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Mar, 6 - 2025 - 10 mins

Top 10 Ski Resorts in the French Alps for Uncrowded Slopes & No Lift Lines

Scoring quiet slopes during your ski holiday can often feel like mission impossible, especially if you travel with little ones during half-term. While the ‘undiscovered’ ski resort might be a thing of the past, there are some hidden gems you can still enjoy, so that you’re not racing into your gear at the crack of dawn to shred that pristine corduroy. Below, we’ve listed our top 10 ski resorts in the French Alps for uncrowded slopes and no lift lines.

1. Sainte Foy

A favourite among those in the know, Sainte Foy offers an authentic Alpine charm with a relaxed vibe. If you love skiing without the crowds, this little paradise is perfect for enjoying stunning scenery and has the added safety benefit of all runs leading back to the same place. Small but perfectly formed, Sainte Foy is often overlooked due to its proximity to Tignes, Les Arcs and Val D’isère, which could explain why it rarely gets uncomfortably crowded.

Best time to go: Peak weeks are getting busier in recent history - January has a track record for quiet slopes. Snomad community insight: “Sainte Foy is a gem of a resort! It's become a lot more popular in recent years but when you're there you can still benefit from quiet, well-maintained slopes and almost zero queues for the lifts outside peak weeks. I'm very much a piste lover, and although there aren't endless kilometers to ski, you can happily while away for a week. I have friends who ski here who can't get enough of the off-piste - Conditions permitting, it's world class. The apres ski offering has improved over the past couple of years with 1580m restaurant (and brewery!), Lama Llama and Moulinettes providing some good vibes. Super family friendly village with accommodation options for most budgets.” - Heather, Jan 2025.

2. La Rosière

Known for being much quieter than some of the larger resorts in the same valley, La Rosière straddles the France-Italy border and offers quiet runs with breathtaking views. With a south-facing orientation, you can ski all day in the sunshine without the usual morning rush. Skiing on the Italian side is north-facing, giving you plenty of variation.

Best time to go: Again, January is renowned for being quiet on the slopes with great snow conditions. Snomad community insight: “Great family orientated ski resort with little nightlife, quiet pistes and an efficient, easy to navigate lift system. Really good snow conditions. South facing French side so warm but the snow holds well in the valley. The ski link to Italy is two, long drag lifts which could be improved. But skiing in the Italian side is a totally different experience. North facing, with lots of long, cruisy reds and blue routes to choose from to ski all the way from the peak to the La Thuile resort at 1450m. Never ate on the Italian side (had to be back in La Rosiere for lunch time ski school pickup) but the lunch options in France were varied enough in quality and price.” - Jordan, Dec 2024

3. Montgenèvre

Montgenèvre is the ultimate choice for uncrowded slopes with seriously scenic charm. It has a respectable resort altitude of 1860m, meaning it could be a good choice for a quiet late-season trip. Despite being one of France’s oldest ski resorts, it’s still described by the Snomad Community as a ‘well-kept secret’ - so probably best not to shout about this one…
Best time to go: January usually brings great powder and weekends will usually see an influx of locals - opt for a mid-week break if you’re going for a short trip. Snomad community insight: “Great family friendly resort with a good selection of well pisted slopes. Pretty uncrowded and ski-in ski-out accommodation. With both north and south facing slopes there are many options to explore and the ability to explore the neighbouring resort of Claviere is a bonus.” - Jon, Feb 2025

4. Val Cenis

Quiet, family-friendly and enjoyably laid-back, Val Cenis is another good option for uncrowded slopes in the French Alps. Pistes snake down through stunning larch forests and spill out into wide-open bowls - the resort itself is a dream for families and those who love unhurried descents with breathtaking scenery. It’s also the home of L’Escargot - the longest green run in Europe.

Best time to go: Anytime - while peak weeks do get busier, they are still calm in comparison to larger resorts. Snomad community insight: “Once again a wide range of different off piste trails for all levels and most of the time great powder. It's not as busy as bigger resorts, meaning slopes aren't too crowded even in school holidays and lift wait times are minimal even at the bottom of the mountain. However, although it is great for skiing, Val Cenis does not offer a wide range of après options and the town only has one club, so is not the best resort for party goers.” - Kado, Nov 2024

5. Risoul

Risoul is a sun-kissed resort in the Southern Alps which offers quiet slopes, playful terrain, and a relaxed atmosphere perfect for those who love skiing without the crowds. Cheaper and quieter than most French resorts but with a respectable après and nightlife scene, Risoul also offers expansive terrain with connections to neighbouring Vars.

