TL;DR
Les 2 Alpes operates its glacier terrain until 5 July with discounted passes, positioning itself as a rare summer skiing option in the Alps. Whether the reduced terrain and conditions justify the trip depends largely on what you're after.
French Resort Pushes Season Into Summer With Glacier Access
Les 2 Alpes is running its glacier terrain through to 5 July, making it one of the few resorts in the Alps where you can still ski in early summer. The full ski area operates until 3 May, after which only the highest slopes remain open. It's a legitimate option for those chasing snow in the warmer months, though calling it 'uninterrupted skiing' requires some generous interpretation.
The Jandri Express cable car gets you to 3,200 metres in under 20 minutes, with skiable terrain extending to 3,600 metres. Racing teams show up for training camps during this period, which tells you the snow is reliable enough for proper work. Day passes drop from €66 in winter to €56 between 11 April and 3 May, then €52 from 4 May through the end of the season. That's approximately a 20% discount for significantly reduced terrain and variable conditions.
The extended season isn't just about die-hard skiers. Les 2 Alpes positions this period as a shoulder season where you can ski in the morning and mountain bike or hike in the afternoon. Whether that appeals to you depends on if you're willing to compromise on both experiences rather than committing fully to one.
From early April through early May, you're essentially getting a late-season ski experience with warming temperatures and spring conditions. The Derby Ski Race on 11 April sends skiers from 3,400 metres down to 1,650 metres, which gives you an idea of the vertical still available at that point.Once May arrives, you're down to glacier-only skiing—a fraction of the resort's full terrain. The snowpark remains operational, and national teams wouldn't bother showing up if the conditions were poor, but you need realistic expectations about what 'summer skiing' means. You're not getting 200-plus kilometres of varied terrain; you're getting a snow patch at altitude.The resort attempts to broaden the appeal by opening mountain bike tracks as lower elevations clear. The Black Garden Party on 11-12 April marks the start of bike season, with access to trails including the run down to Venosc village. By May, the 'Highway to Heaven' trail opens between 3,200 and 2,600 metres, starting on snow. It's an interesting concept—ride up the lifts with your bike, ski or ride down—though whether you want to haul bike gear to the Alps for limited trail access is another question.The Venosc Climbs Challenge on 18 April attracted 185 participants in 2025, repeatedly climbing a 3-kilometre trail with 660 metres of vertical gain. One participant managed 14 ascents in 12 hours, which is solid training but hardly requires travelling to the French Alps specifically. As the resort acknowledges, May and June are 'quieter'—industry code for 'significantly fewer people around, with corresponding reductions in open facilities.'
