Panoramic skiing | Vars: Hautes-Alpes ski resort

1850m1. Vars les ClauxYour starting point

Your ski day begins at Les Claux. To make the most of the first rays of sunshine and the freshly-chilled pistes, head for the Escondus chairlift. A few turns on the wide Les Escondus piste will help you get into the swing of things.

Then head for the Point Show to join the Sibières chairlift and access our first must-see spot in the resort.

The little extra

Getting ready

A good skier is a prepared skier! Before you set off on your day’s skiing, take a look at the essential information you need to make the most of the slopes! The resort’s professionals are on hand to provide you with all the equipment you need to make the most of your day on the slopes.

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L'emblématique Eyssina qui veille sur le domaine skiable et la station de Vars
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Rémi Morel

2245m2. SibièresAt the foot of the Eyssina

Here you are at the top of Sibières, at the foot of the Eyssina face – the backbone of the resort – and its couloirs which are a favourite with freeriders: Yeti, Yoz, Catex, la Main… Behind you, a panoramic view of les Claux, the villages and the whole ski area allows you to admire your playground for the day.

The sunrise here is often very pleasant and making your first tracks in this sector is a great way to start your day’s skiing with a smile.

It’s an ideal area for experimenting with forest skiing, but it’s also multi-level and fun for all types of downhill skiing. A nod to our favourites in the area: the red runs of Sibières and Zakopane, perfect for perfecting your technique on steep slopes.

Now it’s on to the Télémix de Chabrières.

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Domaine skiable de Vars protégé par l'emblématique montagne de l'Eyssina
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Rémi Morel

The little extra

The Caribou sled

Accessible on skis and located in the Sibières sector, the Caribou toboggan run is over a kilometre long and offers a fun break in your day’s skiing.

Discover

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Vue aérienne du domaine skiable de Vars
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Rémi Morel

2209m3. Intermediate TelemixThe crossroads of the estate

An essential part of the ski area. Halfway between les Claux and the summit of Forêt Blanche, you’re at the crossroads of the Vars ski area. On your left, the Eyssina. Opposite, the Pic de Chabrières and on your right, the Mayt.

Here you’ll find the ice cave and a picnic and barbecue area.

Now head for the Speed Master chairlift to the top of the resort.

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Panorama du domaine skiable de Vars
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Rémi Morel

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Point culminant du domaine skiable, le sommet de chabrières vous offre une splendides vues sur les sommets avoisinants
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Rémi Morel

2750m4. Pic de ChabrièresSummit of the Forêt Blanche

The Pic de Chabrières is the highest point in the Forêt Blanche ski area, at an altitude of 2750 metres. An incomparable viewpoint over the whole of the Southern Alps, on a clear day you can see some of the most beautiful peaks in the Alps: Mont Blanc, the Ecrins massif, Mont Viso and even Mont Ventoux.

It’s also the starting point for the legendary Chabrières piste, the scene of numerous world speed records in skiing, cycling and snowboarding.

The little extra

Speed Master chairlift

The Speed Master chairlift, which follows on from the Chabrières Télémix, means you can reach the top of the Forêt Blanche ski area in 15 minutes, compared with over 45 minutes previously. So your skiing time has increased tenfold!

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Col de Crévoux et vue sur le lac de Serre Ponçon
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Rémi Morel

2500m5. Crévoux passSea view

After descending via the “Corniche Supérieure”, you arrive at the Col de Crévoux. This is an unmissable spot in the ski area, with its unique view over the Durance valley and Lac de Serre Ponçon. Below, you can see the small village of Crévoux and the sumptuous Parpaillon valley.

A word of advice: in December/January, don’t miss the magnificent sunsets. You won’t be disappointed on your last run.

2273m6. Chabrières pisteAt full speed

The next stage of our journey takes us past the finish snowshoe on the Chabrières piste. Here you are at the foot of the myth that has seen so many world records broken. This 1,400-metre run, with a maximum gradient of 98%, is a mecca for Kilometre Throws.

It was here that the speed of 255.50 km/h was reached on skis by Frenchman Simon Billy in 2023.

