UCPA DEUX ALPES FACTS

Closest Lift: 1km
Town: 150 metres
Comfort:
Rooms: 2, 4 and 6 persons
Sleeps: 168
Nearest Airport: Lyon (Grenoble has ltd flights)
Extras: Spa, local attractions


Trip Reports

Check out some of the Trip Reports on our Blog for first hand accounts of what to expect from the UCPA

All Inclusive

All prices include:-

- Accommodation in Multi Share rooms
- All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
- Equipment Rental
- Instruction
- Any extra costs (i.e lift passes, course fees)

In fact, the only extra costs are transport, travel insurance and a few social beers!


Les Deux Alpes S

For the huge numbers that seem to want to ski / board in the summer too - Les Deux Alpes provides the opportunity. We have selected 3 hot, summer weeks - 10th, 24th July and 14th August. This is simply to bring the English speaking nationalities together to help the UCPA instructors and staff.

Dates and Prices

Resort

The Mecca of summer skiing and mountain biking.

Imagine... the biggest skiable terrain in Europe, with a Snowpark and slalom courses, which overlook pastures, moraines and copses containing 127km of mountain biking trails. In the summer, 2 Alpes - located at the doorstep of the Ecrins national park - is a playground beyond comparison that is accessible for all. The centre, situated a stone's throw away from the shops and bars, offers you a beautiful south-facing terrace, but also a relaxation area with a sauna and jacuzzi, opposite Muzelle and its glacier.

2 Alpes is one of the few French resorts to offer skiing during the summer season thanks to its glacier and its 90 hectares of slopes.. Slalom, freestyle or simply leisure skiing, there is something for everyone to enjoy. If the resort has been pioneering in terms of new slopes, it has been equally so in its development of mountain biking trails. Between 700m and 3200m above sea level, more than 36 routes lay in wait with their own dedicated mechanical lifts. Around the resort, magnificent hiking trails will enable you to take to the heights easily!

In the summer, the pulse of 2 Alpes beats to the rhythm of the events that punctuate the summer season. It kicks off with the "Mondial du VTT" (mountain biking World championships) in mid-June, during which the UCPA overseas the "Free Raid Classic Décou’Verte". Then, at the start of July, the Snowpark will be sporting Japanese colours for the Kumi-Yama. freestyle competitions. From 20th July, mountain biking re-takes centre stage in the surrounding area with an Enduro-DH race: the Mountain Of Hell. And finally, at the end of August, the Marco Pantani race honours cyclo-tourism.

Town Centre

Credit Dux Alpes TOLes Deux Alpes is a purpose-built winter resort, which lies between Grenoble and Briançon, making it easily accessible. The resort is 2km long and two streets wide, so it is not a pretty resort, but has a good friendly and lively feel. 

Nightlife

Les Deux Alpes is a party town, with perhaps the best variety of nightlife in the French Alps. With many clubs, pubs  - every night is a good night out for all.

Other things to do

Ice cave in glacier, heated outdoor pool, cinema

History
It has been a ski resort since 1939 when a single rope tow was installed, which famously fell down after 15 minutes of its opening ceremony! Slightly embarrassing! In 1950 a gondola was developed and the resort has grown hugely and expanded with its push on summer activities

 

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Accommodation


UCPA Les 2 Alpes Summer


The centre is one of UCPA’s best; there is even a spa with sauna and Jacuzzi! Nearby activities include riding, paraponting, white water rafting, golf, via ferrata and an adventure park. The town of Les2Alpes is lively throughout the year and offers numerous bars and clubs making the nights out just as lively as the days.

Credit UCPA Bruno LongoIntroduction

Click here for a Virtual Tour of UCPA Les Deux Alpes 360 View. UCPA Les Deux Alpes is just 2 minutes' walk from the town centre. The building is a wooden and stone chalet, boasting a restaurant with a fabulous terrace overlooking the Ecrins National Park, a bar and the large bike storage rooms. This is one of the smaller UCPA centres with a total capacity of 168, rooms sleep 2, 4 or 6 persons.

Room Details

UCPA Multi-Share
UCPA Twin Room
All rooms have rooms have shower and sink ensuite with toilets a few steps away in the corridor.

Food description

The food is served buffet style each day.  Credit Bruno LongoBreakfast is yogurts, cereals, fruit juice, coffee and bread - don't be surprised to see that the coffee, tea or hot chocolate is taken French style - a soup bowl ! 

Typically lunch is a DIY picnic made up at breakfast time (great choice of breads, meats, cheeses, pasta, salad, fruit, sweets etc).  The picnic lunch means maximum time on the mountains without spending a fortune on expensive mountain side restaurants. 

Dinner is a 4 course buffet - typically a salad bar style starter, choice of 3 or 4 main courses - most often including fish, cheese selection, fruit, dessert and ice-cream  freezer.

Any special dietry requirements should be made known to reception staff at check-in.  Generally vegetarians will find a wide enough choice within the buffet.

Entertainment

The UCPA staff lay on an entertainment program each week.  It's certainly not Butlins and there is no pressure to take part - all quite low key.  Credit Bruno LongoTypical program would include stretching in the early evening, crepe making, quiz, sketch evening, karaoke and some evenings a live band.
Equally in the town there is a great selection of bars & nightclubs to suit all tastes.

History

UCPA is more than 40 years old, and was originally set-up by the French government to encourage young people to enjoy the outdoors.  It is now a "not for profit" organisation with all profits being put back into refurbishing the centres.
The ethos of sport is still first on the agenda, but the instructors and centre staff don't forget that it is still your holiday.

Useful facts

Spa and sauna on the sun terrace (€4 to reserve)
Swimming pool in resort is free with liftpass

Location

2 minute walk to the town centre
100m from the slopes

Equipment Hire / Liftpasses

All equipment provided for your chosen activity / activities will be provided. If you have any questions, then please contact the office.

Top Tips

How to get there

Flying

The nearest airport is Grenoble by air but we can't find many flights here over the summer so Lyon is the next best alternative. Action Outdoors will contact peole once they have booked and offer assistance with transfers. It is recommended that you fly to Lyon on Sunday from Stansted with Easyjet. Inbound flight 12.20 returning the following Sat at 15.40.

Otherwise Grenoble (70km) - approximately 1.5hrs by airport transfer, car or taxi. Very cheap coach transfers with Transiere from Grenoble to Les Deux Alpes see www.transisere.fr - approx €15 each way. You need to take the coach from the airport to Grenoble station first, then you get another coach from the station to the ski resorts. Reliable service, tell the driver you want to be dropped at UCPA, they will advise when to get off. Once in resort, you must confirm your return journey at the Transiere office. Times available here too www.satobus-alps.com 

Train

Grenoble (80km) - local bus to Les Deux Alpes. Book your train from London to Grenoble http://www.raileurope.com, bus through www.transisere.fr

Self-drive 

Grenoble - Take the A480 south then turn off onto N85 at J8. At Vizelle turn left on N91 for approx 40kms. Go through Bourg-d'Oisans and turn off on D213 to Les Duex Alpes. If you were to continue on the N91 you would go through La Grave after just 15kms and on to Serre Chevalier.

See http://Les 2 Alpes Resort - How to get there page

Maps

L2AS