Sitting at 1,850m in the Hautes-Alpes, Vars is a resort spread across four traditional mountain hamlets along the Route des Grandes Alpes in France. Southern sunshine floods the slopes, larch forests line the valleys, and on a clear day the views from the upper mountain stretch across a panorama of peaks that seems to go on forever. The atmosphere is relaxed and distinctly French, with a warmth that comes from a community that's been welcoming visitors for decades without losing its identity.

Vars links with neighbouring Risoul to form the La Forêt Blanche ski area, one of the largest in the Southern Alps, with 185km of pistes across 110 runs between 1,650m and 2,750m. With 83% of the terrain above 2,000m, snow reliability is strong from early December through to mid-April. Cruising blues wind through the larch forests, satisfying reds cover real ground mid-mountain, and challenging black runs plus plenty of unmarked off-piste keep experienced skiers busy. Vars' freestyle scene is impressive, with seven terrain parks including some of the longest freestyle lines in Europe. For something truly unique, the Chabrières speed skiing piste is open to visitors who want to test their nerve on the lower sections.

Away from the slopes, Vars keeps things enjoyably low-key. Les Claux has a good spread of mountain restaurants, cosy bars, and local shops, while the older hamlets bring a quiet, more traditional feel. Dog sledding, snowshoeing, an ice rink, and the Caribou mountain coaster add variety to the week, and Tuesday evening toboggan sessions on the slopes are a fun way to spend an evening. The dining scene leans into southern Alpine cooking, and 300 days of sunshine a year means terrace lunches are part of the culture here, not a rare treat.

Check out Vars ski deals to start planning your trip.