Skiing in Vars
France · La Forêt Blanche
40% of the slopes are easy (green and blue) — better for those who already ski.
Plan a ski trip to Vars with the full price in plain sight, for 2 adults.
The resort
In the Hautes-Alpes, to the south near Briançon, Vars les Claux (~1,650 m) is the most sport-focused resort in the shared La Forêt Blanche area. It is home to the world speed-skiing record run (Chabrières, with marks above 250 km/h) and links by lifts to neighbouring Risoul, adding up to ~185 km of pistes between 1,650 and 2,750 m. You reach it via Milan-Malpensa (MXP, ~2h45 via Montgenèvre/Briançon) or via Geneva (GVA, ~3h).
How to get there
Fly into Milan (MXP) · Geneva (GVA) · Marseille (MRS)
Car
Pick up at Milan (MXP)
~2h45–3hTrain
MXP → Malpensa Express → train Milan–Oulx → Zou bus 76 Oulx–Briançon → TER Briançon–Montdauphin-Guillestre → Zou shuttle 571 to Vars (~40 min)
~7hGVA → FlixBus/BlaBlaCar Bus to Grenoble (~2h45) → TER Grenoble–Montdauphin-Guillestre (~3h40) → Zou shuttle 571 to Vars (~40 min)
~8hCoach
MRS (bus station bay 3, 14:50) → direct Line 50 coach to Vars Sainte-Marie (19:00) / Vars Tourist Office (19:05), ~4h15; Sat/Sun 20 Dec–8 Mar (+ Fri in Feb), booking mandatory; return Vars 07:35 → MRS 11:45
~4h15Transfer
Door to door, just your group
Transfers are compared in your plan, for your dates and group.
Routes checked Aug 2026. Times are typical, door to door from the airport.
Fly from
The village
Vars les Claux is the lively, ski-in/ski-out heart of the resort, with the Chabrières gondola in the centre and shops at the foot of the slopes. The traditional villages of Sainte-Marie, Sainte-Catherine and Saint-Marcellin, down in the valley, keep their alpine character and connect to the same area.