Skiing in December means treating yourself to the very first turns of the winter, often on fresh snow and in a magical atmosphere. This month is synonymous with festive magic, with Christmas just around the corner and the excitement of the first piste openings. Some resorts even open as early as late November! But heading out in December raises one crucial question: will there be snow?
Fortunately, plenty of resorts across the French Alps and Pyrenees sit high enough to guarantee good snow cover in December. Whether you’re after the best deals before the school holidays kick in, or the magical atmosphere of a family Christmas in the mountains, here are our tips for planning your December ski trip.
Snow-sure resorts: where to ski in December?
The big worry when booking a ski trip early in the season is usually snow cover. While the weather always has the final say, certain resorts — thanks to their altitude or location — offer a near-guarantee of snow from as early as the start of December. For a successful trip, aim for high-altitude resorts, ones whose ski area tops out well above 2,000 metres.
- Val Thorens: At 2,300 metres, this is the highest resort in Europe. Part of Les 3 Vallées, it traditionally opens as early as late November, along with its neighbour Orelle, and guarantees exceptional snow cover all winter long.
- Tignes & Val d’Isère: These two Savoie giants share a vast, high-altitude ski area. With the Grande Motte glacier at Tignes and a ski area sitting almost entirely above 2,000 metres, skiing is guaranteed from late November through to early May.
- Les 2 Alpes: Thanks to its skiable glacier reaching up to 3,600 metres — the highest in the Alps — this Oisans resort is a safe bet for a December trip. It often opens its slopes early, right at the start of the month.
- Alpe d’Huez: nicknamed the “Island in the Sun”, it benefits from a generous microclimate and a ski area rising to 3,330 metres at the Pic Blanc, guaranteeing good snow conditions from December through to the end of April.
- Avoriaz: At the heart of Les Portes du Soleil, Avoriaz (1,800m) is a car-free resort renowned for its record cumulative snowfall. Its atmosphere is particularly popular over the Christmas holidays, and it usually opens at the start of December.
- Montgenèvre: On the Italian border, this high-altitude village resort enjoys good snow cover and plenty of sunshine. It often catches the famous “easterly return” weather pattern that brings heavy snowfall.
- Bonneval-sur-Arc is a high-mountain village with remarkable snow cover. Also exposed to the easterly return pattern, this unique, unspoilt village offers a small ski area between 1,800m and 3,000m altitude.
2026 opening calendar: where to ski, and from when?
If you can’t wait to get started, here’s some good news: plenty of resorts don’t wait for the Christmas holidays to launch their season. Here’s the provisional opening calendar for a December 2026 ski trip.
Skiing in the first week of December 2026
The trailblazers kick things off, often thanks to their high altitude or glaciers. It’s the ideal time for enthusiasts chasing first tracks. 8 resorts are expected to be open during the first week of December 2026:
- Chamonix Mont-Blanc (from 21 Nov)
- Orelle (from 21 Nov)
- Val Thorens (from 21 Nov)
- Luz-Ardiden (Pyrenees, from 25 Nov)
- Cauterets (Pyrenees, from 27 November)
- Tignes & Val d’Isère (from 28 Nov)
- Val d’Isère (from 28 Nov)
- Montgenèvre (from 28 Nov)
- Les 2 Alpes (from 28 Nov)
Skiing from the weekend of 5 & 6 December 2026
The first big weekend of December brings a wave of major openings across the Alps and Pyrenees. On top of the 8 resorts already mentioned (Chamonix, Orelle, Val Thorens, Tignes, Val d’Isère, Montgenèvre, Les 2 Alpes, Cauterets, Luz-Ardiden), around twenty further resorts will also be open:
- Alpe d’Huez (and Oz-en-Oisans, Vaujany…)
- Ax-les-Thermes (Pyrenees)
- Chamrousse
- Cauterets (Pyrenees)
- Flaine
- Font Romeu / Pyrénées 2000
- Grand Tourmalet (La Mongie, Barèges) (Pyrenees)
- Les 3 Vallées (Courchevel, Les Menuires, Méribel, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville)
- Les Orres
- Peyragudes
- Piau Engaly (Pyrenees)
- Saint-Lary (Pyrenees)
- Serre Chevalier
- Vars & Risoul
Where to ski in Mid-December 2026 (from 12 & 13 December 2026)?
