Les Carroz Ski Resort Guide
Les Carroz is a traditional-style ski resort which provides a great location for exploring the extensive Grand Massif – the fifth largest ski area in Europe. Situated on a plateau at 1,140 metres, Les Carroz is the highest of the nearby villages and is viewed as a family-orientated alternative to the nearby resort of Flaine.
The resort itself is built in a traditional Savoyard style with picturesque buildings of wood and stone nestled between more modern developments. There are a reasonable variety of local shops, bars & restaurants located in the centre of the resort. Some lively apres bars can be found, but in general the relaxed atmosphere in Les Carroz will best suit families and smaller groups seeking quieter nights out.
The natural environment surrounding Les Carroz is beautiful and has been well-preserved despite the busy ski resort at its heart. The village prides itself on protecting the mountains and has been powered completely by renewable energy sources since 2006.
Les Carroz is one of the closest major ski resorts to the international airport of Geneva. With a transfer time of under an hour, this makes it ideal for weekend ski trips, as well as cutting down significantly on travel time for longer holidays.
Skiing in Les Carroz
The local slopes above Les Carroz are pretty and tree-lined, providing excellent cover in bad weather. Despite being relatively short in distance, they provide a variety of terrains for differing levels of skiers & snowboarders. Les Carroz receives regular snowfalls throughout the season and is known for its excellent snow quality late in the season due to 80% of its slopes being north-facing.
The real draw of skiing in Les Carroz though is that it provides quick access to the huge Grand Massif ski area. Along with the resorts of Flaine, Morillon, Samoens and Sixt, Les Carroz benefits from 265km of pistes, 70 lifts and 141 pistes. An 8-person telecabin lift is used to access the Grand Massif area in just 6 minutes.
This large extended ski area tends to suit intermediate level skiers & snowboarders, but has enough variety to keep more advanced snow sports enthusiasts busy too. The routes around the Grand Massif are relatively well planned out, and because of this there are few queues for lifts. The area is well-known for its excellent off-piste areas as well, with excellent snowfall and snow conditions servicing extensive off-piste areas. The Grand Massif is an excellent area to progress off-piste skiing skills too, with gentle bowls and tree runs giving way to steeper faces as required.
