New Build Properties in
Les Deux Alpes

AREA GUIDE & LIFESTYLE

Les Deux Alpes: A Resort Built Around Altitude and Energy

Les Deux Alpes is one of the most distinctive ski resorts in the French Alps, a resort of genuine scale and character set on a high-altitude plateau in the Oisâns massif in Isère, with its foundations in the mountains themselves. Stretching from the village at 1,650m up to the Glacier du Mont de Lans at 3,600m, the resort commands an exceptional vertical range and offers one of the most impressive skiing experiences in continental Europe. Established in the 1930s, Les Deux Alpes is France’s second-oldest ski resort, a lineage that speaks to the enduring appeal of this corner of the Oisâns.

For buyers seeking new build property in the French Alps, Les Deux Alpes offers something increasingly rare: a resort of true international standing, with a vibrant year-round character, compelling lifestyle credentials, and a property market that remains accessible by comparison to the most prestigious addresses in the Alps.

Les Deux Alpes at a Glance

A Resort with Its Own Identity

Les Deux Alpes has a distinctive layout. Rather than clustering tightly around a single focal point, the resort spreads across a broad, open plateau well-suited to exploring on foot, by bike, or on skis. The main artery, the Avenue de la Muzelle, runs through the heart of the village and is lined with restaurants, boutiques, and ski schools. The resort has a lively, sociable character throughout the year, attracting a wide international audience from across Europe and beyond.

The accommodation landscape at Les Deux Alpes is overwhelmingly dominated by second homes and investment properties. Secondary residences account for around 84% of the market, with primary residences making up just 12%. This profile reflects the resort’s fundamental identity: a destination owned and loved by those who return season after season.

Skiing: Europe’s Highest Skiable Glacier

The ski area at Les Deux Alpes is built around one of Europe’s great natural assets: the Glacier du Mont de Lans, which reaches 3,600 metres and guarantees exceptional snow conditions throughout the winter season and well into summer. With 200 kilometres of marked runs across 410 hectares of skiable terrain and a vertical drop exceeding 2,300 metres, the domain caters to every level from wide, confidence building glacier runs to challenging steeps and world class freestyle terrain.

The new Jandri Express 3S cable car, a €135 million investment that opened for the 2024 - 2025 winter season,transformed access to the glacier, reducing journey time from the base to the upper mountain from 40 minutes to just 17. Each cabin carries up to 32 passengers in four-season configuration, and the system is designed for year-round operation. Nearby, the Vallons de la Meije offer access to La Grave, legendary among expert and freeride skiers for its wild off-piste terrain.

Après-Ski & Resort Lifestyle

Les Deux Alpes has a well earned reputation for vibrant après-ski and a lively resort atmosphere that extends well into the evening. Bars and restaurants along the Avenue de la Muzelle fill after the lifts close, with a mix of traditional alpine dining and cosmopolitan energy that draws a broad international crowd. Fondue, raclette, and tartiflette share menus with international cuisine, and the resort’s sizeable snowpark attracts a freestyle-oriented visitor base that adds to the youthful, energetic character of the village.

Families are equally well provided for: the resort offers a 1,800m² outdoor ice rink in the heart of the village, ice caves at 3,400 metres, horse-drawn sleigh rides, torchlit descents, snowshoe excursions, and dog sledding. Multiple wellness centres and spa facilities provide a quieter counterpoint to mountain days.

Summer in Les Deux Alpes: A Genuinely Year-Round Destination

Les Deux Alpes is one of only a handful of resorts in Europe where summer skiing is genuinely available made possible by the glacier, which supports ski training and leisure skiing through July. The summer lift season runs from June through to the end of August, giving access to mountain biking, hiking, via ferrata, paragliding, and an extraordinary range of outdoor activities set against the backdrop of the Écrins National Park, one of the finest protected mountain landscapes in France.

This genuine year-round season has a direct and meaningful impact on rental occupancy. Unlike resorts dependent on winter alone, Les Deux Alpes generates demand from winter ski visitors, summer glacier skiers, professional training camps, mountain bikers, hikers, and families providing a breadth of occupancy that underpins investment returns throughout the year.

