6 of the Best Novice Ski Resorts

Tignes

Tignes has a variety of fantastic green slopes in areas including Le Lac and Val Claret, which are designed to help novices ease into skiing without overwhelming them with difficult terrain. The slopes are wide and gentle, perfect for those just learning to turn and stop. Tignes is one of the best novice ski resorts as it  offers dedicated “Ski Start” zones for beginners, which are well-marked, separated from faster traffic, and have softer slopes to allow for controlled practice. These zones often include magic carpets and easy-to-ride drag lifts, ideal for those just getting started.

Tignes has excellent ski schools, including Evolution 2 and other internationally recognized options, that offer tailored lessons for all ages and abilities. With the option to learn to ski or snowboard, Evolution 2 offers both group and private lessons, helping novices gain confidence quickly. If you’ve already booked your Ski Vertigo holiday, don’t worry you can add on your tuition by simply phoning our Customer Support team!

Unique to Tignes, beginners can even ski on the Grande Motte Glacier, where there are easy, gentle slopes available. This key feature of why Tignes is one of the best novice ski resorts as it allows novices to experience the excitement of glacier skiing and incredible views without the challenge of steeper slopes.  For those who progress quickly, Tignes is linked to the Val d’Isère ski area, giving access to a vast network of runs across different skill levels. This makes it easy for beginners to advance to intermediate slopes when they’re ready.

As one of the best novice ski resorts, Tignes offers a beginner lift pass that provides access only to the areas with beginner-friendly runs, making it a budget-friendly option for those not ready to tackle the whole mountain. If you’re just looking to have a go on your first trip, or you’ve got your sights set on more of the non-skiing activities, this could be a great option for you! Tignes offers a variety of non-skiing activities, like snowshoeing, dog sledding, and ice diving, which are great for novices when want a break from skiing while still enjoying the mountain environment.

Val d'Isere

Val d’Isère has dedicated beginner zones, especially in the Solaise and La Daille areas, which have gentle slopes and terrain specifically for those new to skiing. The Solaise area, in particular, has a “ski tranquil” zone with gentle, wide slopes ideal for learning in a relaxed environment and helping to make it one of the best novice ski resorts. Val d’Isère provides nursery slopes with free access, such as the Village area close to the main resort base. These slopes are excellent for absolute beginners looking to practise at their own pace without the pressure of purchasing a lift pass right away.

Val d’Isère has so many options for well-regarded ski schools, but when you book with Ski Vertigo, we always choose Evolution 2. Just like in Tignes, they offer personalised lessons, including beginner classes specifically tailored to children and adult learners alike. You’ll also be able to book private lessons if you would benefit from some more one on one tuition.

Once you start to feel comfortable on nursery slopes, you can advance to longer green runs and easy blue slopes, like the Madeleine run on the Solaise mountain. This variety allows the opportunity to experience a real sense of skiing while staying within a comfortable difficulty range. As one of the best novice ski resorts, Val d’Isère is careful to mark routes clearly, so novices can feel safe about progressing from green to blue runs without stumbling onto harder slopes by mistake. The runs in the beginner areas are spacious and less crowded, allowing beginners to practise turns and stops in a safe space.

Similarly to Tignes, the resort offers beginner-specific lift passes that give access to just the areas suited for novices. This is a great option for those who want to keep costs down while focusing on learning the basics. If you’ve chosen this option, there’s still plenty to do! Val d’Isère offers a range of alternative winter activities like ice skating, dog sledding, and spa facilities. These activities are perfect for beginners who are looking for a shorter skiing day or who are with friends or family at different skill levels.

Val Thorens

At 2,300 metres, Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe. This altitude ensures reliable snow coverage throughout the season, meaning novices will have quality snow conditions, making learning easier. As one of the best novice ski resorts, it has a dedicated beginner area near the village centre, with gentle nursery slopes and magic carpets, that make it easy for first-timers to practise. These beginner areas are spacious and separated from faster skiers, creating a safe, calm environment for learning.

Val Thorens has a variety of green and blue runs that offer gentle gradients, perfect for novices progressing from the nursery slopes. For example, the “2 Lacs” lift area has wide, easy slopes ideal for practising turns and stops without encountering steep or challenging terrain. As well as this, it offers snow gardens, covered magic carpets, and slow-speed zones, making it easier for beginners to control their speed and safely navigate their way through the learning process.

Val Thorens is home to several reputable ski schools, including Oxygene, that provide tailored lessons for everyone from beginners to the most advanced riders. Oxygene offers both group and private lessons, in the morning or afternoon, helping novices build confidence and improve quickly. If you want to add tuition to your Ski Vertigo holiday in Val Thorens, call our Customer Support Team to help you!

Val Thorens offers a “mini pass” option, providing access only to beginner lifts and slopes at a reduced rate. This makes it one of the best novice ski resorts and lets novices stay on the easy terrain without committing to a full lift pass until they’re ready to explore more. The resort’s layout is compact, and all our chalets are ski-in/ski-out, which makes it convenient for beginners to access the slopes and return to the village easily. This layout reduces the need for novice skiers to navigate complicated lift systems to get back to base.

With loads of progression opportunities available, even the fastest learners will have something to look forward to! As and when you’re ready, you can try the wider Three Valleys ski area, which is seamlessly connected to Val Thorens. This allows for gradual progression from green and blue slopes in Val Thorens to beginner-friendly slopes in nearby resorts like Les Menuires.

Les Menuires

Home to Reberty 2000, Les Menuires offers a range of wide green and easy blue slopes, which are perfect for building confidence and practising turns. The gentle gradient and spacious runs in areas like La Croisette and Les Bruyères make it easy for beginners to feel comfortable and in control. If you’re travelling with young children, you my consider staying at the chalet hotel of our sister brand Ski Famille, where your children can have ski lessons on a private nursery slope. 

