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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Les Carroz Ski Resort Guide | Grand Massif
Les Carroz may be my favourite of the Grand Massif ski resorts. The resort is well-located within France’s fourth-largest ski area ensuring from Les Carroz you can explore everything the Grand Massif has to offer. The local Les Carroz ski area offers everything from pristine pistes, to fantastic off-piste and the best terrain park in the Grand Massif. Les Carroz is a great base for any Grand Massif ski holiday.
Looking over Les Carroz from the Tete de Saix
Located in the heart of the Grand Massif ski area in the French Alps, Les Carroz village is a charming alpine destination that offers a perfect blend of traditional Savoyard architecture and modern amenities. Surrounded by stunning mountain scenery, Les Carroz is the perfect base for skiers and snowboarders wanting to make the most of their trip to the Grand Massif. From world-class skiing and snowboarding in the winter to hiking, mountain biking, and paragliding in the summer, Les Carroz delivers for everyone.
LES CARROZ FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Arriving at Les Carroz village had a different feel to many French ski resort villages. The traditional town square with restaurants and bars was welcoming and the access to the ski area was easy. Depending on your base in the village, a free navette shuttle will take you to the base of the Kedeuze gondola. When on the slopes my overriding first impression was how good the groomed pistes were with plenty of blue and red runs to keep the majority happy.
LES CARROZ SKI AREA
Les Carroz ski area is part of the Grand Massif ski area in the French Alps, offering a variety of terrain for skiers of all levels. Les Carroz offers access to 265km of pistes inclusive of the wider Grand Massif resorts of Samoëns, Flaine and Morillon.. Locally, Les Carroz offers 37 km of slopes, including some of the best red and blue-graded trails across the entire Grand Massif.
It’s fair to say that Les Carroz is well-suited to intermediates with 15 blues and 7 reds on the piste map. This matches nicely with the rest of the Grand Massif which caters well for skiers and snowboarders who are looking for nicely groomed pistes, however, Les Carroz is much more than this. There are 4 black trails which offer substantial challenge and the off-piste and tree runs here are incredible. Don’t believe me? Well check the videos here and here which were both filmed in Les Carroz. Beginners will find a Magic Carpet at the base of the Kedeuze gondola with a mellow learners slope. Additionally, the Coin Coin area at the top of the Kedeuze gondola has another Magic Carpet and drag lift with an ideal learners slope.
BEGINNERS TERRAIN LES CARROZ
Beginners heading to Les Carroz will not be disappointed. Never evers have two dedicated learner areas within Les Carroz at the bottom and top of the Kedeauze gondola. As beginners find their legs, the Plein Soleil piste is perfect for testing your skills on its rolling terrain. As confidence grows, beginners should consider heading to nearby Morillon to take the fantastic Marvel ski run.
INTERMEDIATES TERRAIN LES CARROZ
Les Carroz delivers for intermediates with the majority of its terrain red or blue-graded. Intermediates visiting Les Carroz will have fun exploring under the Gron and Les Molliets chairs where there is a good mix of trails including the the short Rhodos red (my favourite) and the long Marmottes blue (long but busy).
Intermediates who want to test themselves should try the Chamois red, near the Tete de Saix, which has a prolonged steep section and leads to the Oasis Snowpark. Timalets is another favourite red in Les Carroz but can suffer later in the season as it is closer to the base area.
Intermediate skiers and snowboarders should certainly make the most of the effective links between Les Carroz and Samoëns and Morillon where there are further exceptional red and blue runs.
ADVANCED TERRAIN FLAINE
With only four black trails on the piste map it is fair to assume that some advanced skiers may not get too excited about a visit to Les Carroz. This would be unfair as there is certainly challenge to be found within Les Carroz and the wider Grand Massif ski areas.
Corbalanche black is popular with many as soon as there is fresh snowfall, possibly because you can view skiers and snowboarders enjoying their pow turns from the Tete de Saix lift. This run is great after fresh snow but equally, it offers another challenge when the powder has turned to large moguls. The area close to Cobalanche is also home to some fantastic tree-skiing and those who know head here when the snow falls.
Felire Run Les Carroz
Elsewhere the Felire black trail is tucked away and is easily missed, which can make it a great place to test yourself away from the crowds. Advanced skiers should venture to Samoëns and Flaine to test themselves on Aigle Noir and Diamont Noir respectively.
