Les Carroz Winter Sports

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Winter Sports

Alpine Skiing and Boarding

The Grand Massif is a superb ski and snowboard area for all levels. It has the best views of the Mont Blanc Massif and it's wide cruisy sunny runs make it enjoyable through all months of winter. Choose between the Massif and Grand Massif ski pass (the only difference is the Grand Massif includes Flaine which is a huge powder bowl of snow in winter and very high so snow sure and superb for off-piste!) The ski areas are open from December to May, subject to snow conditions. Summer skiing is not offered here.

Cross Country Skiing

More and more people are looking to give cross country skiing a go. It's a great way of exploring the beautiful winter landscapes away from the crowds - you really can experience the wilderness and get in touch with nature just a few kilometres out of the resort. It's a relatively easy sport to pick up as long as you are reasonably fit. Skis and boots are lighter with your heels free to push yourself along. The majority of cross-country takes place on prepared and signed trails called "Loipe", and these are graded from blue to black, easy to difficult, the harder trails having more ascent and descent. But overall, most of the skiing takes places on relatively flat terrain, therefore takes place in valley bottoms, or high mountain plateaux. This is superb sport for those who want to get outside in the mountain air, burn some calories but not necessarily adhere to the descents of alpine skiing! You can hire your equipment from most shops. You can also book yourself lessons to get yourself going quicker. Grand Massif has over 30km of cross-country trails dotted around. To all cross-country skiers, the resort suggests one of the two nordic ski areas nearby where both classic and skating trails are prepared. Free cross-country ski shuttle buses enable skiers to easily get to the Agy Nordic ski area or the free shuttle bus get skiers to the more technical cross-country skiing area of the Col de Pierre Carrée in Flaine which is at an altitude of 1800m. It is also accessible by car (snow tyres and/or chains recommended). Known as "Ski de Fond" in French.

Snow Shoeing

This is a means of travelling through the snowy mountains on foot at either low or high altitudes. Another brilliant sport for those who do not wish to ski. One has to be fit, comfortable with snow and competent in the mountains particularly in winter conditions. It is very enjoyable though since you get away from the crowded pistes and get to see the local wild life such as chamois and marmottes. Known as "Raquettes" in French.

Ski Touring

The Grand Massif is excellent for ski touring. Ski touring is a great way to access nature as it was intended to be seen. The Massif is a vast area of spectacular mountains. The lifts provide easy access to the mountain wilderness that make this region special. With the necessary equipment and a bit of hard work, riders will be able to escape the crowds on the slopes and find some great skiing. Known as "Ski de Randonee" in French.

Ski Areas

The ski resort of Les Carroz, situated at an altitude of 1140m, is the highest of the Grand Massif resort villages and also the easiest to get to, being barely 10 minutes from the nearest motorway exit (and no traffic lights along the way). With its 70 years of experience, it is blessed with an exceptional ski area amongst towering pine trees and breathtakingly steep slopes and equipped with the very latest infrastructure. SOREMAC SEM (combined state & privately funded company), which has managed Les Carroz’s ski area since 1984, obtained the ISO 9001:2000 certificate in April 2007 and is planning one of the most ambitious investment projects over the next 5 years. The Grand Massif ski area comprises 5 linked ski resorts – Les Carroz, Flaine, Morillon, Samoëns and Sixt Fer à Cheval, 265km of pistes, ranging from 750m to 2500m in altitude, surrounded by pine forests, total altitude variation 20000m, 2 snow parks and man-made snow 236 snow cannons, enjoy the pleasures of our ski area. It only takes 6 minutes from Les Carroz to the heart of the Grand Massif ski area using the 8-place Kédeuse telecabine.

Grand Massif 1140-2500m green blue red black

Grand Massif Piste Map

The Grand Massif includes 265km of pistes. It links five resorts 5 linked resorts: Les Carroz, Flaine, Morillon, Samoens and Sixt. The highest point is 2500m.

Massif green blue red black

Massif Piste Map

The Massif area includes 130km of pistes. It links four resorts: Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoens and Sixt. The highest point is 2200m.

Other Ski Areas

Chamonix - Vallee Blanche

Chamonix is dominated by the 3842m Aiguille du Midi, reached by cable-car from the southern side of town. This is the starting point for the famous Vallée Blanche, a glorious 22km descent past yawning crevasses and house-sized séracs (ice boulders) all the way back to Chamonix. Anyone who can ski parallel and who is not afraid of heights can tackle the easiest of the four main routes, but you must take a guide. At the start you have to negotiate the ice steps cut into the spine of the ridge leading down from the cable-car station. They are not difficult, but the 2000m sheer drop to your left can have an unsettling psychological effect. The return to Chamonix is by rack-and-pinion railway from Montenvers or via a short climb and a long descent down a narrow path and piste to a cowbell factory on the outskirts of Chamonix.

Italy - Courmayeur green blue red black

You can also go for a day through the Mont Blanc tunnel to the Italian resort of Courmayeur. It takes half an hour to drive to the ski areas of Val Veny through the Mont Blanc tunnel. The skiing there is varied but not as difficult usually as in the Chamonix valley. You will also find the restaurants far cheaper!