INVESTMENT CASE

The Investment Case for Les Deux Alpes Property

The property market in Les Deux Alpes occupies a compelling position within the broader French Alps landscape. Internationally recognised for its glacier, its freestyle credentials, and its dual season appeal, the resort draws buyers and visitors from across Europe and beyond. Yet unlike the highest priced addresses in the Alps, Les Deux Alpes has maintained accessible entry level pricing offering investors a genuine opportunity to acquire property in a resort with proven international draw, at values that remain attractive relative to peers of comparable standing.

Why New Build Properties in Les Deux Alpes Are So Sought-After

New build property in Les Deux Alpes occupies a particularly compelling position within the resort’s market. The combination of glacier assured snow cover, a genuine dual season visitor economy, and the transformative impact of the Jandri Express 3S means that well positioned new build residences delivered to modern RE2020 thermal standards are attracting sustained interest from international buyers who recognise both the lifestyle and the investment credentials of the resort.

The resort’s second home market dominance 84% of all properties are non primary residences reflects an ownership base built around seasonal use and rental income rather than permanent habitation. New build developments within managed schemes benefit directly from this dynamic: professional operators handle lettings, maintenance, and guest services, while owners enjoy the flexibility of personal use weeks alongside a structured return on their investment. For buyers unable to visit frequently, the managed model removes the operational burden entirely while preserving full ownership rights.

For a full guide to buying new build property in Valmorel as an international buyer including the legal process, tax considerations, mortgage options, and step-by-step VEFA purchasing guide visit our dedicated buyer's guide: French New Build Buying Process

Market Fundamentals: Why the French Alps Endure

• Geographic scarcity. Ski resort land cannot be replicated; supply of quality new-build properties is structurally constrained

  
  

• Consistent international demand from UK, European, Scandinavian, and North American buyers

  
  

• A mature legal framework protecting buyers throughout the VEFA purchase process

  
  

• France’s stable political environment and robust rule of law

• Active infrastructure investment at Les Deux Alpes reinforcing long-term resort credibility

  
  

• Genuine year-round rental demand across ski, glacier, and summer seasons

Investment Performance at a Glance

Two-Season Rental Demand in Les Deux Alpes

Unlike coastal or urban properties, Les Deux Alpes generates rental demand across two clearly defined and reliable seasons. The winter season. December through April is driven by the ski area and glacier, drawing visitors from across Europe, the UK, and further afield. The summer season, June through August attracts mountain bikers, hikers, glacier skiers, training camps, and families seeking high-altitude escape. This dual-season model materially improves annual occupancy rates and strengthens the investment case compared to single season destinations

New-build residences in ski resorts such as Les Deux Alpes are particularly well suited to the LMNP model, given the structured lease arrangements offered by specialist mountain residence operators. These arrangements provides rental income to the property owner and delegate day-to-day management including maintenance, marketing, guest handling, and housekeeping to a professional operator. Owners retain the right to use their freehold property for a set number of weeks per year, combining lifestyle enjoyment with investment return.

Les Deux Alpes vs the Wider Alpine Market

Les Deux Alpes sits at an accessible price point within the French Alps hierarchy typically €5,000 to €10,000+ per m² for new build, against €20,000+ in ultra-prime resorts such as Courchevel 1850 and Val d'Isère, and at a discount to comparable-altitude purpose-built resorts in the Tarentaise such as Les Arcs and La Plagne. Yet the resort's credentials are objectively strong: a glacier that Alpe d'Huez cannot match, 200 km of pistes, one of Europe's leading snowparks, and a dual-season visitor economy extending from late November to early July. For buyers seeking a glacier-assured, internationally recognised resort at a price point that has not yet fully reflected its standing, Les Deux Alpes represents genuine relative value within the French Alps new build market.

We specialise exclusively in new build and off-plan luxury property across the French Alps and the French Riviera. If you're ready to begin your property search or want to explore exclusive developments currently available, our team is here to help.

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