Alpe d'Huez | Properties and Insights into the Resort
L’Alpe d’Huez, often referred to as the “Island in the Sun” due to its exceptional sunshine (around 300 sunny days per year according to Météo France), is an internationally renowned ski destination. Located on a south-facing plateau at 1860 meters above sea level, overlooking the Oisans region and its valleys, the resort boasts several key features:
Maximum Sunlight and Remarkable Panoramas: Its sunny position provides stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
Diverse and High-Quality Ski Area: The resort offers a variety of ski runs suitable for all levels, from beginners to advanced skiers.
Numerous Activities and Lively Evenings: Alpe d’Huez is known for its range of activities, vibrant nightlife, and must-attend events throughout the winter season.
Sports and Convention Center: Reflecting the resort’s dynamism, this facility offers a wide range of indoor activities and spaces for events and conferences.
The resort’s high-altitude area, including the Sarenne Glacier, is the starting point for legendary descents. Notably, it features the world’s longest ski run, the 16 km Sarenne, and the Tunnel, an unusual route that passes through a mountain and emerges onto one of the steepest slopes in French skiing.
Alpe d’Huez offers a rich variety of activities, including winter sports, aerial adventures, cultural experiences, and relaxation options. The resort also hosts numerous significant events throughout the winter, making it a lively and engaging destination for all types of visitors.
Alpe d'Huez | Our Property Insights
Alpe d’Huez stands out as a prime investment destination for several reasons, particularly due to its status as a dual-season resort, offering potential for year-round rental income. In ten years, the prices of properties in Alpe d’Huez have double from around 5,000€/m2 to 10,000€ and over today. Quality properties built before 2010 are extremely rare. This is why investors are mostly looking for new-build projects in Alpe d’Huez. Quality second-hand properties tend to sell before they hit the retail market and often at similar prices to new-builds. With the importance of energy ratings now, rarely do second-hand properties in Alpe d’Huez compare favourably tonew-builds.
Year-Round Rental Potential: The resort’s appeal extends beyond the winter season, making it an attractive location for generating rental yields throughout the year. Its diverse range of activities in both winter and summer caters to families and sports enthusiasts, enhancing its rental appeal.
Strong Pre-Pandemic Performance: Before the pandemic cut the 2019/20 ski season short, Alpe d’Huez experienced a particularly successful period, with significant increases in overnight stays, especially during the pre-season in early December.
Family-Friendly Destination: Recognized as a fantastic destination for families, Alpe d’Huez offers activities and facilities that cater to visitors of all ages, further bolstering its rental market appeal.
Exciting Future Developments: Plans to build a new ski lift connecting Alpe d’Huez to Les Deux Alpes are underway. This development would significantly enhance the resort’s attractiveness by offering access to even more ski slopes.
Continual Improvement and Investment: Alpe d’Huez is continuously evolving, with new facilities, attractions, and dining options like L’Espérance, which received recognition in the 2019 Michelin guide. Approximately €200 million is planned to be invested in regenerating the resort, including the potential ski lift connecting to Les Deux Alpes, which would integrate Alpe d’Huez into France’s third-largest ski domain with 450 km of slopes.
These factors make Alpe d’Huez not only an appealing destination for personal use but also a potentially lucrative investment opportunity for property buyers, especially those looking for strong rental yields and capital appreciation potential.
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Alpe d'Huez Latest Property Data
New-Build Apartments
Average Price: 10,950€/m2
Lowest Price: 7,700€/m2
Highest Price: 14,200€/m2
New-Build Chalets
Average Price: ND
Lowest Price: ND
Highest Price: ND
Alpe d'Huez |Latest Data Resale Apartments
Resale Apartments in Alpe d’Huez & Huez:
- Average price: 7,590 €/m².
- Price range: Low at 5,530 €/m², high at 11,660 €/m².
- Reliability of data: High.
- Price trend: -0.9% over 3 months, -0.6% over 6 months, +2.6% over 12 months.
- Average prices by apartment size:
- Studios: 7,180 €/m².
- 1 bedroom: 7,320 €/m².
- 2 bedrooms: 9,070 €/m².
- 3 bedrooms: 10,870 €/m².
