Favoured by Teachers: Why Pra Loup is A Great Ski Resort for Schools

In December, Equity invited 27 experienced teachers on an inspection visit to Pra Loup, a well-established ski resort in the southern French Alps. While we at Equity have worked with the resort for a long time and sent many schools here over the years, the aim of this trip was simple: to see directly, through teachers’ eyes, how well the resort supports the realities of running a school ski trip in 2026, and how it holds up so early in the season.

The response was excellent. Teachers on the trip described Pra Loup as "very suitable" for school groups, and would recommend it to their students and peers.

Read on to find out more about this fantastic French resort, as fed back from the teachers themselves, and delve deeper into the reality of a Pra Loup school ski trip...

Reliable snow and confidence-building early-season skiing

Early season snow reliability is often a worry for schools, particularly when trips are planned months in advance. In Pra Loup, however, teachers needn’t have worried. They arrived to a resort blanketed in thick, well-established snow, with pistes that were clearly well-prepared and ready for December skiing.

For beginners, the nursery areas felt calm and unintimidating from the outset. Teachers noted how much space students had to practise, without the pressure of busy, fast-moving slopes. Compared to larger resorts, Pra Loup felt refreshingly unhurried, giving novice skiers the breathing room they need to build confidence at their own pace.

More confident students were equally well catered for, with a good spread of intermediate runs and clear progression routes into neighbouring areas. All of this sits within a resort that still feels contained and easy to manage, rather than sprawling or overwhelming.

A compact layout and slopeside access that makes life easier for teachers

Pra Loup’s compact design was one of the most frequently praised aspects of the resort. Accommodation, ski hire, lifts, and meeting points are all close together, which reduces walking time and simplifies daily routines, making the practicalities of running a school trip feel that much simpler.

Having hotels so close to the slopes makes a noticeable difference when travelling with school groups. In Pra Loup, many accommodations offer ski-in, ski-out access, or are just a short, straightforward walk from the main lifts.

Teachers described the resort as calm and well-organised, with a layout that naturally supports group movement and supervision. For teachers, this means mornings that start calmly rather than in a rush, easier returns for lunch or rest breaks, and far less reliance on coaches during the week. Teachers also commented on how intuitive the lift system felt, making it easier to move mixed-ability groups around the mountain without overcomplicating the day.

Accommodation that understands school groups

Teachers with previous experience of Pra Loup were particularly positive about the accommodation. Rooms across all our accommodation options at Equity are clean, practical, and well suited to student groups, while hotel staff are experienced in hosting schools and understand the routines and expectations that come with them.

Food was also highlighted as a strength, with good-quality meals that meet the needs of active teenagers. Importantly, accommodation in Pra Loup was seen as supporting the flow of a school ski trip, and teachers were grateful they did not contribute any extra challenges to wrestle with at the end of a long day.

Evenings that are structured but not overwhelming

For many, the après-ski on a school ski trip are just as important as the time on the slopes themselves. Pra Loup offers a range of appropriate evening activities, both within hotels and locally, helping schools create structured, engaging programmes across the week.

Teachers appreciated that the resort offers enough variety without feeling overstimulating – or being too far to travel. This balance helps students wind down, settle into routines, and stay energised for skiing the next day, all of which makes behaviour easier to manage.

Ski instruction teachers trust

Though all feedback about Pra Loup was overwhelmingly positive, the strongest praise of the trip was reserved for the ski schools and ski instruction. Those who had previously run trips to Pra Loup spoke with confidence about the consistency and quality of the teaching, reporting clear progress across the week – particularly for complete beginners – supported by patient, structured instructors who are experienced in working with school groups.

Combined with calm beginner areas and a logical piste layout, this creates an environment where students can feel safe, supported, and proud of their progress, resulting in genuine pride of how far they’ve come by the end of the trip.

At a glance: why teachers choose Pra Loup

✔ Rated “very suitable” for school trips
✔ Reliable December snow
✔ Quiet, compact, and safe resort
✔ Excellent beginner areas and progression routes
✔ Slopeside accommodation ideal for school groups
✔ Strong ski instruction and student progress
✔ Manageable layout for younger students

Interested in a school ski trip to Pra Loup?

Pra Loup stands out because it supports not just students, but the teachers leading them. It offers a calm, well-organised setting where learning, confidence, and enjoyment can flourish, without adding unnecessary pressure to those in charge.

Based on direct teacher feedback, Pra Loup remains our favourite French ski resort for school groups, especially for schools planning beginner or mixed-ability trips, and for teachers who want a resort that simply works.

If you’re thinking about a school ski trip and want a destination that feels supportive, reassuring, and rewarding for both students and staff, Pra Loup is one we recommend with confidence. To find out more, get in touch by calling us on 01273 961834, or filling out our webform, and our school trip experts will get back to you as soon as we can.