Samoëns is a very special place for a winter holiday; the resort is very friendly and has kept its traditional aspects without losing its individuality. It also offers a whole range of different activities to attract skiers and non skiers alike: ski nordique or cross country skiing, snow shoes or raquettes, walks along the river or through picturesque hamlets, plenty of inviting cafes and restaurants, even a renowned botanical garden.

The Ski Nordique Centre in Morillon builds a great toboggan slope which is always heaving with children and their parents and the outdoor ice rinks are very popular.  For those who enjoy walking there are plenty of opportunities: along the winter trails, on quiet roads, over hillside tracks.

Learning to ski:

For real beginners we would suggest Samoëns 1600; the ski schools and all the beginner lifts are situated around the plateau and are easy to access, equipment can be hired from the ski shop and left there at the end of the day, it’s an easy place to meet up and there are several restaurants nearby. The runs are very open and not scary.  Morillon 1100 is ideal for those who have a few days skiing under their belts.

Intermediates and beyond:

The Grand Massif, with over 265 km of pistes, offers a wonderful range of skiing with enough variety to keep everyone happy. For everyone who’s done a bit of skiing before, either Samoëns 1600 or Morillon 1100 offer lots of choice and both are well placed for everyone to meet up at key times during the day.  Further afield Flaine beckons with its excellent snow record and extensive off piste around a north facing bowl. Testing runs include the high drag lifts up to the unpisted black slopes at Tete du Veret and the Col du Gers which opens up across a big bowl. Or try Cascades, one of the longest runs in the Alps, 14km from the top of Flaine down to Sixt, stopping for lunch midway at the Lac du Gers where you’ll be brought up to the restaurant by skidoo.

Boarders:

Never mind the snow parks, many boarders just make the most of the extensive off piste especially in the Flaine bowl where you can hit cornice drops and steep chutes or duck into the trees on the lower mountain.

Chalet Brio is situated midway between all three lifts up to the slopes, all of them just a couple of minutes drive away, and the ski bus stops at the end of the road so not far to walk if you don’t have a car.