Complete guide to the ski season in France

Snow-covered mountains, pristine slopes and the unique feeling of freedom that comes with it: winter is all about skiing!

But a holiday in the snow does take a bit of planning. Choosing the right resort, accommodation, ski pass and activities can be a daunting task, especially given the impact it will have on your budget.

This comprehensive guide to the French ski season contains a wealth of useful information, and was put together to help you plan your best ski holiday ever. It also refers to other articles, which look at each subject in more detail.

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Find a chalet in the Alps

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Good to know: By contacting OVO Network, you can benefit from the support and advice of our team of experts, while still enjoying the flexibility of a personalised organisation.

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The different months of the winter season

The ski season in the Alps runs from mid-November to the end of April. Resort opening and closing dates can vary from one year to the next, depending on the snow cover. This is also influenced by the exposure and altitude of each resort.

You can check the dates and weather conditions on this website.

Each month of the winter season has its advantages:

	Weather conditions	Target audience	Rates	Attendance	Activities
November	Snow cover varies but is generally adequate at high altitudes	Families – friends – intermediate and experienced skiers	More affordable	Less crowded	Few resort events, autumn activities
December	Conditions vary from station to station and from year to year	Families – beginners	High prices, need to plan in advance	High attendance due to school holidays	Christmas and New Year markets, shows and festivals
January	Generally good conditions: time to make the most of the powder	Friends – couples – skiers of all levels	More affordable	Less crowded	Resort events – winter activities
February	Optimum snow cover	Families – Friends – intermediate and experienced skiers	High prices, need to plan in advance	High attendance due to school holidays	Resort events, carnival – winter activities
March	Milder temperatures and usually good snow cover	Friends – beginners	More affordable	Average attendance	Few resort events – winter activities
April	Snow cover variable but generally adequate at high altitudes; milder temperatures and longer days	Families – friends – couples – intermediate and experienced skiers	More affordable	Less crowded	Resort events – spring activities

Choose your accommodation

Accommodation generally accounts for almost 30% of the holiday budget, so it’s important that it meets the expectations of your whole group and that you feel at home there. Think about the needs of children and people with reduced mobility.

While a hotel room may be suitable for a couple or a solo traveller, it rarely meets the needs of a family or a group of friends. In this case, we recommend choosing self-catered accommodation, spacious enough to bring everyone together, and with the option of cooking for yourself, which will reduce food costs.

Good to know:  Most OVO Network partner properties offer not only space and comfort, but also facilities dedicated to entertainment and relaxation: a hot tub, sauna, games room, home cinema, etc. This helps to reduce expenditure on extra activities.

Choose your chalet in the Alps

Whatever type of accommodation you choose, make sure you book as early as possible, as availability runs out fast in the Alps in winter. What’s more, booking in advance means you can take advantage of a wider range of offers and cheaper rates. 

OVO Network’s “Koala Flex” cancellation policy allows you to cancel your accommodation booking up to two days before your scheduled arrival date.

Choosing the right mountain resort

The Alps have the largest number of resorts and ski areas in France, so choosing the right destination can be complicated. 

To help you make the right decision, we’ve listed the biggest ski areas in the Alps below, along with their main features. For each of them, we’ve also selected a property that might interest you.

Portes du Soleil

With 12 resorts and about 600km of pistes, this Franco-Swiss ski area can cater for all levels and types of skier, including those with reduced mobility. A single ski pass gives access to almost 200 lifts throughout the area.

Most of the resorts in the area have an authentic family atmosphere, like Les Gets and Montriond. Others, such as Morzine and Avoriaz, have the facilities to accommodate large numbers of visitors.

Where to stay in the Portes du Soleil: Chalet Ruisselet, in Châtel

This 12-person chalet has a very elegant interior, with a harmonious blend of wooden architecture and modern decor. Built right on the Châtel slopes, it overlooks Lac de Vonnes, while the resort’s shops and restaurants are within an easy walk. It has an outdoor hot tub, a lovely terrace and six comfortable bedrooms.

Évasion Mont-Blanc

Straddling Savoie and Haute-Savoie, the Évasion Mont-Blanc ski area offers 400km of pistes and about 100 ski lifts. It’s perfect for guests looking for thrills, wild landscapes and off-piste skiing.

Its modern resorts cater for all visitor expectations. Choose between the elegance of Megève, well-being in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, or the authenticity of the Portes du Mont-Blanc (Combloux, Cordon and La Giettaz).

Where to stay in Évasion Mont-Blanc: Chalet Vardache, in Cordon

This modern chalet, built right on the slopes of Cordon, has plenty of space and light for up to 13 guests. It has a garden, a large terrace, a central fireplace and a large, cosy bar. But its main feature is undoubtedly the breathtaking panorama of the Mont-Blanc massif, which can be seen through the large picture windows.

