La Forêt Blanche

Vars and Risoul share 185 km of runs either side of the Col de Valbelle, in a landscape of sparse larch forest typical of the Southern Alps. It is the region's second-largest ski area and one of its highest: 83% of runs lie above 2,000 m, which offsets the southern latitude and ensures good-quality snow. Vars is renowned for its Kilomètre Lancé, a speed course where several world records have been set at over 250 km/h. Risoul, a car-free resort from the 1970s, has a more family-friendly and intimate feel. The sun, meanwhile, is everywhere: over 300 days a year.