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Flaine Ski Resort
At just an hour's drive from Geneva, Flaine's known as a 'fly-in, ski-in ski-out' resort. The ease of skiing that families and keen skiers rave about here's no accident – legendary architect Marcel Lajos Breuer designed it to be as ski friendly as possible, and he did a jolly good job. A ski lift or piste is never far away, and the town itself is entirely traffic-free, with cars only allowed to enter to drop off and pick up luggage.
Whilst it won't be winning the gong for chocolate box charm, Breuer's work has seen Flaine classed as 'architecturally significant'. He described his buildings as 'cut like diamonds' to reflect the sunlight from different angles - if you can draw your eyes away from those gorgeous Haute-Savoie peaks, see if you can spot the glittering effect he aimed for.
The resort is divided into two areas, Flaine Foret and Flaine Forum. Foret sits at 1700m and Forum slightly lower down at 1600m. Both are very similar, although the latter's considered somewhat better in terms of facilities. A new development just outside the resort, Hameau de Flaine, is still ski-in ski-out but with a more traditional feel.
One claim to fame here is that Flaine had Europe's first-ever snowmaking machine in 1973 - not that the ski area needs much help creating the white stuff; the slopes are snow-sure throughout the season thanks to a lofty top altitude of 2500m. The resort has an efficient lift system providing easy access to the rest of the Grand Massif ski area.
Being in the middle of the 5th largest ski area in France, Le Grand Massif, skiers also have excellent access to the slopes around resorts including Samoëns, Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval and Les Carroz. The Grand Massif ski area is also very proud to boast of being the first ski area in the world to carry the Green Globe Certification for sustainable tourism.
Stats & FAQ
Location: France, Alps.
Established: 1969
Open: December – April
Downhill: 265km
View our detailed Flaine snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Flaine snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Geneva airport | 1hr 30mins |
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| Top Altitude: | 2500m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1600m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1600m |
| Longest run: | Cascade 14km |
| Slope Orientation: | N, E, S |
| Vertical Drop: | 914m |
| Skiable Vertical: | 914m |
| Night Skiing: | No |
| Glacier: | No |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 265km |
| Beginner slopes: | 60% |
| Intermediate: | 32% |
| Advanced slopes: | 8% |
| Lift Pass Price: | €312.20 (Adult 6-day area pass) |
| Nearby resorts: Chamonix, Megeve, Samoëns, Morillon, Les Carroz and Sixt. | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Flaine
With its high altitudes producing outstanding ski conditions throughout the season, Flaine is famed for offering an all-round ski area with plenty of slopes for all abilities. It is the perfect place for some quality skiing or snowboarding.
Flaine is a popular place to learn to ski or snowboard and even has free beginners lifts for those who are finding their feet. The schools all have English speaking instructors who can guide you through the basics and have you gliding down the slopes in no time. Once you're comfortable on the nursery slopes, purchase the complete lift pass and venture further afield - Tourmaline is a great blue run.
Perfect for intermediate skiers and snowboarders, Flaine has an excellent amount of more challenging terrain. Head to Piste de Cascades for the longest run in the Grand Massif and 14km of ultimate intermediates paradise. Lower level intermediates should try the Serpentine piste while a must-ski for those looking for more of a challenge is the Mephisto.
With the snow quality being some of the best around, advanced skiers and boarders can discover some trying descents on and off-piste - take the white knuckle Styx and Le Diamant Noir for a real challenge. The off-piste and freeriding terrain is impressive and seriously steep - head out with a local guide to find the best powder safely.
Throughout the larger ski area, freestylers will find some great natural obstacles and purpose-designed developments to conquer, two of which are in the Flaine ski area. 'Ze Funny Slope' on the Tourmaline run is an easy-going descent with various features and jumps for the whole family, and 'Urban'z' has a decent selection of boxes, rails and kickers to tackle. However, if it's something a bit more challenging you're after, you'll need to head over to Morillon and the Chalet blue run to tackle the red level freestyle features at 'Ze FunkyPark.'
Flaine Apres Ski
The excellent skiing in the resort is matched by fun après ski, and there's something to suit everyone - from a family night out to an all-night party thanks to a range of places to eat, drink and dance. If you're staying in Flaine Forum, you'll enjoy all the restaurants and bars right on your doorstep. The après is a short bus ride from Flaine Foret which is considered the slightly more residential part of Flaine. You can get a ski lift or shuttle bus into the town for après so you won't be missing out.
Le Diamant Noir is a popular bar that has a great atmosphere. It serves fantastic cocktails, and you'll have an unforgettable night here... and possibly a sore head in the morning! Another excellent drinking venue is Le White Pub - a favourite with British tourists with karaoke nights and live music. Perdrix Noire is considered an upmarket venue so is perfect if you want to get your glad rags on and dance the night away. Flaine also has the one obligatory late opening, French alpine night club. Les Caves is open late until 5 am, it's the go-to spot for a late-night soiree.
You'll find a good number of restaurants ranging from venues serving traditional French cuisine to home-from-home British classics. L'Ancolie is a delicious French restaurant well worth a visit for their exceptional traditional deserts (which usually involve much alcohol). Le Desert Blanc serves all kinds of cuisine and is famed for its hearty meals, including fabulous hamburgers.