- 4 bedrooms: 11,580 €/m².
- Price range for studio apartments: Low at 5,010 €/m², high at 10,660 €/m².
For new-build properties add 20-30%
Data: Q4 2023
Alpe d'Huez |Latest Data Resale Chalets
Resale Chalets in Alpe d’Huez & Huez:
- Average price: 6,920 €/m².
- Price range: Low at 4,440 €/m², high at 10,970 €/m².
- Reliability of data: High.
- Average prices by house size:
- 2 bedrooms: 5,380 €/m².
- 3 bedrooms: 7,010 €/m².
- 4 bedrooms: 6,930 €/m².
- 5 bedrooms: 7,480 €/m².
- 6 bedrooms: 6,990 €/m².
For new-build properties add 20-30%
Data: Q4 2023
Alpe d'Huez | Latest Price Quotations
Recent Online Estimates in Huez:
- 1 bedroom apartment, 38 m²: Estimated sale price 388,500 €, 10,224 €/m².
- 2 bedroom apartment, 70 m²: Estimated sale price 673,000 €, 9,614 €/m².
- 4 bedroom apartment, 88 m²: Estimated sale price 731,000 €, 8,307 €/m².
- Small house, 53 m²: Estimated sale price 339,200 €, 6,400 €/m².
- Studio apartment, 20 m²: Estimated sale price 159,100 €, 7,955 €/m².
- 1 bedroom apartment, 34 m²: Estimated sale price 264,700 €, 7,785 €/m².
Data: Q4 2023
► Alpe d’Huez Alpine Ski Area Before hitting the slopes at Alpe d’Huez, it’s a good idea to print out the piste map for a complete overview of the ski area, slopes, and lifts.
The Alpe d’Huez ski area, formerly known as the Massif des Grandes Rousses and now called “Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine Ski,” consists of 7 ski resorts/villages each with its unique characteristics: from preserved and functional to family-friendly and sporty. The area spans 10,000 hectares southwest-facing, divided into four sectors: Oz-Vaujany, Alpe d’Huez, Auris-La Garde, and Villard-Reculas.
Situated between 1100 and 3330 meters altitude, the ski area comprises 133 slopes (43 green, 34 blue, 40 red, and 16 black) served by 81 lifts. The highest point, Pic Blanc at 3330 meters, offers breathtaking panoramic views.
The area caters to all skiing levels:
- Beginners can enjoy gentle slopes at the lower part of the domain (green slopes and beginner zones).
- More experienced skiers will appreciate the challenging black runs accessible from the Pic Blanc cable car and the Marmottes III gondola.
Alpe d’Huez also features a nighttime toboggan run, a permanent sledding area, and four nighttime ski slopes.
► Snowparks and Fun Areas in Alpe d’Huez For fans of new snow sports, Alpe d’Huez offers 2 snowparks (one for beginners and one for experts) with numerous modules, a giant airbag, and a skicross track. Freeride enthusiasts can explore about 20 high-mountain off-piste itineraries (conditions permitting), including couloirs and virgin sites.
► Alpe d’Huez Nordic Ski Area With 50 km of trails, Alpe d’Huez is an excellent Nordic skiing destination, featuring 6 courses ranging from 4 to 20 km. The Nordic skiing trails, with their scenic balconies, wide-open spaces, and frozen lakes, appeal to those seeking a nature-immersive experience.
► Essential Must-Dos in Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d’Huez ski resort offers a range of unique and exciting experiences:
Sarenne – The World’s Longest Ski Run: Spanning 16 km, the Sarenne slope is renowned for being the longest in the world. It offers an incredible descent starting from the top of Pic Blanc.
Night Skiing on Sarenne: Experience night skiing on the Sarenne slope. Skiers take the last lift to Pic Blanc, where they can enjoy a convivial dinner at a refuge. Accompanied by ski patrollers and certified instructors, a moonlit descent down the Sarenne slope is a unique and thrilling experience.
Four Mythical Routes with 2000m Vertical Drop: From the top of Pic Blanc at 3330 meters, skiers can take on four legendary routes, each offering around 2000 meters of vertical drop, descending non-stop to destinations like La Villette, Oz, l’Enversin d’Oz, or the Sarenne Gorge without needing to take another lift.
