Find the perfect ski resorts in France for your next winter vacation
The French Alps are home to the iconic Mont Blanc, western Europe’s highest peak
On all sides are towering mountain slopes with world-class skiing, hiking, mountaineering, and unspoiled nature. Wintertime visitors will enjoy fresh powder on epic pistes, while summertime visitors can take a cable car to L’Aiguille du Midi to see panoramic views, explore the lovely canal-based village of Annecy, visit medieval historic landmarks, such as castles and citadels, hike to turquoise glacial lakes, stroll through charming village markets sampling local cheeses and indulge in classic French cuisine.
What To Expect In The Winter
Must Try Winter Activities
Samoëns Historic Market
Club Med Grand Massif Samoëns Morillon:
People have been visiting the market in Samoëns since 1476! Today this historic market features anywhere between 60 to 130 stalls depending on the time of year. Visitors will find both food products–like olives, spit-roast chicken, homemade tapenade, produce, cheeses and meats–and artisan goods, such as impressionist paintings, handmade tablecloths and woodworking.
Snowshoeing in Samoëns
Club Med Grand Massif Samoëns Morillon:
The village of Samoëns, close to the Grand Massif ski area, is an ideal place to snowshoe. There are 60km and 15 circuits of marked trails throughout the valley, and at higher altitudes in the Col de Joux Plane. A shuttle from the visitor’s center can transport guests to the higher trails. For families there are leisurely trails, but the more intrepid will want to take the Cirque du Fer a Cheval circuit, which goes by more than 30 beautiful ice-falls. Everyone will want to visit the famous “Big Linden Tree,” a 570 year-old tree.
Col de la Madeleine
Club Med Valmorel:
The Col de la Madeleine is a high mountain pass in between two grand Massifs (the Vanoise and Lauzière). The scenic pass is a sought-after destination for road cyclists in the summer. It was first paved in 1969 as the first passage of the Tour de France, but the route has deeper historical roots. It was used by monks for its pastures, and later as the site of the Battle of Valmy. Since the pass is closed in the winter, it can be skied from one of several chairlifts in the Valmorel ski area.
Party in Tignes
Club Med Tignes:
Besides offering world-class skiing, Tignes is known for its lively après ski and nightlife scenes. There’s at least ten bars with après ski parties, several wine bars and three nightclubs. If you’re looking to let your hair down and party, Tignes is the area for you.
Paradiski
The second-largest interconnected ski area in the world
Closest airports to this domain:
- Chambery-Voglans airport - 1h15
- Grenoble Alpes Isère Airport - 2h
- Lyon St Exupery airport - 2h
- Geneva-Cointrin airport - 2h15
Resorts in this domain:
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Arc Panorama
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Peisey-Vallandry
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La Plagne 2100
Les 3 Vallées
Biggest ski domain in the world
Closest airports to this domain:
- Chambery-Voglans airport - 1h15
- Grenoble Alpes Isère Airport - 2h45
- Lyon St Exupery airport - 2h45
- Geneva-Cointrin airport - 3h15
Resorts in this domain:
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Val Thorens
Alpe D'Huez Grand Domaine
Closest airports to this domain:
- Grenoble Alpes Isère Airport - 1h30
- Chambery-Voglans airport - 2h30
- Lyon St Exupery airport - 2h30
- Geneva-Cointrin airport - 3h15
Resorts in this domain:
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Alpe D'huez
Grand Massif
One of the biggest ski areas in the French Alps
Closest airports to this domain:
- Geneve-Cointrin airport - 1h10
- Lyon St Exupery airport - 2h10
- Grenoble Alpes Isère Airport - 2h10
Resorts in this domain:
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Grand Massif
Tignes Val D'Isère
Skiing in the wake of the great sportsmen, on the world's finest ski area
Closest airports to this domain:
- Chambery-Voglans airport - 2h
- Lyon St Exupery airport - 2h50
- Grenoble Alpes Isère Airport - 2h50
- Geneve-Cointrin airport - 3h
Resorts in this domain:
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Tignes
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Val D'Isère
Indulge in authentic French cuisine
Club Med Grand Massif Samoëns Morillon
The French Alps is known for its hearty cooking. Many alpine dishes contain local ingredients like cheese, wild game, foraged mushrooms, fresh fish, and mountain berries. Rich French favorites are a must, such as fondue, raclette, tartiflette, boite chaude and diots. Don’t know what these are? You’ll have to try them to find out.
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Contemporary Art Trail
Club Med Chalets Apartments in Grand Massif
In a combined effort to spread contemporary art, several governmental departments in France and Italy developed an art route that spans between the two countries across the Alps. French and Italian contemporary artists are featured at a number of galleries in villages along the route. Art lovers will enjoy gallery hopping to experience these carefully selected works of art.
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Summit the Aiguille Rouge
Club Med Arcs Panorama
Aiguille Rouge is a high peak in the Vanoise National Park in the French Alps named for the red rocks visible along the West face of the mountain. Winter visitors wishing to see the tremendous views from the summit can get there by cable car. Skiers can delight in the thrill of the descent from the summit, while snowshoers can explore by foot.
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Summit the Aiguille Rouge
Aiguille Rouge is a high peak in the Vanoise National Park in the French Alps named for the red rocks visible along the West face of the mountain. Summer visitors wishing to see the tremendous views from the summit can get there by cable car or by hiking. The trail to the summit is an easy, marked trail–a leisurely hike for families.
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Mountain Biking in the Paradiski
Paradiski is now one of the worlds largest biking areas consisting of Peisey-Vallandry, Les Arcs and La Plagne. A series of chair lifts gives all levels of bikers access to a wide range of mountain biking terrain, including downhill, enduro and cross country tracks. With 2,600 meters of vertical descent and 180 kilometers of marked trails, bikers will have a lot of terrain to try.
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Explore the Waterfalls in the Savoie Area in Valmorel
From the top of the Les Avanchers-Valmorel ski resort, hikers can follow trails to a series of 50 waterfalls that cascade one after the other. With an 80-meter drop, the largest Morel waterfall is the area’s crown jewel. The hiking trails wind through forest and, if followed to the end, lead to a panoramic view of Mont Blanc. For non-hikers, there is the option of taking a gondola to see the falls.
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Vanoise Park
Vanoise Park is the first national park created in France. This enchanting area is known for its natural beauty and abundant wildlife including Marmots, Eagle Owls, Golden Owls, Chamois, Ibex and the Bearded Vulture. In the summer, hikers can set out on foot to any number of huts and lakes throughout the park, while mountain bikers can cruise gorgeous paths. In the winter, the area boasts skiing, snowshoeing and nordic skiing.
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