Imagine launching at 120 km/h, suspended on a wire above a breathtaking panorama. That is the experience offered by the 22 giant zip lines of the French Alps — in solo or tandem, seated or head-first, ranging from a few hundred metres to over 2.6 km long. Most are open in summer and winter, giving the ski resorts that host them a genuine year-round attraction. Ready? Here are the finest zip lines in the Alps for an unforgettable descent.
Top 22 giant zip lines in the French Alps
More and more ski resorts are investing in year-round adrenaline experiences. Giant zip lines — often open in both summer and winter — allow you to fly over the ski domain head-first or in a seated position, sometimes reaching speeds of over 100 km/h. Here is the full ranking, from longest to shortest.
1. La Colmiane — summer & winter — Alpes-Maritimes ⭐
The longest zip line in the French Alps. Located at La Colmiane ski resort near Nice, this two-section zip line measures 2,663 m in total. The descent is made in a lying position, head-first, at nearly 120 km/h — from 1,776 m down to 1,489 m altitude. Guaranteed thrills.
La Colmiane zip line:
Length: 2,663 m · Start altitude: 1,776 m · Finish altitude: 1,489 m · Drop: 187 m · Price: €35 including chairlift
2. Le Sauze — summer & winter — Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
One of the longest zip lines in France — a 2,000 m thrill ride in two sections and 3 minutes 20 seconds of airtime. The line leaves from the Brec chairlift and descends to the Sauze 1700 piste front. Speed and adrenaline guaranteed.
Sauze Super Line:
Length: 2,000 m · Start altitude: 2,210 m · Finish altitude: 1,710 m · Drop: 500 m · Price: €39 including chairlift
3. Chamrousse — summer & winter — Isère
Opened in 2023, this pylon-supported zip line descends from the Croix de Chamrousse to the resort centre. At nearly 2 km long with 550 m of vertical drop, it is one of the largest single-section zip lines in the Alps — open in both summer and winter.
Adrénaline Park, Chamrousse:
Length: 1,942 m · Start altitude: 2,250 m · Finish altitude: 1,700 m · Drop: 550 m · Price: €40 including gondola
4. Les Orres — summer & winter — Hautes-Alpes
Designed by the makers of Fantasticable, the Speedline is one of the longest zip lines in Europe at 1,870 m. The start is from the top of the Pic Vert chairlift at 2,235 m. Descent can reach 140 km/h, head-first. Accessible from age 8 and minimum 35 kg.
Speedline, Les Orres:
Length: 1,870 m · Start altitude: 2,235 m · Finish altitude: 1,900 m · Drop: 335 m · Price: €37 excluding chairlift
5. Orcières Merlette 1850 — summer & winter — Hautes-Alpes
On the Orcières ski domain in the Southern Alps, this 1.8 km zip line operates entirely above 2,500 m altitude. The descent is made lying down, head-first, at nearly 130 km/h — a unique high-altitude panoramic flight experience.
Roll’air Cable, Orcières:
Length: 1,800 m · Start altitude: 2,650 m · Finish altitude: 2,500 m · Drop: 150 m · Price: €40 excluding chairlift
6. Val Thorens — summer & winter — Savoie
La Bee is a cascade of 3 zip lines from the top of the Moutière chairlift (2,500 m) to the Place Caron in the centre of Val Thorens (2,300 m). A double zip line — two parallel cables — means you can ride side by side with a friend or race head-to-head. A uniquely sociable zip line experience.
La Bee, Val Thorens:
Length: 1,800 m · Start altitude: 2,500 m · Finish altitude: 2,300 m · Drop: 200 m · Price: €30 including chairlift
7. Les Arcs — winter only — Savoie ⭐
Flying over the route of the former speed skiing kilometre record course, the Les Arcs zip line reaches 130 km/h — in solo or tandem. Claimed to be the steepest zip line in the Alps, it starts from the iconic Aiguille Rouge summit above Arc 2000 and Arc 1950. Winter only.
Aiguille Rouge zip line, Les Arcs:
Length: 1,770 m · Start altitude: 2,680 m · Finish altitude: 2,150 m · Drop: 530 m · Price: €59 including chairlift
8. Valmorel — summer & winter — Savoie
Over 1,400 m long, the Valmorel zip line reaches 100 km/h over the ski domain. A double cable allows the descent in tandem. It starts from the top of the Altispace chairlift (1,915 m) and arrives on the blue Oratoire piste 150 m below — with a direct Mont Blanc panorama, one of the finest views available from any zip line in the Alps.