WHERE TO SKI IN LES CARROZ DURING A STORM
Snowboarding in a whiteout sucks, so it is important to find your context. The best place to head in a storm is always the trees; luckily, Les Carroz has a few options. Able skiers and snowboarders can enjoy the trees of Corbalanche but for a mellower experience, Plein Soleil is lined with trees. For the best experience, consider heading to Morillon which has fantastic tree-lined pistes that are a great refuge in whiteout conditions.
ACCESSING THE GRAND MASSIF
From Les Carroz it is simple to head to the neighbouring Grand Massif resorts. Taking the Tete de Saix chair from Les Carroz you will find yourself at the crossroads of the Grand Massif. From the Tete de Saix it is possible to ski directly into Samoëns and Morillon without taking additional chairs. To access Flaine, head from the Tete de Saix to the Vernant chair which will take you over to Flaine.
FREESTYLE TERRAIN LES CARROZ
Freestyle in Les Carroz is pretty decent. Les Carroz is home to the Oasis Snowpark which offers a full spread of freestyle features with everything from airbag jumps, boarder cross tracks and jump and rail lines. The Oasis Terrain Park is accessible from the Tete de Saix or via its own drag lift that runs along the side of the park.
The Oasis Terrain Park has everything from tiny ride-on features up to larger jumps. To learn more about Freestyle in Les Carroz, watch the video above where you can skip to 3:50 to see the Oasis Snowpark.
LES CARROZ SNOW HISTORY
Les Carroz has a good snow record but you need to consider that the lower slopes will vary in conditions greatly to the upper slopes in early or late season. The Kedeuze gondola runs even when Les Carroz’s lower slopes are lacking which means you can still access some great skiing in the resort. I have experienced some incredible conditions snowboarding in Les Carroz, but sadly I have also experienced the worst. Luckily when you are in Les Carroz, you have the option of riding in neighbouring Flaine when the conditions suck where you will generally find more consistent snow conditions.
LES CARROZ LIFTS
The main entry point to the Les Carroz ski area for most will be the Kedeuze gondola. Kedeuze leave the village and drops skiers and snowboarders at 1800m. Elsewhere in Les Carroz, you will find Les Molliets, Tete de Saix Express, Gron, and Plein Soleil serving skiers. These four lifts vary greatly with the Tete de Saix being a modern six-seater that whisks skiers up to the mountain, whereas Gron is a slower 4 seater than gently ambles its way.
SEASON DATES
The Grand Massif is open between December and April with Flaine having the longest season. Les Carroz closes a week or so earlier than Flaine (conditions dependent).
LES CARROZ PISTE MAP
To see the interactive piste map click here
GETTING TO LES CARROZ
Getting to the villages of the Grand Massif is simple with lots of Transfer companies available from Geneva Airport. The short transfer time means that self-drive is also fairly straightforward forward however my personal thoughts are that you do not need a car when in the resort so transfer makes the most sense.
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.
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 hour depending on the conditions.
ACCOMMODATION
Les Carroz Village offers many different styles of accommodation with a range of hotels and self-catering apartments. The village is a great base for families and even those without young children due to the many amenities on offer. I have always enjoyed a self-catering option when staying in Les Carroz as there are many nice restaurants to enjoy in the evening.
LES CARROZ LIFT PASS
Lift passes in Les Carroz 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.
LES CARROZ PROS
Les Carroz is central to the Grand Massif ski area meaning it is very easy to access the whole of the wider ski area from Les Carroz.
Les Carroz has several modern lifts including the Tete de Saix and Kedeuze.
Les Carroz ski resort offers a good variety of terrain to suit all-abilities
The beginner’s ski areas in Les Carroz are great with Magic Carpets and gentle drag lifts.
The tree-skiing in Les Carroz is fun with further challenges found near Corbalanche.
LES CARROZ CONS
The lower slopes in Les Carroz can have dodgy snow conditions in early and late season.
Les Carroz doesn’t offer ski in ski out accommodation like Flaine, Morillon Les Esserts and Samoëns 1600.
Locally Les Carroz is the smallest of the Grand Massif ski areas.
LES CARROZ VIDEOS
NEARBY SKI RESORTS
FINAL THOUGHTS
Les Carroz may be my favourite of the Grand Massif villages. I love its central location to the other ski areas and how easy it is to explore the wider Grand Massif from here. But Les Carroz itself is home to some of my favourites… Rhodos red is one of my favourites across all the resorts despite its short length, The Oasis Terrain Park has more going for it than freestyle in Flaine, and the off-piste near Corbalanche is among my favourite in the whole Grand Massif. Les Carroz and it’s village have lots to offer and I would head back without hesitation.