The Complete Grand Massif Snowboard Guide

June 22, 2024 Simon Burgess

A combined five-resort ski area with reliable snow and affordability not found in other parts of France, the Grand Massif is a trip everyone should consider. From the super resort of Flaine with its art deco buildings and sculptures on the slopes to the quaint village feel of Samoëns, you can find something for everyone in Le Grand Massif. The Grand Massif combines the five resorts of Flaine, Les Carroz, Samoëns, Morillon and Sixt-Fer-A-Cheval to provide access to 265kms of slopes with a good snow record.

View before dropping into the Tete de Saix

GRAND MASSIF FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Arriving in the Grand Massif has always been hassle-free on each of my trips there. Access via transfer from Geneva airport is seamless and the transfer times to the villages are not excessive. My first trip to the Grand Massif saw me stay in Samoëns where access to the ski area is via Grand Massif Express or Vercland gondolas. Facilities and lift infrastructure throughout the Grand Massif is brilliant.

GRAND MASSIF SKI AREA

The Grand Massif Ski Area is home to five unique French Ski Resorts. Combined they account for 265km spread across 152 pistes which makes remarkable value when a season pass can be purchased for under €600 (Early Bird Pricing). The ski area of the Grand Massif doesn’t stand out as groundbreaking in that it is not the steepest or the largest however, it is well-equipped to deliver an exceptional package to its guests.

The Grand Massif can be considered one of the best combined French ski areas to visit with its extensive piste map with connecting trails offering something for the whole family. Half of the terrain in the Grand Massif is marked as green or blue pistes which means it can be great for those learning to ski or intermediates looking to explore a larger area.

The fact that the Grand Massif caters well to beginners shouldn’t put off the more able skier or snowboarder with the variation of terrain across the resorts offering substantial challenges. There are several interesting black trails and some easily accessible off-piste including Agate which is accessible from Flaine’s highest point, Tete Des Lindars (2561m).

Each resort making up the Grand Massif offers something different, so it is well worth investing in a full area pass. This is especially true given that it is not a big deal to ski from one end of the piste map to the other, which can be the case in the larger Portes Du Soleil and Three Valleys ski areas.

You can travel between the resorts of Flaine, Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoëns and Sixt using chairlifts or free shuttle buses. On piste- the links between the resorts are also well-established with plenty of options to ride between the resorts. I enjoy the Grand Massif for not being restricted to one ski area for a day. In contrast to the 3 Valleys where you may opt to ski in Val Thorens for a day and then Meribel on another, the Grand Massif is big enough to make it interesting but small enough that skiing multiple resorts in a day is not just possible but advisable.

FLAINE

Flaine represents the highest point in the Grand Massif at 2500m, ensuring a consistent snow record throughout the season. A year-round resort, Flaine comes alive in the winter and is the most well-known resort in the area.

Flaines Village as seen from a Mountain Restaurant

The pistes in Flaine are well-maintained and were designed by Emile Allais, a former French Ski Champion. The beginner’s area at Flaine is perfect for establishing those first turns. However, I would still opt for lessons in nearby Samoëns, which provides a great space for learning including a children’s park.

Intermediate skiers and snowboarders will enjoy Flaine’s expanse of terrain and easy access to the nearby resorts. There is some interesting tree riding to be found and those looking for a challenge should head towards Gers Bowl, especially when there is fresh snow.

Flaine is serviced by fast lifts and a combination of chairs and gondolas can be found. A ride on the Flaine bucket lift is a unique experience. Perhaps for beginners, the best thing about Flaine’s lift system is free access to the moving carpets, ensuring an option to self-learn.

READ THE FULL FLAINE SKI RESORT GUIDE HERE

LES CARROZ

Les Carroz sits in the heart of the Grand Massif and is an ideal location to explore the rest of the resorts. With easy access to Flaine, Samoëns and Morillon it is easy to see why so many people choose Les Carroz as their base.

Les Carroz ski resort is relatively small with 37km of local pistes however this stat doesn’t do it justice. There is plenty of fun to be found away from the piste, through the trees and in the off-piste near Corbalanche and the Tete de Saix. As a small resort, Les Carroz benefits from being part of the wider Grand Massif ski area but equally stands alone as a resort that offers a good all-round package. Les Carroz boasts a pretty awesome terrain park and boarder cross track, as well as a couple of challenging black pistes.

READ THE FULL LES CARROZ SKI RESORT GUIDE HERE

SAMOËNS

If you are looking for a slightly different ski holiday base, then Samoëns certainly offers you an alternative to purpose-built on-mountain accommodations. The beautiful village at the base of the Grand Massif Express gondola has a quaint town centre which hosts nice restaurants, ample shopping and entertainment for the children. The village of Samoëns is amongst my favourite bases for any ski holiday.

The resort itself is found above the village and is accessed via either the Grand Massif Express or Vercland gondolas. Samoëns ski resort is possibly the most versatile ski area in the Grand Massif. Ranging from one of the largest beginner areas in the French Alps to challenging off-piste skiing and snowboarding. Beginners will find everything they need in Samoëns with a steady progression of runs serviced by magic carpets and chairlifts, although this area can become a bottleneck for crowds in peak weeks.

Intermediates will love the Coulouvrier chairlift, a high-speed chair currently the longest in Europe at 2.9km, which accesses blue and red runs that pass through a natural bowl. Additionally, the run down to the old Vercland bubble gives ample opportunity for stretching those legs.

Advanced skiers and snowboarders will want to make a b-line for the Chariande Express chairlift before the crowds and move away from the resort base. From here they will have the option to drop into an unpisted bowl or head over to the Tête de Saix.