Valmorel zip line:
Length: 1,400 m · Start altitude: 1,915 m · Finish altitude: 1,755 m · Drop: 150 m · Price: €35 excluding chairlift
9. Valloire — summer & winter — Savoie
At the top of the Valloire ski domain, this 1,380 m zip line uses an innovative system that automatically returns the pulley to the start position — no manual reset needed. The 400 m vertical drop between the Crey du Quart summit and the Lac de la Vieille is impressive. In summer, Valloire also offers a mini zip line over the high-altitude reservoir lake at €4 — a more affordable taster.
Tyrolienne de la Catelle, Valloire:
Length: 1,380 m · Start altitude: 2,450 m · Finish altitude: 2,250 m · Drop: 200 m · Price: from €40
10. Orelle → Val Thorens — winter only — Savoie ⭐
Not the longest, but the highest zip line in France. Operating between the highest point of the Three Valleys — the Bouchet chairlift at 3,230 m — and the Col de Thorens (3,002 m), this is a 1,300 m descent completed in 1 minute 45 seconds with a breathtaking panorama. Winter only.
Orelle → Val Thorens zip line:
Length: 1,300 m · Start altitude: 3,230 m · Finish altitude: 3,002 m · Drop: 228 m · Price: €56 excluding chairlift
11. Autrans-Méaudre en Vercors — summer & winter — Isère
Located at Autrans-Méaudre in the Vercors, the Zipline Vercors is 1,250 m long with 250 m of vertical drop. Solo or tandem, with speeds up to 70 km/h. A choice between “sport” (faster) and “comfort” (more controlled) flight modes.
Zipline Vercors, Autrans-Méaudre:
Length: 1,250 m · Start altitude: 1,270 m · Drop: 227 m · Price: €26 including chairlift
12. Châtel — summer & winter — Haute-Savoie
Historically one of the first giant zip lines in the Alps, the Fantasticable at Châtel in Haute-Savoie comprises two sections (1,200 m and 1,325 m) on the ski domain. Solo or tandem descent.
Fantasticable, Châtel:
Length: 1,200 m · Start altitude: 1,930 m · Finish altitude: 1,820 m · Drop: 110 m · Price: €30 excluding chairlift
13. Serre Chevalier — summer & winter — Hautes-Alpes
A double 1,100 m zip line between Grand Serre (2,491 m) and Grand Alpe (2,193 m) in the Hautes-Alpes. Open summer and winter, solo or tandem.
Serre Chevalier zip line:
Length: 1,100 m · Start altitude: 2,391 m · Finish altitude: 2,193 m · Drop: 298 m · Price: €32 excluding chairlift
14. Saint-Sorlin-d’Arves — summer & winter — Savoie
A 2026 novelty — a “curved zip line” combining the sensations of a rail luge and a traditional zip line, with banked corners, spirals and accelerations over 987 m and around 100 m of vertical drop. Plans to couple it with a rail luge in future.
Saint-Sorlin-d’Arves curved zip line:
Length: 987 m · Start altitude: 1,760 m · Finish altitude: 1,640 m · Drop: 120 m · Price: to be confirmed
15. Risoul — summer & winter — Hautes-Alpes
Above Risoul, a 700 m zip line links the Écureuil piste to the top of the Clos Fournier chairlift, flying over the ski domain and a beautiful larch forest.
Risoul zip line:
Length: 700 m · Start altitude: 2,010 m · Finish altitude: 1,940 m · Drop: 70 m · Price: to be confirmed
16. Avrieux (near La Norma) — summer — Savoie
The Parcobranches du Diable at Avrieux — between Aussois and La Norma in Savoie — includes several zip lines: the Tyrolienne du Paradis (680 m at 68 km/h) and the Tyrolienne des Anges (230 m). A full day of forest-based thrills.
Parcobranches du Diable, Avrieux:
Longest line: 680 m · Altitude: 1,500 m · Price: €30 for the day
17. La Plagne — summer & winter — Savoie
La Plagne offers two zip line experiences: a standalone 600 m line, and a “cascade of zip lines” — a route of ladders and zip lines (longest section 200 m) through the trees and over mountain torrents, with over 2,000 m of cables in total.
Zip line cascade, La Plagne:
Longest section: 400 m · Altitude: 2,000 m · Price: €20
18. Valfréjus — summer & winter — Savoie
Since winter 2024–2025, Valfréjus has a zip line park with lines from 30 to 160 m. Accessible from age 6, the park includes a crossing of the Charmaix gorge both ways — nearly 100 m above the void.
Vallée des Tyroliennes, Valfréjus:
Total length: 420 m · Altitude: 1,550 m · Price: €24 for the full circuit
19. Aillons-Margeriaz — summer — Savoie
In the heart of the Bauges massif, 40 minutes from Chambéry, Aillons-Margeriaz has a full outdoor leisure complex including a zip line cascade and the “Pays des Géants” tree-climbing park. The cascade alone features 21 zip lines (including 2 high-speed), 20 activity stations, 16 descent ladders and a base jump finale.
