10 Best Ski Resorts in Haute-Savoie

La Clusaz is a traditional village and resort in the Haute-Savoie region that offers a varied ski area with 125 km of pistes. These extend over 4 massifs, namely Massif de Beauregard, Massif de l'Etale, Massif de l'Aiguille, and Massif de Balme, most of which feature plenty of slopes for freeriding.

If you’ve just started skiing, ride the gondola to the Beauregard massif where green gentle slopes await. Pros, however, can head out to the Edgar Wall black run, named after French freestyle skier and Winter Olympics gold-medalist Edgar Grospiron. The other ski areas are interlinked for intermediate skiers and snowboarders.

Avoriaz is a French Alpine resort that lies in the northernmost part of Haute-Savoie, in the heart of the Les Portes du Soleil ski domain. The central winter sports destination interlinks 12 French and Swiss resorts, forming one of the world’s largest cross-border ski areas – you can easily hop on a ski lift to explore the best powder between both countries.

Avoriaz is also one of the first resorts in the region to offer a terrain park with exciting halfpipes, attracting freestylers of all skill levels. Novices can enjoy plenty of green and blue slopes, while younger budding freestylers can hone their skills at the Lil’Stash forest snowpark.

Megève is a small alpine village on the southeastern edge of Haute-Savoie. It offers great skiing with lesser crowds compared to other top ski resorts in the region. The area is great for all skiing and snowboarding skill levels. You can enjoy skiing on 445 km of (mostly) tranquil pistes near the Swiss and Italian borders. Enjoy stunning views of Mont Blanc while on the slopes.

After a day of skiing, enjoy a toned-down apres-ski back in Megève. Along the cobbled streets of the resort’s medieval centre, you can find a selection of quaint dining and entertainment spots. A must-visit is the popular Cinq Rues jazz bar, where you can sip cocktails to live performances.

Chamonix is one of the most famous ski resorts in Haute-Savoie, most notably for hosting the first-ever Winter Olympics back in 1924. Many believe it’s also France’s oldest, as the resort dates back to 1741.

Chamonix has plenty of areas for different skill levels. The pistes face towards this valley at the foot of Mont Blanc, where you’ll ski and snowboard against stunning alpine and glacial backdrops. For intermediates, the scenic La Flégère area is the closest to town. More challenging runs are in the Les Grand Montets area, while Le Brévent ups the ante with its gnarly fast slopes. An interesting note for film buffs: The 007 ski chase scene in The World Is Not Enough (1999) was shot here.

Flaine is one of the ski resorts in Haute-Savoie that’s geared towards families. It features consistent snow in all seasons thanks to its unique microclimate. Purpose-built back in the 1960s, its giant snow bowl is sheltered by the edge of the Mont Blanc massif, which helps it attain high average snowfall. It’s been nicknamed the "big snowy bowl" of the French Alps ever since.

Flaine has a total of 265 km of pistes. The lowest runs in Flaine’s bowl-shaped valley are tree-lined. Further up the mountain, you’ll be treated to clear and open slopes. You can ride a cable car to the top of the Grandes Platières for breathtaking views of the massif.

Le Grand-Bornand is a traditional village with snow-covered pastures down the western slopes of Massif des Aravis – a lower chain of mountain ranges in the French Alps. Modern, world-class ski amenities and 90 km of ski runs complement its mountain village charm.

The ski resort covers 2 villages at different elevations. At 1,300 metres above sea level, the upper village is where you’ll ski off to carve some exciting slopes. Most of the pastures provide easy skiing for beginners and intermediates, while more advanced skiers can head up higher to Mont Lachat (Le Mont Lachat de Châtillon), about 2,000 metres above sea level and west of the village.

The Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc ski resort in Haute-Savoie is a prime gateway to Mont-Blanc, the highest mountain in the French Alps. The ski resort area is often referred to as Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, which is actually a spa town close to the ski area. Together, they’ve been a popular winter sports destination since the early 20^th century.

In Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc’s snowpark, at an altitude of 850 metres, you’ll be skiing or snowboarding against a breathtaking backdrop of Mont Blanc’s snow-capped peak. You can ride the Tramway du Mont Blanc for more adventures in Place du Prarion to the east, at 1,800 metres above sea level. Back in town, enjoy a different kind of apres-ski at the thermal baths of St. Gervais-les-Bains.

Morzine is one of the traditional market towns in Haute-Savoie, with partially wooded slopes that enjoy steady snowfall from Mont Blanc’s microclimate. Located 1,000 metres above sea level in the Chablais mountain range, it is complemented by modern facilities, with its sister ski resort Avoriaz just east through the valley.

Morzine offers mostly intermediate terrain with wide and gentle pistes where budding skiers and snowboarders can have fun while honing their skills. This has made it a rather popular ski resort in Haute-Savoie for families.

The commune of Samoens in Haute-Savoie is a popular ski resort that’s also well-known for its old-world charm. Through its charming, patisserie-lined streets, you can admire well-preserved architecture dating back to the Middle Ages. Standouts include the town’s old fountain, its church, the 1815 Ferme du Clos Parchet farmhouse, and the La Jaysinia alpine botanical garden that opened in 1906.

Rich heritage aside, your skiing adventures in Samoens starts in the great ski area that it shares with the Grand Massif domain. Ride the Grand Massif Express gondola from the town that sits at an elevation of 720 metres up to 1,600 metres above sea level to enjoy 265 km of exciting pistes.

Les Gets is a beautiful Savoyan ski resort in the Chablais Alps. The commune lies north of Mont Blanc, sitting at an elevation of 1,200 metres. Skiing or snowboarding in the resort’s fun snowpark is backed by views of 2 majestic and snow-capped peaks.

Families with budding skiers can enjoy the Chavannes express run that’s serviced by 5 lifts or the Choucas run with its series of bunny slopes and mini jumps. The Arbis and Les Creux runs are reserved for the more experienced skiers, thanks to challenging longer routes. At the end of the day, you’re treated to plenty of cosy bars and Irish pubs for apres-ski back in town.