Skiing rentals areas and lessons Rhône-Alpes

The ski area of Les Houches/Saint-Gervais is one of the ski areas of the Chamonix Valley. Below 2,000 meters, it's mainly forest terrain, but it's also a technical area where our national teams come to train and where major international competitions are held (notably on the famous "Verte des Houches", a World Cup downhill). Whether you're a family or a fun-loving skier, you'll enjoy the thrills and spills of the Mont-Blanc Massif in this superb area.

Do you know the ski resort of Prabouré? It is located in the Forez mountains, more exactly on the Forez ridges, only 30 km from Ambert. With a departure at the foot of the slopes at an altitude of 1,285 meters, visitors will find pleasure in traversing the wooded landscapes on cross-country skis or snowshoes (40 km, 6.5 of which are marked out for snowshoes), while downhill enthusiasts will take one of the 8 downhill ski slopes and one of the 2 lifts. A toboggan run and facilities are available for the youngest. The resort offers a wide range of activities for the whole family to have fun and spend time together, whatever the season and at any age. The youngest will be able to discover the secrets of nature on the Barefoot Trail, play treasure hunter and have fun on the inflatable structures. The Parc des Filets Enchantés, accessible from 3 years old, allows an unusual and playful walk in the middle of the trees. After the Devalkart, older children can now race down the slopes in a Mountain-Kart, the Formula 1 of the mountains. Also on the program: a little tour on a downhill scooter to discover the slopes in a different way and to experience new sensations on the way down, a tour on the giant zip line (the highest in the Massif Central!), a Rando-Ferrata (500 m of secure course in the Ronzier rocks), an orienteering course and a visit to the Prabourix cave to play speleologist... A day full of activities and sensations!

A mountain peak between 1,500 and 1,700 m with 360-degree panoramic views. Easily accessible by car or public transport in season, just 20 minutes from the center of Annecy, the Semnoz resort offers a privileged natural setting for skiers and hikers. This medium-altitude resort boasts a varied, affordable ski area with 18 alpine runs, 1 freestyle snowpark and 35 km of cross-country ski trails in 3 sectors (forest, petit plateau, grand plateau). Signposted walks and other activities in summer and winter.

You will find nearly one hundred activities arranged from 1.20 meters to 25 meters high in the green jungle of Lioran. A course has been specially designed for toddlers - 1 m minimum. This set of aerial games: zip lines, bridges, lianas, can be practiced in complete safety with family, friends or colleagues. You just have to adapt your course to your physical level and your apprehension threshold. If you feel like it, or if you are still in the mood, you can try bungee jumping from a big tree.

The downhill ski area covers the village of Grand-Bornand and the high-altitude hamlet of Chinaillon. Lifts leave from Le Lachat (lower village or Grand-Bornand) and from La Floria and Le Maroly (upper village or Chinaillon). Accessible by TandemSki, a wheelchair adapted for people with reduced mobility and driven by a qualified instructor. Don't hesitate to extend your ski pass to the Aravis ski area, with the resorts of La Clusaz, Manigod and Saint-Jean-de-Sixt (211 km of pistes), where ski-bus connections are available throughout the day. You can buy your ski pass online, without waiting. New snow sports enthusiasts are not forgotten either, with the SnowparkGB regularly ranked as one of France's top facilities. You can record your run on the VideoparkKGB (Airbag) video zone and view it at the park hut or on your cell phone. Downhill enthusiasts can take to the Dénivel'Maxx, a 3 km non-stop descent with a 1,100 m vertical drop. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, the Charmieux chairlift is in operation and the slope is lit up from 5pm to 9pm for night-time descents. New sensations on skis, yooner, paret, snow-coot, véloski and fatbike! The Rosay site is ideal for beginners, with a world-record 230 m-long, fully-covered Alpage Express carpet for a wide range of descents. Don't miss the superb Grandborama gondolas, like a contemporary art gallery suspended in mid-air.

Ecological, economical and 100% practical, Skimania is still the best way to get to the resorts of the Alps. With Skimania, you can take the metro to one of the 7 departure points in the Lyon metropolitan area and be whisked away to the snowy peaks in a Grand Tourisme coach. Skimania will provide you with a ski pass and a breakfast snack. Head for the finest resorts - Alpe d'Huez, Chamrousse, Courchevel, La Clusaz, La Plagne, Les 7 Laux, Les Arcs, Les Saisies, Méribel, Tignes and Valmorel - in the best conditions.

Alpine skiing in the Contamines-Hauteluce area is possible thanks to the 25 ski lifts located between 1,200 and 2,500 meters of altitude, giving access to 48 runs over 120 km. 3 secured Xzones dedicated to new glides. This ski area is part of the larger Evasion Mont-Blanc ski area. For Nordic skiing, 23 km of groomed and marked trails (paying), on the classified site of Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge. In the summer, beautiful hikes or mountain bike rides.

