Ski in Les Carroz d'Araches

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

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.

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. 

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