On top of the 28 resorts already open, the final major wave of openings will see several large interconnected ski areas come online, offering hundreds of kilometres of pistes right before the big holiday rush:
- Aussois
- Espace Lumière (Pra Loup, Val d’Allos)
- Flaine
- La Rosière
- Le Grand-Bornand
- Les Contamines
- Les Portes du Soleil (Avoriaz, Les Gets, Châtel and Morzine)
- Les Sybelles (La Toussuire, Le Corbier, Saint-Sorlin and Saint-Jean-d’Arves)
- Paradiski (La Plagne, Les Arcs, Peisey-Vallandry)
- Val Cenis
- Valloire and Valmeinier
- Vars and Risoul (La Forêt Blanche)
- Villard-de-Lans
Christmas holidays (from 19 December 2026)
From 19 December 2026, every ski resort in France, from the largest ski areas to the smallest village resorts, will have launched its winter season, ready to welcome families for the festive period.
Skiing on a budget: how to pay less for your December trip
A December ski trip can be an excellent deal, provided you choose the right timing. The month splits neatly into two: before, and during, the Christmas holidays.
- Before the holidays (1 to 19 December): this is bargain season. Accommodation (whether in a residence or a chalet) is priced far more affordably than the rest of the winter. You can find deals for a few nights or a full week at unbeatable prices. Ski passes are also often discounted.
- During the holidays: prices naturally climb. To keep your budget in check, look at mid-sized resorts, or residence-style accommodation without 5-star services or a large pool, which offer excellent value for money.
When it comes to accommodation, consider budget-friendly alternatives such as hostels and hybrid hotels (like HO36 in Les Menuires or La Plagne, or People Hostel in Les 2 Alpes). They offer dorm beds or private rooms at very competitive rates.
The magic of christmas on the slopes: the best resorts for families
Spending Christmas in the mountains is a childhood dream come true. Several resorts pull out all the stops to create a magical atmosphere and memorable entertainment for the whole family.
- Les Gets: the resort transforms into a genuine enchanted forest. Father Christmas and his elves have their own village here, with storytelling tours, workshops and shows.
- La Clusaz: the “Les Pestacles du Père Noël” festival takes over the resort, with street performances, magical shows and a uniquely festive atmosphere.
- Megève: known for its authentic village feel and chic atmosphere, Megève puts up a monumental Christmas tree on the central square, lighting up the streets with rare elegance.
- Avoriaz: this fully car-free resort is the perfect playground for families. Shows, fireworks and Father Christmas arriving by sleigh punctuate the whole holiday week.
Ringing in the new year on the slopes
For those choosing the last week of December for their trip, several Alpine resorts are well known for their New Year’s Eve festivities.
- Tignes: the resort traditionally puts on a big evening on the snow front at Tignes le Lac, with a pop-rock concert and a huge fireworks display at midnight.
- La Plagne: “Neige de Feu” is a spectacular event, a giant fireworks display launched from the top of Plagne Villages and visible from almost every altitude sector of the resort.
- Les Menuires & Morzine: these resorts also put on great outdoor parties, with DJ sets and fireworks to welcome the new year with your feet in the snow.
Whether you’re chasing the first tracks of winter on a budget, or the magical atmosphere of the Christmas holidays, a December ski trip is an excellent idea. Start planning your trip — the mountains are waiting!
Hiking and nordic activities: where to go in December?
If you love cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, Nordic sites open from the very first snowfall, often in late November. Praz de Lys, Savoie Grand Revard, Autrans and Villard-de-Lans are lovely Nordic plateaux, offering cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and walking on groomed trails. That said, snow can sometimes be in short supply in early December. In that case, head for higher-altitude sites instead: Bessans, Chamrousse, Les Saisies, Montgenèvre…