Best time to go: Anytime! There may be a slight morning rush during peak weeks but nothing like that in bigger resorts.
Snomad community insight: “To save money you can stay in Guillestre at the bottom of the mountain and get the free bus back up each day (you get to spend time in a real, working mountain village this way - with its restaurants, cafes and services). Perhaps if you are looking for adrenaline-fueled black runs and back country skiing then Risoul might not challenge you enough. However, the resort has several really decent parks and in Vars you will find a huge snowboard park..I mean massive.” - Simon, Dec 2024

6. Saint Sorlin d’Arves

Nestled in the heart of the Sybelles ski area, Saint Sorlin d’Arves is a charming, crowd-free retreat with breathtaking views. You won’t queue for lifts here and prices are reasonable - in the words of Harry from our Snomad Community, there are “Lots of options for reasonable lunches - you can get a baguette and a glass of rose for €10.” Perfect for those who aren’t fussed about clocking up miles, the resort is small and perfectly formed.

Best time to go: Take your pick - even peak weeks here don’t tend to involve lift queues. Snomad community insight: “Great resort if you're looking for somewhere quiet. It's a small resort with lots of good activities for kids.: - Leight, Jan 2025

7. Châtel

Châtel ski resort is a pretty, traditional alpine village which forms part of the vast Portes du Soleil ski area. Not only will you benefit from being in your own quiet paradise, but you can join the hustle and bustle of the likes of Avoriaz and Morzine if you wish. Relaxed and small, this resort is perfect for a mixed group or family trip, combining all elements, terrain types and resort facilities.

Best time to go: Avoid early season as conditions can be tricky. Snomad community insight: “Fantastic traditional alpine village with skiing for all levels. Very family friendly and great ski schools. New lifts in the super chatel area means no need to travel to pre la joux any more to access the Portes du Soleil. Even in half term weeks, the areas around Châtel are less crowded than other resorts, with minimal lift queues.” Andrew, Jan 2025

8. Peisey-Vallandry

A family-friendly resort with just a handful of après ski bars and pubs, Peisey-Vallandry is a picturesque option with quiet, varied pistes. Offering easy access to Les Arcs and La Plagne, there is a friendly feel that will suit a variety of groups. For a more lively après scene, you can head to Folie Douce in Les Arcs and head home on the blue Foret run.

Best time to go: Best to avoid peak weeks with this one, but slopes are quiet throughout January. Snomad community insight: “A great resort, slightly set apart from the busier and more commercial resorts of Les Arcs and La Plagne. Whilst still offering a great range of runs - a lot being within the trees, making it a good option during poor visibility. The village itself is nice with a good choice of restaurants and plenty of accommodation close to the slopes. Both Les Arcs and La Plagne are accessible by lift offering vast amounts of terrain.” - Matt, April 2024

9. Puy St Vincent

Set within the pretty larch forests of the Ecrins National Park, Puy St Vincent is a lesser-known gem with great ski-in ski-out accommodation at two stations on the mountain. Perfect for learners, there is a deliciously mellow green running practically from top to bottom of the resort, winding between the trees with great views. The various bars and restaurants at station 1600 are a nice mid-morning sun trap, perfect for those warming chocolat chauds.

Best time to go: An excellent snow record combined with a hidden gem reputation make this resort a good choice anytime during the season. Snomad community insight: “If you want a great family-oriented resort that is great for Children and beginners, then this is the resort for you. Never waiting more than 30 seconds to get on a lift and the pistes are virtually empty. Resort staff are friendly and helpful and the food in the restaurants is great. Apres is almost non-existent, but don't let that put you off, there are plenty of small bars and restaurants where you can have a drink or social meet ups. Lots of accommodations right in the pistes so no bus transfers or walking with skis, ski straight from the lockers in the majority of accommodations.” - Ian, March 2024

10. Les Menuires

Similar to some of the other linked resorts in this list, the beauty of Les Menuires is that you’ve got access to the impressive Three Valleys area without the crowds of the more well-known resorts of Val Thorens, Courchevel and Meribel. I visited Val Thorens for New Year week (a.k.a one of the busiest weeks of the season) earlier this year and I can confirm that the slopes around Les Menuires were the quietest, and IMO, the most enjoyable! The 4 Vents and Alpage red runs were a highlight, and led down to a lovely area of cruisey blues.

Best time to go: High altitude means Les Menuires has a longer season, which is great for getting those early or late trips in. Snomad community insight: “Les Menuires is the perfect resort for families. There are plenty of ski in, ski out accommodations all over the resort, which is based over different altitudes with a free bus running between them. La Masse is one of the best off piste areas in Europe with plenty of fresh powder snow to be found even a week or two after a snowfall.The apres ski is a bit quiet but not to be sniffed at, there are plenty of cool bars with terraces to enjoy the afternoon sun and a snack.” - Jacob, Jan 2025