La Clusaz offers 130km of well maintained slopes for all level of skiers. The highest ski-able peaks rise up to 2470m in La Clusaz (Col de balme) and 2100m in the nearby Le Grand Bornand (120km of pistes). La Clusaz is well served by a good mixture of cable cars, drag and chair lifts, your ascent up the mountain, is usually quick and devoid of large queues unlike some of the larger resorts. La Clusaz is a well kept secret amongst the Swiss and French, despite it's excellent skiing opportunities, which makes it a quieter more pleasant resort, with space on the pistes! The snow record in La Clusaz is typically good from pre-christmas to late April and evening events such as torch lit processions, weekly night time and monthly full moon skiing, provide unusual and unmissable experiences.

The north and west facing positions of most of the slopes means that snow holds well throughout the season, so don't be put off that the town is only at 1100m. We also tend to get the first of the snow, as has happen again this year (2005/2006 season). Skiing back into the town centre is possible throughout the winter season. Recently installed snow making facilities on the lower slopes ensure a good snow covering on the lower runs returning to the town late into the season.

Lift passes can be arranged in advance by gravité or online for La Clusaz and all of the Aravis ski resorts (providing over 220km of pistes) including Manigod, Le Grand Bornand and St Jean de Sixt (the Aravis pass). Skiing, free-style and telemark lessons can be booked in advance by your hosts with friendly (highly recommended) English speaking instructors, for small groups or individuals on a private lessons basis. ESF and Sno Academie run 5/6 day ski courses for all levels. Guests can also take advantage of a cheaper lift passes in off peak periods such as january and April. Ski and boot rental is available at the chalet at reasonable rates, so no long queues or muddled conversation in the ski shops. Just let us know what you will need, although we carry a large stock, including snowblades if you want to try something a bit different.

There are a couple of skiing and non-skiing children's clubs which take children from 8 months (BCG injections are said to be required), 3 and 5 years, and who offer activities on a half or full day basis throughout the ski season. These must be booked in advance to ensure places. Child-minding by local English residents is available at the chalet during the day or evening.

(piste maps for La Clusaz and Le Grand Bornand)

La Clusaz provides a wide range of beginner slopes on the lower slopes near the town centre and on the Beauregard plateau, which is served by a high speed cable car. The Beauregard area has lovely gentle green runs to progress to, including one long one which takes you around the base of the mountain back to the village. For a first experience of chair lifts, take the long tree lined runs from the Cret de Merle to La Balme and back, which provide a fantastic alpine experience. Most of the beginners slopes are in close proximity to the mountain restaurants or town centre, which makes La Clusaz an ideal beginner site for skiers, and parties of mixed abilities. Beginner lessons can also be taken at the Croix Fry area of la Clusaz, which provides quieter gentler slopes, served by mainly drag lifts.For a change of scenery, Le Grand Bornand offers easy access to the Rosay area via a cable car. It is an ideal place to start, progressing on to the gentle slopes of La Joyere, Gettiers or Chinaillon.
If you are beginner, take a look at our special learner packs, which are all inclusive - accommodation, skis + boot hire, ESF half or full day lessons and ski pass.

If you are comfortable on blue and red slopes then La Clusaz offers an abundance of skiing with some fantastic wide long blue and reds in the La Balme area. These are also some of the highest runs, and therefore hold their snow very well, late into the season. However, it can be a lot colder at the Col de Balme and the chairlifts are often shut if the wind is strong or the visibility is too bad. The L'Aiguille at La Clusaz is another of the three high altitude ski areas and provides the start of a long run down into the town. It is often quite mogully at the top and provides a real top to bottom leg burning challenge with stunning views. The main body of the La Clusaz ski runs are above the town and accessed mostly by chair lifts. There is also a decent snow park and boarder cross course.
The Etale and Col de Medassier areas are in the third highest area and offer the steepest runs and provide some good skiing, especially in fresh powder.
Manigod and Beauregard are good areas for pottering amongst the trees and enjoying the scenery, as the runs are shorter and easier than their grading suggest.They also provide a means of completing the whole route around the La Clusaz ski area, which makes for an excellent day on ski's.

La Balme area of La Clusaz, which offers some long wide runs. A button in the adjoing bowl of Torchere, is well worth taking. The Maroly area of Le Grand Bornand provides some fabulous long wide blues to practice your technique. Access to this area is generally recommended from the Tolar run which is a comfortable red, as the only other access is via a green run which is quite slow but gentle. The area can also be accessed by Lachat, but it's not to be recommended as your first run of the day, as it's the steepest of the Le Grand Bornand runs. The snow park and boarder cross in Le Grand Bornand are also located in the Maroly area and have some decent graded jumps, rails and a half pipe.

Although not top of the resort listings for advanced skiers, La Clusaz offers some fantastic off-piste and demanding black runs. Etale, Combe de Fernuy and La Balme both have long varied black runs, which are often unbashed and have challenging moguls. The off-piste on all of these can be great fun when the powder is good, and if you take advice on where to go. Guiding can be arranged. At the Col de Balme there are various renowned off-piste routes over the Col on both sides, however, these should never be attempted without a guide and are best to tackle in January or February when the snow is safer and the avalanche risk is lower.

Le Grand Bornand offers a few black runs off Mont Lachat and Floria. Although these are the first to be closed if the weather or snow conditions are poor. The best off-piste however is to be found in the Maroly area, which usually remains untouched for quite a while when the powder has just fallen.

Guiding by someone who knows the area is always recommended, as any off-piste skiing can be dangerous and is at your own risk. Advice should also be sought on snow and weather conditions on the day and avalanche warning signs noted.