The altitude is the best indicator of lasting snow. Here are the ski areas where you ski highest in France, ranked by their highest point. A resort linked to others is counted with its ski area. We reviewed the 161 resorts in our French database that qualify for this ranking.
Resorts linked together form a single ski area: we group them and rank the area, represented by its highest resort. The other resorts in the area are mentioned in its description.
Key takeaway: Chamonix is the ski area where you ski highest (3,842 m), ahead of Les Deux Alpes (3,568 m) · 10th in the ranking, La Rosière, reaches 2,809 m.
The ranking: 10 ski areas
1Chamonix
3,842 mThe ski area peaks at 3,842 m (lowest point: 1,035 m), with 110 km of runs. Adult day lift pass: €77.
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is the world capital of mountaineering, nestled at 1,035 m at the foot of Mont Blanc (4,808 m). Its 170 km ski area is spread across Les Grands Montets, Le Brévent and La Flégère. The Vallée Blanche (24 km of off-piste) is the most legendary glacier descent in the world. A demanding destination, wilder than the big purpose-built resorts.
2Les Deux Alpes
3,568 mThe ski area peaks at 3,568 m (lowest point: 1,650 m), with 220 km of runs. Adult day lift pass: €68.
Les Deux Alpes is an international resort at 1,650 m in the Écrins massif, with one of the highest skiable glaciers in the world (3,568 m). Its 225 km of runs and its summer-open glacier attract skiers and snowboarders from around the world. A very lively resort with a buzzing nightlife.
3Tignes – Val d'Isère
3,456 mThis ski area links several resorts and peaks at 3,456 m, at Val d'Isère. Adult day lift pass at Val d'Isère: €70. It also includes Tignes.
Spotlight on Val d'Isère: Val d'Isère is one of the most legendary resorts in the Alps, perched at 1,850 m in the Haute-Tarentaise. Together with Tignes, it forms the Tignes-Val d'Isère ski area (300 km), which hosted the 1992 Winter Olympics. The Pisaillas glacier rises to 3,456 m, guaranteeing snow from November to May. A paradise for technical skiing and freeride, the resort also offers a lively nightlife and high-end accommodation.
4Alpe d'Huez
3,330 mThe ski area peaks at 3,330 m (lowest point: 1,135 m), with 250 km of runs. Adult day lift pass: €68.
Alpe d'Huez is a legendary resort at 1,860 m in the Grandes Rousses massif, famous for its exceptional sunshine (300 days a year) and its Sarenne run (16 km, the longest black run in Europe). Its 250 km of runs climb to 3,330 m. The drive up from Bourg-d'Oisans is a legendary col on the Tour de France.
5Paradiski
3,250 mThis ski area links several resorts and peaks at 3,250 m, at La Plagne. Adult day lift pass at La Plagne: €72. It also includes Montchavin-Les Coches, Champagny-en-Vanoise, Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry.
Spotlight on La Plagne: La Plagne is one of the most visited ski areas in the world, spread across 10 villages between 1,250 and 2,100 m. Together with Les Arcs, it forms Paradiski (425 km). It hosted the Olympic bobsleigh events at the 1992 Games and the track is still open to the public. Very well suited to families, it offers a wide variety of runs and activities.
6Les Trois Vallées
3,230 mThis ski area links several resorts and peaks at 3,230 m, at Val Thorens. Adult day lift pass at Val Thorens: €74. It also includes Orelle, Méribel, Les Menuires, Courchevel, La Tania and Saint-Martin-de-Belleville.
Spotlight on Val Thorens: Val Thorens is the highest resort in Europe at 2,300 m, at the summit of the 3 Vallées (600 km). This altitude guarantees quality snow from November to May. A modern, lively and very busy resort, it is popular with young skiers thanks to its many bars and clubs at the foot of the runs. Its own ski area has 85 runs over 150 km.
7Bonneval-sur-Arc
3,000 mThe ski area peaks at 3,000 m (lowest point: 1,800 m), with 32 km of runs. Adult day lift pass: €38.
Bonneval-sur-Arc is the most beautiful village in Haute-Maurienne, ranked among the Plus Beaux Villages de France, at 1,800 m on the edge of the Vanoise National Park. Its small 25 km ski area is intimate and unspoilt, offering authentic skiing in an exceptional setting. No concrete mars its grey stone chalets.