Now let’s head for the Mayt chairlift.

2567m7. La MaytÀ 360°

Here you are on the second highest peak in the Forêt Banche ski area, La Mayt. Accessible by the new Mayt chairlift from the Vars-les-Claux snow front. Atypical with its ice-ball shape and the weather radar at the top, you can enjoy breathtaking views over the Vars valley, from Saint-Marcellin to the summit of the Col and even the peaks of Haute-Ubaye.

From this summit, you can ski over 1000 metres of vertical drop continuously down to the village of Sainte-Marie.

In fact, that’s where we’re heading.

The little extra

1000 metres of D-

Fancy warming up your thighs? This is the place. 1000 metres of non-stop vertical drop between La Mayt and the Village de Vars Sainte-Marie on the Olympique red run for experienced skiers!

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Piste de l'Olympique qui permet de rejoindre le village de Sainte Marie par le domaine skiable
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Rémi Morel

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Le domaine skiable de Vars offre de belles étendues blanches et de somptueuses vues sur les villages.
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Rémi Morel

2143m8. Peyrol

On your descent to Sainte Marie, stop off at Peyrol to cool off your thighs on the way down from Olympique.

This vast wooded area is perfect for a lunch break. A high-altitude restaurant and dog-sledding activities will give you a change of scene during your day’s skiing.

For the more sporty skiers, you can reach Sainte-Marie via the lower part of l’Olympique, while the cooler skiers can take the blue runs of Le Vallon and Grand Vallon: a “second” itinerary for a stroll down through the forest and alpine farms. Let’s head back up to La Mayt for another not-to-be-missed spot.

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Panorama du domaine skiable de vars et ses villages
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Rémi Morel

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Domaine skiable de Vars et grandes étendues blanches
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Rémi Morel

2440m9. Saluces passSo, "happy"?

Here you are at another key crossroads in the Forêt Blanche ski area. A true crossroads between the Vars and Risoul access points, you are also at the start of one of the most popular runs in our ski area: “Les Heureux”.

This long, gentle, sunny descent is ideal for having fun, sliding and carving beautiful curves, all from the top of the ski area.

When conditions allow, this is also the way to the “Boarder des Heureux”, which will delight the most adventurous skiers.

All the way down to “les Heureux”, head for the snow front to finish your day’s skiing in the sun.

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Splendide panorama du domaine skiable de la Forêt Blanche
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Rémi Morel

The little extras

Boardercross

Snow conditions permitting, the more adventurous skiers can challenge themselves on the boardercross courses. There are 4 of them, totalling almost 3.5 km. These routes are real fun in the snow, adding even more fun to your skiing!

Boardercross de l'Eyssina 800 metres

Boardercross des Heureux 1.5 km

Boardercross du Vallon900 m

Boardercross du Pré Moré280 metres

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Boardercross des Heureux, un itinéraire ludique en bord de piste à tester absolument
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Rémi Morel

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Domaine skiable de Vars et grandes étendues blanches
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Rémi Morel - OT Vars

2260m10. PeynierIn the sun

Peynier. This is the perfect place to end your day in the sun. Facing due south, this is where the last rays of the sun skim the slopes for the longest time.

The summit of Peynier can be reached by the new Peynier chairlift from Vars-les-Claux or by the Bois Noir chairlift from the village of Sainte-Marie.

This area, which the locals like to describe as a “little paradise” for ski days in bad weather, offers one last panoramic view of our ski area.

Its superb larch forest is Vars’ main attraction.

Accessible on foot, a new gentle path will enable pedestrians and cross-country skiers to discover the Vallon des Prises.

What's new?

TS Peynier and TS des Plans

The 2 new chairlifts have a common departure point, one of which links up with the Les Claux slope and the main snow front (the Plans chairlift), while the other arrives at the top of Peynier, the resort’s flagship sector known for its “ski-forêt” (the Peynier chairlift).

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© Léa Scappini

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Village spirit

We love it for this reason too: Vars has all the assets of a major resort with the soul of a mountain village. Discover what makes our region so charming.

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