Vive la France! We Brits love skiing in ‘L’Hexagone’.
According to the Ski Club of Great Britain, 59% of British skiers travel to France each winter – more than any other country.
But what do we know about our most popular ski destination? Let’s take a look at some of the top stats you should know about skiing in France
1. There are 350 ski resorts in France
The majority of these resorts (61%) are in the Alps, mainly in Savoie and Haute-Savoie. The region also represents 84% of the lift capacity and 87% of the attendance.
The Pyrenees comes next (12%), followed by the Jura range (11%), the Vosges (10%) and the Massif Central.
2. French ski lifts are getting older
There are over 3500 ski lifts in France, which are on average 30 years old. Despite some incredible new lifts being opened every winter, French ski lifts are aging (in 2015, the average age was 26).
The most common type of lift is a drag lift (teleski), followed by chairlift (telesiege), then gondolas, and finally, cable cars.
3. Brits are the biggest international market
Of the 10 million annual skiers in French ski resorts, around one-third (35%) is from other countries.
The biggest international market is Great British (12%), followed by the Belgium (6%) and the Netherlands (5%).
4. Les 2 Alpes offers the most skiing all year round
Due to its summer skiing options, Les 2 Alpes offers skiing on up to 230 days per annum – more than 60% of the year.
Val Thorens, Tignes and Chamonix all are open for around 160 days in 2025.
5. March is the snowiest month
In terms of accumulated snow, March is the snowiest month of the season.
The resorts with the best snow are Flaine, Avoriaz, Chamonix, Les Saisies.
Book your catered chalet in France with Chaletline
Chaletline offers accommodation in 37 French ski resorts. For independent advice on which is the best for you and your group, please contact our team of experts on 01822 617761