Panoramic skiing | Vars: Hautes-Alpes ski resort

1850m1. Vars les ClauxYour starting point

Your ski day begins at Les Claux. To make the most of the first rays of sunshine and the freshly-cooled pistes, head for the Escondus chairlift. A few turns on the wide Les Escondus slope will help you get into the swing of things.

Then it’s on to the Point Show to reach the Sibières chairlift and our first must-see spot in the resort.

The little plus

Getting ready

A good skier is a well-prepared skier! Before you set off on your day’s skiing, take a look at the essential information you need to make the most of the slopes! The resort’s professionals are on hand to provide you with all the equipment you need to make the most of your day on the slopes.

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Piou Piou, les premiers pas sur les skis pour ces petits bouts de choux

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L'emblématique Eyssina qui veille sur le domaine skiable et la station de Vars

2245m2. SibièresAt the foot of the Eyssina

Here you are at the summit of Sibières, at the foot of the Eyssina face – the backbone of the resort – and its freerider-friendly couloirs: Yeti, Yoz, Catex, la Main… Behind you, a panoramic view of les Claux, the villages and the whole ski area lets you admire your playground for the day.

Sunrise here is often very pleasant, and making your first tracks in this area is a great way to start your day’s skiing with a smile.

An ideal area for experimenting with forest skiing, but also multi-level and fun for all types of piste skiing. A nod to our favorites in the area: the red Sibières and Zakopane slopes, perfect for perfecting your technique on steep slopes.

Now it’s on to the Chabrières Telemix.

The little plus

The Caribou sled

Accessible on skis and located in the Sibières sector, the Caribou toboggan run is over a kilometer long and offers a fun break in your day’s skiing.

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2209m3. Intermediate TelemixThe crossroads of the domain

An essential part of the ski area. Halfway between les Claux and the summit of Forêt Blanche, you’re at the crossroads of the Vars ski area. To your left, the Eyssina. Opposite, the Pic de Chabrières and on your right, the Mayt.

Here you’ll find the new ice grotto and a picnic and barbecue area.

Now it’s time to take the Speed Master chairlift to the top of the resort.

The little plus

The ice cave

The ice grotto will be back at the summit of the Télémix de Chabrières in winter 2025. Carved out of ice and snow, the many treasures await you, and are accessible to pedestrians. This year, the grotto will feature some thirty sculptures in snow or crystal ice, on a Viking theme, created by professional sculptors.

Vars Grotte De Glace Credit Photo Tim Arnold 3

Vars Grotte De Glace Credit Photo Tim Arnold 2

Sommet de Chabrières, point culminant du domaine skiable à 2750 m

2750m4. Pic de ChabrièresSummit of the Forêt Blanche

The Pic de Chabrières is the highest point in the Forêt Blanche ski area, rising to 2750 meters above sea level. An incomparable vantage point overlooking the whole of the Southern Alps, on a clear day you can see some of the most beautiful peaks in the Alps: Mont Blanc, the Ecrins massif, Mont Viso and even Mont Ventoux.

It’s also the starting point for the legendary Chabrières piste, the scene of numerous world speed records in skiing, biking and snowboarding.

The little plus

Speed Master chairlift

The Speed Master chairlift, a continuation of the Chabrières Telemix, allows you to reach the top of the Forêt Blanche ski area in 15 minutes, compared with over 45 minutes previously. Your skiing time is now ten times longer!

Col de Crévoux et vue sur le lac de Serre Ponçon

2500m5. Crévoux passSea view

After descending the “Corniche Supérieure”, you arrive at the Col de Crévoux. A must-see in the ski area, with its unique view of the Durance valley and Lac de Serre Ponçon. Below, you can see the small village of Crévoux and the sumptuous Parpaillon valley.

Tip: in December/January, don’t miss the magnificent sunsets. You won’t be disappointed on your last run.

2273m6. Chabrières trailAt full speed

The next part of our journey takes us to the finish line of the Chabrières piste. Here you are at the foot of the myth that has seen so many world records broken. This 1400-meter-long run, with a maximum gradient of 98%, is a mecca for Kilomètre Lancé.

