Summer Season in Alpe d’Huez
02.07.2011 – 28.08.2011

Alpe d’Huez is Les 2 Alpes’ younger, richer cousin; raised in a bourgeois family it has pretensions of grandeur, but remove it’s chi-chi exterior and you’ll find a resort that is passionate about mountain sports and this is especially true during the summer.

Alpe d’Huez officially has an eight-week summer season, that runs throughout July and August, but there are sporting events most weekends in June and you’ll find a few bars, restaurants and hotels open if you do stop by in the inter-season.

Despite it’s five month winter season, the town is most famous for it’s infamous windy road, that takes visitors up over 1,000 vertical metres along a road that’s just 14km long. The ascent – known as the 21 Bends has been included in the Tour de France, with Marco Pantani holding the Tour’s record with a time of 37 minutes and 35 seconds in 1997. Lance Armstrong holds the second fastest time for his 2004 ascent in 37 minutes 26 seconds and in a powerful car with no traffic it takes about 15 minutes…

Throughout the summer season the road is dotted with cyclists and on Thursdays it’s possible to join an organised timed ascent. For 5€ your ride will be electronically monitored and you’ll receive a certificate at the top. The timed ascents start at 10am in Bourg d’Oisans by the EDF hut and you can park at the Alpe d’Huez/Les 2 Alpes roundabout.

With 120km of downhill tracks, there’s a growing MTB (VTT in French) obsession in the resort and this reaches its peak as the Megavalanche comes to town. The week-long event sees thousands of mountain bikers compete for a place in the weekend race, from Alpe d’Huez’s glacier down to Vaujany. For more about this event, click here.

Destination Oisans will bring you news on all the summer events, including the international ice hockey tournament, endurance horse racing and cycle races. And during the summer months the resort also offers hiking paths, outdoor swimming pools, fishing, horse riding and flying, as well as plenty of in-resort activities for kids. There’s a market each Friday morning and the bars and restaurants will make sure you’re well fed and watered during your stay.

If you’re looking for accommodation, most of the hotels are open but summer visitors tend to prefer the flexibility of self-catering apartments. Draw on the resources of Alpe d’Huez veterans Chris and Sam from Mountain Experience to organise your accommodation, transfers and activities during your stay.

For more information and videos from Alpe d’Huez, click here.