Les Aravis

Smaller than its neighbours, this ski area has four resorts and 200km of pistes, divided into two main sectors. Its groomed slopes and facilities are perfect for families and beginners, but there’s plenty for more experienced skiers too.

The resorts are well-connected to Annecy and Geneva airport, and offer a combination of charm, quality services and modern facilities, whether at La Clusaz, Le Grand-Bornand, Manigod or Saint-Jean-de-Sixt.

Where to stay in the Aravis: La Ferme à Juju, in La Clusaz

This 5-star apartment in the centre of La Clusaz has been converted from a historic farmhouse. Everything has been designed to maximise comfort and tradition, with wood panelling, a fireplace and access to a steam room and a hot tub. The ski lift, ski school, restaurants and shops are just a short walk away, and the shuttle bus will take you to explore the rest of the resort.

Grand Massif

With five resorts and 260km of pistes, this area is particularly popular with intermediate skiers, thanks to its wide choice of blue and red runs. Off-piste, cross-country and handiskiing are also on offer, as well as dog-sleigh rides.

For a family holiday, we recommend Les Carroz. For a holiday in the heart of nature, head to Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval. To discover the traditional charm of the Alps, choose Samoëns, or its neighbour Morillon.

Where to stay in the Grand Massif: MontCriou, in Samoëns

You’ll be at the heart of everything the Grand Massif has to offer when you stay at this duplex flat for 10 guests, with five bright bedrooms and no fewer than six balconies. The cable car is just 200 metres away, and the pleasant pedestrianised centre of Samoëns is 2km away. The flat is decorated in a clean, bright style, and several offices have been set up for guests who want to work remotely.

3 Vallées

The 3 Vallées ski area is the biggest in the world, with 600km of pistes connecting seven resorts. Its altitude guarantees a ski season that runs from late November through to early May.

The area includes Val Thorens, Europe’s highest ski resort, as well as other well-known resorts such as Courchevel and Méribel. For a quieter stay, choose Les Menuires or Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, for example.

Good to know:  If you don’t want to use your car during your stay, most ski areas and resorts offer a shuttle bus service, which is usually included with your ski pass.

Once you’ve chosen your dates and resort, it’s time to organise your stay in more detail…

Set a budget

The cost of a ski holiday can be high, so it’s important to plan your budget in advance to avoid any surprises.

The budget per adult for a week’s skiing in the Alps is between €800 and €1,200. This figure will obviously be affected by the activities you choose, as well as the time of year and your choice of resort.

Accommodation generally accounts for a good third of your final expenditure. Ski passes and food account for about 15% each (more if you dine out every evening). You’ll also need to add equipment hire and the cost of the return journey to your destination.

This article will give you an idea of prices and practical advice on how to cut your costs.

Get yourself in shape for skiing

Skiing is a sport. If you’re planning to spend a significant amount of time on the slopes, it’s important that you’re in good physical condition. Being out of shape not only causes aches and pains, which can ruin your holiday, but also increases the risk of injury.

We recommend these seven simple exercises to do on a daily basis in the weeks leading up to your skiing holiday. They will tone the muscles that will be used most, whatever your favourite sport.

Good to know: Some of our partner chalets have gyms and fitness equipment, so you can continue your workout during your stay, as well as wellness facilities, so you can relax afterwards.

Pack your bags

The most effective way of coping with cold weather in the mountains is to dress in several light layers. This also makes it easy to adapt your clothing as you become warmer. 

So pack plenty of long, light clothes, as well as a waterproof ski suit and the usual winter accessories. Don’t forget the essential documents you’ll need for your stay and the outfits you want to wear off the slopes.

Here are the essential items of clothing we recommend you pack: 

• a waterproof ski jacket;
• a ski suit (can also be hired on site);
• several long-sleeved T-shirts and thermal leggings; 
• thick ski socks; 
• a neck warmer or scarf and hat;
• ski goggles and sunglasses;
• a good quality fleece;
• sun cream;
• swimwear (for a session in the pool or spa).

Ski equipment

If you don’t have your own skis or snowboard, you can of course hire or buy some in the resort. But it’s crucial to choose the right equipment.

Your choice will depend on your level of ability, your weight and height, and your chosen activity: ski touring and downhill skiing do not require the same type of skis. Don’t hesitate to ask for advice in the shop, after consulting our complete guide, which also gives you examples of rental and purchase prices.

Note that rental prices depend on the time of year, the length of the rental period, the type of rental (on-site or online), the type of equipment chosen and the model, as well as the size of the shop and the resort.

