Flaine Ski Holidays

Flaine Ski Holidays

Flaine is one of the most popular ski areas in the Alps and it’s easy to see why. One of the closest resorts to Geneva airport, it sits at the heart of a huge snowbowl and benefits from excellent snow conditions thanks to its proximity to Mont Blanc (30km away as the crow flies).

The ‘Flaine Bowl’ contains dozens of wonderfuly long, cruising easy and intermediate runs – as well as some more challenging stuff – with uplift provided by high speed chair and gondola lifts which the resort has invested in over the past few years. There are also good nursery slopes by the resort and more gentle runs up at the top of the ski area so beginners aren't confined to the "bottom" of the bowl!

Beyond the main bowl of Flaine, you can access the wider Grand Massif ski area, with tree-lined descents down to traditional valley villages below, each rich in lovely, French ambience – Morillon, Sixt, Les Carroz and Samoens. Any skier of intermediate standard or above can ski down to one of these for a traditional Savoyard lunch before riding the fast lifts back up to Flaine. 

The resort of Flaine itself is an interesting proposition. Purpose-built in the 1960s, the original buildings are like Marmite – you love them or you hate them. If you’re in the latter camp, before passing judgement, look again. These were a work of architectural art designed by a master of the stark Bauhaus school, and endorsed by Picasso no less, who sent some large scale works of public art which you’ll still find on the slopes. Believe it or not, many of Flaine's unique buildings are classified as French Historical Monuments!

Flaine is much more than just those apartment blocks (whose interiors have been extensively renovated). Largely car-free, most of the accommodation, cafés and shops are slopeside, or just a few steps away. It’s all got a safe, laid back and family-friendly vibe running throughout and there’s no pretentiousness to Flaine despite its artistic aspirations.

Along with the expansion of the original village over the years, new neighbourhoods have appeared, a short ski or shuttle bus ride away. Most interesting is Flaine Montsoleil, built by the same company that created Whistler over in British Columbia, Canada. In Flaine, they put the same thought into resort design and layout, thereby recreating the same high quality, spacious standard of accommodation which has made Whistler a global success.

Skiing in Flaine

The ski area offers a great range of terrain for all standards and a large and very popular terrain park, regarded by many as one of the best in the Alps. In total you'll find 140 runs and 265km of pistes in this impressive ski area.

Intermediates will be particularly spoilt for choice with a network of lovely wide blue and red runs flowing down into the bowl. There are wonderfully long runs too, with the famous 14km long Cascades piste, running all the way from the top of the Grand Platières cable car down to the village of Sixt. From here, you can take a bus to Samoens for the nearest uplift. For more advanced skiers, there are some challenging slopes too, like the infamous Diamant Noir. The Combe de Gers also offers some great off-piste skiing (with a guide).

Beginners are well looked after with nursery slopes right next to the resort base and a choice of ski schools offering lessons.