Accrotyro des Géants, Aillons-Margeriaz:
Longest line: 400 m · Start altitude: 940 m · Drop: 220 m · Price: €31
20. Col de Marcieu — summer — Isère
Something genuinely new in the zip line world: a curved zip line — a hybrid between a rail luge and a traditional zip line. Harnessed in, you complete a 320 m circuit with loops, waves, sweeping curves diving toward the ground and a 360° bend — a roller coaster through the trees.
Curved zip line, Col de Marcieu:
Length: 320 m · Drop: 35 m · Price: €31 for the day
21. Villard-de-Lans — summer & winter — Isère
Like Col de Marcieu, Villard-de-Lans offers a curved zip line — 220 m at the Côte 2000 base area, following a sinuous path between forest and alpine pastures. Sensations between a traditional giant zip line and a rail luge.
Air & Smile, Villard-de-Lans:
Length: 220 m · Start altitude: 1,200 m · Finish altitude: 1,160 m · Drop: 40 m · Price: to be confirmed
22. La Toussuire — summer & winter — Savoie
A short but spectacular zip line over the high-altitude reservoir at La Toussuire in the Maurienne valley — 150 m long with the magnificent Aiguilles d’Arves as backdrop. At €6.20, the most affordable zip line on this list.
Tyrolienne de l’Eriscal, La Toussuire:
Length: 150 m · Start altitude: 1,770 m · Finish altitude: 1,750 m · Drop: 20 m · Price: €6.20
Summary table — longest zip lines in the French Alps
| Resort | Department | Length | Start alt. | Finish alt. | Drop | Price/run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/ La Colmiane | Alpes-Maritimes | 2,663 m | 1,776 m | 1,489 m | 187 m | €35 incl. lift |
| 2/ Le Sauze | Alpes-de-Haute-Provence | 2,000 m | 2,210 m | 1,710 m | 500 m | €39 incl. lift |
| 3/ Chamrousse | Isère | 1,942 m | 2,250 m | 1,700 m | 550 m | €40 incl. gondola |
| 4/ Les Orres | Hautes-Alpes | 1,870 m | 2,235 m | 1,900 m | 335 m | €37 excl. lift |
| 5/ Orcières Merlette 1850 | Hautes-Alpes | 1,800 m | 2,650 m | 2,500 m | 150 m | €40 excl. lift |
| 6/ Val Thorens | Savoie | 1,800 m | 2,500 m | 2,300 m | 200 m | €30 incl. lift |
| 7/ Les Arcs | Savoie | 1,770 m | 2,680 m | 2,150 m | 530 m | €59 incl. lift |
| 8/ Valmorel | Savoie | 1,400 m | 1,915 m | 1,755 m | 150 m | €35 excl. lift |
| 9/ Valloire | Savoie | 1,380 m | 2,450 m | 2,250 m | 200 m | from €40 |
| 10/ Orelle → Val Thorens | Savoie | 1,300 m | 3,230 m | 3,002 m | 228 m | €56 excl. lift |
| 11/ Autrans-Méaudre | Isère | 1,250 m | 1,270 m | 1,043 m | 227 m | €26 incl. lift |
| 12/ Châtel | Haute-Savoie | 1,200 m | 1,930 m | 1,820 m | 110 m | €30 excl. lift |
| 13/ Serre Chevalier | Hautes-Alpes | 1,100 m | 2,391 m | 2,193 m | 298 m | €32 excl. lift |
| 14/ Saint-Sorlin-d’Arves | Savoie | 987 m | 1,760 m | 1,640 m | 120 m | TBC |
| 15/ Risoul | Hautes-Alpes | 700 m | 2,010 m | 1,940 m | 70 m | TBC |
| 16/ Avrieux | Savoie | 680 m | 1,500 m | — | — | €30/day |
| 17/ La Plagne | Savoie | 600 m | 2,000 m | — | — | €20 |
| 18/ Valfréjus | Savoie | 420 m | 1,550 m | 1,550 m | 0 m | €24/circuit |
| 19/ Aillons-Margeriaz | Savoie | 400 m | 940 m | 1,160 m | 220 m | €31 |
| 20/ Col de Marcieu | Isère | 320 m | — | — | 35 m | €31/day |
| 21/ Villard-de-Lans | Isère | 220 m | 1,200 m | 1,160 m | 40 m | TBC |
| 22/ La Toussuire | Savoie | 150 m | 1,770 m | 1,750 m | 20 m | €6.20 |
Cover illustration: zip line at Châtel © JF Vuarand
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