Les Saisies: resort, ski pass, ski area, new addresses ... Our guide to winter 2021/2022

2022-01-03T06:12:53.754Z

NORTHERN ALPES - Land of versatile champions, shared between alpine ski-ride and Nordic ski racing, Les Saisies, in Beaufortain, cultivates a family spirit and a fun atmosphere in an authentic setting, with a view of Mont Blanc and remarkable snowfall.

The station

For the bling it will be necessary to iron. If the “small” Savoyard resort of Beaufortain, host land for the Nordic events at the Albertville 1992 Olympic Games, has grown in size, it remains, and this is all its charm, a family and easy destination for ski-side access as ski passes (€ 37.40 per adult day pass). Higher (2070 m) and the largest resort in the

Espace Diamant

ski area

, the stronghold of Franck Piccard and his family of champions is linked to five other village resorts: Praz-sur-Arly, Flumet, Notre-Dame- de-Bellecombe, Crest-Voland and Hauteluce. The whole forms a playground of 192 km of tracks including 77 km on the only resort of Les Saisies.

The alpine area is also home to three initiation areas and three kindergartens, while the Nordic area has 120 km of cross-country ski trails.

In addition, there are 65 km of pedestrian and snowshoe trails.

Practices which coexist harmoniously within the resort, still largely provided with snow, to the point of being nicknamed " 

the snow loft of Savoy

and a pioneer in “snowfarming”, a practice aimed at conserving snow from one year to the next.

Read the fileSkiing and winter sports: the

Figaro

guide

Among other assets, Les Saisies have the particularity of offering a multitude of superb views of

Mont Blanc

(always magical!),

Pierra Menta

, the

Beaufortain

Aravis

summits

. At the foot of the buildings and chalets, harmoniously distributed on either side of the main street, the atmosphere is family and quiet, on a human scale, including in the most recent buildings, apartments and luxury residences. The typology of the tracks is in unison. Medium-sized descenders and children can easily go around the area from one blue run to another, the color representing most of the runs (28 in total).

Read alsoOur 2022 ranking of French ski resorts

New for winter 2021/2022: the Rosières gondola

At the end of the domain, the hamlet of

Bisanne

is the stronghold of the individual chalets.

Served by shuttle bus from the center of Les Saisies, 6 km away, the site was previously linked to the rest of the Espace Diamant by the long and slow Rosières fixed-grip chairlift ... Good news: this winter has been replaced by a new cable car link (25 cabins with 10 places) allowing skiers and pedestrians alike to reach the top of

Bisanne

in 4 minutes.

All around it is a real snow front that is emerging with the creation of an ESF school and a kindergarten.

Ski-ride and sporty après-ski

Arrival of the Chard du Beurre chairlift, from which you can reach the observation points of the Ariane-Fornia "Balcony on Mont Blanc"

De Saisies 1650, heart of the resort, two options. You can start in the direction of Mont Bisanne by the chairlift of the same name, at an altitude of 1940 meters, to descend by the same path on slightly sloping but very wide slopes, like the

Grande Combe

, ideal for a small Morning carving session at the opening of the slopes. From this same arrival, you can reach the fun tracks Luge'n'troll and La montagne des elfes, try the slalom stadium or stroll on the long

run of the Chevreuils

, which weaves its way through the forest to the Chamois ski lift. . The latter allows you to chain rotations on four pretty parallel tracks, 3 red (Eterlou, Club, Chamois) and 1 black (Kamikaze) or to reach the

Bisanne sector 1500

. Overall, on this side of the resort, with a ski touring route, we come across rather experienced practitioners without beginners being excluded.

The fact remains that we will find them rather on the opposite side, on the other side of the resort, on the Erwin Eckl space, named after the founder of the resort, and at the arrival of the

Chard du Beurre

chairlift

, from which to reach the observation points of the “Balcony on Mont Blanc”. In the morning, sun hunters meet here before leaving, from link to link (it's a bit long), along the territory of black grouse, to the

Bellasta

sector

and the highest point of the Espace Diamant. at 2069 meters. Coming back, the Légette area with a view of Pierra Menta and its triplet of tracks in red and black (Perdrix, Cuberotte, Girolles) have something to warm the thighs. When the slopes close… It continues!

After or instead of skiing, Les Saisies have the particularity of offering a tremendous range of activities, from

fatbiking

driving a team of dogs (from 3 years old), going through sledding, Snooc, forest baths, tobogganing on rails, an escape game, climbing or bowling in the sports complex and Le Signal water fun.

At the entrance to the resort, coming from Crest-Voland, the place is one of the must-sees.

