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French Alps Ski Season Starts Nov. 22 With Staggered Openings

Snowmaking remains on hold, prompting a focus on high‑elevation sectors alongside opening‑weekend festivities.

Overview

  • Tignes and Val Thorens launch on November 22 with event-style weekends, including a €40 day ticket at Tignes and a €102.20 two‑day pass at Val Thorens, where several thousand visitors are expected.
  • Meteorologists report temperatures are still too mild for artificial snow, with a new system forecast to bring natural snowfall from roughly 2,000 to 2,200 meters.
  • Operators estimate about 50% of the skiable terrain in Savoyard areas will be usable for the first weekend, subject to conditions.
  • Val Thorens plans to reopen the upper Caron cable car closed after last winter’s accident and debut a new north‑face gondola, with access also available via Orelle.
  • The wider rollout follows with Val d’Isère, Les Deux‑Alpes and Montgenèvre on November 29, major Hautes‑Alpes resorts from December 6 and 13, and season end dates ranging from March to early May 2026.