READ THE FULL SAMOËNS SKI RESORT GUIDE HERE

MORILLON

With one of the lowest altitudes out of the Grand Massif resorts at 1100m you could be forgiven for ignoring Morillon, this would be a mistake. The local area has 45km of trails which are home to some of the best cruisey pistes in the entire Grand Massif.

Beginners and intermediates will enjoy the wide pistes in Morillon with the 7km Marvel Slope a particular highlight. Winding its way through the trees Marvel Slope is a great place to spark that excitement in young skiers. In Morillon, you can ride down to the village which is a fantastic way to end your day on snow.

Unfortunately, the lower terrain in Morillon is rarely in action these days with the lower reaches of Morillon struggling with little snow below 1100m. Luckily the 650m of vertical drop between the top of Sairon chair and the gondolas mid-station. offers some fantastic terrain.

I have spent multiple weeks based in the village of Morillon and am fond of it. Morillon is a quieter base for your Grand Massif ski holiday, but with easy access to Les Carroz and Samoëns in addition to the local area, Morillon can be a great budget base for your Grand Massif trip.

READ THE FULL MORILLON SKI RESORT GUIDE HERE

SIXT

Sixt is a ski resort set amongst a nature reserve that is unspoilt by the modern world and mega-resorts that sit around it. The finishing point for the incredible 14km Cascades piste that starts with views of Mont Blanc before ending in this beautiful French village. Sixt is a resort of culture and heritage. You head to Sixt to step away from the crowds and take in the surroundings. At only 765m snow can be sketchy towards the end of the season however the Rouget waterfalls will be a draw.

Sadly skiing and snowboarding in Sixt fer a Cheval is becoming a thing of the past. Last winter (23/24) I don’t recall the ski area in Sixt being open at all and the Cascades trail from Flaine was also noticeably absent. If you are staying in Sixt don’t fret as you have free shuttle buses linking the village to Samoëns and Morillon where you can access the Grand Massif ski area.

SEASON DATES

The season in the Grand Massif runs between December and April. Although all resorts will have good snow throughout the season Flaine will have the best conditions in early and late season. Sixt can suffer from poor snow towards the end of the season, due to its altitude at 750m, but this makes it an affordable base with free buses connecting you to other resorts.

GRAND MASSIF PISTE MAP

Grand Massif Piste Map

TRAVEL AROUND THE GRAND MASSIF

With 265kms of terrain it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with the decisions of where to ski each day. However, with the Grand Massif being so well connected, it is fairly easy to ski across all of the resorts in one ski day. Travelling between the ski resorts of Flaine, Morillon, Les Carroz, Samoëns and Sixt Fer a Cheval is possible via the connecting lifts or in some cases free shuttle buses.

GRAND MASSIF CHAIRLIFTS

The main way to move between the resorts of the Grand Massif is to use the linked chair lifts. The links are fast chairs and allow for large amounts of people to move between the resorts fairly easily. Just be sure to keep an eye on the times that each link will close so as not to get stuck in the wrong resort. Sometimes the linked chairlifts close due to high wind, this was rare during my visits but was communicated brilliantly by staff at each chair.

The Tete de Saix is the main crossroads of the Grand Massif with the following lifts all meeting on or close to the Tete de Saix; Coulouvrier (Morillon), Chariande Express (Samoëns), Tete de Saix (Les Carroz) and Corbalance (Les Carroz). From here it is easy to ski directly into the aforementioned resorts or head to the Vernant chair which accesses Flaine.

GRAND MASSIF BUS ROUTES

Included with your Grand Massif lift pass is free access to the inter-resort shuttle buses. The routes are colour-coded so it’s fairly simple to navigate. Although there is a timetable for the buses, they are not always regular so be sure to plan.

Sixt, Morillon and Samoëns are linked by bus with a few different routes heading to the varying lift stations. If you are based in Sixt and do not have access to a car it is likely you will need to rely on the bus service to move between the resorts. Skiing between Samoëns and Morillon is simple but the buses are there as another option if needed.

Flaine has local buses that run around its village dropping skiers and snowboarders back to their accommodation. From Flaine, you can take a bus to Les Carroz however it is most likely you will choose to ski this route instead.

DRIVING

Driving is an option I would certainly consider if returning to the Grand Massif. Samoëns offered free parking in the base area of the Grand Massif Express and this might make other aspects of a self-catering trip more practical. Similarly, there is free parking at Morillon gondola and various lifts in Les Carroz. It is worth noting that Flaine is a car-free resort so bare this in mind.

TRAVEL TO THE GRAND MASSIF

When visiting the Grand Massif I have always booked a transfer from Geneva Airport. This method of getting to the Grand Massif has always seemed the most simple and I have never felt like I needed a car. Companies like Go Massif and Alpin Bus offer regular transfers from Geneva Airport.

To check transfer prices you can search for the best deals below.

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GRAND MASSIF ACCOMMODATION

Being such a varied combination of ski areas the Grand Massif can offer accommodation to suit all budgets and tastes. On the top end of the scale is the Club Med in Samoëns, offering an all-inclusive option with ski in ski out location that would be perfect for families. The upmarket village of Les Carroz offers some plush accommodation options but if you have a lower budget don’t be put off. I stayed in a budget apartment in Les Carroz and found it a perfect base from which to enjoy the Grand Massif. Similarly, I found a budget apartment in Samoëns for a New Year trip in a location adjacent to the Grand Massif Express. As with most French ski areas, there is the option for an apartment on the slopes with Samoëns 1600 and Flaine being great options.