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Best places to go snowboarding in France

Grands-Montets panorama, Chamonix

#1. Chamonix, France

Chamonix offers some truly excellent freeriding and great natural freestyle terrain. It's not great for beginners and can suffer if there's not much snow. It's rough round the edges - but therein lies its charm. If you can, wait until there's fresh snow then jump in your car.

Summary

Freeride - 95%

Tree runs & amazing off-piste

Freestyle - 50%

Great natural

Pistes - 60%

Spread out & ungroomed slopes

Beginners - 65%

Dedicated beginner areas

Nightlife - 80%

Plenty going on and not tacky

Value - 60%

Pricey but possible on a budget

read more about Chamonix
Serre Chevalier Main

#2. Serre Chevalier, France

One of the best resorts in France. Great freeriding with powder and full-on, freestyle terrain. Shame it's pricey and packed with skiers.

Summary

Freeride - 80%

Great tree runs & good off-piste

Freestyle - 72%

Parks & 2 halfpipes

Pistes - 76%

Lots of trees & open pistes

read more about Serre Chevalier
Les Arcs 2000 evening

#3. Les Arcs, France

A great all round resort with lots of off-piste and powder, and perfect for beginners. A major tourist spot with lively nightlife.

Summary

Freeride - 76%

Tree runs & excellent off-piste

Freestyle - 70%

Decent large park

Pistes - 85%

Pisted to perfection

Beginners - 75%

Lots of easy slopes and beginner areas

Nightlife - 70%

1800 is village for partying

Value - 75%

Good value if self catering

read more about Les Arcs
Tignes Rider

#4. Tignes, France

Snow sure, true boarders' moonscape Great all-round resort with something for everyone, no matter what your ability. However, watch out some for long lift queues and crowds during school holidays and weekends.

Summary

Freeride - 80%

No tree runs but huge off-piste

Freestyle - 70%

All year parks & halfpipe

Pistes - 76%

Open motorway cruisers

Beginners - 74%

Lots of nice safe areas and independent tuition

Nightlife - 73%

Some good bars in all the villages

Value - 80%

Great option for the budget concious

read more about Tignes
courchevel vista

#5. Courchevel, France

Good all-round resort. Miles of groomed piste and natural terrain. An excellent intermediate/advanced resort but expensive. If you're a beginner, save your money and come here when you can fully utilise the whole resort.

Summary

Freeride - 74%

Tree runs & some good off-piste

Freestyle - 63%

Park & half-pipe

Pistes - 87%

Pisted to perfection

read more about Courchevel
Avoriaz freeride

#6. Avoriaz, France

Good resort with excellent freeriding and carving areas. The main problem with Avoriaz are the crowds and long lift queues.

Summary

Freeride - 80%

Tree runs & some good off-piste

Freestyle - 85%

Excellent Parks & half-pipe

Pistes - 80%

Plenty of good slopes

read more about Avoriaz
Val d'Isere Terrain Park

#7. Val d'Isere, France

Great mountain, expensive town. Overall, Val d'Isere has something for everyone. There's varying terrain for all abilities, some great off-piste and a good snow record but be ready to pay for it. They take card and cash, don't you worry.

Summary

Freeride - 80%

Some tree runs & good off-piste

Freestyle - 70%

Park & Pipe

Pistes - 80%

Plenty of good wide slopes

Beginners - 65%

Nightlife - 85%

Great nightlife if you've the cash

Value - 65%

Can be done on a budget if you're smart

read more about Val d'Isere
Sainte Foy Vista

#8. Sainte-Foy, France

Fantastic freeriding when there's fresh snow, but it's no longer an unheard of resort

Summary

Freeride - 80%

A few tree runs & excellent off-piste

Freestyle - 40%

no park but good natural

Pistes - 35%

Forget it

Beginners - 30%

Limited slopes

Value - 60%

Not sky high prices

read more about Sainte-Foy
La Grave Derby Meije 2005

#9. La Grave, France

With the right conditions: awesome and deadly

Summary

Freeride - 80%

Proper hardcore

Freestyle - 35%

As natural as it gets

Pistes - 25%

Not at all what this place is about

Beginners - 10%

Go somewhere else

Value - 60%

Cheaper than nearby resorts

read more about La Grave
Alpe d'Heuz, view from plat des marmottes

#10. Alpes d'Huez, France

Supersized resort that draws a lot of people to its slopes. It has some excellent off-piste freeriding opportunities.

Summary

Freeride - 75%

No tree runs but good off-piste

Freestyle - 60%

2 Terrain parks

Pistes - 74%

Huge number of busy but good runs

Beginners - 90%

Fantastic slopes to learn on

Nightlife - 72%

Lots of bars and tacky nightclubs

Value - 75%

Good value accommodation and facilities

read more about Alpes d'Huez

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