Les Menuires has specific areas designed for novices, such as the Roc des 3 Marches sector, with protected beginner zones separated from the more challenging runs. These zones offer magic carpets and slow-speed chairlifts, making it one of the best novice ski resorts and also easier for first-timers to get used to the ski lift experience without worry. The resort offers beginner passes that are budget-friendly and give access only to the lifts servicing green and easy blue slopes. This keeps costs down for those focusing on the basics before they’re ready to explore more challenging terrain.

Les Menuires has a variety of well-regarded ski schools, including ESF, who teaches all the lessons booked through Ski Vertigo and Ski Famille. They offer group and private lessons tailored to beginners, ensuring novices receive the support and guidance they need to progress at their own pace. Whether you’re looking to ski or snowboard, ESF will find the perfect instructor for you!

Les Menuires is very family-oriented, with childcare options, beginner ski programs for children, and a ski-in/ski-out village layout. The easy access to slopes and family-friendly amenities make it an excellent choice for families with young or first-time skiers. It features an ideal range of runs that allow beginners to progress from simple green slopes to more challenging blue runs as your confidence builds in one of the best novice ski resorts. This gives a good sense of accomplishment for novices ready to take on slightly more challenging terrain without leaving the beginner zones.

Just like Val Thorens, Les Menuires is part of the extensive Three Valleys ski area. So for novices who progress quickly, there’s easy access to neighbouring areas of  Méribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens, which have a mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced runs.

La Plagne

La Plagne is one of the best novice ski resorts and  has a vast range of gentle green and blue slopes perfect for novices. The resort is part of the Paradiski area and has many wide, gentle runs around villages like Plagne Centre, Plagne Bellecôte, and Belle Plagne, all designed to help beginners build confidence. Each of La Plagne’s villages has dedicated nursery slopes and learning areas with magic carpets, drag lifts, and low-speed chairlifts to make getting around easier for first-time skiers. These areas are separate from more advanced terrain, providing a safer, stress-free environment for practice.

Chalet Delphine offers ski in – ski out convenience and is located just opposite the green slope in Plagne 1800. You can learn more about Chalet Delphine with our sister company Ski Famille. La Plagne has excellent ski schools, including ESF (École du Ski Français), which offers group and private lessons tailored for beginners. ESF has experienced instructors focused on making the learning experience positive and encouraging. The meet point is just a short walk up from the Ski Famille chalets and just next to the green learning slope.

La Plagne offers beginner-specific lift passes, which are more affordable and only grant access to lifts serving green and easy blue slopes. This is a budget-friendly way for novices to ski at their own pace without committing to a full lift pass right away and contributing to it becoming one of the best novice ski resorts. Once beginners are comfortable on green runs, you can easily progress to La Plagne’s gentle blue runs, such as those around the Plagne Bellecôte and Montchavin areas. These blue slopes are long and gentle, giving beginners a rewarding experience without the intimidation of steep terrain.

La Plagne has a welcoming and laid-back atmosphere, which is particularly comforting for first-time skiers who may feel intimidated in busier or more advanced resorts. A lot of the long blue runs that are comfortable for beginners, are also surrounded by beautiful scenery and take you on adventures through the snow covered fir trees.

Les Gets

Les Gets offers many green and easy blue runs that are wide and gentle, particularly in the Chavannes area near the village centre. These slopes are well-suited to those learning the basics and building confidence on skis. The resort has designated beginner areas like the Mappys Zone, a protected space with magic carpets where beginners can practise without the pressure of other skiers moving at high speeds. This is one of the best novice ski resorts and these areas are perfect for first-timers who want a quiet place to focus on learning.

Les Gets is compact and has a ski-in/ski-out setup, meaning beginners can easily reach the slopes from most accommodations. This layout is convenient for novices, who may appreciate being close to the village centre, lifts, and beginner areas without complicated navigation. Les Gets is known as a family-oriented resort, with plenty of facilities and activities designed for children and families. The ski schools offer children’s lessons, and there are plenty of gentle slopes and non-skiing activities to make the experience fun and stress-free for all ages.

Les Gets has a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, making it less intimidating for novice skiers than busier or larger resorts. The resort is popular with families and beginners, creating a supportive environment where new skiers can feel comfortable learning at their own pace. For those ready to progress beyond the beginner slopes, Les Gets has many gentle blue runs that allow novices to take their skills to the next level without venturing into difficult terrain. Nearby areas like the Mont Chéry sector offer accessible blue runs with beautiful views, making for a rewarding experience as skills improve.

If you’re looking for a Catered Chalet Option for your family, Ski Famille offers catered chalets just 1 minute walk from the Mont Chery lift. If you love Ski Vertigo and want to share the experience with younger members of your family, then this could be a great option for you!

Les Gets has beautiful tree-lined slopes with gentle gradients, creating a scenic backdrop that adds to the enjoyment of skiing. For novices, these easy, scenic runs make the learning process more pleasant and encourage beginners to stay on the slopes longer. Les Gets also offers a variety of non-skiing activities, such as snowshoeing, ice skating, and a wellness centre.

The Best Novice Ski Resorts

A ski holiday can be loads of fun for beginners, offering both a fresh adventure and a unique way to unwind. Skiing has a quick learning curve. Even with a short lesson, you’ll pick up the basics to enjoy gentle slopes. Many of the best novice ski resorts also offer beginner-friendly trails, often with smooth runs and stunning views. The mountain views and snow-covered landscapes are breath taking. Even if you’re not skiing all day, you can take in the scenery from cosy mountain lodges or on gondola rides.

Even if skiing doesn’t end up being your favourite, the experience of a winter holiday in one of the best novice ski resorts is memorable and offers plenty of ways to have a fantastic time.