Les Carroz Ski Resort Guide
As part of the Grand Massif Ski Area, Les Carroz offers its own runs, plus those of Morillon, Samoëns and Flaine.
It is a real, traditional village that just happens to have skiing, so visitors get to experience both the skiing and the genuine culture of the local community.
The scenery and mood are excellent for just taking in the fresh air and beauty – and all the treasures of other Grand Massif resorts are just a short trip away.
At less than an hour from Geneva (in good weather), the resort is easy to get to and you might even get in an extra run or two before you have to leave for your trip home.
Les Carroz is best for beginners and intermediates, families and those preferring a quieter après-ski vibe. Excellent central location in Grand Massif, with sheltered runs during bad weather.
Good for
The Resort
The resort itself is located on the road up to Flaine, and offers visitors traditional village charm in the heart of excellent skiing. It sits on a shelf of land, which means great views and an alpine feel throughout.
The village is centred around a square, which is great for proximity to shops and the like, though there is substantial traffic on weekends and the main road cuts through the village, causing traffic noise and inconvenience even during the week.
You will likely have to make use of shuttle busses to get to and from the gondolas. These are plentiful, and free, but you may still need to keep your eye on timetables to avoid waiting out in the cold.
The resort is 88 years old, and lags behind some others with regard to updating technology such as gondola speeds.
The resort is popular with families, as it tends to be quieter and has a limited amount of difficult runs, but even advanced skiers with a desire for après ski parties enjoy its central location.
On the slopes
Snow conditions are quite reliable here, with around 122 days of good snow per ski season. The treed areas mean good retention of snow even in high winds, and skiers can enjoy the powder of a heavy snowfall without having the bear the impact of heavy weather.
Difficulty of runs varies, but as the total size of the resort is quite small (28km of runs), only intermediates and more adventurous beginners really have a wide choice at Les Carroz itself. There is, of course, a huge wealth of choice in Grand Massif as a whole.
Nightlife is quiet or non-existent in the village itself, which makes it popular with many families, and even those seeking the club scenes can travel to nearby resort to take in some parties and the like – but it will mean some additional cost and inconvenience.
Bars include the Grizzly Pub and Carpediem, and you’ll find a regular crowd in each of these, if you’re looking for a grown-up evening but don’t want to commute to the club scene in neighbouring areas.
There are several decent restaurants to choose from, including Chez Arlette, L’Igloo, Le Refuge, and L’Anfionne, among others, or try the Bistro Grill du Gron for steak and barbeque. You’ll do well with Le Michet, La Croix de Savoie, as well as others, for fine dining – with prices to match of course.
Les Carroz isn’t crawling with the usual non-skiing offerings of larger resorts – resort-affiliated dogsledding, ice-climbing, snowmobiling, etc. – but there is a local outdoor swimming pool that allows visitors to swim in warm waters under the stars, and that is not to be missed.
The quiet local atmosphere feeds the surreal vibe of floating around under starlit skies surrounded by snow-laden trees in an alpine village.
It’s wonderful.
