France
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Región: Southern Alps
Perched at an altitude of 1,850 metres in the Hautes-Alpes, Vars has established itself as one of the most popular resorts in the Southern Alps. It enjoys an exceptional natural setting between larch forests and legendary peaks such as those of the Écrins, Ubaye and Queyras massifs. This high mountain setting is home to the second largest ski area in the region: the Forêt Blanche, which links Vars and Risoul with no less than 185 km of slopes, 1,100 metres of vertical drop, 116 slopes and 51 ski lifts. A true paradise for winter sports enthusiasts
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The Vars ski area
Vars is made up of four mountain hamlets along the Route des Grandes Alpes. It has successfully combined authentic mountain charm with modern comfort. Bathed in southern light, the ski area offers a dynamic and friendly atmosphere where nature reigns supreme.
This resort offers everyone a taste of freedom in the heart of nature. A white, friendly atmosphere, entertainment and events for all ages throughout the season, and a huge sports and leisure area for winter sports enthusiasts await you in Vars. A resort with a Mediterranean feel where life is good, Vars is resolutely modern in a mountain setting comprising three historic villages: a harmonious blend of tradition and modern amenities with a warm welcome.
The Forêt Blanche stretches between 1,650 m and 2,750 m above sea level and guarantees good snow cover thanks to an efficient snowmaking network on its main slopes. Skiers of all levels will find something to suit them, whether on gentle slopes or in the most challenging couloirs. The ski lifts, among the most modern in the Southern Alps, ensure smooth and comfortable travel throughout the resort.
Skiing for all levels
Skiing for all, with a wide variety of slopes for all levels spread across the entire ski area and tiered slopes allowing children from the very first star to explore the Forêt Blanche using comfortable lifts.
More experienced skiers can enjoy challenging skiing on splendid black runs and around a hundred couloirs less than an hour from the ski lifts in the Eyssina and Chabrières ridges. The Vars ski lift park is modern (the most recent in the Southern Alps) with new equipment that has made it easier for skiers and snowboarders to get around and reduced waiting times at the lifts.
Young and old, with friends or family, you can admire the magnificent panoramas offered by the Forêt Blanche, hurtle down the slopes covered in freshly fallen snow or simply take a break in one of the mountain restaurants.
The Vars ski resort is committed to sustainable development
Some time ago, the resort of Vars introduced free buses that travel between the villages. This initiative was launched with the aim of reducing or even eliminating the excessive number of cars travelling between the villages in the resort. Bus drivers are also prohibited from leaving their engines running when they are in the garage or at a stop.
In terms of facilities, the high-altitude lodges have been equipped with solar panels. The resort also includes:
Several recycling points: collection of glass, plastic, metal and paper
This also makes it possible to know where waste is going and to ensure that it does not remain in the resort and pollute it. At the town hall, a policy to reduce paper consumption has been implemented. In addition, every year, a day in July is dedicated to waste collection in the resort.
Unforgettable experiences in Vars
In Vars, the mountains have much more to offer than skiing. In the heart of the resort, the ice cave plunges you into a fairy-tale world. Real artists sculpt the ice with amazing tools to create a magical world for the whole family to discover.
Marvel at the work of the sculptors. These heroes of dreams, skilled with irons, curling irons, wood saws and all kinds of tools repurposed from their original use, bring the sculptures of their imagination to life and transform them into icy dreams.
Carved from ice and snow, you will discover countless treasures on a wonderful journey to the land of caribou.
It rolls, it slides, it skids, it accelerates, it pulls, it goes fast… Let your imagination run wild and enjoy activities that guarantee exceptional thrills.
For adventure lovers, let yourself be pulled through the snowy landscapes by sled dogs or even horses. On a fatbike, learn to master turns and descents in the snow. And for a truly unique experience, head out after the slopes close for a snowmobile ride at sunset, with spectacular views of the Vars mountains. A feeling of total freedom.
Webcams of the Vars ski resort
If you want to see the current conditions at the ski resort and its natural surroundings, you will find real-time webcams of Vars below.
Facilities
Hotels in the resort of Vars
Le 16 I 150 & Spa Nuxe ****
Nestled at an altitude of 1,650 metres, in the heart of the village of Sainte Marie and at the foot of the Olympic piste, Le 16 I 150 offers you a different kind of mountain experience.
In a setting freely inspired by the late 1960s, its 29 rooms and suites, its 10-bed ‘Refuge’ apartment, the ‘SKITCHEN’ bistronomic restaurant, its large sun-drenched terraces facing L’Eyssina, its festive après-ski, its lounge bar, its fireplaces and braziers, its NUXE spa and wellness area covering almost 300 m² (treatment rooms, large spa, sauna, hammam, fitness centre) make the 16 I 150 the ultimate destination for pleasure and rejuvenation.
Les Escondus ***
With a privileged location at the foot of the slopes, you can ski right up to the terrace of Les Escondus. This renovated hotel with its chic mountain style offers a friendly restaurant, a trendy bar and wellness activities such as a sauna, hammam, yoga and massage.
It even has a tree-top room for a truly unusual stay.
Les Lores **
Just 300 metres from the Peynier chairlift and at the entrance to the Claux resort, this welcoming chalet hotel is run by a young, dynamic team and offers a wide range of activities à la carte or as part of a package, in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
All rooms have a south-facing terrace, bathroom and toilet.
The mountain resort of Vars in summer
When the snow melts, Vars becomes a haven of well-being and adventure. Massages, body treatments, hot tubs, hammams and saunas await you for a 100% relaxing break!
