Ski in Carroz d'Araches

Why ski in Les Carroz?

Here are 10 things to know about the Grand Massif, the ski area to which Les Carroz belongs.

1. The 7th biggest ski domain in France

2. 5 ski resorts in Haute-Savoie, in the French Alps: Les Carroz, Flaine, Morillon, Samoëns, Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval  

3. from 680 metres to 2500 metres above sea level

4. 265 km of linked tracks in the middle of 40,000 hectares of forest

5. 139 runs including 23 green runs, 61 blue runs, 43 red runs and 12 black runs

6. 16 fun zones including the Cascades Experience, a 14 km long trail in the nature

7. 6 freeride areas with secured and ungroomed runs

8. 4 Nordic sites

9. 63 ski lifts including 1 cable car, 5 gondolas, 22 chair lifts and 25 ski lifts

10. nearly 400 employees in winter

Ski for everyone

It is possible to be both a family resort and to offer great skiing to its visitors, as proven by Les Carroz d'Araches, one of the star resorts of the Grand Massif.

To ski in the Grand Massif ski area from Les Carroz, there are two possibilities: take the Kedeuze gondola from Les Carroz 1200, located in the heart of the village, or the Molliets or Tête des Saix chairlifts from Les Carroz 1500, located about ten minutes from the centre. By the time you get up there, you are in the heart of one of the largest linked ski areas in France. 

Beginners and intermediate skiers will have plenty to do in Les Carroz before setting off on the green and blue slopes of the rest of the Grand Massif area. They will be able to test their technique on the easy slopes at the top of the Kedeuze sector. In addition to optimal skiing conditions, the area offers a magnificent view of the valley, and even of Mont Blanc on a clear day. 

For the more experienced skiers, there are two runs not to be missed:

• the red one called Airon whose gentle start should not put skiers' vigilance to sleep as the finish is much steeper;

• the black Aigle Noir will delight mogul lovers.

Finally, it is impossible to ski in the Grand Massif without testing the legendary Cascades piste, which links the resorts of Flaine and Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval. Rather easy to get on, it offers you a beautiful 14 kilometre long ride! It is the second longest ski run in France.

With kids

For a great family skiing experience, there is no need to leave the village of Les Carroz and its lovely sunny plateau as the slopes dedicated to young people wait for you, at an altitude of 1200 metres.

To make the little ones want to start skiing, to help them experience the sensations of safe and supervised skiing, to allow them to do what mum and dad do, all this is part of the ambitions of the ski areas dedicated to children. 

Four areas are designed for young beginners in Les Carroz d'Araches:

• the Snow Garden with its conveyor belts and playgrounds that welcomes children from the age of 3

• the Figaro beginners' area, with its covered carpet and green run, allow you to make your very first descents

• the Coin Coin green run, beautifully surrounded by fir trees and equipped with a covered carpet and a small ski lift, is also a good place to learn how to steer your skis and negotiate your first turns

• the blue run of Plein soleil where young skiers can progress in safety.

For families already ready to hit the slopes, the ski area offers fun zones where parents and children can challenge each other, such as the Cool Zone at the Oasis des Carroz. This area, equipped with a boardercross, allows you to try your hand at moguls and turns accessible to all, and then tease the stopwatch in the Speed Experience Zone. A moment of pure conviviality, to be shared in the shade of... palm trees!

For those who like fresh snow

Throughout the Grand Massif domain, 16 zones are dedicated to the practice of alternative snow sports. A great way to experience new things and improve your freestyle technique.

Where to begin? This is certainly the first question that all riders ask themselves when they arrive at the Grand Massif, as the domain is so generous with freestyle areas and fun zones of all kinds. In Les Carroz, beginners will be able to discover the joys of moguls with the Coin Coin woops, while the more experienced snowboarders will go directly to tease the obstacles of the blue course of the Oasis boardercross or the turns of the red Cupoire piste. 

Once you've got the hang of it, you can continue your discovery by changing resorts. In Flaine, do not miss the modules and jumps of the Urban'z and the Ze Funne Slope. In Morillon, head for Ze Marvel Safari and its 7 kilometres of legendary downhill through the pine forest to be ridden on a snowboard, sledge or paret and the Ze Funky Park for a red level freestyle descent. And for beginners, a freestyle spot not to be missed: Ze SeptiSnake in Samoëns.

During the high season, children and adults can take part in snowboarding courses organised by the French Ski School (ESF) in Les Carroz. These courses take place over 6 days and alternate between snowpark, boardercross and freeride practice in the Grand Massif area. 

For freeride enthusiasts

Off-piste skiing accessible to as many people as possible, that's what Les Carroz offers you with a nice selection of freeride spots, to discover alone or with a guide.

If you like safe and marked powder, go to the Corbalanche freeride area. Accessible from the arrival of the Tête de Saix chairlift, at 2110 metres of altitude, this south-facing area offers nice, secure but not groomed, slopes with a DVA park and a DVA checkpoint to check that your equipment is working properly. The end is at 1630 metres altitude, at the combe de Vernant, after a difference in altitude of 480 metres.

The other playgrounds for freeriders are at the Croix des Sept freres, for the more experienced, and at the Combe de l'Airon, for a powder descent alongside the slope of the same name. One-day freeride outings are regularly organised by the Guides des Carroz in order to push the discovery a little further, in the Grand Massif area. Never defined in advance, the itineraries are inspired by the current weather conditions in order to combine pleasure and safety. 

For Nordic ski enthusiasts

The Grand Massif ski area has several areas dedicated to cross-country skiing, skating and Nordic ski touring, including one near Les Carroz: the Agy plateau.

If you like cross-country skiing, there are plenty of opportunities to do so in the Grand Massif, whether at the Col de Pierre Carree in the resort of Flaine, in the Giffre valley in the immediate vicinity of the resorts of Morillon, Samoëns and Six, or at the Plateau d'Agy, near Les Carroz. The latter overlooks Saint-Sigismond and offers slingers a splendid 360° view of the Arve and Giffre valleys. Sledging, cross-country skiing, biathlon, snowshoeing and even sled dogs riding are practiced here thanks to the respect and conviviality so dear to the resort. 

The Agy Nordic ski area has five trails, two green, one blue, one red and one black, which allows everyone to practice, regardless of their level, especially as the equipment needed to do skating and classic or alternative skiing can be rented directly on site. In addition to the 20 km of cross-country ski trails, the area has 3 snowshoeing loops: 

• la Borde, a very easy 1.5 kilometre route, accessible to everyone from the age of 4

• Fimaloz, an easy 5.5 kilometre loop to be tested from the age of 8

• and Trechard, an 8-kilometre path of medium difficulty, suitable for all hikers aged 12 and over