The Complete Grand Massif Snowboard Guide
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.
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.
GRAND MASSIF PROS
Grand Massif Season Pass costs only €489 if purchased before mid-December.
The Grand Massif offers 265km of pistes on one lift pass.
The Grand Massif has a variety of ski areas with each resort offering something different.
Snowsure skiing in Flaine until late April makes a Grand Massif ski trip reliable.
The villages of the Grand Massif offer a short transfer time from Geneva Airport.
GRAND MASSIF CONS
Samoëns base area can get crowded during peak weeks.
High winds can close the linked chairlifts between different resorts.
GRAND MASSIF GALLERY
FINAL THOUGHTS
I am incredibly fond of my visits to the Grand Massif which have offered an expanse of skiable terrain at a reasonable price, especially for France. During my rips I have experienced the best and worst of the possible snow conditions however I have always found a way to get some enjoyable skiing in. The Grand Massif should be on your bucket list if you are looking for a multi-resort ski area with some brilliant terrain and something for the whole family.
DISCOVER GRAND MASSIF
https://www.grand-massif.com/en/
GRAND MASSIF VIDEOS
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Flaine Ski Resort Guide | Grand Massif
Flaine is the most popular resort and flagship destination in the Grand Massif ski area. Flaine’s access to the fourth largest interconnected ski area in France is exceptional but it can also stand alone as a ski holiday destination. A purpose-built village ensures Flaine has everything you could want on your doorstep including a long ski season with guaranteed snow.
Flaine’s marmite village
Although the buildings in Flaine offer great ski slope access and amenities they also lack charm. This however doesn’t detract from Flaine being a fantastic base for a French ski holiday. With the highest base area in the Grand Massif, Flaine remains snowsure from Dec - April. A Flaine ski trip guarantees great quality snow, on-slope accommodation and modern facilities.
FLAINE FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Flaine is an acquired taste with some (only my opinion) hideous buildings in the village. Forget French alpine charm, think large concrete facades but Flaine’s village wouldn’t put me off visiting again. The resort of Flaine is well positioned to access the 265km of terrain spread throughout the Grand Massif with fast access to Les Carroz, Samoëns and Morillon, not to mention the 14km Cascades run to Sixt.
FLAINE SKI AREA
Flaine is a well-rounded resort that offers great value for families. Flaine’s main bowl ensures whichever direction you take a lift, you will end up back in the purpose-built village. This makes Flaine ideal for families of different abilities who can spread out, and find their own challenges but easily meet up again for lunch.
Flaine boasts the majority of the Grand Massif terrain with 145km of pistes to explore in the local area. This is good as sometimes the links to Les Carroz close due to high winds but you will still have access to the local ski area.
The ski area in Flaine offers a huge vertical drop with skiing possible between 2561m and 1600m within the resort and down to 700m if you include the links to Morillon. Flaine is a key part of the Grand Massif ski area with its huge bowl offering not only some fantastic in-bounds skiing but in the right conditions, exceptional off-piste.
Flaine has some other claims to fame, like views of Mt Blanc from Les Grandes Platieres and an incredibly enjoyable 14km blue run descending 1720m into the smallest Grand Massif resort of Sixt. The Cascades blue run between Flaine and Sixt is one of the longest in the Alps!
BEGINNERS TERRAIN FLAINE
The beginners area in Flaine is good with a nice wide piste serviced by a magic carpet. This allows people to learn without the space feeling overcrowded. The location of the beginner’s areas is close to the accommodation and some on-mountain restaurants in case you need to take a break. The best thing about being a beginner in Flaine is that you do not need to pay to access the magic carpet so you can save on lift passes. When you find your confidence exploring, Flaine is a breeze with some nice cruisey green and blue graded slopes, this theme is continued around the rest of the Grand Massif.
Magic Carpet near Grand Vans Chairlift at the top of Telebenne
INTERMEDIATES TERRAIN FLAINE
Flaine and the wider Grand Massif ski area are great for intermediates who are building that confidence to explore. With 66 blues and 48 red pistes spread across the Grand Massif, 50 of which are in Flaine, there is plenty for the confident intermediate to explore. Flaine offers numerous high-quality groomed pistes across its expansive bowl and these can also offer substantial vertical drop back to the resort.
Away from the pistes, Flaine has plenty of easily accessible slackcountry to explore just off the lifts, making for a fun first powder day. Those with a willingness to explore can find treelined runs on modest gradients which can be confidence-boosting.
Exploring the trees to the side of the pistes in Flaine
ADVANCED TERRAIN FLAINE
The more confident will love exploring Flaine and the rest of the Grand Massif. Flaine itself offers ample opportunity for off-piste and some interesting tree skiing. To add further challenge there are some steep black slopes and Flaine is great for free riding. The valley that drops between Flaine and Les Carroz offers awesome skiing after fresh snowfall as does the area off the Veret poma lift. I was also fond of the runs alongside the Gers drag-lift which was not the easiest lift but well worth the effort once at the top. On a powder day, this is a must!
Those who are able should consider the run beneath the Vernant chair which leaves the lift station and heads down into a Couloir before running back out to the Vernant chair.
WHERE TO SKI IN FLAINE DURING A STORM
Very few people enjoy snowboarding in a whiteout, myself included, so it is important to know where to head when the weather turns sour. Normally this means heading to the trees as the foliage provides a combination of context and cover from the storm. In Flaine, the majority of the terrain is treeless although there are some glades to be found closer to the village. You may be better served to leave Flaine and head for the treelined slopes of Les Carroz or the lower altitude of Morillon.
Flaines Aup de Veran gondola and Tete de Verdes chairlift lead to some interesting tree runs that are great fun on a bad weather day.
