The Best Weekend Ski Trips From London
As soon as winter rolls around, it becomes increasingly tempting to start thinking about escaping the short, dark and somewhat depressing days in London and the rest of the UK; in turn swapping them for some fun-filled adventures in the mountains.
A short ski break can be the ultimate remedy to a bout of the winter blues, ditching the office on Thursday or Friday and returning the next week with a revitalised spirit. Here at flexiski, we’re experts at planning and organising short ski trips, often encompassing the weekend, to bag you a much-needed break while minimising the necessary holiday days.
A big factor here is travel time. When flying out of London and into an airport like Geneva or Chambéry, it’s key to limit as much time 'wasted' on travel periods like airport transfers and other transport. Of course, when travelling from the UK, it helps to be located close to one of the many London airports but this factor is often non-negotiable.
Something that can be taken into your own hands is choosing a ski resort that’s closely located to one of the European Alps serving airports. The most popular of which is Geneva, with its frequent flight times and cheaper availability; although it is worth considering the likes of Grenoble and Chambéry, which are located further into the mountains and closer to many resorts.
This article will attempt to offer you the best choice of ski resort, predominantly found in France, in relation to maximising the amount of time skiing and minimising the travel time from London. All the resorts mentioned are available to book with flexiski, just follow one of the links to discover more about the accommodation options and relevant prices for each.
Flaine
Transfer time from Geneva airport – 1 hour
Ski area size - 260km
Recommended for – Those searching for a snow-sure resort with spectacular natural beauty
Flaine is an intermediate skier's paradise with its abundance of blue, fall-line slopes and variety of pistes. The Grand Massif ski area reaches an altitude of 2500m, offering over 1500m of descent when the snow is present down low.
The five different resorts in The Grand Massif area provide beautiful, traditional alpine architecture; Samoens village is even classified as a "Monument Historique", much of the ski terrain is also occupied inside a French natural reserve.
La Clusaz
Transfer time from Geneva airport – 1 hour
Ski area size – 125km linked, 210km in wider area
Recommended for – Lovers of traditional alpine accommodation and accessible tree-skiing
Known for its charming French village surrounding by impressive peaks, La Clusaz is one of the prettiest places to ski in Europe. The slopes are covered with trees, providing a Christmas card atmosphere, and a chance to try skiing within the well-spaced pines.
A perfect resort for all levels, although slightly favouring intermediates, the short transfer time of just one hour makes La Clusaz one of the best options for a weekend getaway.
Chamonix
Transfer time from Geneva airport – 1 hour 10 minutes
Ski area size - 115km
Recommended for – More advanced skiers looking to test their skills
Nestled beneath the peaks and spines of the Mont-Blanc Massif, Chamonix is best known for offering world-class off piste and hair-raising descents. A better option for the advanced and expert skiers among you, Chamonix will push your skiing to the limit.
The cosmopolitan town is home to stunning restaurants, winter markets and a thriving apres scene. With plenty to do here apart from skiing, it’s bound to suit all kind of winter sports enthusiasts looking for a unique experience.
Morzine
Transfer time from Geneva airport – 1 hour 30 minutes
Ski area size - 600km
Recommended for – Those searching for a massive ski area with endless terrain
Morzine as a town very special, greatly revered by the Brits, it offers a huge variety of accommodation options and a great vibe. The skiing in Morzine is predominantly tree-lined suiting the beginner to intermediate crowd.
Once you consider its closely linked resorts like Avoriaz and Chatel, the Portes du Soleil ski area becomes a whole different beast. With steep, mogul runs like the Swiss Wall and descents from the Avoriaz summits, the ski area is one of the most vast and exciting in Europe.
Megeve
Transfer time from Geneva airport – 1 hour 15 minutes
Ski area size - 400km
Recommended for – Those seeking a slice of luxury in a beautiful French resort
Megeve and the Evasion Mont-Blanc ski area has 400km of pistes spread over several resorts. Popular with skiers and non-skiers alike, Megeve is not only known for its excellent skiing, it also serves as an alpine hub for world-class restaurants and a bustling village.
The rocking apres scene and friendly atmosphere is matched by the quality of its slopes. Explore endless blue and red runs to your heart’s content and discover a gem of the French Alps.
Les Deux Alps
Transfer time from Grenoble airport – 1 hour 30 minutes
Ski area size - 200km
Recommended for – Those searching for a high-altitude resort with excellent snow
Thanks to its glacier, Les Deux Alpes offers high-altitude skiing with reliable snow cover almost 365 days a year. With a ski area accessible as high as 3400m above sea level, Les Deux Alps is a worthy choice when snow reliability is your number one priority.
Intermediate slopes sweep across the bowl, while beginners can enjoy the Vallée Blanche area, where slopes a friendly and well-maintained. Les Deux Alps is also a freestyle haven, with the option to explore the world-famous snow park here.
Val Thorens
Transfer time from Chambery airport – 1 hour 30 minutes
Ski area size - 600km
Recommended for – Those searching for a gargantuan resort with snow-sure reliability
Les Trois Vallees needs little introduction among most ski enthusiasts. Home to the unparalleled trifecta of Val Thorens, Meribel and Courchevel, the 3 Valleys ski area offers terrain for all levels and desires.
The resort with the highest elevation here is Val Thorens (2300m) so is naturally the go-to choice for ski breaks outside of mid-winter. Although Courchevel and Meribel both offer more traditional charm and a less purpose-built feel.
