Maurienne Valley - Aussois

Despite concessions to modern tourism, Aussois has managed to retain its traditional appeal and makes an ideal base for anyone wanting to combine a ski holiday with the ambience of timeless rural France.

The colourful Tuesday market in Aussois offers mouth-watering local specialities such as goats’ cheese and homemade bilberry tart.

The autoroute and the TGV station (4hrs by train from Paris) are only a ten-minute drive away from Aussois.

Non-skiing activities in Aussois include snowshoe wildlife safaris, paragliding, and ice-climbing. Explore the surrounding plateau by dog-sled or try tubing – tobogganing on mini inflatable rafts. Don’t miss a visit to the Fort Marie-Christine, one of a chain of 19^th century military fortifications along the mountain range here that has been converted into a gourmet restaurant. 

Aussois was featured in The Telegraph's 'The 100 Best Ski Holidays 2009’.

See article.

Follow the links below

Aussois Resort Opening Dates

Aussois opens on 20/12/08 and closes on 17/04/09

Why Aussois?

·          Traditional, peaceful and uncrowded village with fair altitude – great value for money

·          In a superb setting on the edge of the Parc National de la Vanoise

·          Easy access to other resorts – Orelle, backdoor into the Trois Vallées – is a 20-minute drive away.

·          Wide choice of non-skiing activities and entertainment

Childcare in Aussois

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

The day care center “Les Pitchouns” – At the foot of the pistes, the center will take young ones (3 months – 5 years), from Sunday to Friday (closed Saturdays). Open 08hr45 – 17hr. Parents must provide meals.

Guide prices 08/09:

Not pre-bookable through Peak Retreats

Tel: Maison d’Aussois +33 4 79 20 30 80

Childrens Ski Lessons in Aussois

Children can ski from 3 years old in Aussois with ESF Club Piou Piou.

Peak Retreats can pre-book this. See here for details.

Activities in Aussois

Snowshoeing in Aussois:  Observe the chamois and the wild scenery ...

Level 1 accessible to all, level 2 for more trained walkers.
Half-day:c €19* Day: c €30* (*equipment & passes not included in the prices)

Information and enrolment: MOUNTAIN GUIDES - 73500 AUSSOIS

Tel +33 479 20 32 48 - Fax +33 479 20 31 16

Dogsledging in Aussois ‘Husky Adventure’ organizes dogsledging outings, learn to become a musher, go on raids or ‘Croc Blanc’ tours: a foretaste of the distant north in Vanoise. Information and reservations: Husky Adventure, Christophe Caron Tel/Fax +33 479 20 41 24

http://husky-adventure.net/anglais/indexang.html

Via Ferratain Aussois(Half-way between climbing and walking, a high sensations activity accessible to all – With 6 stages and a total length of 3460m Via ferrata du Diable is the longest in France. Definitely worth a try if you have what it takes. The total course around the stunning Esseillon forts takes 6 to 8 hours … ½ day: from about €35/ pers. depending itinerary (equipment included).

Information and enrolment: MOUNTAIN GUIDES - 73500 AUSSOIS

Tel +33 479 20 32 48 – Fax +33 4 79 20 31 16 

Other activities in Aussoisinclude Photo safaris (Observe the bouquetins (ibex)... Easy mountain walk, accessible to all), paragliding, indoor climbing wall, ski-mountaineering, boarder cross, ice-climbing, museum, library but also Skiing shows by night with the resort's professionals, classical music concerts in the church, cinema shows, various exhibitions, visit of the local craft shops, of the church, of the Aussois museum.Festivals under the starry nights of winter: skiing shows by night with the resorts’ professionals. Each day and all throughout the season Aussois have put together sports, cultural or artistic activities that will make your stay more enjoyable.

Luge

Course reserved for 2-6yrs, and another course for everyone.

Parapente

€70 for 1100m and €60 for 600m.

Contact Antipodes Claire and Zébulon – 00 33 607 12 25 34

antipodes@wanadoo.fr

Eating Out and Après-Ski in Aussois

Bars,restaurants, disco, shops

A must try during your stay is the restaurant in the fantastic setting of XIXth century Fort ‘Marie-Christine’, with menus from only c €14, it offers excellent value for money, and was praised by the famous Gault et Millau guide. Italians even make the journey just to eat there!

Other amenities in Aussois

Mini-supermarket, bank with cash point, laundry, bakery, fromagerie, butcher/delicatessen, hairdresser, regional specialties, several sports shops, doctor.

All the above information is for information only. For the most up-to-date information please visit the resort tourist office website

Aussois Tourist Office

Tel +33 479 20 30 80

www.aussois.com

Open from 9hr-18hr from 20/12/08-17/04/09, everyday except Sats, Suns and bank holidays where 9-12 and 14-18hr.

Accessto Aussois                  

By Road: Driving distance from Calais to Aussois 583 miles (approx 8hrs 25)

From Calais, take A26 Motorway towards Reims and Troyes, then Dijon, Lyon, Chambéry. Follow the A43 Motorway to Modane. Aussois is 7km (10 minutes) from the motorway exit at Modane.

By Rail:

Modane (4hrs from Paris by TGV). From the station, Alpe Taxi Transport Aussois Mr Richard Torchala Tel +33 479 05 03 23 / +33 611 33 41 42 e-mail rtorchala@aol.com, or Transavoie coaches.

Airports:

Chambéry is 118km from Aussois (1 hour)

www.chambery-airport.com

Turin is 125km from Aussois (1 ½ hours)

www.aeroportoditorino.it

Grenoble (St Geoirs) is 185km from Aussois (1 ½ hours)

www.grenoble-airport.com

Geneva is 197km fro Aussois (2 hours)

www.gva.ch/en

Lyon Saint-Exupéry is 196km from Aussois (2 ½ hours)

www.lyonairport.com

Getting around Aussois and nearby areas

Interbus routes to nearby ski areas

• Bus for ORELLE : On Tuesday

Departs Aussois 9h15 and returns Orelle at 17h30.

