Grand Massif - Samoens

Despite recent growth on the outskirts, the many traditional-style bars and restaurants still give a feel for the 'real' rural France. Labelled as a ‘Famille Plus Montagne’ resort it is also an ideal family destination.

Non-ski activities include dog-sledding, indoor climbing and skating but also some more unusual activities such as archery in the forest, caving, ice climbing or diving under ice!

At the heart of the Giffre Valley, the very pretty village of Samoens is only a 20 minute drive from the motorway exit near the TGV train station of Cluses and only 55km from Geneva.

A free shuttle bus operates around Samoens and offers rides to the slopes, Morillon and Sixt, every 20 minutes.

Why Samoens?

·          Linked to huge Grand Massif ski area

·          Pretty, undiscovered rural valley village

·          Very good selection of restaurants

·          Easy access from the motorway, train station or Geneva airport

Children

Samoens has acquired the Famille Plus label for its childcare facilities. Please click here to view more information on the Famille Plus label.

Kindergarten the Loupiots  Tel: +33 4 50 34 13 96                 

The Loupiots kindergarten welcomes your children aged between 3 months and 6 years to its brand new premises (several activity rooms, dormitories, a co-ordination skills room, garden…).  Open everyday from 8.30 – 18.00.  Pre-booking is strongly recommended.

Please note that prices are only an indication and are subject to change.

 New:
*½ day morning with meal ready for skiing in the afternoon.....................26.30 euros
* ½ day afternoon with meal after skiing.................................................26.30 euros
* Six ½-days, morning with meal, ready for skiing in the afternoon..........141 euros
*Six ½-days, afternoon with meal after skiing.........................................141 euros

Activities        

Snowshoeing, archery, dogsledging, paragliding, climbing (indoor wall and natural site), ice climbing (on ice waterfalls), ice-skating (600m² covered ice-rinks), horse-riding, under-ice diving, helicopter excursions, potholing…

Chalets will be put in the village centre for a Christmas market, with stalls, arts and craftsman and various associations.

Waffles, hot wine and traditional soups will also be available for purchase.

And of course, Father Christmas will be present!

Eating Out and Après-Ski

30 Restaurants, 15 bars & a tearoom, cinema, shops, nightclub - ‘Tomahawk’ around 4.5 km from Samoens, at Verchaix Village.  Opening times: 11.00pm to 5.00am.

Other amenities

Cash points, doctors, 2 pharmacies, physiotherapists, bakeries…

Market on Wednesday mornings, library, health and beauty parlour, exhibitions.

Guided tours of the old village (Samoens is the only ski resort being classified as a ‘historic monument’). Clos Parchet living museum (visit an old Samoens farm and discover the history of Samoens people); the Dairy: visit the cheese-making factory, sample local products).

Tourist Office         

Opening Time: 9.00am-12.00pm and 2.00pm-6.30pm.

Tel. +33.450.34.40.28

www.samoens.com

Read about Samoens on www.mountainpassions.com

Access                        

By Road: Driving distance from Calais 540 miles (approx 7hrs35)

From Calais, take A26 Motorway towards Reims and Troyes, then Dijon, Mâcon then ‘Autoroute Blanche’ Motorway ( A40 Mâcon – Cluses)  exit Cluses Scionzier. Follow signs to Samoens.

It takes approximately 20 minutes from the motorway exit to Samoens.

By Rail: Cluses 25km - Shuttle bus +33 450 98 07 81 or Taxi

Cost is c €30 daytime/midweek and c €40 nights and w/e (for 1 to 4 people)

Airports: Geneva 70km

For further information on car parking, etc :

  www.gva.ch/en  (then select Transportation in menu)

or Lyon Saint-Exupery 200 km

Airport Transfer

Pre-book your taxi transfer with Peak Retreats

From Geneva Airport to Samoens – from £46 per person return based on 4 people sharing. 

For all other transfer prices please click here

Access Plan

Samoens

Click on maps to enlarge

Resort Map

Samoens

There is an excellent nursery slope area at Samoens 1600, in fact now the biggest beginners’ area in the Haute Savoie. For the more advanced there is also a testing terrain: The steep north-facing mogul slopes from the Tête des Saix, the central point of the entire Grand Massif system, down to Samoëns are particularly enjoyable. Intermediate and more advanced skiers and boarders will enjoy the 49 red pistes and 12 black pistes of the Grand Massif.  Since Winter 2003/04, there is a new fast (8 mins), high capacity gondola from the village to a new extensive beginners area on the plateau at 1600m, which also acts as a gateway to the Flaine ski area.

Click here for a webcam of the slopes

Lift passes

Save Time in resort and budget ahead by pre-booking lift passes. See below for prices.

Pre-book your 6 day Grand Massif lift-pass with Peak Retreats

Children under 5 and seniors over 75 receive a FREE lift pass. Proof of age will be required for reduced price passes.

Please note that there is also a cheaper lift pass called Massif covering only Samoëns, Morillon and les Carroz although we cannot pre-book this. Beginners are advised to buy this pass in resort (€150 for 6 days).

With a 6 Day Grand Massif lift pass you also get to ski one day on the Portes du Soleil ski area (Les Gets, Morzine, Avoriaz, Chatel…).

Ski Schools

Call us to pre-book your group ski lessons

Please note that a booking fee of £9 per party will be charged.

1 Mornings: 2 hours: 10:00 - 12:00 (9/2-7/3) and 2 1/2 hours: 09:30 - 12:00 for other dates

2 Only 29/12-04/01+ 9/2-7/3; Mornings for Adults & afternoon for juniors (+10yrs)

DATES AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGES, TO BE CONFIRMED

Individual Tuitions (07/08 prices)

Individual tuitions can only be purchased directly from the ski school

Please note that prices are only an indication and are subject to change

Ecole du Ski Francais Village  +33 450 34 43 12

Ecole du Ski Français Samoens 1600   +33 450 34 40 86

Mountain restaurants:L’Igloo, Le Telemark

Cross-country

Cross-country skiing is a gentle way of discovering the natural environment.  At Joux Plane, situated at an altitude of 1700 metres (30km of slopes), dominating the valley of the Haut Giffre (60km of slopes) and facing Mont-Blanc, this activity is guaranteed from November to April.  It is also possible to go tobogganing here, or walking on specially prepared tracks using snowshoes, or on circular walks.  Shuttle buses run between Samoens and the Col de Joux Plane.  Tel: +33 4 50 34 13 79