Visitors to the French resort of Les 2 Alpes can look forward to several new lifts and pistes this winter, with more developments to come.
The resort offers skiing up to 3600m on its glacier, which is where most skiers head to. However, there is also an area on the west side of the resort called ‘Vallée Blanche’, offering skiing between 2100m and 1650m.
Development of the ‘Vallée Blanche’ area
Last winter two new lifts opened (the Super Venosc Gondola and the Vallée Blanche Télémix) and this winter, a new green run, also called the ‘Vallée Blanche’ will open. It will have snow cannons alongside to ensure good conditions all season.
Lifts from resort taking skiers up to the main ski area have also seen updates. A ‘Télémix’ lift combines chairs with gondolas to maximise comfort and uplift capacity. In Les 2 Alpes, the Télémix du Diable was completed in 2023 and the Télémix de Belle Étoile will open in 2024.
New Jandri 3S cable car
The big news in terms of new lifts is the Jandri 3S cable car, which will open in winter 2024/25. This new lift will use the latest technology and offer an overall ‘transport experience’ for visitors.
It replaces the Jandri Express, which dates back to 1985, and will take visitors from the resort at 1600m in three stages to 3200m.
The new cable car will cover 6.4km with just seven pylons instead of the existing 15, minimising its impact. The 55 cabins can each fit 32 skiers (24 seated and 8 standing) and carry up to 3000 people per hour.
A huge amount of research has gone into the design of the lift. The Les 2 Alpes lift company has studied the best possible ascent line, taking into account environmental, technical and aesthetic considerations.
Open for skiing this autumn and then from December
Les 2 Alpes will open for the season from Saturday 02 December 2023 through to Sunday 28 April 2024.
If you fancy some skiing before then, it’s also opening during the autumn half term, from 21 October to 05 November 2023.
For advice on finding the right accommodation for you in Les 2 Alpes, please contact the Chaletline team on 01822 617761.