Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine Ski

L'Alpe d'Huez calls itself the Île au Soleil (Sun Island), and it lives up to the name: 300 days of sunshine a year on a south-facing plateau at 1,860m. The ski area climbs to the Pic Blanc at 3,330m, from which the Sarenne runs: 16 km of descent, the longest black run in Europe, reaching the valley floor through wild gorge scenery. Around the main resort are Auris, Oz, Vaujany and Villard-Reculas, quieter and often cheaper villages, all linked. The 21 hairpin bends of the legendary Tour de France climb are just below.