Maurienne Valley - La Norma

La Norma is situated at 1350m on a picturesque tree covered plateau. It has magnificent views of the Vanoise Massif, high above the river Arc.

La Norma village is at the base of the slopes so there is no need for the car and if there is enough snow you can jump on skis and ski down to the lifts.

Non-skiers can enjoy snowshoe outings and dog-sledge rides to outdoor baths. Popular with French families, La Norma holds the ‘Famille Plus Montagne’ label for its superb children facilities.

On the edge of the Parc National de la Vanoise, La Norma is an incredibly easy resort to reach. La Norma is less than 10 minutes drive from the motorway exit near the TGV train station of Modane (4 hrs from Paris by train), it is just opposite the Fréjus tunnel to Italy.

Voted one of the top resorts for Children

La Norma was rated by clients amongst Peak Retreat’s top 3 resorts for value for money in 10/11. It’s easy to see why when taking price of accommodation, lift passes, ski school, local bars & restaurants.

Rated by Peak Retreats’ clients in 10/11 amongst the top 10 resorts that they would recommend a friend.

La Norma Resort Opening Dates

La Norma opens on 17/12/11 and closes on 13/04/12

Follow the links below

Why La Norma?

·          Very easy access with other resorts and Orelle within a 20mn drive

·          The ideal family resort with the emphasis on child safety and enjoyment – peaceful and uncrowded

·          Small and friendly resort offering great value for money

·          Good altitude and good snow on north-facing slopes

·          Wooden chalets and apartments at the foot of the slopes, at the heart of the pedestrian centre

·          Family ski resort with a kindergarten accepting children from 3 months old

·          Free parking of which one is covered

Childcare in La Norma

La Norma has acquired the Famille Plus label for its childcare facilities. Please view here for more information on the Famille Plus label.

PLEASE NOTE PLACES ARE LIMITED AND BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE BELOW CHILDRENS CLUBS (not pre-bookable).

‘Les Lutins’ (‘the imps’) Tel: +33 479 20 41 02

Welcomes children from 3 months to 4 years.  They can have fun making snowmen, toboganning, making cakes at the altitude restaurant, drawing, and making new friends.

Open Sunday to Friday from 9am -12am & 1.30pm - 5pm.  Bookings should be made during holidays to avoid disappointment.

‘Les Diablotins’ kids club - Tel: +33 479 20 40 71

5-12 years during French school holidays and from 4 years during term time.

Open Monday – Friday from 9am-12am (only during school holidays) and 1.30pm-5pm (all season). Activities, walks, sporting, snowshoeing…

**a half-day is either from 9am to midday or from 13h30 to 5pm.

2 children from the same family signed up for the club = 10% discount

During French school holidays the lunch break is possible every day if booked in advance. During term time, lunch break is only on Tuesday and Thursday if booked in advance. Meal to be provided by parents.

Playground

Situated on the snow front with swings, slides… open to the public and free of charge.

Childrens Ski Lessons in La Norma

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

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

Activities in La Norma           

Snowshoeing, paragliding, heliski, snow-scooters, exhibitions, welcome drink sleigh rides pulled by reindeer from Lapland (prices: 25 euros for 2 people minimum, from people: 10 euros per person, adults and children), walks and activities, Sledging area, hiking, frozen waterfall climbing, cross-country skiing, snow shoe paths, dog sledge rides,  …

The very active La Norma tourist Office organises weekly entertainment and events. Please check their website for details. www.la-norma.com

New for Winter 2010/2011!

Ecological ice rink situated near tennis courts. Opened every day from the 18th December, from 3 pm until 8:30 pm (nights: Wednesdays until 22pm).
Cost: 5 €. Surface of 216 m ² (18x12).

Bowling: 8 € and 1.50 € for shoes. It’s opened every day in winter season from 4 pm until 2am (2 pm in case of bad weather) 

Two tracks of bowling. Our bowling is different to the others, more centred on families, tracks are shorter than those traditionally official bowling. They ask for less effort and leave place for leisure and amusement. You play in the same conditions as classic bowling, the shoes, the balls, skittles are identical.

We recommend you to reserve in advance.

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Hiking or snowshoeing

With a guide or on your own, and with or without showshoes! A free map is at your disposal at the Maison de La Norma.

For more information:

• Presentation by the guides at the welcoming drink every Sunday

evening

• One of the guides will be present to answer all questions at the

Chalet le Grand Air (cinema) from Monday to Wednesday from

5pm to 6pm

Contact Philippe: 00 33 684 79 69 48

Hiking at a higher altitude

Casual walkers can take the Mélezet cable car and La Repose chair lift

up the mountain to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of La Vanoise

Massif.

