Alps Ski Resorts, Self Catering Chalets & Apartments

Samoens is in the heart of the Grand Massif, one of the largest Alps ski resorts (made up of five ski areas) in Europe. The Grand Massif includes the following five towns: Flaine, Morillon, Les Carroz, Sixt and Samoens. Those after self-catered ski chalets in France will relish the extensive skiing and snowboarding this area offers, with an excellent snow record, which is one of the best in the Alps. The area is not just popular in winter, with the Grand Massif ideal for Alpine summer holidays too.

The super fast gondola from the self-catering ski apartments and chalets in Samoens village takes you up to the Samoens 1600m ski resort within just eight minutes. This delivers you directly into Samoens’ own extensive ski area, which joins with over 265km of piste, 140 individual pistes plus 80 lifts. Click here to view the piste map. The recent addition of new snow canons in the Grand Massif guarantees snow-covered runs throughout the season! Winter 2009/10 saw the opening of a new six-seater high-speed chair, which takes you from Samoens 1600m to the Tete de Saix in just six minutes ‐ drastically cutting the time it takes to get to the top!

Lift Pass Information  -  Ski Hire Information  -  Ski Lesson Information

Alpine Winter Holidays

There have been loads of new improvements to the lifts and pistes of Samoens and the Grand Massif during the summer of 2012, not to mention all the impressive new summer chalets built. For more information on Samoens lift and piste improvements, read our article Samoens and the Grand Massif Piste and Lift Improvements.

The ski area is varied and offers runs for all abilities. The area holds the lowest ratio of accommodation capacity to number of ski lifts, which explains the small amount of queues encountered here. When you stay in a self-catering chalet, you will soon notice that the resort has some breath-taking views and even non-skiers can take the Grand Massif lift from Samoens to 1600m and watch family and friends out on the pistes. Beginners are well catered for on the extensive groomed nursery slopes at 1600m, this plateau is one of the largest beginner’s areas in Europe! Intermediates have a whole host of runs to chose from locally in Samoens, as well as others that take you far afield to neighbouring resorts and beautiful tree-lined runs including Europe's longest blue run, the cascades which meanders 14km down the mountain. There are numerous red and black runs to be found locally in Samoens and Les Carroz and of course over in Flaine, where experts are catered for even further.

The piste - Consists of 14 black runs, 51 red runs, 54 blue runs, 15 green runs.  A recent 11m Euro investment saw the introduction of a massive free car park at the main Samoens Grand Massif Express lift and a new children's ski area at Samoens 1600. The area is undergoing major investment throughout which is massively improving everything year on year.  In a weeks skiing holiday, you'd be really hard pushed to cover all the runs in this huge area. Click here for a 360 degree virtual tour of the piste.

Beginners - Are you a beginner?  We recommed booking some lessons and then reading The Beginners Guide to Skiing in Samoens, Morillon, Flaine and The Grand Massif.

Snowboarding - The area is great for boarders, it's easy to get fresh powder and there has been new investment into 3 snow parks and 3 half pipes.  There are numerous events including the Bolle Winter Tour, open contests with some of the world's best riders. Samoens has very few drag lifts compared to other resorts, so is a snowborders heaven.

Off piste skiing - Samoens is increasing in popularity with those who seek the thrills of off piste skiing with qualified local guides who know the back country and secret powder spots.  For more information and to book your guide, please contact info@zigzagski.com

Behind the scenes of the Grand Massif - Would you like a behind the scenes tour of the Grand Massif - download the flyer 'Grand Massif Backstage'.

Click here for webcam and lift information

Ski Lift Opening Dates 2012/13

Skiing for the forthcoming season commences on Saturday 22nd December in Samoens, Morillon and the entire Grand Massif, with Sunday 21st April (tbc) marking the last day of the Grand Massif ski season.

Over in Flaine things start slightly earlier on Saturday 15th December. There is a bus from Samoens and Morillon to Flaine for the last week of the season.

Ski Lift Opening Dates 2013/14