Auris-en-Oisans: The Family Resort Facing the Écrins
Perched at 1,600 m, facing the Écrins massif and Les Deux Alpes, Auris-en-Oisans is the family resort par excellence. Everything here is designed so that parents and children can enjoy a carefree holiday: a ski-in/ski-out resort, a kids' club that welcomes even the youngest children, a friendly atmosphere and reasonable prices.

Location and access to the ski area

Auris-en-Oisans enjoys an exceptional setting: a sunny balcony with panoramic views of the Écrins, and a direct link with Alpe d’Huez since 1971.

By road:

  • From Grenoble: follow signs for Les 2 Alpes, then at Le Freney-d’Oisans turn left towards Auris
  • ⚠️ Avoid the route via La Garde that some satnavs suggest: the road is very narrow and exposed!

Access to the Grand Domaine:

  • Sures chairlift: link to Alpe d’Huez
  • Direct access to the Grand Domaine’s 250 km of slopes
  • Departs from the snow front in the heart of the resort

The ski area from Auris

Auris offers two ways to ski:

Auris sector (19 runs):

  • 6 green, 9 blue, 5 red, 4 black
  • 1,700 m of vertical drop within reach
  • Perfect for families and for improving your skiing

Grand Domaine Alpe d’Huez (111 runs):

  • 250 km of skiing
  • Access to La Sarenne, Pic Blanc and Le Tunnel
  • From the glacier to the spruce forests

The sector’s hidden gems:

  • Jacques le Bûcheron run: a fun trail through the forest with attractions, colourful features, whoops, bumps and tunnels
  • La Bergerie freeride zone: a secured off-piste area
  • Night skiing: a floodlit run every Monday evening (Bauchets drag lift)

Winter activities in Auris

The resort offers a full range of activities:

Snow sports and discovery:

  • Dog sledding
  • Yooner (a sledge on a single ski)
  • Guided snowshoe hikes
  • Fat bike rides
  • Snowshoeing with a sled dog (from age 6)

For children:

  • Baby dog-sled park (ages 3-7)
  • Dog-sled taster ride (35 min)
  • Family orienteering trail through the hamlets
  • Torchlight descents during the holidays

Wellness and relaxation:

  • High-altitude yoga
  • Aqua aerobics
  • Cinema in the resort

The hamlets of Auris: a living heritage

Beyond the resort itself, Auris-en-Oisans has 8 authentic hamlets waiting to be discovered:

  • The hamlet of Les Cours: a rural museum in a traditional barn that immerses you in the mountain past of the people of Auris
  • The Piégut forest: an enchanting winter walk, sparkling frost and the silence of nature asleep
  • Steep little lanes, chapels, wayside shrines, restored barns

Walk idea: A fun family orienteering trail winds through the hamlets and lets you meet the locals, who are always happy to talk about their part of the world.

Welcoming families: a priority

Auris has earned the “Famille Plus” label thanks to its dedicated facilities:

Les Marmottes kids’ club:

  • For children aged 18 months to 12 years
  • Direct link with the ESF ski school
  • Parents can ski without breaking up their day

ESF ski school:

  • Piou-piou ski kindergarten
  • Protected beginner area with 2 magic carpets
  • Redesigned snow front for gentle learning

Free entertainment:

  • Sledging nights
  • Torchlight descents (Show d’Auris)
  • Shows, concerts, cinema

Practical information for staying in Auris

Types of accommodation:

  • Furnished studios for 2: from €750/week
  • Apartments for 4: from €950/week
  • Hotels: Le Beau Site (panoramic views), L’Auberge de la Forêt
  • Family accommodation: La Croix du Gua

Eating out:

  • Le Rustique: Savoyard specialities
  • La Petite Taverne: mountain fare
  • Le Bar Restaurant Le Schuss: quick meals at the foot of the slopes

Useful services:

  • Equipment hire on site
  • Heated ski lockers
  • Free shuttles between the districts
  • Mini-market, sports shops

Key asset: A ski-in/ski-out resort. A sledging run on the snow front, with facilities and shops all within walking distance.

Who is it for?

Auris-en-Oisans is perfect for:

✅ Families with young children: the kids’ club and the village atmosphere are outstanding

✅ Beginners: a safe snow front, runs that gradually increase in difficulty, an affordable local lift pass

✅ Small budgets: accommodation more affordable than in Alpe d’Huez, with a sector-only lift pass available

✅ Lovers of authenticity: unspoilt hamlets, a living heritage

⚠️ Please note: limited nightlife and a quieter resort (which is also part of its charm!)

Good to know

  • Altitude: 1,600 m (resort) to 3,330 m (via the Grand Domaine)
  • Ranking: 22nd out of 232 French resorts according to skidata.io (value for money)
  • 2025-2026 season: 6 December 2025 to 12 April 2026
  • Tip: don’t miss night skiing on Monday evenings, with a musical atmosphere guaranteed!
  • Family week: special rates and unique activities during a week dedicated to families


Continue exploring Espace Alpe d’Huez with our articles on Alpe d’Huez, Vaujany, Oz 3300 and Villard-Reculas.

🏔️ About the Author

Picture of FRANCOIS LONGIN

FRANCOIS LONGIN

I started skiing in Alpe d'Huez in 1988, and since then I still explore every slope in the area with the same pleasure, the same desire and always with caution because one day is not like another.