Sitting in the heart of the French Alps is France's third-biggest mountain destination, Isère.
Isère and its unspoiled, natural surroundings make for a perfect place to relax, unwind, and fully recharge your batteries while offering a whole host of activities to keep you entertained on and off the slopes. Isère is best known for its winter sports, mountain passes, and ski resorts, and as a large part of the area has impressive mountain scenery, it's easy to see why it's such a popular mountain destination. Want to know more? Here are 10 of our favourite reasons to visit Isère...
1) Easy Access
Lying in the gateway to Isère is Grenoble Alpes Isère airport. This airport is ideally located and has superb transport links including direct transfers (which we can book for you) to resorts, meaning you can be off the plane and in your ski boots in as little as 2 hours!
Flights can be booked independently (we don't book these) through major airlines such as easyJet, Jet2, British Airways, etc. Find out more about flying to the French Alps.
2) Sky-high dining
Take a seat in a comfortable cabin and admire the beautiful views from a height, accompanied with fodue, in the Enversin cable car. Treat the family to an evening out as you depart from Vaujany and enjoy your mountain meal while you fly over the ski area. What better way to admire the beautiful surroundings than with French cuisine?
@A.Gelin
3) Stepping into the void
Take in the breathtaking views of the Ecrins mountain range with this unforgettable experience on the Les 2 Alpes viewing platform. Accessible to both skiers and pedestrians, the bridge is a 10-minute walk from the funicular station at 3,400, and can also be reached by ski from the summit of the Puy Salie ski lift.
@Focus Outdoor
4) Family-friendly
Many resorts in Isère including Alpe d'Huez and Les 2 Alpes, have been awarded with the Famille Plus label. The label recognises facilities and services available to families and children staying in French tourist destinations.
Other Isère resorts that have also been awarded this label, such as Chamrousse, Vaujany and Villard de Lans/Correncon, can be booked through our sister site, Peak Retreats.
OT Oz-en-Oisans
5) The longest black run in Europe
Alpe d'Huez is home to the Sarenne black piste, the longest black run in Europe! Sitting at 3330m above sea level, descend 16km down from Pic Blanc through trees and bends while admiring the remarkable views. The end of this run takes you back to the resort, where you can enjoy a well-deserved drink or a spot of lunch in one of the mountain restaurants as you tell tales of your bucket list descent.
6) Night-time skiing
When the sun’s rays are low in the sky, enjoy a breath-taking descent from the Dôme des Rousses to Vaujany, a great way to finish off your day on the slopes. This is an activity for all, beginners and small children can try night-time skiing on the snow front too. Night time skiing is also available in other Isère resorts such as Alpe d’Huez, Vaujany, Oz-en-Oisans, Auris-en-Oisans, and Chamrousse.
For more information about Vaujany, visit our sister site, Peak Retreats.
7) Cheese!
You know we all love our French cheeses at Ski Collection, and Isère is home to the cow's milk cheese, Saint-Marcellin. It's been made for several centuries in the heart of the Vercors mountain range and is a soft cheese made from whole cow's milk. The texture of the young cheese varies and it has a mild, slightly salty flavour as it matures and ripens it typically has a beige crust with a soft, creamy interior. It has an intensely rustic, nutty, fruity flavour. Delicious.
@Jocelyn Chavy
8) Environmental commitment
Isère cares about the environmental impact and about maintaining their natural world for future generations. Isère is leading the way by developing the first Smart Ski Resort in France. The leading city, Grenoble has been elected European Green Capital 2022 and many resorts within Isère have obtained the Flocon Vert label, including Chamrousse.
9) All the après-ski
You are spoiled for choice when it comes to off-slope activity and there are always more options being added. Opening December 2021 is the first alpine food court in Alpe d'Huez. Camp de Base will offer a variety of entertainment, drinks, food, games, and great music all year round. With six food counters to choose from including Asian cuisine, Italian pizza, burgers, waffles, veggies, charcuterie boards, cheeses, and much more, you will be spoilt for choice! Be sure to check out the local wines on the menu too! Visit our Isère resorts for more about what's available in each resort.
@Hill Girl Yoga
10) Snowga
Invigorate your mind, body, and soul while soaking in the breath-taking scenery with a 45-minute dynamic snowga session that will combine the effects of yoga and meditation in natural surroundings and at 2000m altitude = bliss!
Snow yoga is available at many Isère resorts including Oz en Oisans and Chamrousse.
