10 Best Ski Resorts in Savoie

Val Thorens is a charming ski resort in the famed 3 Valleys (Les Trois Vallées) region of the French Alps. It's linked to the towns of Méribel, Les Menuires and Courchevel by more than 130 ski lifts and 600 km of pistes. The ski runs here are wide with few trees, meaning you can find your own line down the mountain, even in the peak months of December and January. With an altitude of 3,200 metres, the highest mountains in Val Thorens are skiable from December until early May.

The town of Val Thorens is south-facing, which means you can often bask in winter sunshine while enjoying your lunch at ski-up restaurants. The dining scene here is especially noteworthy, with a large number of elegant bistros and restaurants to choose from.

Saint Francois Longchamps is a low-lying ski resort sitting 1,650 metres above the Maurienne Valley. With only 16 ski lifts connecting 42 groomed ski runs, Saint Francois Longchamps may lack the range of France’s larger ski resorts. What it excels in is a relaxed, family-friendly vibe with plenty of green and blue runs for those just starting to learn to ski or snowboard. Together with Valmorel, Saint Francois Longchamps is known as the Grand Domaine ski area – a single ski pass gives you access to both mountains.

Other interesting activities available at Saint Francois Longchamps include hiking, tobogganing, and Nordic skiing. There’s also a snowpark with kickers and a half-pipe for snowboarders who want to practice their jumps.

Courchevel is the westernmost resort in the world-famous 3 Valleys (Les Trois Vallées) ski area. It’s also the highest, with a top elevation of over 2,800 metres. It consists of 150 km of groomed pistes and many free rides for those looking to carve through the deep powder. There are several black runs that are considered testing for even advanced riders and speed freaks. A ski pass gives you access to Méribel, Les Menuires and Val Thorens, meaning you could spend an entire winter here and still find new ski runs to enjoy.

Courchevel town is more accurately described as 4 small villages snaking up the mountain. A wide range of accommodation can be found in Courchevel 1330, though we recommend staying in the swanky Courchevel 1850 for a ski-in, ski-out experience with reliable snow from December to early May.

Montchavin-La Plagne is a convenient ski resort for a short trip as it’s only 60 km from Grenoble Airport, in the Savoie department of France. This mountain range – along with nearby Montchavin – is one of Europe’s most popular peaks for winter sports. A lift pass will give you access to over 130 groomed pistes, with a nice variety of difficulties to suit all levels.

The snowpark is excellent at Monchavin-La Plagne, thanks to a range of kickers of varying sizes and plenty of rails for practising tricks. Thanks to the many hiking trails in the area, La Plagne is just as popular during the summer months. If you fancy a day away from the slopes, head to the nearby Musée de l'Ours des Cavernes, which has excavated dinosaur bones on display.

La Toussuire is one of the oldest winter resorts in France, though there’s been plenty of gentrification over the last few decades. You can easily reach the mountain from either Grenoble or Chambery in a few hours. The resort is made up of 136 pistes connected by 67 ski lifts, with plenty of off-piste and backcountry slopes.

La Toussuire is especially prized by snowboarders who are looking to carve fresh lines rather than flat-out speed. If you’re looking for new runs to explore, take advantage of the interconnected ski lifts that link 6 smaller winter resorts – together, they make up the Les Sybelles ski area.

Les Arcs is a popular ski resort in the Savoie department of eastern France. The town is only 60 km from Grenoble, meaning a long weekend of skiing is a real possibility.

Les Arc is linked to La Plagne, which together offer around 80 different blue and red runs for intermediate-level skiers and snowboarders. For beginners who are only using the nursery slopes, a special discount pass can be bought from the base station. Some J-bar lifts are even free on weekends!

Valmorel is a relaxed winter resort in Savoire where the whole family can enjoy a day on the slopes. While experienced winter sports enthusiasts will find the ski runs limited, it has plenty of nursery slopes for absolute beginners. Most of the mountain consists of gentle green slopes for novice skiers. You can reach the ski resort from Grenoble or Chambery airports in less than 2 hours.

The town sits at 1,450 metres, which isn’t the highest in the area, but there's an army of snow cannons to ensure there'll be plenty of slopes open from December to April.

Meribel is a large town with plenty of handsome chalets, excellent restaurants, and a collection of bars to enjoy some après ski. It's a top pick for a winter holiday in the mountains for groups of skiers and non-skiers alike.

The skiing is superb in Meribel, where you can find 310 ski runs served by 176 lifts. It's a huge resort that's a highlight of the 3 Valleys (Les Trois Vallées) ski area. You'll find plenty more fun off-piste, with some choice glade runs through trees and a large snowpark. While the purpose-built Meribel lacks a traditional French feel, it provides everything you need from a winter resort.

Tignes is an expansive ski area in the far east of France, straddling the border with Italy. Together with neighbouring Val d’Isère, it makes up the Espace Killy ski area – renowned as one of France’s best places to ski. The lower slopes are made up of green and blue runs that take you right into town, while more difficult runs await further up the mountain.

Experienced skiers should head to the summit of the 3,656-metre La Grande Motte glacier, one of the highest slopes in the Alps. You can also enjoy dog sledding, ice climbing, winter parasailing, and heliskiing. It’s certainly a great destination for adventurous groups. You can reach Tignes from Chambery airport in under 2 hours.

Val Cenis’s terrain totals 125 km of Alpine ski runs, with an additional 8 km of Nordic skiing trails, all over 1,200 metres above sea level. The forested mountains around the ski resort offer some of the best glade skiing in France, with the views of the Vanoise National Park as an added bonus. Adventurous beginners will enjoy riding the longest green run in Europe here, which stretches for an impressive 10 km.

Val Cenis’s ski season runs until April, and there are 200 snow cannons on hand to ensure the main runs from the 2 gondolas are open throughout the winter season. Other fun attractions include tobogganing, 10-pin bowling, and discovering the ancient history of the area at Musée d'Archéologie de Val Cenis.