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Beginners: are well catered for with the Stade debutants area which is easily reached from the cable car station with a drag lift and newly installed magic carpet. In addition there is the Mini Club crèche next door and play area for non-skiing children. Lower down there are the two drag lifts, Source and Plateau leading on to a green and separate easy blue run. Parents can watch their little beginners from the slopes or even slightly further away from the comfort of a deckchair on the café terrace.
Intermediate: Cirque du Lys is perfect for intermediate skiers allowing progression from all the easy blues to the more challenging reds. There are four chairlifts and three drag lifts serving the ski area including the fast 6-man Crêtes chairlift. You can either ski down the central area of the Cirque via the fun blues including Gentiane or Dryade, or travel along the top ridge of the Crêtes run with its incredible views over multiple valleys and across to the National Park mountain range, before descending down various blues and reds to the station. To the north lies the two reds of Malh Blanc and Edelweiss running through stunning scenery below the peak of Soum de Grum.
Advanced: For the more experienced there are a selection of challenging reds and a few blacks as well as the exciting off-piste selection. Skiing from 2415m down to 1730m provides a range of slopes to get the heart pumping and the legs burning. As you can get back up to the top quickly repeat sessions can allow you to practise your technique.
Boarders: With the large off-piste areas between runs and the Espace Freestyle snowpark area with 10 tables, five rails, one hip, and a beginner’s track with 10 domes as well as a boardercross of 1000m descent for thrills, Cirque du Lys is becoming ever popular with snowboarders. Apart from the green runs at the bottom of the ski area, snowboarders don’t need to worry about getting stuck on flat pistes and all the slopes are accessible via the chairlift system so no need to struggle up drag lifts.
Off-piste: There are lots of easily accessible off-piste opportunities to be had in the Cirque du Lys, winding their way between the runs and off to the sides. This greatly enlarges the skiing area and can provide some great off-piste opportunities with the benefit of getting back on the pistes and the chairlifts easily.
For the more experienced and thrill seekers, the best idea is to hire a guide who can open up the whole world of the surrounding Pyrenean valleys and summits, including the further afield, Pic Du Midi descent.
Beginners: Stade Debutants run is ideal and also has fun activities for children.
Intermediate: First run of the day on empty slopes, top to bottom in on Dryade, blast down this run often used as a slalom course, linking up to the Gentiane then all the way down the Sacca to the Cretes 6-man chairlift
Advanced: : Along the top of Cretes with its stunning views, then down the Orchis through a mixed terrain depending which route you take, moguls, gullies or pisted black depending on grooming.
