Rise Festival

• Where? Les 2 Alpes, France
• When? 9th – 16th December 2023
• Website? https://www.rise-festival.com

As a newcomer to the world of alpine partying, I had no idea what to expect from Rise Festival 2022. My heart was predominantly set on hitting the slopes, feasting on fondue and dancing to Sister Sledge. Whilst admittedly, the week consisted of a lot more partying than skiing, it was an unforgettable experience, jam-packed with great music, beautiful scenery and a wonderful mix of people!

The town itself is a brilliant location for an alpine festival, with lots of bars, restaurants and clubs available, and the main stage is conveniently located in the centre. Whilst not exactly traditional French cuisine, there were two restaurants/cafes that really stood out for us: Yonder Cafe & Trattoria Pasta Mia. For après, we spent most of our afternoons dancing in the Umbrella Bar located at the foot of the slopes, or up top at the Pano Bar, which was a crowd favourite. Whilst the festival itself takes place in the evenings, be on the look out for secret party announcements which can pop-up on the slopes. The highlight of the trip for me however, was Bongo’s Bingo, which I highly recommend booking in advance. It was great fun and incredibly interactive, with lots of dancing on chairs, singing and rum punch!

It was my first time skiing in France, as much of my childhood was spent in the Swiss Alps. The slopes are wide, and despite taking place in early season, the conditions were a lot better than I was expecting. There are plenty of options for beginners and lifelong skiers, and there is even the option of glacier skiing up at the top (my personal favourite). It’s possible to ski right back to the centre of the town, however I am not too convinced by the promise of ski-in / ski-out accommodation…

In Retrospect…

The experience itself is fairly seamless, with festival tickets, accommodation, ski passes and ski hire all included in the up-front cost of £500. In retrospect, there are a few things I would have done differently, but I can’t complain with the ease of the process in general. My recommendation to anyone considering Rise would be to book your accommodation separately, as I was rather disappointed on arrival. I would also recommend getting to the resort as early as possible on the first day, as collecting skis, wrist-bands and checking-in is a rather long winded process.

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@theamateurarchive

Such a fun week ❄️❤️ #festival #risefestival #risefestival2022 #foryou #skiing #les2alpes #lesdeuxalpes

♬ som original – g.marie