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Cheaper and greener: the 10 best ski resorts you can reach by train

Daniel Elkan
Updated
Some of Europe's best ski resorts can be reached by train - istock
Some of Europe's best ski resorts can be reached by train - istock

Tickets are now on sale for indirect winter rail journeys to the Alps – so skiers can book journeys up until 10th March 2019. In early December (the date is not yet confirmed) it will then be possible to book indirect journeys from 11th March onwards.

Indirect journeys provide an alternative to the popular direct Eurostar Ski Train, which went on sale in July, because skiers and snowboarders can access resorts that are not on the ski-train route, such as Alpe d’Huez, Avoriaz, Les Gets, Morzine and Montgenevre in France, Sauze d’Oulx in Italy, and the Swiss resorts of Saas Fee and Zermatt - by using a combination of Eurostar to Paris and TGV from Paris to the Alps. Travellers can also travel from Paris by sleeper train to resorts such as Serre Chevalier in France and Claviere in Italy.

1. Avoriaz, France

Hub of the vast 650km Portes du Soleil, Avoriaz is a great base for exploring the ski area's intermediate-friendly terrain. The purpose-built has a relatively charming traffic-free village and this season opens a new Folie Douce après-ski bar.

The journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 07:52 Eurostar to Paris-Nord. Change to Paris-Lyon and take the 12:11 TGV, changing at Bellegarde to arrive Cluses at 16:36; from there it’s 50 minutes by bus or taxi.

Rail journey time: 7 hours, 44 minutes.

2. Les Arcs, France

Les Arcs’ four villages are part of the Paradiski, a huge 425km ski area that caters for all abilities. The villages, 1600, 1800, 1950 and 2000, offer convenient, often ski-in/ski-out access to the slopes – and this year Arc 2000 has introduced snowmobiling for children.

The journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 09:45 Eurostar Direct Ski Train to Bourg St Maurice, arriving at 19:03. From there it's a seven-minute funicular ride to Arc 1600, with free shuttle bus to the other villages.

Rail journey time: 8 hours, 13 minutes.

les arcs - Credit: ©andyparant.com/Andy Parant
Les Arcs is part of the Paradiski area Credit: ©andyparant.com/Andy Parant

3. Sauze d’Oulx, Italy

The resort forms part of the 400km Milky Way ski area, shared with neighbouring Sestriere and Claviere and ideal for confident intermediates. It's possible to cover miles and miles of terrain in a day, including many blissfully quiet runs. The village itself is a mixture of charming cobbled streets and rather more brash architecture, and has a lively après scene.

The journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 09:22 Eurostar to Paris-Nord. Change to Paris-Lyon and take the 14:41 TGV to Oulx, arriving at 19:23. From there it's a 15-minute taxi or bus.

Rail journey time: 9 hours, 01 minute.

4. Val Thorens, France

Val Thorens enviable position perched at 2,300m in the huge Trois Vallées ski area makes it a popular choice for British skiers and snowboarders. The resort has excellent beginner slopes and all the skiing that intermediates and experts could dream of, with 600km of slopes in total. The village has plenty of buzz, including the new Fahrenheit 'bungalow beach bar', and some swish places to eat, too.

The journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 09:45 Eurostar Ski Train to Moûtiers, arriving at 18:27. From there it's a 50-minute taxi or bus.

Rail journey time: 7 hours, 34 minutes.

Val Thorens - Credit: getty
Val Thorens is Europe's highest resort Credit: getty

5. Tignes, France

Tignes has a high proportion of ski-in/-ski-out accommodation in its higher villages, and an inviting array of traditional chalets at Les Brevières. There are 300km of slopes to explore, as well as a huge range of alternative activities.  These include ice diving, ice climbing, snowtubing and Bun J Ride – a hybrid combination of a ski jump, bunjee and a zip-line ride.

The journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 09:45 Eurostar Direct Ski Train to Bourg St Maurice, arriving at 19:03. From there it's a 40-minute taxi or bus.

Rail journey time: 8 hours, 28 minutes.

6. Söll, Austria

The impressive SkiWelt region, of which the compact village of Söll forms a part, boasts 284km of ski runs dotted with 77 rustic Alpine huts and après bars.  The views over the Wilder Kaiser mountain range are stunning and you can even ski at night, as well as enjoy some of the longest floodlit toboggan runs in Europe at Hexenritt and Mond.

The journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 15:04 Eurostar to Brussels, arriving 18:05; take the 18:25 ICE from Brussels to Cologne, arriving 20:15; then take the 21:21 NightJet sleeper train to Kufstein, arriving 08:27; from there it's about 25 minutes by bus or taxi.

Rail journey time: 16 hours 13 minutes.

7. St Anton, Austria

You can’t walk through St Anton’s charming centre without being impressed by the bustle and character. This is a resort with buzz, and part of the excitement stems from the fact that it's blessed with some of the Alps’ finest expert off piste, in addition to 340km of piste. After a day on the slopes, friendly après huts such as the Moosewirt have you singing and swaying the night away.

The journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 18:01 Eurostar to Paris-Nord. Stopover in Paris and take the 07:23 TGV from Paris-Lyon, changing in Zurich onto the 12:40 RailJet to arrive at 15:03 in St Anton.

Rail journey time: 20 hours, 2 minutes, including a night in Paris.

St Anton
St Anton is popular with experts

8. Val Cenis, France

The piste map is a giveaway as to why French families love the ski area of Val Cenis Vanoise: an impressive 125km-strong network of green, blue and red runs spread across the terrain. There’s also a 900m toboggan run in resort, a pool and spa complex. Self-catering accommodation is good value here, with high quality residences at prices below the French average.

The journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 09:22 Eurostar to Paris-Nord. Change to Paris-Lyon and take the 14:41 TGV to Modane, arriving at 18:45. From there it's a 30-minute taxi or bus.

Rail journey time: 8 hours, 23 minutes.

9. Serre Chevalier Vallee, France

Made up of four villages, Serre Chevalier is a friendly, unpretentious resort with access to some marvellously varied terrain and plenty of wooded runs. The 250km of pistes suit intermediates perfectly, with long reds and simple off piste. Alternative winter activities here include paintballing on snow, dog sledding and fatbiking.

The journey

Depart London St Pancras on the 16:22 Eurostar to Paris-Nord. Change to Paris-Austerlitz and take the 21:22 sleeper train to Briancon, arriving at 08:30. From there it is a 20-minute taxi or bus.

Rail journey time: 15 hours, 8 minutes.

serre chevalier
Serre Chevalier is ideal for intermediate skiers

10. Montgenèvre, France

Montgenèvre's nursery slopes sweep down right into its pretty village, making it an attractive destination for families with young children. The resort also has plenty of intermediate-friendly terrain and links into the 400km Milky Way ski area, which includes Sestriere in Italy.

The journey 

Depart London St Pancras on the 09:22 Eurostar to Paris-Nord. Change to Paris-Lyon and take the 14:41 TGV to Oulx, arriving at 19:23. From there it's a 25-minute taxi or bus ride.

Rail journey time: 9 hours, 1 minute.

Daniel Elkan is founder of snowcarbon.co.uk, an independent guide to how to travel to travel to ski resorts by train.  The website has train journey schedules up to one year in advance, ski packages with rail travel included, detailed guidance on independent travel, videos and by-skier-for-skier stories of ski holidays by train.