Perched high in the Mercantour mountains of the southern French Alps, Auron feels like a well-kept secret among those who know the Alpes-Maritimes. The resort sits at 1,600m with skiing reaching up to 2,450m, giving it a generous 850m of vertical drop and a season that typically runs from early December through mid-April. It's a place with real character - part traditional mountain village, part sunny southern Alpine retreat - where the atmosphere is relaxed, the crowds are manageable, and the skiing is far more varied than you might expect.

With 135km of pistes served by 19 lifts - including gondolas and high-speed chairlifts - Auron covers plenty of ground for a resort of its size. The terrain mixes wide, confidence-building cruisers with steeper pitches through the trees and open bowls higher up, making it a resort that works well across ability levels. The snowmaking network helps keep conditions consistent, and the southern sunshine means you'll often be skiing in remarkably pleasant weather.

Away from the slopes, Auron has a genuine village feel with a good selection of restaurants, a lively but unpretentious après-ski scene, and enough activities to keep non-skiers happily occupied. Its proximity to Nice - just 90km away - makes it one of the most accessible mountain resorts from the Côte d'Azur, and a surprisingly easy option for a UK ski holiday. Check out Auron ski deals to start planning your trip.