Skiing in Les Carroz
If you’ve been yearning for a French Alps ski holiday in a traditional village with authentic Savoyard ambience with stunning views over the valley, Les Carroz is sure to satisfy.
This is also one of the most easily accessible Alpine resorts ̶ around 45 minutes’ drive from Geneva Airport, it’s conveniently close to the A40 motorway exit, 2 hours from Lyon and less than 5 hours from Paris.
Perched on a plateau at 1140m and offering high-altitude skiing up to 2480m, the abundance of brilliant blue runs in Les Carroz make it a magnet for novice and intermediate skiers and there are several terrific tree-lined pistes which provide sheltered skiing when the weather closes in. If you’re a snowboarder, this is a fantastic freestyle area and there’s a decent snowpark that’s fun too.
Meanwhile, if you’re an advanced enthusiast, you can find plenty to satisfy you in the surrounding 265km Grand Massif ski area, which includes 141 groomed runs and plentiful off-piste opportunities. Neighbouring resorts include Morillon, Samoëns, Sixt and Flaine, and we recommend you opt for a ‘Grand Massif’ ski pass that packs Flaine into your holiday too.
While the modern architecture in Flaine isn’t to everyone’s taste, accommodation in Les Carroz tends towards the chocolate box chalet style and the newer developments are slope-side while there’s a reliable shuttle bus service that comfortably ferries residents in apartments a little further out to the slopes in a few minutes.
This is an excellent resort for families with small children and babies, because its reasonably low altitude and westerly setting make it more pleasant for little ones who can sometimes find skiing in very cold temperatures off-putting. Furthermore, the nursery and intermediate slopes mean families of mixed abilities can enjoy the slopes together, local ski schools cater for kids as young as 3 and there’s off-slope entertainment available for youngsters too.
Les Carroz also caters for skiers with disabilities, with Handiski facilities, equipment and lessons, discounted lift passes and access to many slopes in the local and wider Grand Massif area. Après-ski here is cosy and laid-back rather than pulsating, but there’s a handful of traditional bars, one late-night spot and an excellent choice of cafés and restaurants serving delicious Savoyard specialities as well as international dishes.
For families heading to the Alps together for the first time and anyone prioritising village-style ambience over a more commercialised atmosphere, Les Carroz definitely delivers.
Les Carroz boasts a range of facilities to enhance guests' experiences both on and off the slopes. Accommodation options include cosy chalets, hotels, and apartments, providing comfortable lodging for families and groups. Additionally, Les Carroz features a variety of restaurants, cafes, shops, ski schools, and wellness centres to cater to visitors' needs. After a day of exhilarating skiing, ski holidaymakers at Les Carroz get to experience the buzzing apres ski in the resort. From quaint mountain bars to lively village pubs, there are options to suit every preference.
Les Carroz boasts a range of facilities to enhance guests' experiences both on and off the slopes. Accommodation options include cosy chalets, hotels, and apartments, providing comfortable lodging for families and groups. Additionally, Les Carroz features a variety of restaurants, cafes, shops, ski schools, and wellness centres to cater to visitors' needs. After a day of exhilarating skiing, ski holidaymakers at Les Carroz get to experience the buzzing apres ski in the resort. From quaint mountain bars to lively village pubs, there are options to suit every preference.
This is an excellent resort for families because its reasonably low altitude makes it more pleasant for little ones who can sometimes find skiing in very cold temperatures off-putting. Furthermore, the nursery and intermediate slopes mean families of mixed abilities can enjoy the slopes together, local ski schools cater for kids as young as 3 and there’s off-slope entertainment available for youngsters too. Les Carroz also caters for skiers with disabilities, with Handiski facilities, equipment and lessons, discounted lift passes and access to many slopes in the local and wider Grand Massif area. Après-ski here is cosy and laid-back rather than pulsating, but there’s a handful of traditional bars, one late-night spot and an excellent choice of cafés and restaurants serving delicious Savoyard specialities as well as international dishes. Only 37 miles away from Geneva airport, it only takes less than a 2-hour transfer to get to the resort.
A traditional Alpine village set at 1140m but with slopes up to 2480m with south facing pistes and a number of north-facing runs, Les Carroz is snow-sure up until the end of the season, when some slopes can get rather slushy. In the event that there’s not enough natural snow cover, there’s snow-making capacity here to cover a quarter of the resort’s slopes.
It’s an excellent choice for families with young children and intermediate skiers, there’s a terrain park with pipe for snowboarders and experienced skiers will find lots of on- and off-piste opportunities in the surrounding Grand Massif Ski area.