There are plenty of non-ski activities to keep you entertained off the slopes - try ice-driving, race your friends at high speed on snow buggies or if you feel extremely daring, go paragliding over the mountains. More traditional winter activities include ice skating, curling, sleigh rides and snowshoeing. There's a cultural centre with an art gallery and library in Flaine Forum. Or If you just want to relax after a day on the slopes many of the hotels have pools and spas for some well-deserved pampering.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Flaine
Best time to visit & ski Flaine
With the resorts high altitudes and the best snow record in the Alps, skiing in Flaine is excellent throughout the whole season. Whether you fancy and early Christmas break or something late in the season then you can be sure to expect fantastic ski conditions! Ski the south facing sunny slopes in early in the season and then head to north facing slops for the best preserved snow later on. There is good snow making technology with 218 snow cannons topping up any slopes where the snow is a bit sparse. This is a very popular resort with visitors flocking here throughout the ski season. Peak dates, such as Christmas, New Year and Half Term are especially busy so make sure you book early to avoid disappointment.
Peak Dates
If you are looking for an amazing festive ski break, spend Christmas in Flaine. There are a number of fantastic Christmas events to take part in, such as festive markets and live music celebrations and with the ski area’s great snow record you can be sure to have an excellent time on the slopes. Flaine Christmas ski holidays ‣
Start your New Year off in the best way possible and head to Flaine for some unforgettable skiing and partying. New Year in Flaine is a big event with fireworks and big parties and the slopes are in excellent condition to top it off. Flaine New Year ski holidays ‣
Half term in Flaine offer the perfect time and place for a week of skiing. If excellent snow fall and well groomed slopes sound good, this is a fantastic Half Term holiday destination. There are great ski schools and with free beginners lifts its really well suited to a family holiday. Flaine Half Term ski holidays ‣
Easter in Flaine is a wonderful time to book a ski holiday! The skiing is still likely to be excellent thanks to high altitude, snow sure slopes, making this the perfect place for a late season ski break. Flaine Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in Flaine
This excellent ski resort prides itself in being perfect for families, whether this is everyone’s first time on the slopes or you’re all confident skiers. A traffic free, purpose built resort, Flaine is a fantastic location with lots of amenities and all accommodation conveniently near the slopes and facilities.
With most properties like Hotel Terminal Neige Totem being directly in the centre of town, everything is easily accessible and you won’t have to walk far to get to the ski school meeting point or the nearest lift. The majority of the accommodation here is ski in/ski out, such as self-catering apartments Residence Terrasses De Veret – ideal for a cheap family getaway where you won’t have to walk long distances carrying ski equipment.
Flaine has great beginner’s facilities with good ski schools and accessible nursery slopes. The ski school’s English speaking instructors will have beginners skiing in no time and little skiers will love the kindergarten which takes children aged 3-12. There is a fantastic beginner’s lift system that offers four free lifts (Pre chair lift, Bissac carpet and forum bucket lift) which beginners can use until they feel ready to purchase a complete lift pass and try out some of the blue slopes. A lot of the hotels offer daycare and evening babysitting services and the Gardiere Les petits Loups crèche in the resort caters for small children aged 3-6 months.
There are some fantastic non-ski activities in the area including bowling, ice skating, swimming, sleigh rides and husky rides for some quality time off the slopes. Flaine is very popular with families and can get busy during peak season such as Christmas and Half Term - make sure that you book in advance to avoid disappointment!
GroupsGroup Holidays Flaine
Choosing the right accommodation for your group is important and in this purpose-built resort you can be sure you will find centrally located, ski-in ski-out properties to suit everyone. Hotels are great for groups as you can enjoy the facilities together while having your own space in your room. Hotel Le Flaine is a large hotel – perfect if you think stragglers might want to join the group later down the line. Self-catering apartments are also really well suited to a group of skiers and are often the cheapest way to ski. Montsoleil Terrasses d'Helios Apartments offer simple and comfortable accommodation for small groups, just 5 minutes from the town centre, slopes and lifts.
Part of the Grand Massif ski area, Flaine offers a great variety of terrain with plenty of skiing and snowboarding for all abilities! With its high altitudes, it has an excellent snow record and a good reputation as an all-round ski resort. The beginner’s facilities are really excellent and newcomers can quickly find their feet whilst the rest of the group tries more advanced terrain.
Flaine has plenty of non-ski activities to keep any non-skiers in the group entertained. Anyone feeling adventurous can try out high-speed ice driving and everyone can race against each other steering buggies through icy terrain. A lot of the hotels have good facilities where you can relax in a spa and have a swim or a work-out. You can also try ice skating, curling, bowling and sleigh rides.
Which are the best ski holidays in Flaine?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Montsoleil Terrasses d'Helios Apartments | 7 | £ 409 |
| Montsoleil Terrasses d'Eos Apartments | 7 | £ 459 |
| Residence Alhéna | 7 | £ 309 |
| Hotel Alhéna | 7 | £ 566 |
| Le Centaure Apartments | 7 | £ 569 |
| Hotel Panorama | 7 | £ 939 |
| RockyPop Hotel | 7 | £ 1099 |
| Hotel Terminal Neige – Totem | 7 | £ 1279 |
| Panoramic Apartments | 7 | £ 359 |
| Les Terrasses de Véret | 7 | £ 389 |
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