Europe’s Highest Ski Resort Opens Next Saturday, but Not All of It

The French Alps’ 2026-27 ski season gets underway on Saturday, November 21, when Val Thorens and Tignes, two of the highest resorts in Europe, open their lifts. Both are high enough to count on reliable early snow, which is why they traditionally lead the season. Val Thorens plans to keep its Val Thorens–Orelle area running until May 2, 2027, offering one of the longest seasons in the Alps.

The catch for anyone booking an early trip is that opening day does not mean the full ski area. Val Thorens sits at the top of Les 3 Vallées, the world’s largest linked ski domain, but the wider network is not scheduled to open until December 5. Until then, skiers will be limited to Val Thorens’ own slopes rather than the long runs down to Méribel and Courchevel that draw many visitors.

Tignes is taking a similarly progressive approach, opening from November 21 with access that includes the Grande Motte glacier. Its link with Val d’Isère is set to begin opening on November 28, conditions permitting, and Tignes expects to operate through May 2, 2027. Val d’Isère and Les Deux Alpes are both scheduled for November 28, while Courchevel opens selected sectors on December 4.

The main wave follows on December 5, when Méribel, the full 3 Vallées, Alpe d’Huez and Serre Chevalier are due to start, with Les Arcs and La Plagne opening during December. All of these are planned dates rather than guarantees, and resorts warn that not every lift or run will be operating at first. Early-season packages are often discounted, which can make late November a good value if you accept a smaller ski area.

Sources: RusTourismNews