Do you live in Bordeaux and want to go skiing for a weekend or during your next holiday? No worries, this short guide introduces the main resorts 3 to 4 hours from Bordeaux, accessible by train or car. Here’s our selection of Pyrénées ski resorts!
But how do you choose the best ski resort among those most easily accessible from Bordeaux? This guide also gives an overview of activities, ski areas, and the atmosphere at each resort: you can pick depending on what you want to do during your stay, whether you travel with family, as a couple, or with friends.
Tourmalet – 2h45 drive
The largest ski area in the French Pyrenees, discover the combined resorts of La Mongie and Barèges: Le Grand Tourmalet. It has a ski area covering 100 kilometers, 69 slopes, 28 lifts, and reaches 2,500 meters altitude.
All skiers and snowboarders will find suitable activities, with slopes evenly divided between green and blue for beginners, and red and black for advanced skiers.
The resort is also famous for off-piste skiing from the Pic du Midi down to the slopes of Barèges, Artigues-Campan, or Taoulet.
The high-mountain area of the Pic du Midi is even ranked among the 50 most beautiful sites in the world, according to English traveler Patrick Thorne, who selected it in his book "Powder: the greatest ski runs on the planet." An exceptional recognition!
From the Pic du Midi at 2,877 meters, the main freeride routes are:
- Route 1: La Mongie/Artigues-Campan slope, "la Coume du Pic" – 10 km descent with 1,700 m vertical drop
- Route 2: Barèges slope to the Tourmalet chairlift, with Pic du Midi tickets including return to La Mongie via this lift.
- Route 3: From the Taoulet intermediate station at 2,341 m, routes "la Jaune," "la Verte," or "la Violette."
Note: these areas are reserved for experienced off-piste skiers.
How to get to Tourmalet from Bordeaux?
- By car: 2h45 (282 km) from Bordeaux; note that the Tourmalet pass is closed to cars in winter – consider carpooling.
- By Ski-Bus: buses and coaches connect Barèges and La Mongie.
Where to rent equipment at Tourmalet?
Sport 2000 is present in both villages: rent your gear at Sport 2000 Locaski in Barèges, and at La Mongie, choose among Sport 2000 Alti Sport, Sport 2000 Le Rond Point, and Sport 2000 Planète Glisse.
Gourette – 3h10 by car
If you prefer skiing to the East, Gourette, a flagship resort of the Pyrenees, is for you. Located at 1,400 meters in the commune of Eaux-Bonnes, the resort is also known to cycling enthusiasts, particularly for the Tour de France, where the Col de L’Aubisque is a famous passage.
The ski area covers 120 hectares with 42 km of marked slopes from 1,350 to 2,450 meters. Beginners can learn skiing or snowboarding in the Bezou area: a secure 14-hectare zone with 1 gondola, 1 chairlift, and 3 conveyor belts. If you want to teach your children to ski, Gourette is the place to be! Advanced skiers can enjoy technical descents on the Cotch or Pène Blanque sectors, with a vertical drop of 1,000 meters.
The resort has 14 lifts, 36 slopes, 2 mountain restaurants, a French ski school, and an independent instructor. For advanced skiers or thrill-seekers, snowparks, rail park, pump park N'Py Moov, and big air are available.
You can also enjoy restaurants, snowshoe hiking trails, Nordic baths, outdoor sauna, igloo night, snake gliss (sledding), etc.
How to get to Gourette from Bordeaux?
- By car: take the A62 then A65 motorway, exit 9.1 Pau West, then head towards Pau.
- By train: Pau station 50 km away, then shuttle – OssauLib'.
- By plane: Pau-Pyrénées International Airport, 60 km.
Where to rent equipment at Gourette?
Save time with our online ski rental service at Gourette: Sport 2000 Le Caribou Pyrénéen. You can rent a wide range of equipment for a day, weekend, or longer stay.
Cauterets – 3 hours from Bordeaux
Both a small mountain town and a village with an elegant city-like feel, Cauterets is an exception in the Pyrenees. This spa resort hides a ski area in winter, with two ski zones: Cirque du Lys and Le Pont d'Espagne, relatively close to Bordeaux.
If you think snow only falls in the Alps, think again: Cirque du Lys was named the snowiest resort in France in 2013 and 2019. This makes it a top destination for skiing in the Pyrenees. Both children and adults will find what they came for: beginner areas at the edge of the slopes, snowparks, and many sledding areas.
For cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, head to Le Pont d'Espagne just 7 km from the village. Gentle slopes and paths offer dozens of walks in the heart of the Pyrénées National Park.
How to get there from Bordeaux?
- By car: head towards Lourdes on the A64, then Argelès-Gazost and Cauterets.
- By ski bus: Cauterets-Lourdes bus line, including a day pass + round-trip bus fare.
- By train: Lourdes SNCF station.
- By plane: Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport (40 min) or Pau-Pyrénées Airport.
Where to rent ski equipment in Cauterets?
Equip yourself with skis, snowshoes, or other gear at Sport 2000 L'Atelier du Ski.
Saint-Lary – 3h30 by car
Still in the Pyrenees, this time in the Aure Valley, Saint-Lary is a quintessential Pyrenean mountain resort, combining lakes, rivers, sunshine, and warm local hospitality. The resort is attached to the Tourmalet ski area, a major advantage.
The slopes comprise 56 trails, snow-covered late into the season, with 700 ha of skiable terrain and 100 km of slopes: 11 black, 15 red, 26 blue, 7 green.
How to reach Saint-Lary from Bordeaux?
- By car: head towards Saint-Lary Soulan, just over 3 hours from Bordeaux.
Where to rent skis at Saint-Lary?
During your ski holidays in Saint-Lary, or via online booking, rent quality equipment at one of our two shops: SPORT 2000 FRANCE SKI or SPORT 2000 LOC AVENTURE.
Font-Romeu – 5h from Bordeaux
Located in the Pyrenees, Font-Romeu is also relatively close to Bordeaux, 450 km away. The resort is popular with winter sports enthusiasts due to its beautiful ski panorama.
At 1,775 m altitude, the resort offers 43 ski or snowboard slopes, 2 sled runs, a snowpark, and a kids’ and beginners’ area. Most of the ski area is covered by snow cannons, ensuring quality snow throughout the season. The variety of slopes suits both beginners and advanced skiers.
Additionally, Font-Romeu is among the sunniest resorts in France, with over 3,000 hours of sun per year, making it a favorite destination for Bordelais.
How to get there from Bordeaux?
By car: about 4h45 to cover the 450 km from Bordeaux to Font-Romeu.
Can you rent ski equipment at Font-Romeu?
Sport 2000 is located in the town: Sport 2000 Sports Mountains is open all winter and offers online rental. You can rent equipment for alpine skiing, ski touring, snowboarding, freeride, etc.