2009 Ski Vacations In The French Alps

If you haven't skied before, live in Europe, and are considering a ski holiday this year, where do most people regard as a good place to head for?

The answer is often the French Alps.

The Alpine Mountain Range is often referred to as the 'Alps' and stretches across much of Europe. The Alps are often divided into two categories - Eastern Alps and Western Alps. The Western Alps include the mountains located in Italy, France and Switzerland.

Skiing in the French Alps is an adventure like no other. Royalty, celebrities and people from all walks of life can be found at various times skiing in the French Alps. The highest mountain in the Alps is Mont Blanc at 4808 meters.

La Plagne

Nestled atop a magnificent glacier on Mount Bellecote is the world class skiing area of La Plagne.

Surrounded by the majestic Vanoise Massif Mountains in the Graian Alps, La Plagne resort beckons the avid skier. It is spread over an altitude of 1250 to 3250 metres. The result is a variety of terrains and altitudes appealing to beginners and experts alike.

The ski area was built in 1961 with the hope of attracting tourism money. It was largely conceived in the interest of four small mountain villages. The fledgling towns were dying and hoped to capitalise on the gorgeous natural beauty of the area. Today's La Plagne is comprised of many different and distinctive villages. All are linked to one another by ski lifts and trails for those who prefer cross-country skiing. The villages continue to expand, giving it a competitive edge when it comes to tourism revenue.

Even the non-skier will find something to love about La Plagne. Non-skiers may choose from over 50 pubs and restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining. After dark visitors can hit one of the resort's many night clubs for an evening of dancing and partying. Numerous daytime activities entertain and engage those who choose not to ski as well. Winter-sport activities include ice skating, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.

Les Menuires

Located in Belleville Valley, the Les Menuires ski holidays resort hosted the 1992 Winter Olympics and is part of the largest ski area in the world, Les Trois Valleys. The Three Valleys are comprised of several resorts that host millions of skiers per year. Les Menuires boasts 62 ski trails, advanced and beginner ski slopes and 39 ski lifts. The resort's 48 restaurants offer foods ranging from fast food to fine cuisin and is an excellent location for a French ski holiday

La Grave la Meije

La Grave is a commune in southeastern France and the location of La Meije. Three summits comprise La Meije with the highest summit being 3,984 m. Mountain climbers and rock climbers challenge themselves to reach the highest summit of La Meije. The very first successful climb was by Emmanuel Boileau de Castelneu and Pierre Gaspard and his son on August 16, 1877. Glacier climbing or ice climbing is a very popular sport in La Grave as well. One hundred to 300 metre climbing routes offer a variety of difficulty.

Much of the La Grave la Meije ski area is glacier and considered dangerous. Guided skiing is recommended. Extreme skiers find a great deal of fascination and appeal in La Grave la Meije due to the enormous vertical drops and extreme ski conditions - not for those having a first ski holiday maybe!