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La Forêt Blanche - 'The White Forest' - links the resorts of Vars and Risoul in the Hautes-Alpes department of the French Southern Alps. This is a different part of France from the big Tarentaise and Mont Blanc resorts: further south, sunnier, and with a distinctive Provençal-Alpine character. The Southern Alps receive around 300 days of sunshine a year, and the high altitude of the ski area (most of the terrain sits above 1,800 m) means reliable snow despite the warmer climate. The name comes from the larch forests that cover the lower slopes - they turn golden in autumn and provide beautiful tree skiing in winter.
The area covers 185 km of marked piste served by 52 lifts, sitting between 1,650 m and 2,750 m at the Pic de Chabrières. There are 116 runs: 13 green, 34 blue, 39 red, and 30 black. The season typically runs from mid-December through to mid-April. Two resorts share a single La Forêt Blanche pass, connected by lifts across the mountain.
Vars is the larger resort with more village amenities, spread across several hamlets at different altitudes. Risoul is a compact, purpose-built station at 1,850 m with a family-friendly focus. Between them, you get a manageable, sunny ski area with a surprisingly high black-run count and a relaxed Southern Alpine atmosphere. Browse La Forêt Blanche ski deals on WeSki to start planning your trip.
Vars is made up of several villages at different altitudes: Vars-les-Claux (the main ski base at 1,850 m), Vars-Sainte-Marie (a traditional village below), and smaller hamlets dotted along the valley. Vars-les-Claux is where most of the accommodation and ski amenities are, with direct slope access and a good selection of apartments, hotels, and restaurants. The skiing above is varied - wide blues and reds on the Peynier side, with some of the area's steepest terrain on the Eyssina sector. Vars is also famous in the speed-skiing world: the Chabrières speed-skiing track holds the world record for the fastest non-motorised speed on land. The resort has a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and a Southern French feel - expect blue skies and long lunches on sunny terraces.
Risoul 1850 is a compact, purpose-built resort at 1,850 m, designed for ski-in ski-out convenience. The village is small and self-contained, with apartments, a handful of restaurants, and a family-friendly atmosphere. The architecture is functional rather than charming, but the skiing above makes up for it - the terrain fans out across a sunny, south-facing mountainside with a wide variety of runs through the larch forest. The tree skiing here is a particular highlight: the larches are spaced wide enough to ski between, and after fresh snow, the glades above Risoul are some of the most enjoyable in the Southern Alps. The resort connects to Vars across the Crête de Razis ridge.
Both resorts have good beginner terrain. Risoul has a nursery zone right in the village with gentle slopes and a magic carpet, plus easy greens that progress naturally onto wider blues through the trees. Vars-les-Claux has a dedicated beginners' area at the base, separated from faster traffic. The sunny conditions and wide, well-groomed runs make the Southern Alps a pleasant place to learn - you'll rarely ski in poor visibility, and the warmth takes the edge off those first few hours.
WeSki does not currently have lessons available in the La Forêt Blanche area, but both resorts have local ski schools with English-speaking instructors.
WeSki tip: Risoul's village-level nursery slopes get sunshine from mid-morning, which keeps the snow soft and forgiving for beginners. The larch-lined blues above are wide and sheltered from wind - they're some of the most pleasant early-progression runs you'll find, with the trees providing natural markers for your turns.
With 34 blues and 39 reds, intermediates have a solid range. The runs through the larch forest on both sides are the area's strength - wide, well-groomed, and with good visibility in the trees even on the rare cloudy day. The Peynier sector above Vars has consistent, enjoyable reds. The link between Vars and Risoul over the Crête de Razis makes a satisfying half-day circuit. The Pic de Chabrières area (2,750 m) has longer reds with more variety and altitude snow. The area rewards exploration: there are enough runs to keep things interesting for a week, and the uncrowded slopes mean you can focus on your skiing.
WeSki tip: The larch runs between Risoul and the Crête de Razis link are the area's hidden highlight - wide glades with well-spaced trees and natural terrain features. They're beautiful in sunshine and excellent in flat light, when the higher, open slopes can feel featureless. Take your time through here: the scenery is worth savouring.
The 30 blacks are more than you might expect for a Southern Alps area. The Eyssina sector above Vars has some genuinely steep, sustained terrain, and the runs off the Pic de Chabrières have good pitch and altitude snow. The tree skiing through the larches is a real strength after fresh snow - the glades are wide enough to ski but tight enough to hold powder, and the southern location means fresh falls are often followed by sunshine that makes the conditions spectacular. Off-piste potential is solid, particularly in the bowls above the Crête de Razis and the north-facing couloirs off the Chabrières ridge. A guide is recommended for any backcountry exploration.