ACCESSING THE GRAND MASSIF
From Flaine it is easy to get between the other Grand Massif resorts and with this in mind you can make the most of the whole ski area. The Grand Vans chairlift takes you to the meeting points of Flaine, Les Carroz, Samoëns and Morillon. From atop Grand Vans (2204m) you can decide your route to sample the best of the rest of the Grand Massif. Within a couple of pistes/connections, you can be in any of the four villages that make up the rest of the ski area.
FREESTYLE FLAINE
In terms of freestyle, you have a couple of options in the Grand Massif. Flaine has a terrain park and border cross tracks that wind down skiers left of the bowl as you head towards the village. In Les Carroz there is a small park that is serviced by a poma, the layout of this park didn’t allow for good flow between jumps and rails but had some of the best features. Morillon also has a really fun terrain park. You can lap from the top of Morillon over some boxes and rails, through a border cross-track and then some awesome groomers, straight to a chairlift, repeat.
FLAINE SNOW HISTORY
Snowboard trips to Flaine can be regarded as pretty much risk-free in regards to snow worries. The Flaine ski area has a high average snowfall with a fantastic snow history. The higher reaches of the Flaine ski area have been known to receive upwards of 13m of snowfall annually. Because Flaine offers high-altitude skiing with resort accommodations around 1600m, snow conditions remain great throughout the winter. If visiting the Grand Massif in early/late season staying in Flaine is your best bet for guaranteeing suitable skiing conditions.
FLAINE LIFTS
Flaine has 24 ski lifts that cover the resort with access to a further 40 lifts across the wider Grand Massif ski area. Flaine has everything from high-speed chairs, gondolas, surface lifts and the unique Télebenne lift that was a first for me.
SEASON DATES
Due to the high altitude, Flaine is the most snow sure of the resorts in the Grand Massif. The resort of Flaine opens in mid-December and closes around the 20th of April. You can be assured of good-quality snow throughout the season but Sixt and Morillon may suffer during early and late seasons.
FLAINE PISTE MAP
To see the interactive piste map click here
GETTING TO FLAINE
Getting to Flaine is easy and pain-free with Geneva airport around an hour away. I’ve always taken a resort transfer directly into my Grand Massif accommodation which has always been smooth. Although driving is possible I have always favoured transfer to these resorts
TRANSFER COMPANIES
Most of my transfers to Flaine have been with GO MASSIF. Go Massif have been fantastic for shared transfers between Geneva and the Grand Massif and having used their service multiple times I would recommend them.
Alpin Bus are a company that I have used for private transfers between Geneva Airport and the Grand Massif. The communication throughout has been fantastic and service came in cheaper than Go Massif for the private option.
SEARCH FLAINE TRANSFERS
SELF-DRIVE
If you would prefer to self-drive there are numerous counters available at Geneva Airport where car-rental is possible. From Geneva, you can expect to drive for 1-1.5 hours depending on conditions. Other nearby airports; Chambéry and Lyon, also offer short drive times of 2 hours and 2.5 hours respectively. Driving to Flaine from Geneva represents one of the shortest ski resort transfers in the Alps.
ACCOMMODATION
The ski resort of Flaine has a purpose-built village with ski-in ski-out apartments available within walking distance of the lifts. The village architecture is not to my taste and lacks charm but the convenience of the village certainly makes up for this.
Photo @judithgirardmarczak
Flaine is car-free which makes the village very family-friendly and worry-free which can be a huge plus for families. Due to the locality of the slopes staying in Flaine can be more expensive than other parts of the Grand Massif.
If working within a budget consider staying in Sixt and using the resort bus services to access the other Grand Massif resorts. Using Sixt as a base is not the most convenient but can offer a more secluded ski holiday for those looking for a quieter experience. Staying in Les Carroz or Samoèns will give the most direct access to Flaine if staying outside of the resort with high-speed lift access.
SEARCH FLAINE ACCOMMODATION
FLAINE LIFT PASS
Lift passes in Flaine represent exceptional value. If you think you will ski more than one week in a season then consider getting the Grand Massif season pass, if purchased online before 30th November you save 50% meaning a whole season of skiing for €552. You can even add summer access so you have access to all the summer hiking and mountain biking.
If you are only visiting for one week then you can see all the options for lift passes here. I would always recommend getting the Grand Massif pass rather than the local area pass as it represents better value.
Adults can expect to pay around €48 for a day ticket to Flaine, whereas a 6 day Grand Massif lift pass costs €273 if purchased online.
FLAINE VIDEOS
FLAINE PROS
Flaine offers snow-sure skiing and a long season.
Flaine is connected to the resorts of Samoëns, Les Carroz, Morillon and Sixt which encompasses 265km of trails.
The terrain across Flaine and the Grand Massif is varied and as a result beginners through experts can have a great time here.
Flaine offers some free beginner areas that do not require a lift pass.
Ski-in Ski-out village that has everything you need for a ski holiday.
Flaine is super easy to access from Geneva.
FLAINE CONS
High winds in Flaine can close the links to the other resorts.
Flaine has updated its lift however there are still some slow chairs hanging in there.
The village aesthetic lacks that charming ski resort feel.
FLAINE GALLERY
FINAL THOUGHTS
Flaine represents a great option for a French ski holiday. The terrain is well suited to families of differing abilities and the fact the beginner’s area can be used for free is awesome. I love Flaine for its great off-piste routes and snow-sure slopes that mean you can book with confidence. It is rare that I revisit ski areas however the Grand Massif is an area that keeps drawing me back.
AROUND THE GRAND MASSIF