New Gondola In Les Deux Alpes Takes Half The Time

Skiers and snowboarders visiting the popular French ski resort of Les 2 Alpes can travel up from the resort (1,650m) to its famous glacier (3,200m) at the top of the ski area even faster this season by using the new Jandri gondola.

The improved gondola system, which went into operation when the ski area opened for the season on 30 November, replaces the original Jandri which was installed in 1985.

The POMA designed state of the art lift is a far cry from the very first surface lift erected in Les 2 Alpes in 1945 which fell down 15 minutes after it was opened! Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, and Les 2 Alpes has developed into a major all year around destination, with glacier summer skiing usually available from late June to early August.

Here are the key features and improvements of the new Jandri gondola:

Capacity and Speed

The new gondola has an increased capacity and can transport up to 3,000 people per hour, a significant increase on the previous lift.

The new lift takes skiers from the base of Les 2 Alpes (1,650m) to the glacier at 3,200m in approximately 17 minutes. The former Jandri Express, took about 30+ minutes to cover the same distance.

This new speed, combined with a redesign of the loading stations, has improved efficiency, which means queues and crowding will be minimised even during peak times.

Multi-Stage Journey

Similar to the old system, the improved Jandri gondola is a multi-stage gondola that allows skiers and snowboarders to get on and off at different points. The snowpark is close to the mid-station at 2,600m meters. The top station at 3,200 meters is the start of a wide variety of runs back down to the resort, or access to the lifts to the top of the glacier at 3,600m. This also provides access to the legendary La Grave freeride area, when conditions allow.

Comfort and Technology

The new gondola cabins are designed for comfort and can accommodate 32 passengers per cabin (24 seated & 8 standing). Heated seats are available.

The latest Jandri gondola is designed to be more energy efficient. It incorporates new mechanical and electrical systems to reduce energy consumption, which in turn contributes to the resort meeting its targets to make it more eco-friendly.

Resort Investment

At a time when there are reports of French ski resorts at lower levels having to shut down their lifts for good, it is very encouraging that SATA, the lift company that has been managing the Les 2 Alpes lift system since December 2020, continues to invest millions of euros into the resort which is now the largest ski resort in the Dauphine region.

Other recent improvements include the Vallée Blanche chairlift being replaced by a télémix which takes skiers to 2,100m and the Super Venosc gondola has also been updated. There is a new green slope between Vallée Blanche and Pied-Moutet, making this part of the ski area more accessible (2,100m to 1,600m).

The Diable chairlift was replaced by a telemix (86 six-seater chairs and 28 cabins for six people). It now takes five minutes 30 seconds to go from 1,655m to 2,410m and can take up to 3,000 people per hour.

The Front de Neige at the bottom of the slopes has been redesigned and a new ski lift and a magic carpet were built in 2022 in the Viking area. There have also been lift improvements in the Coolidge area and the Champamé area. The latter allows easy links between Les Deux Alpes 1800 and the rest of the resort.

For more information about Les 2 Alpes and the accommodation and packages available through Ski Line CLICK HERE

New Gondola In Les Deux Alpes Takes Half The Time: A Summary

The French ski resort of Les 2 Alpes has launched the new Jandri gondola, significantly enhancing travel to its glacier at 3,200m. Replacing the original 1985 system, the state-of-the-art lift cuts travel time from 30 minutes to just 17, with improved capacity transporting up to 3,000 people per hour. The multi-stage gondola provides access to key areas, including a snowpark at 2,600m and runs leading to the 3,600m glacier and legendary La Grave freeride zone. Designed for comfort and sustainability, the gondola features heated seats and energy-efficient systems. Resort upgrades also include updated chairlifts, new green slopes, and redesigned base areas, cementing Les 2 Alpes’ status as a premier skiing destination.