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Les Carroz Ski Resort
From a spot overlooking the Arve valley – rolling hills and pine trees as far as the eye can see – Carroz is a quiet village of wooden lodges and old barns, peppered with historic landmarks. It has that achingly traditional quality about the place that’s pretty much a given in the older Alpine villages, and there certainly won’t be high-rise hotels any time soon here – not without the locals kicking up a fuss. They’re mighty proud that this was a farming village before it opened as a ski resort in 1936 and that quite a few of the restaurants and residences are actually housed in restored farmhouses.
If that wasn’t enough to write home about - here’s the clincher- Carroz is a member of the Grand Massif ski area. Hopping on the gondolas on its eastern edge, you can be shredding the famous powder of the Flaine bowl in minutes or taking a leisurely cruise down the Marvel run to historic Samoens, and all in all enjoying the area’s 265km of pure, unadulterated piste.
It’s unsurprising that the resort’s racked up scores of loyal groupies since it opened way back when (believe it or not, it also used to have the largest drag-lift in Europe!) but it’s in family circles that this place has made the biggest splash. With children’s ski zones, family lift pass deals, crèches and kids clubs, we don’t need the Scooby Squad to work out why the Ministry for Tourism have decked it with the esteemed ‘Famille Plus’ label. And we haven’t mentioned the icing on the cake - it’s also only one hour from Geneva Airport and directly connected to the A40 highway, so one of the most accessible resorts in the Alps.
You’re not going to catch anyone calling this sprawling settlement “small” or “quaint”, but the body of Carroz can be crossed in about 15 minutes, so it’s pretty easy to get your bearings here. The Place de l’Ambiance is the beating heart of the outfit, the location of most of the shops and events and a weekly market where you can mingle with those town-proud locals to pick up fresh veg and those cheeses the French do best.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Haute Savoie, France
Established: 1936
Open: December - April
Downhill: 265km
View our detailed Les Carroz 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 Les Carroz snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Geneva Airport | 70 km, 45 mins |
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| Top Altitude: | 2500m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1140m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1140m |
| Longest run: | 14 km |
| Slope Orientation: | N, E, S |
| Vertical Drop: | 914m |
| Skiable Vertical: | 914m |
| Night Skiing: | Yes |
| Glacier: | No |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 265km |
| Beginner slopes: | 53% |
| Intermediate: | 37% |
| Advanced slopes: | 10% |
| Lift Pass Price: | £210 (adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: Flaine, Samoens, Chamonix | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Les Carroz
The skiing over Grand Massif’s 5 resorts (Les Carroz, Flaine, Morillon, Samoens and Sixt- Fer-à-Cheval) seems to go on forever- hot on the Espace Killy’s heels for sheer quantity of piste.
Most beginners will find their boxes ticked by those in the immediate vicinity, which can normally be accessed with a beginner’s pass. Above and beyond the nursery tracks on the edge of the village, there’s the newly refurbished beginner’s area on the gentle green Mollachets run at the top of the Kedeuse gondola, as well as take-a-breath beautiful blues like the Combe and Lou Darbes to progress onto. All 5 of the Grand Massif resorts are connected by easy, cruising blues, meaning even newbies can cover a seriously satisfying amount of ground. Young skiers will especially be in their element here, with the likes of the Mini-boarder and Coin-Coin in the local area, complete with small jumps and kicks.
For intermediates, the local blues and reds (Timalets, Zorta and Pimprenelle) are certainly worth a ski but it’s hard to resist venturing out to further fields with the Grand Massif pass. This grants you access to the legendary 14km Cascade, a gorgeous, wide tree-lined blue from Flaine all the way to Sixt, plus some lovely confidence building blues at Aujon. The Flaine bowl is also choc-a-bloc with long, winding reds, which, despite devilish names (think- Lucifer, Diable, Minos) are only scary in short, steep sections, rather than throughout.
If you’re confident on reds and blacks, the whole area pass is an out-and-out must. Above Flaine, the black Diamant Noir from the top of the main Grandes Platieres chair and the seriously steep Agate off the Lindars Nord chair are as good as it gets. The domain as a whole is known for its superb off-piste – the jewel of which has to be the Gers Bowl.
Freestylers have the choice of the Massif’s 2 JAM snowparks, the pick of which is found at Flaine, with half-pipes, big air jumps, boarder cross, tables, rails and quarters. There are also some boarder crosses closer to home at Carroz on the Cupoire and Beetle tracks.
Les Carroz Apres Ski
Les Carroz may not be home to heaving clubs or a shots-from-skis kind of nightlife, but that’s not to say the lights go out at 9 here…
You’ll find 30 different eateries scattered throughout the various hamlets from Les Servages in the south to Le Pre du Bois in the north. There’s plenty of choice, whether you’re after a quick crepe, generous helpings of vin chaud, or a full gourmet spread. Try La Spatule on the main square for well-priced authentic meals (and the tastiest crepes in town) or spoil your taste buds with the fine gourmet fare at Les Servages d’Armelle, part of a 4* hotel in a restored farmhouse. For food on the fly, nothing beats the waffles and coffee on the sunny piste-side deck at L’Anfionne (at the foot of the Plein Soleil chair lift).
When the sun starts to set, head to the Carpe Diem for their amazing vin chaud and karaoke and make sure to catch happy hour at Le Marlow for some healthy-sized cocktails. Alternatively there’s the Aux Petits Oignons lounge bar a stone’s throw from the square, where Muriel and Sylvain will make you feel like you’re at friends’ for dinner (friends that can whip up gourmet dishes). Those overcome by the need to dance the night away can choose between 3 nightclubs. With lasers, cages and …a fish tank, Club 74 wouldn’t stick out in the Pigalle district of Paris…
The resort also has no end of nocturnal activities, from floodlit slopes twice a week and Tee Pee evenings to Igloo weekends and swimming under the stars in the heated pool at the Aquacime.