8Saint-Véran
2,830 mThe ski area peaks at 2,830 m (lowest point: 1,740 m), with 35 km of runs. Adult day lift pass: €40. This ski area is also that of Molines-en-Queyras.
Saint-Véran is the highest permanently inhabited commune in Europe, at 2,042 m. A village ranked 'Plus Beau Village de France', its carved wooden chalets and sundials are unique. Its 35 km ski area is shared with Molines-en-Queyras (same lift pass), an invitation to combine skiing with cultural discovery in a stunning Alpine setting.
9Montgenèvre
2,823 mThe ski area peaks at 2,823 m (lowest point: 1,860 m), with 95 km of runs. Adult day lift pass: €52.
Montgenèvre is France's oldest ski resort, founded in 1907. At 1,860 m on the Italian border, it is part of the Via Lattea (400 km of linked Franco-Italian runs). Its snow reliability is one of the best in the Southern Alps, thanks to its altitude and exposure. An authentic village at the historic mountain pass.
10La Rosière
2,809 mThe ski area peaks at 2,809 m (lowest point: 1,850 m), with 65 km of runs. Adult day lift pass: 55 €.
La Rosière is a sunny resort at 1,850 m, one of the sunniest in the French Alps. Linked to La Thuile on the Italian side (175 km), it forms the Espace San Bernardo ski area. Breathtaking views of Mont Blanc and the Grand-Saint-Bernard. A family-friendly atmosphere in a magnificent Alpine setting.
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What this ranking reveals
Chamonix tops this ranking with 3,842 m, 1,033 m higher than No. 10, La Rosière (2,809 m). 7 of the 10 ski areas exceed 3,000 m.
Why altitude matters: on average, the temperature drops by about 0.6 °C every 100 metres. The higher a ski area goes, the better its chances of keeping snow for longer, especially at the start and end of the season. The highest point, however, is not the altitude of the villages: a ski area can peak at 3,000 m while its villages sit at 1,800 m, and the orientation of the runs also affects snow quality.
3 entries in this ranking are ski areas grouping several resorts linked by runs (Tignes – Val d'Isère, Paradiski, Les Trois Vallées…). They are counted once, using their highest point.
Frequently asked questions
Where can you ski highest in France?
According to SnowFinder data, Chamonix is the ski area with the highest summit in France: 3,842 m.
Which ski areas should I choose for snow that lasts longer?
The highest ski areas in the ranking (Chamonix, Les Deux Alpes, Tignes – Val d'Isère) are generally the most reliable at the start and end of the season, but snow cover also depends on the weather of the year.
Does a high summit guarantee snow everywhere?
No. The highest point shows how high the ski area goes, not where the villages or every run are. Check real-time snow conditions before you set off.
Conclusion
In short, Chamonix takes first place in this ranking in France (3,842 m) and La Rosière closes the top 10 (2,809 m). But altitude is just one criterion among others: atmosphere, ski area size, accommodation and your budget matter just as much when choosing.
To narrow things down, look at the detailed pages of these ski areas, compare two or three in our comparison tool, or filter all resorts by your criteria.
The resort pages for this ranking
- Chamonix
- Les Deux Alpes
- Tignes – Val d'Isère : Val d'Isère · Tignes
- Alpe d'Huez
- Paradiski : La Plagne · Montchavin-Les Coches · Champagny-en-Vanoise · Les Arcs · Peisey-Vallandry
- Les Trois Vallées : Val Thorens · Orelle · Méribel · Les Menuires · Courchevel · La Tania · Saint-Martin-de-Belleville
- Bonneval-sur-Arc
- Saint-Véran · Molines-en-Queyras
- Montgenèvre
- La Rosière
How do you read this ranking?
The criterion is the highest point of the ski area. Figures come from the SnowFinder database (ski areas, altitudes, lifts, runs). Prices are adult single-day lift passes at public rates, given for guidance only: they vary by date, duration and online offers, so check them on the resort's website before booking.
To go further
- Head-to-head: Saint-Véran vs Molines-en-Queyras
- Head-to-head: Val Thorens vs Les Menuires
- Head-to-head: Val d'Isère vs Tignes
- Filter all resorts by your criteria: find my resort
- Compare several resorts side by side: the comparison tool
- All our head-to-heads: resort comparisons
Sources: SnowFinder data (ski areas, adult 1-day public lift pass prices), official resort websites. Updated 23 October 2026.