Other activities

Ski touring:  51€
Frozen waterfall climbing:  As initiation for children to adults, near by La Norma village or for warned climbers on frozen waterfalls composed of several lengths (from 43 €/ pers).
Via ferrata: on sunny pathways for everyone (from 35 €/pers).
For groups, activities on request (tariff for day commitment : 270 €)

Grégory COUBAT - Alpine guide - Tél + 336 31 69 19 44 / sogreg@tele2.fr

Glass blowing

The workshop and display room are open everyday except for Saturdays from 10am to 12pm and from 2h 30pm to 7pm.

Cultural escapade

Every week the Tourist Office in La Norma organises a visit of the church in

Avrieux followed by a visit to the glass blower. Departure from La Norma.

AquaZen

There are several options available: sauna, whirlpool bath, hammam, massages, body treatments,squash courts, fitness area and gym.

AquaZen is only 5km away and there is the possibility of transport if needed via the Tourist Office.

1045 Bardonèche Road

(in the direction of the Frejus Tunnel)

73500/Modane Tel: +33 (0)4 79 20 53 29

www.centre-aquazen.fr

Cinema

“Le Grand Air” cinema:

See the latest films in an amphitheatre, seating 200, with Dolby

Surround Sound.

Floodlit sled run

Open to adults and children. It is situated behind the Mélezet cable-car. Open to the public and free of charge.

Sledge dog rides

Available to anyone in groups of two. One hour's ride in a sledge pulled by a team of huskies.

From €40 per adult and €30 per child under 12.

Historic forts of La Norma

You will discover a real Sardinian military city settled at an altitude of

1500m.

Every Tuesday and Wednesday evening, meeting point at 6pm (from 6 pm to 9.30 pm) at the fort (warmly dressed) for the soldier vigil.
A guide welcomes you for a visit to the forts and its underground accompanied by the soldier dinner.

Cost: 17€ ad / 8.50 € child (7 to 16 years old, free for under 7 years old)
From 5 January to 31 March 2010 (information at Maison de La Norma)

Eating Out and Après-Ski in La Norma

3 Bars, 12 restaurants (plus 2 altitude), cinema, 1 nightclub.

La Norma resort has Wifi in every covered building. Costs start from €5 per hour (connect to INTERNET-ICI).

Other amenities in La Norma

Mini-supermarket, cash point, bakeries, shops, doctors, physiotherapist, pharmacies and dentists (in Modane)… 

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

La Norma Tourist Office

La Norma tourist information

Tel +33 479 20 31 46

www.la-norma.com

Open everyday from 9am to 6pm

Access in La Norma   

By Road: Driving distance from Calais to La Norma 582 miles (8 hrs 25 mins)

From Calais, take A26 Motorway towards Reims and Troyes, then Dijon, Lyon, then A43 Motorway Exit no30 (Modane Haute-Maurienne). Follow signs to La Norma (9 km from the motorway exit).

By Rail: Modane (5km)

There's a regular bus service Transavoie* (www.altibus.com) between the railway station and La Norma during winter time. Taking a taxi is also possible. Taxi Marius La Norma (official taxi 24h/24h 7d/7d):
+33 (0)6 15 19 13 55 - +33 (0)4 79 83 33 20.

Airports:

Chambery Airport is 116km from La Norma (1 hour) www.chambery.aeroport.fr

Turin Airport is 127km from La Norma (1 ½ hours)

www.aeroportoditorino.it

Grenoble Airport is 183km from La Norma (1 ½ hours) www.chambery.aeroport.fr

Geneva Airport is 194km from La Norma (2 hours)

www.gva.ch/en

Lyon Saint-Exupery is 193km from La Norma (2 hours)

www.lyon.aeroport.fr

On SATURDAYS shuttles from the airports of Lyon Saint-Exupéry, Grenoble and Chambéry to La Norma are available.
Airports' shuttle Price: 70€ per person round trip ticket. Free for children under 4 years old.

For your La Norma transfer from the airport (which will be a private taxi transfer), please enquire.

Getting around La Norma and nearby areas

Inter-resort shuttles to nearby Ski Resorts

Round trip tarif: 6,50 €

• Tuesday: La Norma/Valfréjus :

Departure (from the entrance of La Norma): 9:25am

Return (from the parking lot in Valfrejus): 5:45pm

• Wednesday: La Norma/Aussois :

Departure (from the entrance of La Norma): 9am

Return (Maison d’Aussois): 5pm

• Thursday : La Norma/Orelle - Val Thorens

Departure (from the entrance of La Norma) : 9am

Return (from the parking lot in Orelle): 5:30pm

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

Parking

There is a free underground parking garage of 450 places (C6) at the entrance to the resort of La Norma.

Access Plan

La Norma France

Click on maps to enlarge

Resort Map

La Norma France

SKI AREA

La Norma being of North-west orientation combined with good snowfall and careful maintenance of the ski area and creation of artificial snow allows for good skiing conditions until the end of the season.

The Mélezet gondola & chairlift débrayable de La Repose in La Norma allow pedestrians to easily access the high altitude areas for a magnificent panoramic of the Massif de la Vanoise.