A company whose name is intertwined with the history of mountaineering, and above all the best address to find qualified and passionate guides. Because of overcrowding, ropes without certified professional guides become risky. Calling on these experienced guides is therefore a guarantee of safety. Some multi-day ski tours are for experienced skiers and the ascent of Mont Blanc cannot be improvised, a real physical and technical preparation is necessary. Hiking, climbing, snowboarding, heli-skiing, snowshoeing, tour of Mont Blanc, many packages are offered, for all levels, summer and winter: TMB (Tour du Mont-Blanc) in 5 days with an option to carry a bag; the mountains and wonders of the Aosta Valley in 6 days; more affordable, for families, the Chamonix Valley in five days; an introduction to mountaineering in three days, etc. With almost two centuries of history (it was created in 1821), the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc has become a true legend. The mountain house, which also houses the French Ski School and the Cham'Aventure company, offers a free information point, the Office de Haute Montagne. Three weather reports are posted here every day, just like at the neighboring tourist office: always highly recommended before any outing, on any terrain, even if it is considered easy. An office is also open during the season in Argentière.

Winter: at the gates of the Vercors highlands, the site of Herbouilly offers an ideal departure for lovers of pristine nature and large spaces. Cross-country skiing and easy access to the slopes of the Nordic area of Villard-de-Lans Corrençon, in all, close to 130 kilometres of marked slopes! A record form. Ski school at 04 76 95 19 00. Summer: in the summer sun, there are also many activities: Mountain biking, hiking…

30 minutes from downtown Grenoble, the Montagnes de Lans ski area offers a splendid setting for skiing in the heart of the Vercors Regional Park. The resort, oriented towards new glides, offers a wide variety of terrains. At 4 km from the village, accessible by free shuttles, the ski area offers 26 runs for all levels. In the heart of the village, the Parc de loisirs de l'Aigle allows you to try the pleasures of sledding. Incredible viewpoint overlooking the Grenoble agglomeration.

Accessible by funicular from the Grésivaudan valley directly to the Petites Roches plateau in summer. Playground, sports activities, workshops, shows... In winter, you'll need to come by car to enjoy this human-scale ski resort. 5 ski lifts and a dozen runs - including 5 very pleasant red runs in the forest - provide fun for all the family on the slopes of the Chartreuse. Fun area at Col de Marcieu.

The International Ski School, accredited by the French Ministry of Sports, has 95 schools in France, Switzerland and Italy, offering ski, snowboard, skwal and Telemark lessons. Lessons, given by ENSA-trained instructors, are available from Sunday to Friday, mornings for skiing and afternoons for snowboarding, starting at the top of Le Signal. Private lessons, on or off piste, and private days with an instructor are also available.

Situated at an altitude of around 1,000 meters, just 3 km from the village, the small family resort of Plateau de la Verrerie offers a wide range of winter activities. You can rent skis, snowshoes and sledges on site. The resort has four ski runs, ranging from 1.8 km to 7.5 km, with different levels of difficulty. Two snowshoe trails of over 4 km are also available, offering walks through the heart of the forest.

Chalmazel is the perfect place to enjoy a wide range of fun activities with family and friends. First of all, we're seduced by the beautiful panorama at the top of the slopes: a breathtaking view of Mont-Blanc. In winter, we enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing, as well as tobogganing and snowscooting. The summer season invites us to enjoy mountain biking and hiking trails, as well as disc golf (you have to put a Frisbee in a basket).

As part of the Portes du Soleil area, Châtel's connection to the Swiss ski area is fairly easy. The Châtel ski area itself offers 41 lifts opening onto 45 pistes located between 1200 and 2200m. Two snowparks will delight freestyle enthusiasts. The free shuttles, for all and even in the evening, allow easy access to the slopes. 60 km of Nordic slopes linked with the resorts of La Chapelle and Abondance, sledging, ski joëring and pedestrian-snowshoe circuits including two educational trails.

Paganella is a ski and snowboard portal where you can find photos and videos but also ski resorts and useful information on weather and snow and ski tests.

Starting from Saint-Gervais, take to the air in the Evasion Mont-Blanc ski area. 400 km of pistes in the most beautiful mountain scenery in the Alps, an area linking 6 resorts and 4 ski areas between 850 and 2,353 meters above sea level. Skiing for all levels! In summer, the lifts provide easy access to high-altitude trails for hiking, with 180 km of marked trails, and mountain biking.

Located at an average altitude of 1,200 metres, the Meygal ski area is a real playground for the whole family. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced skier, you'll find the pleasure of skiing in the heart of unspoilt nature, with 44 km of cross-country trails. For lovers of tranquillity and contact with nature, nine kilometers of trails are specially dedicated to snowshoeing, close to the starting point of the ski trails.

" That the mountain is beautiful "… How to contradict Jean Ferrat in front of the spectacular spectacle of his snowy landscapes? Enjoy your eyes with a beautiful silhouette, and leave for a cross-country skiing in the ardéchoises mountains! The town of Sainte-Eulalia has a modest but very valuable Nordic space, ideal for small budgets. And as a result, all of its cross-country ski slopes, snowshoes and luge are groomed and maintained voluntarily: you will therefore only have to finance your equipment, if necessary.

Tariff: free rental of equipment (skis + shoes) from 8 € per adult and per day, 5 € per child.

Distance: from 2,5 to 10 km.

Difficulty: easy to find.

Special provisions: if you leave solo, we strongly recommend that you prevent the gendarmerie before leaving, specifying your itinerary.

Cross-country skiing awaits you in the picturesque setting of Chaudeyrol, about ten kilometers from Les Estables (in the direction of Saint-Front from the village of Les Estables). The site offers five snow-covered runs, including a blue-level run that takes you close to Lac Saint-Front. Less crowded than the Mezenc, Chaudeyrac is ideal for those seeking solitude and tranquillity.