Serre-Chevalier · Hautes-Alpes · France
Chantemerle (Serre Chevalier) for families
At a glance
- Good for small children?
- Yes. 61% of the area’s mapped runs are beginner terrain.Free lift pass under 6, conditions apply.
- Childcare?
- Yes. A children’s club and daycare.Ages and booking rules vary; see the source notes.
- English-speaking ski school?
- Yes.Confirm the language of your lesson when you book.
- February half-term?
- Suitable.Christmas and Easter are suitable too.
Overview
The village and its ski area
Chantemerle sits in the Hautes-Alpes in France and is one of the villages of Serre Chevalier. The village is in Saint-Chaffrey at about 1,350 m, and it is where the Ratier gondola leaves. The ski schools, the nursery and the lodging at the foot of the slopes are all here. This guide covers Chantemerle only. Briançon, Villeneuve and Le Monêtier-les-Bains are not covered, although the terrain is shared across the whole area.
The ski area has 155 km of mapped classified downhill runs and 70 lifts. Its lowest mapped point is 1219 m and its highest is 2765 m. Those are ski-area figures for Serre Chevalier as a whole, not the altitude of the village itself. Beginner terrain makes up 60.85% of the mapped classified runs, which is a reassuring share for families with new skiers.
For 2026/27 the published operating dates for the Chantemerle sector are 5 December 2026 to 18 April 2027, with opening subject to snow. The Briançon sector runs a shorter season, from 12 December 2026 to 4 April 2027. On price, we class Chantemerle as mid tier. An adult day pass in the main season (19 December 2026 to 26 March 2027) is EUR 68, and six days cost EUR 345. A child aged 6 to 11 pays EUR 56 a day. Cheaper rates apply at the start and end of the season. This is a planning tier, not a quote, and accommodation, travel and meals will all move the real cost of a trip.
Plate I
The mountain
These figures cover Serre-Chevalier, not just this village. They exclude unclassified and freeride runs and can differ from official advertised totals.
- km of classified runs
- 155
- mapped lifts
- 70
- m from base to peak
- 1,546
Plate II
The runs
Share of the area’s mapped, classified downhill kilometres.
| Beginner | 60.9% | about 94 km |
|---|---|---|
| Intermediate | 29.2% | about 45 km |
| Advanced | 10.0% | about 15 km |
| Expert | 0.0% | about 0 km |
Plate III
For the children
- Note 2 on Children’s club
Children’s club · Yes
Ages and sessions vary; see the note
- Note 3 on Free child lift pass
Free child lift pass · Under 6
Conditions apply
- Note 4 on English-speaking ski school
English-speaking ski school · Yes
Book the lesson language you need
- Note 5 on Ski-in / ski-out
Ski-in / ski-out · Limited
At a few addresses only
- Note 6 on Daycare
Daycare · Yes
Ages and booking rules vary
- Note 7 on Non-skier activities
Non-skier activities · 2 confirmed
Snowshoeing, winter walking
- Yes
- No
- Not confirmed
Family fit
How it suits a family
For the youngest children, ESF Chantemerle runs the Club Piou Piou for ages 3 to under 5. It takes place in a fenced snow garden, with children-only groups of up to 8, taught through play by instructors and specialised childcare staff. There is a play room and a rest area. You can book morning, midday, afternoon or full-day formats over 5 or 6 sessions, starting on a Sunday or Monday. Lunch and extra care are optional, and meals are not supplied. The booking calendar runs from 12 December 2026 to 17 April 2027.
For children from 8 months to 7 years, the ESF Les Poussins nursery at Le Serre d'Aigle offers play, crafts and snow games, with no ski teaching. Hours are 08:45 to 11:45 or 08:45 to 15:00, and you will need to pack a lunch. The tourism-office listing gives 20 December 2026 to 16 April 2027, Sunday to Friday, closed on Saturdays. Places are limited and a health record is required. Prices start from EUR 90 for a full day, or EUR 95 in school holidays.
ESI Generation, at the foot of the Luc Alphand piste, says lessons can be given in French, English or Italian depending on instructor availability. Group lessons start at 4, and an English-language group is not guaranteed, so ask when you book. Lift passes for children under 6 are listed as free, issued online or at the info points, but confirm the conditions first. Two places to stay are described as at the foot of the slopes: the Grand Hôtel & Spa Nuxe, and Résidence Bois Coqs, which is a 2-minute walk from the Chantemerle snow front. Neither claims ski-in, ski-out, so expect a short walk to the lifts.
Non-skiers can use the pedestrian and snowshoe pass, which is for walkers and snowshoers only. It lets them take the Ratier gondola to marked routes such as the Sentier des Lutins, and routes open subject to snow. For school holidays, Christmas, the February half-term weeks (from 8, 15 and 22 February) and Easter all fall within the published season. The children's area, including the Club Piou Piou calendar, runs through Friday 16 April 2027, the last day of the latest UK Easter holidays. Check your school calendar, live lift status and care dates before booking.
Plate IV
When to go, and what it costs
UK school holidays, checked against the published season. Exact school dates vary.
- ChristmasSuitableSeason opens 5 December
- February half-termSuitableMid-season
- EasterSuitableSeason ends 18 April
Price tier, a broad planning estimate
- Budget
- Mid
- Premium
- Luxury
Source notes and facility restrictions
One note per field. Open a note to see its source and the date it was checked.
1Destination name22 Oct 2026
Village-level destination: Chantemerle (Saint-Chaffrey, about 1,350 m) in Serre Chevalier, where the Ratier gondola leaves and where the cited ski schools, nursery and foot-of-slope lodging are. Briançon, Villeneuve and Le Monêtier-les-Bains are not covered; shared terrain is area-wide.