WeSki tip: After fresh snow, the larch glades above Risoul hold powder beautifully - the trees shelter the snow from wind and sun, so it lasts longer than you'd expect at this latitude. Head into the trees on the skier's left of the main Risoul runs for the best spacing and pitch. The powder here is often lighter and drier than in the wetter Northern Alps.
The La Forêt Blanche pass covers all 185 km of piste and 52 lifts across both Vars and Risoul on a single ticket. Passes are available from one day up to the full season, with discounted rates for children, teens, and seniors. Individual Vars-only or Risoul-only passes are available at lower rates if you're planning to stay on one side. For a wider area, the linked ski area is also part of the broader SERRELIANCE pass network that includes neighbouring smaller resorts.
You can add the lift pass directly to your WeSki booking, along with ski equipment hire at Vars and Risoul - so everything's sorted before you arrive.
WeSki tip: The full La Forêt Blanche pass is well worth it even for a short stay - the two sides have a different character, and the link between them is an enjoyable ski in itself. The Vars side is slightly more varied; the Risoul side has better tree skiing. You'll want to explore both.
La Forêt Blanche is in the Southern Alps, which means the access routes are different from the typical Tarentaise or Mont Blanc resorts. Turin is the closest international airport, around 2 hours' drive via the Montgenèvre pass or the Fréjus tunnel. Grenoble is about 2 hours 30 minutes. Marseille and Lyon are both roughly 3 hours. By train, the nearest stations are Montdauphin-Guillestre (about 10 minutes from both resorts) and Briançon (about 30 minutes), both on the scenic Marseille-Briançon railway line. Shuttle buses connect the stations to the resorts.
WeSki has private transfers to Risoul. Add them to your booking for a straightforward door-to-door trip.
The season runs from mid-December to mid-April. There's no glacier skiing, but the base altitude of both resorts is at 1,850 m, and the terrain reaches 2,750 m, which keeps conditions reliable. The Southern Alps benefit from around 300 days of sunshine a year, which means excellent visibility and warm, pleasant skiing conditions. Snowmaking covers key runs, and the larch forests provide natural snow retention on the lower slopes. January to mid-March sees the most consistent natural snow.
French school holidays in February and the Christmas-New Year period are the busiest times, though La Forêt Blanche stays quieter than the northern Alpine resorts even at peak. If you've got flexibility, early January and the first half of March are calm and sunny. Late season is particularly enjoyable here - the Southern Alps sunshine makes for warm March and April days, and the high base altitude keeps the upper slopes in good shape.
Yes. Both Vars and Risoul have dedicated nursery areas with gentle slopes. The sunny conditions and wide, larch-lined blues make the area a pleasant place to learn. WeSki does not currently have lessons available, but both resorts have local ski schools with English-speaking instructors.
La Forêt Blanche covers 185 km of marked piste served by 52 lifts, ranging from 1,650 m to 2,750 m. There are 116 runs: 13 green, 34 blue, 39 red, and 30 black. Two resorts - Vars and Risoul - are linked by lifts and share a single pass.
Vars is larger, spread across several hamlets at different altitudes, with more restaurants and amenities. Risoul 1850 is compact, purpose-built, and ski-in ski-out. Both sit at a similar altitude. Vars has more varied terrain including the steeper Eyssina sector; Risoul has the area's best tree skiing through the larch glades. Vars suits visitors who want more village life; Risoul suits those who prioritise slope access and simplicity.
Vars hosts a speed-skiing track on the Chabrières slope where the world record for the fastest non-motorised speed on land has been set - over 250 km/h. The track is used for competition and record attempts, not public skiing. But it's part of the resort's identity, and you can watch events or visit the starting point for a sense of scale.
The season typically runs from mid-December to mid-April. There is no glacier skiing. The base altitude of 1,850 m and the terrain reaching 2,750 m keep conditions reliable. The Southern Alps receive around 300 days of sunshine a year, making for pleasant, warm skiing conditions.
Fly to Turin (about 2 hr drive), Grenoble (2 hr 30 min), Marseille (3 hr), or Lyon (3 hr). By train, Montdauphin-Guillestre station is about 10 minutes from both resorts, on the scenic Marseille-Briançon railway line. WeSki has private transfers to Risoul.
No. The lift system links Vars and Risoul across the Crête de Razis ridge during ski hours - you can ski between them. By road, the drive between the two is about 15 minutes. A free shuttle bus runs between the resorts during the season.
Yes. Ski equipment hire is available through WeSki at both Vars and Risoul. WeSki does not currently have lessons available in the La Forêt Blanche area. You can add equipment hire to your booking along with your lift pass and transfers.
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