Praz-sur-Arly

Why ski in Praz-sur-Arly?

At 1,030 metres alt., the charming village of Praz-sur-Arly offers access to Espace Diamant's 192 kilometres of ski slopes, from gentle greens to challenging blacks. Enjoy stunning mountain views and a serene atmosphere as you explore the snowy forest and open peaks.

• 192 kilometres of pistes in the Espace Diamant ski area

• Green, blue, red, and black runs for skiers and snowboarders of all expertise levels

• Alpine mountain views showcasing the marvellous mountains

• Ski passes for single and multi-day use

• Instructors and ski schools offering lessons and guided tours

• Areas for families with slopes dedicated to children

• Nordic skiing for those looking for a different experience

• Modern ski lifts make the slopes easily accessible

• Numerous apres-ski options with bars, restaurants, and shops

• Annual ski events and competitions add to the local atmosphere

What to expect when skiing here

Situated in the Haute-Savoie region, at the crossroads of Beaufortain and Aravis, you'll find Praz-sur-Arly. Take advantage of a unique skiing experience in either L'Espace Val d'Arly, which connects Praz-sur-Arly, Flumet and Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe, with 90 km of runs, or choose the Espace Diamant area where the Val d'Arly resorts are joined by the Les Saisies ski area, giving you access to the full 192km of slopes. Skiing here means enjoying 159 groomed slopes, set among alpine meadows, forests, and stunning peaks with views of Mont Blanc from certain areas.

skiing with children

Here, children can learn to ski under the guidance of trained ski instructors, either one-on-one or as part of a group lesson. The ski area has 22 green runs for beginners to build their confidence and 60 blue runs for them to improve their skills. At the ESF in Praz-sur-Arly, the group lessons allow your children to progress alongside their friends. They advise following the courses over a whole week to receive effective monitoring from their instructors. The ESF group lessons last 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on the period, with two course schedules available. They also offer competition courses during Christmas, New Year's Day, and February school holidays.

Parents can also take advantage of the "Piou Piou" club, where trustworthy instructors supervise smaller children in a friendly yurt.

non-skiing winter activities

Beyond skiing, Praz-sur-Arly offers a range of winter activities, but it's well known for its hot air balloon flights in all four seasons. Even as a spectator, it's impressive to see, and the view from the gondola is enchanting as balloons ascend above the peaks. During the flight, you're able to overlook the Mont Blanc Massif, the Aravis mountain range, the Beaufortain range, and parts of the Swiss and Italian Alps. Other activities include snowshoeing, dog sledging, snow tobogganing, snow tubing, and yoonering, which is a ski-like device that you sit on, similar to a sledge or snow kart.

OFF-PISTE Skiing

For advanced skiers or snowboarders, the off-piste terrain within Espace Diamant holds a unique allure. As the villagers once navigated these borderlands as part of a 19th-century smuggling network between Savoie and Haute-Savoie, today's adventurous skiers can explore the hidden valleys and powder stashes beyond the marked runs. 

While the black runs in sectors like Crest Voland's Bisanne and Nant Rouge offer demanding on-piste challenges, the off-piste areas provide a different kind of exploration, often less crowded and offering more space to carve fresh lines. 

Travel with a local guide for more than safety, but to help uncover modern-day "smuggler's routes" – a local secret between you and your guide. This off-piste excursion is more than a sport; here, it's an immersive adventure through time.

NORDIC SKIING

Praz-sur-Arly serves as a gateway to diverse cross-country skiing. Locally, enjoy a free and accessible 5km loop across the Arly plain, ideal for relaxed gliding. For a more extensive experience, the renowned Nordic centre of Les Saisies, located within the Espace Diamant and a former venue of the 1992 Winter Olympics, offers a variety of trails for Nordic skiing. In the expansive ski area, you'll find high-altitude trails, along with simpler trails. Take advantage of a Nordic trail that seamlessly connects Praz-sur-Arly to the neighbouring town of Megeve, opening up more cross-country opportunities accompanied by fantastic views.