La Norma is a great family resort with lots of easy runs to learn to ski or snowboard on. On the flip side there are plenty of red runs to keep intermediates happy at the same time.

You can ski in La Norma but also close by you can ski at Aussois, Valfrejus, Orelle/Val Thorens & 3 Valleys.

There are regular connections via a shuttle coach to the 3 Vallees via Orelle cable car on Thursdays, to Valfréjus on Tuesdays and to Aussois on Wednesdays. Book the previous day before noon at the tourist office. Ski Safaris to Val Thorens and La Grave are also organised.

BEGINNERS

Beginners are well looked after with a short green nursery run on the snow front and 2 further blue runs to progress on all at the base of the main lifts. Also you can take either of the main lifts from the centre to access plenty more green slopes. The gondola Melezet takes you to 2000m where there are a couple of green and blue runs. One of the runs links to the Repose area. From the centre the Repose chairlift takes you up to 1800m to Plateau de la Repose where again there are various blue and green runs. There is a very long treelined run called Ste Anne which is a green run that takes you right back down from 1800m to the snow front at resort level. La Norma is very well laid out for beginners. And you don’t have to stay at resort level to learn, which is bonus as from 1800m or 2000m there should be great snow conditions and some great views across the valley too.

INTERMEDIATES

Intermediates will find good wide blues and challenging red runs. The majority of red runs are located above 2000m.

EXPERTS

For the advanced although there is only 1 black runs (and lots of red runs), off-piste opportunities are extensive. La Norma has a slalom stadium and for ‘free-style’ enthusiasts, its own snow park.

SNOWBOARDERS

Snowboarderswill enjoy the conditions and rides through the forest of La Norma.

Resort runs

To get back to the resort from 1800m or 2000m you have a choice of the green Ste Anne run on the Repose side or the Foret red run on the Melezet side.

ORELLE – FAST ACCESS TO THE 3 VALLEYS SKI AREA

There are connections on most days via a shuttle coach from La Norma to the Orelle cable car (15km).

This new high capacity gondola linking the Maurienne Valley to Val Thorens and the 3 Vallées is perfect for all advanced skiers who want to enjoy top level skiing in the largest and certainly one of the best ski domains in the world with 600km of pistes. 

Between Saint Michel and Modane - and only 6km from the Autoroute - Orelle could not be easier to access and has an excellent free parking facility.

OTHER SKI OUTINGS

There are connections via a shuttle coach to Valfréjus on Tuesdays, Aussois on Wednesdays and to Val Throrens via the Orelle cable car on Thursdays.

LA NORMA PISTE MAP

To see the La Norma piste map for 11/12 please see the resort guide panel on the top right hand side of the current page.

What’s new with the ski area for 11/12?

See LA NORMA RESORT NEWS

La Norma Lift passes

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

PRE-BOOK* your LA NORMA LIFT PASS with PR

FREE PASSES!

Children under 6 and seniors over 75 receive a FREE lift pass.

Note: Proof of age will be required for reduced price passes.

Other lift pass on offer (to buy locally in resort in Euros):

For complete beginners (adults and children):

Front de Neige ½ day - €9 children, €11 adults

Front de Neige day - €11 children, €14 adults

La Norma ski pass – ½ day and daily rates:

½ day - €16 children, €20 adults

Day - €20 children, €25 adults

La Norma Ski Schools

PRE-BOOK* your 6 Half-Day GROUP SKI/BOARD LESSONS

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

Group Ski Lessons

Times and Schedules (ALL TIMES TO BE CONFIRMED, SUBJECT TO CHANGES).

All lesson are Sunday-Friday.

1hr30 on Sunday afternoon and 2hr30 Monday-Friday (am or pm)

Please note that lesson times are subject to change right until the last minute. Outside French school holidays the ski school reserves the right to cancel group lessons should numbers be insufficient. For peak periods (18/12-2/1, 13/2-13/3 & 9/4-24/4) we strongly recommend that you book as early as possible and in any case at least 6 weeks prior to the required dates. Morning lessons tend to get booked up first and therefore we may only be able to offer afternoon classes within 6 weeks of departure. In some resorts English speaking instructors may not always be available, particularly at peak times.

La Norma Individual Tuitions

(10/11 prices, NOT pre-bookable)

Individual tuitions can only be purchased directly from the ski school. Peak Retreats cannot pre-book these.

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

Ski school La Norma contact numbers:

ESF La Norma: Tel: + 33 4 79 20 33 10 Fax: + 33 479 203 424

Ski Hire La Norma

La Norma ski hire prices start from £37 for children (skis and boots) & £54 for adults (skis and boots) for 7 days. View here for La Norma ski hire prices.

Mountain restaurants in La Norma

2 - Le Grizzli, l’Eterlou

Moonlight skiing

Every Tuesday (free of charge)

Snowshoeing

From €18 per person with ESF.

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

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

WILL BE PAYABLE LOCALLY.