Les Carroz is a paradise for beginners and intermediate skiers, but there are skiing pleasures to be found here for all aptitudes ̶ here are some pointers for you:
If you’re a beginner, you’ll adore Les Carroz ̶ there’s a laid-back, welcoming, unpretentious atmosphere, a superb ski school and plenty of nursery slopes around the village where you can find your feet.
The gondola also whisks intermediate skiers up to the higher runs in Grand Massif ̶ there’s a network of over 100 brilliant blue runs here. The wide open runs that permeate the expansive powdery snowbowl above Flaine are definitely worth exploring and the fun continues with wonderful long runs through the woods returning to Les Carroz and nearby Samoëns and Morillon.
Les Carroz isn’t synonymous with advanced skiing, but there’s plenty of excitement here if you’re an expert. There are 15 black runs in the area, the most famous of which locally is the Piste de Cascades, and there are some challenging blacks above Samoëns and in the neighbouring Molliets Valley.
If you’re an off-piste enthusiast, you’ll enjoy the Vernant Valley between Les Carroz and Flaine and you shouldn’t miss Flaine’s fantastic Combe de Gers. Alternatively, sign up for a ski touring trip with a qualified guide and head to Chamonix to tackle the Vallée Blanche which, at a whopping 25km, is the world’s longest lift-served run.
All Ski Resort Accommodation in Les Carroz
With plenty of off-piste freestyle areas and parks, Les Carroz and the Grand Massif are great for snowboarders ̶ here’s the lowdown:
There are lots of wide, easy runs here for carving and a good snow park with a decent half-pipe.
There are ample free riding and off-piste areas around Les Carroz and across the Grand Massif (particularly in the Gers bowl after a dump of fresh pow) but always hire a local mountain guide to stay safe.
The Jam Park up at Flaine is fab fun and features kickers, rails, boxes, hips, waverides and a boardercross area.
The ski season in Les Carroz lasts from mid-December through to April and the resort is reasonably snow-sure except during the latter part of the season, when conditions can be variable ̶ here’s a little more information:
In the deep midwinter months of January and February, you’ll embrace the light and warmth of the south-facing runs in Les Carroz, while in April and May the cool and shade of the resort’s north-facing trails are conducive to the best skiing.
If the natural snow cover needs to be topped up, there are 63 snow cannons on 27km of the pistes here, which is around a quarter of the total runs.
The most recent official seasonal snowfall statistics for Les Carroz reveal a total snowfall of 407cm, a total of 38 snowfall days, a largest snowfall of 38cm, average base depth of 9cm, maximum base depth of 40cm, maximum summit depth of 208cm and average summit depth of 140cm.
If you’re a foodie with a penchant for French cuisine and enjoy a few refreshing drinks after a hard day’s fun on the slopes, the après-ski in Les Carroz will be right up your alleyway. Here are a few highlights:
L’Alpage de l’Airon restaurant near the Kédeuze gondola serves sumptuous local traditional fare and you can tuck into your lip-smacking meal while gazing across the stunning Arve Valley.
La Chouia is an ambient rustic restaurant set in a Savoyard farmhouse at the bottom of the Molliets chairlift ̶ it serves local cuisine but also bakes a mean takeaway pizza.
Aux Petits Oignons Restaurant is a bistro-style family-run restaurant which has built up a brilliant reputation for fine food and exceptional customer service since it was first founded in the 1980s.
The Marlow is an après-ski bar bang in the middle of Les Carroz where you can while away a few hours people watching while enjoying beers and cocktails.
The Pointe Noire is next to The Marlow and occasionally hosts live music acts, but you’ll always have fun here with pool, air hockey, video games, gallons of beer and great company.
Carpe Diem is a lively bar open late but it tends to get busy from around midnight when The Pointe Noire packs up for the evening and revellers head over to continue the party.
Club 74 is the only nightclub in Le Carroz and it’s a rather lively spot, especially given the resort’s slightly reserved reputation ̶ think bass-thumping tunes, walls adorned with tropical fish tanks, cage dancers and laser shows!
Les Carroz is a well-appointed ski resort that’s set up superbly for all types of visitors, from families to couples and solo skiers. There are plenty of off-slope activities, shops and additional services available. There is a good selection of ski hire shops, multiple points to purchase a ski passes and a plethora of ski schools and instructors.
Les Carroz is a family-focused resort with lots of innovative and inspirational services for kids ̶ find out more below.
All Ski Resort Accommodation in Les Carroz
