Getting around/changing mountain stages
The town of Alpe d´Huez is not too big. It never takes more than 15 - 20 minutes to walk between places. During the day there are free buses. You can find timetables here (click the menu at the top).
From Tuesday to Friday there will be an additional TML-shuttle with departures every 10 minutes from 12:00 - 17:30 between Rond Point des Pistes and Rond Point de l´Europe which connects the lifts to Reflection of Love/Amare with the one to Frozen Lotus.
There are also two free lifts. One called Télécentre (or also lobster pods) connects the lower and the upper part of the town, the second one called Alpe Express connects the old town (Vieil Alpe) with the Bergers area. Those lifts are also only open during the day. But as distances are never too far you can easily walk back to your lodging after the festival ends.
To get around the mountains and to get to the slopes there are loads of different lifts. Speaking of slopes: There are slopes for each level. If you´re an advanced skier and fancy something spectacular, go for the tunnel slope or La Sarenne with its length of 16 kilometres.
The two main mountain stages (Amare and Frozen Lotus) are not actually far away but they are not on the same altitude. Depending on which slopes and lifts are open it can take you a good 30 minutes to change between those two stages. The Lievre Blanc chairlift connecting the two stages may also be closed sometimes to avoid overcrowding and to maintain crowd control. This lift is also not suitable for pedestrians who will always have to take the detour via the town. Expect some waiting times at the lifts and calculate with about an hour to change stages if you really want to be on time for the beginning of a set.
To change to the Reflection of Love stage you will always have to ski down or take a lift down to Alpe d´Huez first to catch the Signal lift which will take you up to the stage.
Important: Lifts will be closed for pedestrians if stages are at capacity. It´s advisable to arrive early for your favourite DJ. Pro tipp: Don´t change mountain stages once you´re in.
How to reach the mountain stages
- Amare: Pic Blanc 1 from Rond Point des Pistes, get off at the first stop map
- Frozen Lotus: Marmottes 1 from Bergers map
- Reflection of Love: Signal from Rond Point des Pistes or Grande Sure from Vieil Alpe map
- Friends by Coke Studio: Marmottes 1 from Bergers map
- L´Aventure by Corona: Pic Blanc 1 from Rond Point des Pistes, change for Poutran 2 at first stop, get off at the intermediate station map
- Snowcat: Be at the right place at the right time. It moves around the area.
All mountain stages are accessible for pedestrians.
Pro tipp: As a pedestrian going to Pic Blanc, although there´s no stage up there this year, you can skip the line at the aerial tramway from Lac Blanc (top of Pic Blanc 2 lift). You are allowed to use the separate entrance for ski schools (left of the main queue).
You can find a map of the lifts and slopes here.