Training center for high-level athletes, including the French cross-country ski team in preparation for the Beijing Olympics from January 17 to January 30, 2022, the site allows you to boost your red blood cells during a session in a hypoxic room , splash around in a 200 m2 pool or enjoy a wellness area with sauna, hammam and jacuzzi.

Ideal for recovery ... or just for fun.

Les Saisies ski area: our favorite slopes

The Ibex black slope.

Monica dalmasso

A paradise for gentle skiing and descents with a view of some of the most emblematic peaks of the Alps, Les Saisies has

61 slopes

: 10 green, 28 blue, 16 red and 7 black.

With its short runs, it is an area accessible to all, sometimes shunned by lovers of technical skiing and steep slopes.

For these, two proposals.

The Ibex black slope

Accessible from Mont Bisanne, the 1.6 km route starts in blue, via

Le Planay

, before stiffening and turning real black to form an impressive wall when you venture into it.

Full south, the snow softens quickly in the afternoon.

The red trail of the Sangliers

On the Chard du Beurre side, this 1.8 km red surrounded by spruce trees is one of the resort's little nuggets.

Facing the

Aravis

massif

, it often offers very beautiful snow and a somewhat magical atmosphere, thanks to its calm and forest environment.

Read alsoFrom the Pyrenees to the Hautes-Alpes, these small winter sports resorts linked to large areas

Or sleep ?

Éléonore's Chalet

The Chalet d'Éléonore is the former chalet of the Piccard family.

Éléonore's chalet / Press photo

Ideally located in the middle of the resort, just above the Piccard sports store, this charming Bed & Breakfast is none other than the former chalet of the Piccard family, a tribe of high-level skiers made up of Franck, Ted , Ian, John, Jeff… and Leïla.

Bronze medalist at the 1997 World Championships, she is the one who watches over the dozen beds nestled here, serving a competitive breakfast from early morning with homemade jams, Beaufort cheese and butter from the cooperative.

New this year: you can book 1 hour of skiing with him.

From € 185 per double room with breakfast and ride.

Le Chalet d'Éléonore, 166, avenue des Jeux Olympiques, Col des Saisies,, 73620 Hauteluce.

Phone.

: 06 20 05 04 89.

The Cozy Chalet

The Chalet Cozy is ideally located at the foot of the slopes.

Chalet Cozy / Press photo

At the foot of the slopes, this soberly renovated hotel residence houses ten apartments (up to 9 people) and 6 rooms and suites (from 1 to 4 people) allowing you to benefit from a real hotel service or a perfect autonomy.

The large living room, "Le Cozy Délices", allows you to meet at tea time.

Le Chalet Cozy, 67, place Berthod, Les Saisies.

Phone.

: 04 79 38 93 54.

Read also From Megève to Menuires, the new mountain hotels to test this winter

Where to eat?

The Table des Armaillis

La Table des Armaillis, a bistronomic address that has fun around the Savoyard region.

G. Marquis / Press photo

More contemporary decor for this bistronomic address which has fun around the Savoyard region (cromesquis of snails, char with winter vegetables, shoulder of farm pig with hay, etc.).

Do not miss the cheese that you choose directly from the cellar.

Upstairs, the Village des Armaillis **** hotel residence houses a Pure Altitude spa.

La Table des Armaillis, 97, rue des Prés, Les Saisies.

Phone.

: 04 79 89 26 15.

The Chozal Farm

In this beautiful bicentennial farmhouse planted at the start of the

Chozal

chairlift

, in Hauteluce, there are twelve rooms, including two new suites, a spa, a bar and a gourmet restaurant that delicately twists local products.

Very nice alpine wine list.

The Chozal Farm

, 361, route des Combes, Hauteluce.

Phone.

: 04 79 38 18 18.

Read alsoMountain: ten tables of starred chefs in the Alps

To see, to do this winter

Initiation to biathlon

Since the 1992 Olympics, Les Saisies have been a biathlon stadium in which to learn about the discipline.

Ariane Fornia

Nordic area among the highest in Europe with

17 routes perched

between 1650 and 1720 m above sea level, Les Saisies has since the 1992 Olympics a biathlon stadium in which to learn about the discipline, in private lessons or in small groups. (4 people), from 7 years old.

In the footsteps of Julia Simon and Justine Braisaz, Les Saisies athletes in the race for Olympic qualification, we start with a few warm-up laps in skating before trying their hand at shooting (22 LR rifle or lead, from 10 years old; laser for younger) while standing or lying down.

As cardio as it is fun!

From 7 years old and from 58 €.

Material not included.

Access to the Nordic area is free for any alpine pass purchased.

Information at the ESF.

Phone.

: 04 79 38 90 40.