The Annecy Mountains are the ultimate winter sports destination! Prepare to take to the slopes of the ski area or the snowy trails across the wilderness.
© Pierrick Aubert /
© Manigod Tourisme
Some of the downhill ski resorts are already open, and the others will join them on 17 December (snow cover permitting). Whether you choose Le Grand-Bornand, La Clusaz, Manigod, La Sambuy, Le Semnoz, Saint-Jean-de-Sixt or Montmin, each of the Aravis resorts innovates to make your winter sports holiday even more enjoyable, with fun slopes in Manigod or La Clusaz, specific areas set aside for children but also for adults in Le Grand-Bornand. Around Lake Annecy, Le Semnoz, La Sambuy and Montmin are choice destinations for families or for skiers who only have a few hours on the slopes.
In the evening, prolong the joys of the slopes into the evening at La Clusaz, Le Grand-Bornand or even on the largest night skiing area of Savoie Mont-Blanc, in Manigod. You can even swap your skis for a sledge or a paret, because here there’s no limit to the wintertime fun!
© C. Chabod - Le Grand-Bornand Tourisme
© C. Chabod - Le Grand-Bornand Tourisme
As France’s chosen venue for the BMW IBU Biathlon world cup, Annecy-Le Grand-Bornand is once again hosting this world-class biathlon event from 12 to 18 December. Come and cheer on the French team at home! A chance for both enthusiasts and novices to enjoy this discipline in the region’s various Nordic areas: the Glière plateau, La Clusaz and of course Le Grand-Bornand. A few skate-skiers and diagonal striders have already followed these trails, especially on the Glières plateau where the snowfarming trail has been open since 26 November. And because Nordic skiers like to prolong the pleasure too… make the most of a night session to ski in the light of a headlamp at Le Grand-Bornand or on the Glières plateau.
Another reason why the Annecy Mountains make the ideal winter sports destination is that they are full of wilderness areas waiting to be explored.
Fancy escaping for some fresh air, far from the crowds ? Then call upon our mountain professionals. From Thônes, a qualified guide will take you ski touring into the different Aravis valleys, during the day, at sunset, for a weekend or over several days… anything’s possible ! There are also plenty of off-piste areas for you to try, on the slopes of Seythenex, Le Grand-Bornand, La Clusaz and beyond ! And to introduce you to the techniques and safety measures involved in off-piste skiing, the ESF ski school of Le Grand-Bornand offers “Snow and mountain” options, a great way to get to know the mountain environment and its limits.
If you prefer to explore along the snowy trails on snowshoes, the Annecy guides can take you deep into the wilderness, by day or by night, and the most adventurous among you can even try mid-winter bivouacking, an experience that will leave you with everlasting memories !
The small resorts are often the most family-friendly. No crowds, shorter, more gentle slopes and specific facilities for children, like the rope tow lift and Bûcherons fun slope in La Sambuy, or the beginners area in Le Semnoz with a completely free magic carpet lift in Bauges. The Montmin resort run by volunteers is another hidden gem that’s definitely worth a visit! But the Aravis resorts are also great for families, especially Le Grand-Bornand, with its host of family-friendly facilities, or Manigod where the slopes are perfect for children while allowing more experienced skiers to reach the slopes of La Clusaz. Last but not least, new relaxation areas have been created among the slopes of La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand, offering the perfect spots for families to enjoy a break and admire the scenery!
