Whether you’re looking for a winter skiing holiday based in-resort or a family adventure holiday with some skiing included, the family friendly ski resorts of the central Pyrenees have got options for all.
Skiing in the French Pyrenees
What will strike you the most if you’re coming on a ski holiday in the Pyrenees for the first time is just how low-key, chilled out and un-hurried the ski scene is compared to skiing in many resorts in the European Alps.
The vibe is relaxed and the lack of a crazy apres-ski scene means the Pyrenees resorts are ideal for families looking for a low key winter holiday.
In addition to skiing, you can also enjoy the thermal spa facilities and numerous snow-based activities which are on offer in and around the ski resorts.
The Adventure Creators’ winter holidays are based in the central French Pyrenees. The main ski resorts are Peyragudes, Saint Lary Soulan, Luchon Superbagneres, Val Louron and the small but perfectly formed le Mourtis.
The Peyragudes ski resort
Peyragudes, along with Saint Lary Soulan, has been awarded the ‘Family Plus Montagne’ label in recognition of its extensive family friendly facilities.
It’s also one of the most environmentally friendly ski resorts thanks to its numerous initiatives which include hybrid piste bashers, use of the Snowsat system and installation of the latest snow cannons which ensure less energy is used in the production of snow.
The resort is in a spectacular setting, with endless views of some of the highest snow-clad peaks in the Pyrenees.
The resort’s claim to fame is that it was the location for the opening sequence of the James Bond film, Tomorrow Never Dies!
The 51 runs which range from 1600m up to 2400m alt cover over 60kms with skiing for all abilities. With 6 greens, 23 blues, 18 reds and 4 black runs, the intermediate skier will be in their element here.
The fabulous red run, la Vallée Blanche, is an epic run which comprises a combined vertical drop of almost 1000m – wow!
Those who are seeking some lessons during their ski holiday will be impressed by the ski school at Peyragudes which is accessible to all ages.
In addition to the piste skiing, Péyragudes also includes 2 Freestyle areas, 2 free sledging areas, a Fun Slope, 2 free way-marked ski touring and snowshoeing itineraries as well as a fabulous thermal spa facility.
The Peyragudes resort is an ideal base from which to enjoy our winter multi activity holiday.
There are numerous snow-based family activities in and around the resort.
The kids will love having a bash at igloo-building, riding with huskies, the yooner, snake sledging, fat biking in the snow and snowshoeing too!
Reaching Peyragudes is easy thanks to the shuttle from Luchon to the Agudes side of the resort.
If you’re based in the Louron valley, you can take the new SkyVall bubble lifts from Loudenvielle up to the Peyresourde side.
Saint Lary Soulan
Saint Lary Soulan is part of the extensive 2 Vallées ski area which offers skiers access to almost 200km of ski slopes for all abilities.
The Saint Lary Soulan resort itself boasts almost 100 kms of varied runs which include 11 black, 14 red, 26 blue and 7 green runs. The resort is therefore ideally suited to the intermediate skier.
Saint Lary has invested heavily in family-friendly facilities and, like Peyragudes, has been awarded the ‘Famille Plus Montagne’ label.
Kids will love sledging town the three sledging slopes or learning to ski on the pistes that are set aside for youngsters and beginners.
The kids park is unique to the Pyrenees and is great fun for children aged 6 to 12 years.
Budding skiers can test themselves on the obstacle course, mini-moguls, “woops,” a halfpipe and loads of animal characters.
The teens on the other hand will head for the Snow Park which offers different modules for all skill levels such as boxes, rails, and other cool features.
In addition to skiing there are numerous other activities that you can enjoy at the resort.
They include huskie sledding, XC skiing, snowshoeing and igloo building too.
When you’ve had enough of playing in the white stuff, head to the family friendly Sensoria Rio thermal spa facility in town.
There, you can soak those ski legs in the hot tubs, beneath waterfalls, in a counter-current river and even in the natural cave steam room and sauna!
Luchon Superbagneres
The beauty of the Luchon Superbagneres ski resort is that it’s accessible by gondola direct from Luchon town centre. In 8 minutes you can be up at the resort enjoying those panoramic views.
The majority of the runs are blues but there’s a healthy sprinkling of greens, reds and blacks too to keep everybody happy.
Long mellow runs flow down from the Céciré top station whilst children and beginners will love the gentle runs through the forest.
Kids can learn to ski in the lively, fun and secure Kids Park or may prefer to throw themselves down the dedicated sledging arena.
Older children looking for some more exciting fun may spend a couple of hours in the snow park
Numerous snow-based activities for non-skiers take place up at the Superbagneres ski resort too.
Airboarding, yooner, snake sledging, snowshoeing, paragliding and even a fat bike descent of the slopes provide tons of fun for adults and kids of all ages.
To relax those weary legs after a day of fun on the slopes, head to the only natural hammam in Europe, the Vaporarium, back down in Luchon.
It’s a unique thermal spa experience!
Round the day off with a meal at one of the many great value restaurants in town which specialise in local, seasonal products and regional specialities.
Le Mourtis ski resort
Le Mourtis is one of the smallest ski resorts in the central Pyrenees but is just perfect for a family day on the slopes.
The resort goes from the village at 1350m alt up to the top station which is at 1860 alt. There are 23kms of runs at le Mourtis, made up of 4 greens, 5 blues, 7 reds and 3 black runs.
Families and children in particular are well catered for here. There are two ski schools and a dedicated sledging area for the youngsters.
In addition to skiing, the little resort is bustling with other activities that you can enjoy on our family winter multi activity holidays.
There’s a dedicated airboarding slope, waymarked XC skiing and snowshoeing circuits, fat biking, wilderness experiences and an outing on snowshoes with a pulk including a chocolate fondue experience!
Skiing at Val Louron
Val Louron is a gem of a ski resort, perfectly adapted to families and those new to skiing.
It’s in a spectacular setting overlooking the Louron and Aure valleys, between the Peyragudes ski resort to the East and Saint Lary Soulan to the West.
The fantastic thing about this little family friendly ski resort is that you don’t need to jump in the car and fiddle about with snow chains to get there
Indeed, Val Louron is a car free resort and is served by a shuttle which runs from Loudenvielle in the Louron Valley down below.
There are 20 runs at Val Louron which include 7 greens, 6 blues, 6 reds and black.
Weaving through the picturesque pine trees, the dedicated beginners slopes provide a relaxed environment in which you can find your ski legs and learn the basics of skiing.
So, as you can see, the family friendly ski resorts of the central Pyrenees are an ideal destination for families looking to introduce the kids to skiing for the first time.
Come and play!