It was here that the speed of 255.50 km/h was reached on skis by Frenchman Simon Billy in 2023.

Now let’s head for the Mayt chairlift.

The little plus

Speed skiing events

Don’t miss the 2025 speed skiing events on the Chabrières piste: the World Cup in January and the Speed Masters, the world championship and world record attempt in March.

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2567m7. La MaytÀ 360°

Here you are on the second highest peak in the Forêt Banche ski area, La Mayt. Accessible with the new Mayt chairlift from the Vars-les-Claux snow front. Atypical with its ice-ball shape and weather radar at the summit, it offers breathtaking views over the Vars valley, from Saint-Marcellin to the summit of the Col and even the peaks of Haute-Ubaye.

From this summit, you can ski over 1,000 metres of continuous negative gradient to the village of Sainte-Marie.

That’s where we’re heading.

The little plus

1000 meters of D-

Feel like warming up your thighs? This is the place. 1000 meters of non-stop vertical drop between La Mayt and the Village de Vars Sainte-Marie on the Olympique red run for experienced skiers!

Piste de l'Olympique qui permet de rejoindre le village de Sainte Marie par le domaine skiable

2143m8. Peyrol

On your descent to Sainte Marie, a short stop at Peyrol will cool your thighs on your descent from Olympique.

This vast wooded area is ideal for a lunch break. A high-altitude restaurant and a dog-sledding activity will give you a change of scene during your day’s skiing.

For the more sporty, you can reach Sainte-Marie via the lower part of the Olympique, while the “cooler” skiers will take the blue trail version of the Vallon and Grand Vallon: a “second” itinerary that ensures a stroll down through forest and alpine farms. Let’s head back up to La Mayt for another must-see spot.

Panorama du domaine skiable de vars et ses villages

Domaine skiable de Vars et grandes étendues blanches

2440m9. Saluces passSo, "happy"?

Here you are at another essential crossroads in the Forêt Blanche ski area. A true crossroads between the Vars & Risoul access roads, you’re also at the start of one of the most popular runs in our ski area: “Les Heureux”.

This long, low-tech descent on a gentle, perfectly sunny slope is ideal for fun, sliding and carving beautiful curves, all starting from the top of the ski area.

Conditions permitting, the “Boarder des Heureux” can also be accessed from here, to the delight of even the most adventurous skiers.

All schuss on “les Heureux” towards the snow front to finish your day’s skiing in the sun.

Splendide panorama du domaine skiable de la Forêt Blanche

The little extras

Boardercross

Snow conditions permitting, the more adventurous skiers can challenge themselves on the boardercross courses. There are 4 of them, totalling almost 3.5 km. These itineraries are real fun snow courses, making skiing even more fun!

Boardercross de l'Eyssina 800 metres

Boardercross des Heureux 1.5 km

Boardercross du Vallon900 m

Boardercross du Pré Moré280 metres

Boardercross des Heureux, un itinéraire ludique en bord de piste à tester absolument

2260m10. PeynierIn the sun

Peynier. This is the best place to end your day in the sun. Facing due south, it’s here that the last rays of the sun last the longest on the slopes.

The summit of Peynier can be reached by the new Peynier chairlift from Vars-les-Claux or by the Bois Noir chairlift from the village of Sainte-Marie.

This area, which locals like to describe as a “little paradise” for ski days in bad weather, offers one last panoramic view of our ski area.

Its superb larch forest is Vars’ main attraction.

Pedestrians and cross-country skiers will be able to explore the Vallon des Prises on foot, thanks to a new gentle path.

What's new?

TS Peynier and TS des Plans

With a common departure point for the 2 new chairlifts, one serves as a link to the Les Claux slope and the main snow front (Les Plans chairlift), while the other arrives at the top of Peynier, the resort’s flagship sector known for its “ski-forêt” (Peynier chairlift).

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Esprit Villages

We also love it for this: Vars has all the assets of a major resort with the soul of a mountain village. Discover what makes our region so charming.

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