Apéros and Fondues by Night: A gourmet evening event starting at 5 pm at the Signal 2108 restaurant’s terrace. The program includes aperitifs, 2 hours of skiing on the lit Signal slope, a fondue dinner, followed by a torchlight descent. This event is held every Tuesday and Thursday during school holidays and every Thursday throughout the season.
Ice Cave: At 2700 meters altitude, explore an ephemeral ice cave museum under the snow, accessible to everyone via the Grandes Rousses gondola. This unique attraction offers a glimpse into a world of ice and snow art.
These activities at Alpe d’Huez ski resort cater to a wide range of interests, from adrenaline-filled night skiing to culinary experiences and cultural exploration, making it a diverse and appealing destination for ski enthusiasts.
Alpe d'Huez | The Main Events
Every winter, the Alpe d’Huez ski resort hosts and organizes a variety of significant sports and cultural events, offering visitors unique experiences during their stay:
Ski Force Winter Tour: Held in early December, this event allows visitors to test ski equipment for free, providing a great opportunity for ski enthusiasts to try out the latest gear.
Trophée Andros: A renowned ice racing event that features car and motorcycle races on snow and ice, offering thrilling spectacles for motorsport fans.
Festival de l’Alpe d’Huez: This is a comedy film festival, showcasing a range of comedic films and offering a light-hearted cultural experience.
Comic Book Festival (Festival de la BD): A celebration of comic books and graphic novels, this festival is a treat for fans of the genre.
Sarenne Snow Bike: An exciting mountain bike race on snow, this event challenges participants to tackle the slopes on two wheels.
Multiple Competitions: The resort also hosts various sporting competitions, including the European Cup in ski cross and stages of the SFR Tour, appealing to competitive skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts.
These events add to the vibrant atmosphere of Alpe d’Huez, making it not just a destination for skiing and snowboarding, but also a hub for cultural and sporting activities.
Alpe d'Huez | Learning To Ski
At the Alpe d’Huez ski resort, there are several ski schools available to cater to various skiing needs, whether you’re introducing your youngest to skiing or looking to improve your own skills:
ESF (Ecole du Ski Français): This renowned ski school is a popular choice at many French ski resorts, known for its comprehensive ski instruction programs for all ages and skill levels.
Easyski: This school offers a unique “Magic Marmotte Park,” a fun and interactive environment for learning to ski, which includes activities like skiing, sledding, electric quads, and playhouses.
Stance Snow: Another option for ski lessons at Alpe d’Huez, offering a range of courses tailored to different skill levels.
British Masterclass: Catering especially to English-speaking visitors, this school provides ski instruction with a focus on technique and skill improvement.
For the youngest skiers, the ESF at Alpe d’Huez has “Le Chalet des Enfants,” a 285 m² area for children from 2.5 years old. This space offers creative and playful activities around the theme of the mountain. Additionally, the Piou-Piou Club, equipped with two moving carpets and a rope tow, is designed to introduce toddlers to skiing in a fun and safe environment.
These varied options ensure that every visitor, regardless of age or skill level, can find suitable ski instruction and enjoy the slopes at Alpe d’Huez.
Alpe d'Huez | Looking After Your Little Ones
To fully enjoy your stay at Alpe d’Huez, the resort offers various specialized childcare facilities where you can entrust your children while you hit the slopes:
Les Intrépides Daycare: Catering to children from 6 months to 4 years old, this daycare provides a safe and nurturing environment for the youngest visitors.
ESF’s Club Piou-Piou: Generally for children starting from 3 years old, these clubs offer ski learning programs with or without lunch included. They provide a fun and educational introduction to skiing for young children.
“Baby Club de Tonton Mayonnaise” by Easyski: Designed for toddlers aged 2.5 to 3.5 years old, this club offers specialized care and activities tailored to very young children.
Club des Marmottes: Suitable for children aged 4 years and older, this club provides activities and ski instruction for older preschool and school-age children.
These childcare options in Alpe d’Huez ensure that even the youngest family members have a safe, enjoyable, and enriching experience while parents enjoy their time on the ski slopes.