Swimming, ice-skating, paragliding, snowmobiling, snow-shoeing, tobogganing, hot-air ballooning and husky sledding are just the start of the long list of family activities here. Whether as an alternative to skiing in the day or something to try for afters, the Alpine Rollercoaster from the Kédeuze gondola is a blast - you can zoom down with a virtual reality headset if you want to take things to the next level. Parents fancying some me-time can hand the kids over to the Loupiots club or Green Mouse crèche, then unwind in the competent hands of the masseurs at the Deep Nature Spa. If you fancy honing your creativity, art classes run throughout the season for children and adults, including workshops in painting, pottery and jewelry making.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Les Carroz
Best time to visit & ski Les Carroz
This isn’t the loftiest of resorts but being near to Mont Blanc, the area gets its own micro-climate and usually has good skiing from December through to April. With a lot of recent investment in snow making, chances are that your runs down to the resort won’t be disrupted if the snowfall is lacking at the beginning of the season. The slopes are also on grassland which means they need less snow to be skiable than areas on rocky terrain. The resort is well known for the beautiful tree-lined runs immediately above it (the blue Biollaire leading into Combe is one of our favourites) and these are also very convenient when visibility is low in the depths of winter. Towards springtime, upgrade to pass for the whole of the Grand Massif and head to Les Grandes Platieres in Flaine for the best snow in the area.
See our peak dates section below for an idea of when you’re likely to enjoy the village most. A family resort first and foremost, Christmases and February half terms are particularly popular, while it’s known to be quietest and still snow-laden in January, when the New Year’s crowd has gone on its merry way.
Peak Dates
Enjoy that warm and fuzzy feeling with a Christmas in Les Carroz, seeing off Santa and getting merry with locals in the square Les Carroz Christmas ski holidays ‣
Celebrate a relaxed New Year in Carroz, set to the tune of fireworks, cheers and the glugging of mulled wine. Les Carroz New Year ski holidays ‣
February half –term in Carroz is almost always white underfoot and without fail, full of fun for kids and adults. Les Carroz Half Term ski holidays ‣
You can’t beat the beautiful vistas of the Massif on an Easter in Carroz. The sun glistening and snow-topped runs over in Flaine are seriously beautiful. Les Carroz Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in Les Carroz
We love family holidays in Les Carroz – the resort has always flung its arms as wide as physically possible to families, as was recognised in 2006 with a Family + label from the Ministry of Tourism.
Down at the lift office there’s usually a ‘mountain’ of offers to reduce the costs of family skiing, with recent seasons featuring free lift passes for kids under 5 and sizable discounts on family passes (bought in 4s).
For childcare, besides a list of nannies as long as your skis (found at the Tourist Office), children from 3 months to 12 years can be taken care of by the Green Mouse Crèche and Piou Piou club, who can organise the lot - entertainment, meals, and shuttles to and fro- every day of the week. They also work in co-operation with the ESF and ESI ski schools to include lessons for children of 3 years and up, making use of a special children’s ski area- complete with rope tow and mascot. For a final seal of security, you’ll find new geo-tracking devices for kids (that the French have gone ga-ga over) in all the major ski shops.
If you’ve a very young brood in tow, a self-catered apartment can make the week a whole lot easier, giving you a place to yourselves and letting you cook family favourites from home when the tots aren’t feeling up to a sit-down meal. For dinners out on the town, La Spatule is a family favourite (the tartiflette and fondues always go down well) and the children’s menus at the gourmet La Croix de Savoie are just the ticket for special occasions.
The tourist office is always holding events like concerts and workshops for kids- we’re talking affairs like the frenzied choreography of a fellow called “DJ Benji”- that’ll have them dancing along with glee.
Make no mistake though, it’s not just little nippers catered for here. More experienced skiers can prepare to be knocked flat by the sheer variety and size of the Grand Massif. Teens will appreciate the cinema and games room for relaxed hangouts with new friends, and, spreading their wings a little, the best snowpark for miles over by Flaine.
GroupsGroup Holidays Les Carroz
A wise man once said that two’s company, three’s a crowd, and four or more’s a great ski holiday. We know that evenings shared round the wood fire and sunny lunches on the mountainside make for some amazing memories. So, whether you’re family, friends or a ski club, traditional Carroz has a lot going on for groups.
Beginners will be well tended by the lift company, who usually allow free access to two of the slopes and offer a reduced beginners pass for the Kedeuse Gondola, Crêtes lift and carpet and Plein Soleil lifts. The beginner’s area on the Mollachets run is a sharp new addition and just a short step from Oreade, where you can meet the rest of the crew for lunch out on the terrace. When it comes to lessons, a little private tuition is no bad thing and ESI sometimes do private classes for two for the price of one (serious cost cutting). In the meantime, advanced skiers will lap up the red Timalets red and black Felire and Veroce runs around Carroz – but are best advised to invest in a pass for the whole Grand Massif for the challenging moguls of the Diamant Noir and the 45° slopes of the Styx around Flaine. It takes just 6 minutes to reach the heart of the Grand Massif ski area on the 8-seater Kedeuse, so they won’t be late for lunch!
Later in the evening, laugh your ski socks off with the karaoke at Carpe Diem, and drink off the shame with the huge cocktails at the Marlow. For a quiet one, try a trip en masse to the local cinema or ice-rink. Finally, you can’t beat the mountain views from gourmet La Croix de Savoie for a lavish final meal.
Which are the best ski holidays in Les Carroz?
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