Unwind, take your time and treat yourself in a refined and relaxing atmosphere, with many establishments offering a genuine invitation to well-being. These are special places to pamper yourself with skin treatments (masks, scrubs, wraps, etc.), beauty treatments (hair removal) and relaxation (massages, body sculpting, hot tubs, hammams, saunas, etc.).
But summer in Vars is also an opportunity to enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities. Treat yourself to a complete programme including archery, ski lifts, a visit to a sled dog kennel, guided hikes, tree climbing, horse or pony rides, tobogganing and access to the swimming pool and tennis courts. An ideal package for experiencing the mountains in a different way.
Skiing in Vars: the resort’s strong points
In the heart of the Southern Alps, in the Parpaillon massif, Vars stands among larch forests and peaks overlooking the Mediterranean.
Connected to Risoul to form the La Forêt Blanche ski area, this resort combines southern sunshine with high-altitude snow: a contrast that gives it a very special energy.
Here, skiing tastes of freedom. The slopes are bathed in the purest light of the French Alps, the snow is dry and light, and the air smells of resin and mountains.
Vars is not just a ski area: it is a territory of riders, families, and dreamers who seek authenticity without sacrificing excitement.
The domain: La Forêt Blanche
With 185 km of slopes between Vars and Risoul, the La Forêt Blanche domain is one of the largest in the south of France. It extends between 1,650 and 2,750 meters, offering a vertical drop of 1,100 meters and a privileged orientation that guarantees snow and sun throughout the season.
The slopes wind through larch trees, meadows, and ridges with views of the Écrins massif and Queyras.
The domain is perfectly balanced: wide blue runs for stress-free enjoyment, fast red runs for carving, and heart-pounding black runs, such as the Chabrières run, known for hosting the Speed Masters, where the world’s best skiers exceed 250 km/h.
Freeride and freestyle spirit
Vars is synonymous with freedom. For years it has been a European reference point for freestyle, with one of the most complete snowparks in France, designed by the Hooners Park team, where internationally renowned riders train.
The Eyssina and Peynier sectors are true freeride temples, with natural itineraries and unmarked but safe areas, accessible from the ski lifts.
A lively and welcoming resort
Vars is made up of four villages connected by the slopes: Saint-Marcellin, Sainte-Marie, Sainte-Catherine, and Les Claux.
The center of Les Claux has most of the accommodation, shops, and restaurants, but the other three retain the charm of authentic mountain villages.
This layout gives it a human, scattered yet accessible character: Vars retains the feel of an inhabited area, not a tourist resort.
Sun, snow, and southern energy
The climate of the Southern Alps is one of Vars’s great treasures: more than 300 days of sunshine per year and snow that, due to the altitude, remains dry and light until spring.
The north and east orientations ensure excellent snow preservation, while the sunniest slopes offer long afternoons of skiing bathed in golden sunlight.
Accessibility and sustainability
Despite its alpine spirit, Vars is an accessible resort: just 45 minutes from Gap and well connected to Marseille and Turin.
It is part of the “Stations de demain” program, which promotes renewable energy, public transport, and responsible water management projects.
Tips from the I Love Ski Community for skiing in Vars
1. Start at Peynier.
This is the most wooded and peaceful area of the resort. Perfect for warming up your legs and enjoying smooth skiing between trees and stable snow.
2. Experience the sunrise at Eyssina.
Get up early and watch the sun light up the peaks of the Queyras. From there, the views are among the most spectacular in the Southern Alps.
3. Challenge your limits at Chabrières.
Even if you’re not a competitor, skiing down the Speed Masters slope (at a moderate pace) is an unforgettable experience: the slope and the landscape command respect.
4. Freestyle for all levels.
The Vars snowpark is not just for pros: there are easy and safe lines for beginners. What’s more, the atmosphere is relaxed and music accompanies every jump.
5. Make the most of the terraces.
Vars has some of the sunniest terraces in the Alps. Eating at altitude with views of the Écrins is almost a ritual here.
6. Explore Risoul.
With the same ski pass, you can cross over to Risoul and enjoy more technical slopes or the Mélèzes forest. Ideal for a full day out.
7. Après-ski with southern character.
In Les Claux you’ll find bars with a young atmosphere and outdoor concerts. Après-ski here is sunny, spontaneous and full of life.
1. Start at Peynier.
This is the most wooded and peaceful area of the resort. Perfect for warming up your legs and enjoying smooth skiing between trees and stable snow.
2. Experience the sunrise in Eyssina.
Get up early and watch the sun light up the peaks of Queyras. From there, the views are among the most spectacular in the Southern Alps.
3. Challenge your limits in Chabrières.
Even if you’re not a competitor, skiing down the Speed Masters slope (at a moderate pace) is an unforgettable experience: the slope and the landscape command respect.
4. Freestyle for all levels.
The Vars snowpark is not just for pros: there are easy and safe lines for beginners. What’s more, the atmosphere is relaxed and music accompanies every jump.
5. Make the most of the terraces.
Vars has some of the sunniest terraces in the Alps. Eating at altitude with views of the Écrins is almost a ritual here.
6. Explore Risoul.
With the same ski pass, you can head over to Risoul and enjoy more technical slopes or the Mélèzes forest. Ideal for a full day out.
7. Après-ski with southern character.
In Les Claux you’ll find bars with a young atmosphere and open-air concerts. Après-ski here is sunny, spontaneous and full of life.
