime views and an extensive amount of sweeping ski runs for skiers of every level. Unlike most ski resorts, Courchevel 1850 was purpose-built to accommodate skiers.
What to expect:
Truly a sumptuous alpine retreat, expect Michelin-starred dining, celebrity sightings, and access to the world’s largest ski area, the Three Valleys. Here you will be perfectly positioned to fully enjoy all 600 km of interconnected slopes.
The runs available are incredibly well maintained and the bowl of green and blue pistes make this great for a range of ski levels, suitable even for novice skiers. You’ll also find more challenging runs for intermediate and advanced skiers.
What to do:
Courchevel 1850 dining facilities are nothing short of exquisite. It’s not uncommon to be joined by some very high-class visitors, as Courchevel 1850 is a popular destination with celebrities and royalty alike. Some of the most exclusive restaurants to dine in include:
- Le Chabichou - An elegant dining room and "plat du jour" menu.
- La Mangeoire - A lively restaurant and piano bar where you can dance on the tables.
Where to stay:
At Courchevel 1850, you can experience two of only eight formally recognised 6-star hotels in France. We recommend staying at the Hotel L'Apogee. This five-star hotel is the perfect ski in-ski out location with 53 luxury rooms and contemporary suites. Expect features such as:
- Some of the most spacious rooms in Courchevel.
- Large spa with indoor pool, sauna, hammam, beauty salon, fitness centre and more.
- Fantastic dining option - Le Comptoir de L'Apogee.
- Children’s VIP concierge and playroom facilities.
Why not check out the luxury chalets and hotels in Courchevel 1850.
Méribel, France
Méribel is a charming ski resort in the Savoie and consists of 5 villages found between 1100 and 1750 m above sea level. Built with historical charm, this resort dates to the late 1930s and is a favourite luxury skiing destination for British skiers due to its attractive vistas, ideal location and village amenities. Méribel is also located in the Three Valleys, and the stunning natural landscape combined with traditional wooden chalets is enough to take your breath away.
What to expect:
With 600km of the Three Valleys pistes available to you, Méribel is suitable for all ski levels. Meribel is also one of the best family ski resorts in France. This luxury resort is the winner of the Famille Plus award and offers many themed ski areas for children to enjoy.
There’s plenty to do when you’re not enjoying the sun-drenched slopes. Simply taking a stroll through Méribel’s high street will greet you with gourmet restaurants, designer boutiques, and chic bars - all with a staggering mountain backdrop.
What to do:
Skiers come to Méribel from across the world for their fantastic skiing and apres ski, with unmissable local favourites such as the ski in-ski out bar, Le Rond Point.
There are plenty of quirky winter activities that non-skiers can enjoy as well including:
- Helios Spa
- Snowshoe Walks
- Heli Skiing
Where to stay:
We recommend staying at the Antares Meribel, a stunning ski in-ski out collection of six luxury chalets that may sleep between four and 18 guests. With contemporary design and chic interior furnishings, Antares also featured a shared wellness and spa area that is complete with a 25m swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi. Other luxury features and amenities include:
- Lounge bar for the perfect afternoon apéritif
- Ski room and boutique
- Terrace and balcony
- Kids room
- Fitness room
Why not check out the luxury chalets and hotels in Méribel.
St. Martin de Belleville, France
St. Martin de Belleville is truly a hidden gem that is similarly located in the Three Valleys. This is a beautiful village with traditional mountain charm, especially when compared to ski resorts which are much more purpose-built. Offering more than 600 km of pistes, this is the perfect destination for a family skiing holiday. You’ll find great runs for a range of ski abilities from beginner to advanced.
What to expect:
You’ll not only experience one of the best ski experiences France has to offer, but you’ll also be able to wine and dine in luxury. St. Martin de Belleville is home to three Michelin-star restaurants as well as a delightful array of cafés - what’s not to love?
What to do:
At St. Martin de Belleville, you can expect an attractive setting, access to higher-altitude slopes, and excellent mountain restaurants. Aside from skiing, there are a number of unique mountain experiences and ways to explore the historic town. Go on a guided snowshoe walk through the Three Valleys or enjoy a historic night walk through St. Martian on a rustic, torch-lit tour.
Where to stay:
We recommend staying at the luxury catered chalet, Chez Bugi. In the heart of the Three Valleys ski area, this chalet has access via the St. Martin 1 gondola which is just a 30-second ski from the boot room door.
Some other key features include:
- Outdoor hot tub
- Sauna
- Glass fronted fireplace
- Ski room with boot warmers
- Sonos music system
- Balcony
- Mountain views
Why not check out the luxury chalets and hotels in St Martin de Belleville.
Morzine, France
If you want an action-packed break with bustling streets, then Morzine is the best skiing destination for you. Morzine is extremely popular with skiers from all over Europe so you’ll be surrounded by skiing enthusiasts. An absolutely charming resort, Morzine is located in the Portes du Soleil ski area. This is a great location, only a short one-hour transfer from Geneva Airport.
What to expect:
You’ll experience beautiful views and breathtaking landscapes as you ski through tree-lined runs and thrilling moguls. Don’t worry though, you don’t have to be a ski expert to enjoy the slopes, Morzine offers something for everyone with an array of runs and terrain parks suitable for beginner and intermediate skiers.
What to do:
Off the slopes, Morzine is a historic town with plenty to see and do. A stroll through the riverside promenade will take you past traditional French stone buildings and a host of excellent restaurants and bars. You will find a vibrant centre with favourite après ski spots, like the Cavern.
Where to stay:
For a truly authentic stay in this historical town, we recommend staying at The Manoir, a luxury ski chalet nestled in the heart of Morzine. It was built in 1790 and home to the local Notary for nearly two centuries. The towering ceilings, sprawling rooms, and flagstone halls make this the perfect location for up to 15 guests.
Some other luxury features you may expect include:
- Outdoor hot tub
- Cinema room
- Two sitting rooms
- Pool table
- Open fireplace
Why not check out the luxury chalets and hotels in Morzine.
Explore more luxury ski resorts in France
With an abundance of choice, finding the best ski resort for luxury skiing is no mean feat. Discover more luxe ski locations below to find the perfect destination for your luxury ski holiday below.
Tignes
Ski area: 300 km
Known for: Snowsure glacier, high-altitude skiing, link to Val d’Isere.
Chamonix
Ski area: 117 km
Known for: Tree lined slopes, Michelin-acclaimed chefs, French countryside vistas.
La Plagne
Ski area: 225km
Known for: Luxury ski in -ski out chalets and hotels, family-friendly areas and activities, knee-deep powder.
Les Gets
Ski area: 650 km
Known for: Picturesque villages, skiing for all levels, traditional Savoyard dining.
Avoriaz
Ski area: 650 km
Known for: Car-free, old-world opulence, horse-drawn carriages.
For more information about luxury skiing in France, check out our entire collection of luxury French ski resorts and our portfolio of ski hotels and chalets. Read our blog to get inspired or make an enquiry and a member of our friendly team of ski experts will get back to you.