2Children’s club22 Oct 2026
ESF Serre Chevalier Chantemerle runs the Club Piou Piou for children aged 3 to under 5 in a fenced snow garden: children-only groups of up to 8 learn through play with instructors and specialised childcare staff, with a play room and rest area; morning, midday, afternoon or full-day formats over 5 or 6 sessions from Sunday or Monday. Lunch and extra care are optional; meals are not supplied. Counted as a kids club on the children's ski-school groups convention (Zauchensee precedent). The booking calendar runs 12 December 2026–17 April 2027.
https://www.esf-serrechevalier-chantemerle.com/petits/club-piou-piou/
3Free child lift pass22 Oct 2026
The operator's price page says passes for children under 6 are free, issued online or at the info points; the paid child band covers ages 6–11. The page's period table is for winter 2026/27.
4English-speaking ski school22 Oct 2026
ESI Generation, based in Le Serre d'Aigle at the foot of the Luc Alphand piste in Chantemerle, says lessons can be given in French, English or Italian depending on instructor availability; group lessons start at 4. An English group is not guaranteed.
https://www.esi-generation.com/notre-ecole-de-ski/infos-pratiques/
5Ski-in / ski-out22 Oct 2026
Original access assessment: the regional tourism board's listing (updated by the Serre Chevalier tourist office) places the Grand Hôtel & Spa Nuxe (594 rue du Centre, Chantemerle) at the foot of the slopes, and the official tourism site places Résidence Bois Coqs at the foot of the slopes, a 2-minute walk from the Chantemerle snow front. Neither claims skiing to and from the door, so expect a short walk to the lifts.
6Daycare22 Oct 2026
ESF Chantemerle's Les Poussins nursery at Le Serre d'Aigle takes children from 8 months to 7 years for play, crafts and snow games (no ski teaching), 08:45–11:45 or 08:45–15:00; lunch is not supplied, so a packed meal is needed. The tourism-office listing gives 20 December 2026–16 April 2027, Sunday to Friday (closed Saturdays); places are limited and a health record is required.
https://www.esf-serrechevalier-chantemerle.com/petits/garderie/
7Non-skier activities22 Oct 2026
With the lift company's pedestrian and snowshoe pass (walkers and snowshoers only), the Ratier gondola from Chantemerle gives access to marked snowshoe and walking routes in the Chantemerle sector (Eduits de Chantemerle, Sentier des Lutins, Crêtes de Chevalier); a route map is available at the info points and tourist office, and local guides based in Saint-Chaffrey lead snowshoe outings. Routes open subject to snow.
8Price tier22 Oct 2026
Mid planning tier. Basis (owner decision 2026-10-22): official dated ski prices only; no lodging price was sampled. The batch rule compares the dated adult peak day pass with the EUR 69 premium-season day pass behind the existing mid tier for Jerzens (Hochzeiger), using the matcher's tier factors: at or below 0.8 times is budget only when dated school or childcare prices agree, at or above 1.3 times is premium, otherwise mid; luxury needs lodging evidence. The Serre Chevalier 2026/27 tariff charges an adult EUR 68 for a day and EUR 345 for six days in the main season (19 December 2026–26 March 2027), about 0.99 times the reference; child 6–11 EUR 56 a day. Cheaper rates apply at the start and end of the season. The ESF nursery in Chantemerle charges from EUR 90 a full day (EUR 95 in school holidays). Accommodation, holiday week, travel and meals can move a real trip into another tier; this is a planning tier, not a quote.
9Adult day pass23 Oct 2026
EUR 68 for an adult one-day Serre Chevalier pass in the main 2026/27 season (19 December 2026 to 26 March 2027). Price in euros, no conversion.
10Christmas22 Oct 2026
Published 2026/27 operations for the Chantemerle sector: 5 December 2026–18 April 2027 (opening subject to snow; the Briançon sector runs 12 December 2026–4 April 2027). Christmas and New Year lie within the published season; the Les Poussins nursery opens on 20 December. Check the actual school calendar, live lift status and care dates; no snow or 2028 operating guarantee.
11February half-term22 Oct 2026
Published 2026/27 operations for the Chantemerle sector: 5 December 2026–18 April 2027 (opening subject to snow; the Briançon sector runs 12 December 2026–4 April 2027). The February 2027 half-term planning weeks (from 8, 15 and 22 February) lie within the published season. Check the actual school calendar, live lift status and care dates; no snow or 2028 operating guarantee.
12Easter23 Oct 2026
Published 2026/27 operations: open daily from 5 December 2026; the Chantemerle, Villeneuve and Monêtier areas close on 18 April 2027 and the Briançon area on 4 April 2027. Suitable for an Easter break under the owner rule 2026-10-23: the family area, meaning the beginner lifts and the kids-club or ski-school children's area, and its lifts must run through Friday 16 April 2027, the last day of the latest UK Easter school holidays. The Chantemerle beginner area (Ratier gondola section 1, a carpet and the two Pré Ratier lifts) belongs to that sector, and ESF Chantemerle's 2026/27 Club Piou Piou booking calendar runs to the week of 10 to 17 April 2027, so the children's area runs through Friday 16 April. Check the actual school calendar, live lift status and care dates; no snow or 2028 operating guarantee.
Continue your research
If you are comparing Chantemerle with other French options, several resorts have a similar run mix. Flaine, Auron and Alpe d'Huez also sit in the same mid price tier. Courchevel 1850, Arc 1800 and Belle Plagne have a similar run mix too. Compare each on childcare dates, lift pass conditions and how far the lodging is from the lifts.