Good to know: You’ll benefit from attractive discounts if you book your equipment in advance, as well as a reduction of up to 55% if you go through our partner Skiset as an OVO Network guest. In all cases, we strongly advise you to book your equipment in advance.

You can also hire ski suits, jackets, helmets, gloves and goggles at the resort.

Ski passes

Another major consideration when organising your snow holiday is the ski pass, which allows you to not only use the ski lifts, but also to access the slopes in the ski area, even as a pedestrian.

The price of these passes depends not only on the resort and duration you choose (half-day, day, week or all season), but also on your age, the size of your group and the extent of the area you wish to explore. For example, the ski passes available in Combloux give access either to the village slopes, the reduced Portes du Mont-Blanc ski area, or the entire Évasion Mont-Blanc ski area.

Many resorts offer exceptional reductions on their ski passes if you book in September and October.

If you want to avoid the queues, we advise you to book your ski pass online in advance. All you have to do then is collect it on the day of your arrival. The ticket offices and slopes are obviously much easier to use if you stay outside the peak periods (see the table at the start of this article).

Taking a ski lesson

Whether you’re new to skiing (or any other board sport), returning to the sport after a long break, or looking to improve your technique, it can be worthwhile signing up for a course of ski lessons. 

There are plenty of schools in the resorts, and sessions come in a variety of formats, depending on your needs. When making your choice, you’ll need to take into account your budget, your level, the format you’re interested in (group or individual lessons) and your personal goals.

Advice for families

Many Alpine resorts offer facilities, services and activities for all ages. This is the case in La Clusaz, Les Gets and Le Grand-Bornand, among others, which all hold the “Famille Plus” label.

If this is your toddler’s first ski holiday, this detailed article gives you plenty of advice on how to make sure your stay goes smoothly, from start to finish.

Finally, if you’d like to take some time out for yourself and enjoy a session on the slopes, a wellness session or a romantic meal out, there are a number of ways to ensure your children are looked after, from ski schools to home services.

Good to know: Many OVO Network partner chalets provide safety, care and entertainment equipment for babies and young children. These properties can be recognised by our “Cool for Kids” and “Cool for Kids Extra” labels.

Risks and accidents in the mountains

Being well prepared for the ski season in France means understanding the dangers of the mountains and knowing what to do in the event of injury or accident. 

Whether it’s a storm, an avalanche, acute mountain sickness (altitude-related) or a simple fall, it’s a good idea to know where the altitude medical centres are in your resort. Find out before you venture out, and make sure you take a charged mobile phone with you, with the GPS function activated.

Good to know: If you have any problems, you can contact the mountain emergency services by dialling 112.

In the event of a major problem, you should be aware that the costs of an operation and transport to a hospital are not covered by the Assurance Maladie. As an estimate, a helicopter flight costs around €30 per minute. 

It may therefore be worthwhile taking out specific insurance for your skiing holiday before your trip. Some resorts offer to include this insurance in their ski pass, at an additional cost. Check beforehand that you are not already covered by a mutual health insurance, personal accident insurance or by your bank card.

Winter season events

With concerts, shows, festivals and sporting competitions, not to mention Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Carnival celebrations, there’s plenty to keep you busy off the slopes! All the resorts in the Alps offer a packed programme of events during the ski season, particularly during the school holidays in December and February.

Good to know: During these busy periods, it’s a good idea to book the activities and events that interest you in advance, to make sure you don’t miss out.

Our event diaries show you the best events on offer this winter, month by month:

• In the Portes du Soleil resorts of Morzine, Avoriaz, Châtel and Les Gets.
• In the Évasion Mont-Blanc resorts of Saint-Gervais, Combloux, La Giettaz and Megève.
• In the Aravis resorts of Le Grand-Bornand, La Clusaz, Manigod and Annecy.

Other mountain activities

There’s more to the mountains than skiing and snowboarding! Here are just a few examples of winter activities to vary the pleasures and make the most of your snow holiday

After skiing comes après-ski! The resorts come alive in the late afternoon to celebrate the holidays. Many bars and restaurants offer live music, DJ sets, quizzes and themed evenings.

Whether you’re looking for a festive, warm, friendly or elegant atmosphere, you’re bound to find the establishment and the evening of your choice. Have a look at our recommendations:

• in the Portes du Soleil;
• in the Évasion Mont-Blanc;
• in the Aravis.

Year-round activities

Now more than ever, the Alps are a year-round destination. Discover the multi-season activities that you can also enjoy during your winter holiday:

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Now you know everything you need to know about the ski season in France! By following our recommendations, you can make the most of a stress-free mountain holiday. Start planning your trip and book your accommodation now on our website.

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