• Bus for LA NORMA : On Wednesday

Departs Aussois at 9h30. Return to La Norma at 17h30.

• Bus for VALFRE JUS : On Thursday

Departs Aussois at 9h30. Return at 17h45

Your place on the bus must be booked before noon, the day before your departure, AT THE LATEST at the tourist office.

Tariff: 6,50 € per person.

Access Plan

Aussois

Click on maps to enlarge

Resort Map

Aussois

Aussois shares a joint lift-pass with La Norma and Valfréjus, offering a total of 167km of pistes. In addition, a 6-day pass allows a day’s skiing in one other Maurienne resort and you can also explore Val Thorens and the Trois Vallées via the Orelle cable car (see p53for more info).

Nordic skiers will find the 35km of prepared trails suited to all levels. 

Although there are not a large number of pistes, the 1250m (4,100ft) of vertical drop from top to bottom and the varied terrain provide much diversity.

Off-piste enthusiasts can ski powder snow at 3000m (Col des Hauts or Pointe du Fréjus), 1hr-walk, 1700m of descent.
Cost: c. €50/person/day - Tel +33 479 20 32 48 or

www.guides-montagne.com

Other easily accessible domains:

La Norma (click here for details) is about 15-20 minutes drive

Valfréjus (click here for details) is also about 15-20 minutes drive. With an Aussois 6 day ski pass, you can also ski one day (except Sunday) in any of the 20 or so other Maurienne resorts such as Valloire/Valmeinier (click here for details), Val Cenis (click here for details) - all within 1 hour drive. The ‘Maurienne Sans Frontières’ ski pass cost about c. €65 for 5 days and allows you unlimited access to 21 Maurienne resorts.

For more advanced skiers, Orelle (click here for details) is about 30 minutes drive away. The cable car will take you to the top of Val Thorens and the 3 Valleys (the world’s largest ski area). All you need is a ski pass extension (Val Thorens c €17 extra, full 3 Valleys c €24.50).

Aussois Lift Passes

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

PRE-BOOK* your 6 Day Aussois Lift-Pass with PR

There is a €3/pass deposit for hands-free pass to pay on site. This deposit will be refunded in cash to you when you hand back your pass at the end of your stay. FREE passes if born after 31/12/03 or before 01/01/34.  *Proof of age will be required. ** The free pass will be the same duration and same value as the purchased one.

Holders of valid 6 consecutive days (minimum) skipasses, purchased in Aussois at the standard rate, can ski free for one day in La Norma or Valfréjus, or for one day at a special rate in the other resorts in the Maurienne area (to pay locally).

Holders of valid 2 consecutive days (or more) skipasses, purchased in Aussois at the standard rate, can reach the Val Thorens station via the Orelle cable car, located 17 km from Aussois, with an extra charge of :

      • € 17.00 for Val Thorens
      • € 21.00 for the Belleville Valley
      • € 24.50 for the 3 Valleys

NOTE: 3 RESORTS NOT LINKED BY LIFTS

INTER-RESORT SHUTTLE (from Aussois)

Shuttle for LA NORMA
Only Wednesday with a minimum of 5 people. Leaves Aussois at 9.30 a.m. Leaves La Norma at 5.30 p.m.

Shuttle for VALFREJUS
Only Thursday with a minimum of 5 people. Leaves Aussois at 9.15 a.m.  Leaves Valfréjus at 5.45 p.m.

Shuttle for ORELLE
Only Tuesday. Leaves Aussois at 9.15 a.m.  Leaves Orelle at 5.30 p.m.

Compulsory before 12 noon the day before at the Maison d'Aussois reception. Price : € 6 per person way and return

Aussois Ski Schools             

PRE-BOOK* your Aussois Group Ski/Board Lessons

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

Group Ski Lessons

¹Mornings or afternoons 2 hours/day 09:00-11:00, 11.00-13.00 or 15:00-17:00. Kindergarten 2 ½ hrs per day: 09.30-12.00 or 14.00-16.30 (20/12-30/01) & 14.30-17.00 (08/02-07/03)

² Mornings only: 2½ hours 09:30-12:00 (children) or 2 hours 10.00-12.00 (adults). Kindergarten 2 ½ hours/day: 09.30-12.00, (01/02-07/02 & 08/03-21/03) 14.00-16.30

³ Snowboard is 2 hours per day (Mon-Fri), 13.00-15.00 during high season, Mon-Thurs in afternoon

ALSO AVAILABLE:

6 Competition Level Lessons: 20/12-03/01 (09.30-12.00) & 08/02-07/03 (14.00-16.30) = £92;  Easter Week = £83 (09.30-12.00)

Times to be confirmed

Aussois Individual Tuitions (08/09 prices, NOT pre-bookable)

Please note that individual tuitions need to be booked directly through the ski school.

Prices shown are indication only and are subject to change

Aussois Cross-country ski

The Monolithe nordic skiing domain offers 35 km of marked tracks for various abilities. Lessons can be booked via ESF (not pre-bookable). €7/adult/day.

Mountain restaurants

L’Alpage, Le Montana, Le Panoramic

*ALL PRE-BOOKABLE EXTRAS ARE PAYABLE TO PEAK RETREATS IN STIRLING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. PRICES ARE IN £.

ANYTHING IN EUROS (€) WE ARE UNABLE TO PRE-BOOK AND

WILL BE PAYABLE LOCALLY.