Les Orres

Les Orres is a ski resort in the Hautes-Alpes above Lake Serre Ponçon, picturesquely set among larch forests. The ski area has good snow conditions and pistes of varying difficulty. The runs higher up tend to be demanding. Below 2,000 m the slopes gradually become gentler, and even less experienced skiers can manage them comfortably. There are more than a dozen pistes for beginners. The gentle, wide slopes above the village of Les Orres are particularly good for learning. Intermediates can choose from 19 red pistes, including Grand Cabane, a wooded run 6 km long and one of the longest in the southern Alps. For advanced skiers the resort has 3 black pistes (including the most difficult run in the area, L’Horrible, 730 m long with a vertical drop of 325 m) and freeride terrain (including the Lac de Sainte Marguerite, Côte Ronde and Grand Vallon areas). Snow cannons cover the pistes up to 2,500 m. Most accommodation has direct access to the lifts (skis aux pieds). A big plus is that the village centre is closed to cars and has become a pedestrian-only zone. Besides freeride terrain, snowboarders have the Espace New Gliss snow park. Cross-country skiers have 40 km of trails in the area, mostly of high and medium difficulty. The resort's offer away from skiing is very wide and includes snowshoe trips, snowmobile rides, ski-jöering, an ice rink, a toboggan run, paragliding, ice climbing on frozen waterfalls, tennis, bowling and winter walks. For families on a winter holiday with children, Les Orres has facilities such as snow gardens (skiing plus kindergarten), a kindergarten (children from 6 months), a free junior club and free childcare from 17:30 to 22:00. In the evenings Les Orres offers a disco, cafés, bars, restaurants and a cinema. New for winter 2006/2007: * Contactless ski passes, with the option of buying a ski pass by phone and online. * More space: the ski pass is valid in two resorts, Les Orres and Orcières-Merlette. * 3,500 new beds created and the Champ Lacas car park rebuilt. From the events calendar: * 3 December 2006, Run and Snow, a Christmas sleigh ride * February 2007, Comics Festival * Easter weekend, Three Ride Cup