La Clusaz Ski Holidays

La Clusaz Ski Holidays

La Clusaz is a charming alpine village located in the north-west part of the Aravis mountain range, only 30 minutes from Annecy and an hour from Geneva. Interestingly this picturesque village has been a hotbed for French snowsports talent, with a number of champions hailing from La Clusaz. Why not hone your skills in this fantastic winter playground?

Being a traditional village rather than a purpose-built high altitude resort, La Clusaz's activity isn't restricted to the winter months and as such it has a vibrancy as well as a wider variety of shops, restaurants and services than you might expect for somewhere its size. This also makes it an ideal destination for non-skiers with plenty of activities to keep everyone happy; La Clusaz also prides itself on being a very family-friendly resort and its proximity to Geneva Airport makes it a great option for a short break too.

Skiing in La Clusaz

The La Clusaz ski area is linked to the Manigod ski area, giving access to 125km of skiing over five linked mountains (Beauregard, La Croix Fry-Manigod-Merdassier, Etale, Aiguille and Balme), with stunning views of Mont Blanc from higher points and a variety of runs to suit all levels of skier and snowboarder. The nearby Grand Bornand and Saint Jean de Sixt ski areas are also accessible by shuttle bus and are included in a full area Aravis lift pass offering 210km of runs in total.

In the La Clusaz area, the Beauregard and Manigod sectors are particularly well suited to families and beginners. There are three snow gardens for children and beginners: one each at the foot and top of the Beauregard lift, with a third in the Croix Fry area. There's also a new "family run" recreation area in the Mini Loup sector with two freestyle courses suitable for all to develop their freestyle skills on, with a gentle green slope separating the two.

Intermediate skiers are extremely well catered for with a good selection of blue and red runs, including tree-lined pistes and cruisy slopes, and will find plenty of terrain to explore on the Etale and Aiguille sectors in particular.

For those looking for something a bit more testing, head up to the Balme area where there are some more challenging runs and a 1500m vertical drop back down to the centre of La Clusaz to enjoy. The natural contours of this part of the mountain also make this area a freerider's paradise (we always recommend you take a guide for any off-piste activity though). There are also some good off-piste routes to try, including the classic Combe de Bellachat trail. Home to La Clusaz Radikal Mountain competition, the first stage of the Freeride World Qualifier, the extreme mountain faces of Les Aravis make an incredible spectacle to the viewing public below. 

La Clusaz is renowned for its nordic skiing and has been the official site for the discipline's annual World Cup since 1987. Cross-country skiing enthusiasts will love the easily accessible selection of trails on offer over the two areas, Plateau des Confins and Plateau de Beauregard, providing over 80km of trails, including a 7km long connection to the neighbouring resort of Le Grand Bornand. As well as the snow park in La Clusaz, there is also a boarder-cross course which is suitable for all levels.

Image credit: Patrice Lebeau