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.

Although Samoens village has an altitude of around 700m the ski area actually starts at Samoens 1600m.

Samoens has just been voted 'Best Small Resort' in Europe by the famous Hardy's Skiing & Snowboarding Guide 2009.

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

See article.

Grand Massif Resort Opening Dates

Samoens ski area opens on 21/12/08 and closes on 17/04/09

Flaine ski area opens on 13/12/08 and closes on 26/04/09

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.

garderielesloupiots@cegetel.net

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

6 half-days or full days also available.

During the “high season”, from 28/12/2008 to 2/01/2009 and 8/02 to 24/03/2009, bookings will only be taken for 6 half-day or 6 full-day tickets.

Maison des P'tits montagnards

Samoëns is one of the few resorts to have a place for parents and children aged between 18 months and 6 years old to go together.

Mondays, tuesdays, thurdays and fridays from 4 pm to 6 pm.

Booking is required before noon, at the Tourist Office.

Activities in Samoens

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…

Ski Mountaineering

From December to May, ski mountaineering is one of the finest ways of conquering the peaks.

PRICES

Individual adult from 140 to 270 €

Mountain Guides Office

Tel. +33 (0)4 50 34 43 12 - www.guidesmontagnes.com

Enjoy tracing out a route through totally

unspoilt nature

Speed riding

This new sport is a specific form of paragliding. It is done on snow only and it consists of flying along a slope equipped with a pair of skis, a saddle and a small, easily-controlled wing.

PRICES

5-day courses from 400 €

Pégase Air Samoëns

Tel. +33 (0)6 07 14 94 24 - www.parapente-samoens.com

Relaxation

Reflexology: relaxing and energising plantar massage

Based on ancient foot massage techniques.

1 hour from 40 €

Mariel Pasquier - Tel. +33 (0)6 11 39 65 99 - mariel.pasquier@orange.fr

Paragliding

Twin-seat gliders are the best way of learning the basics of paragliding.

First flight from 70 €

Pégase Air Samoëns - Tel. +33 (0)6 07 14 94 24

www.parapente-samoens.com

Ice rink

Outdoor, roofed ice rink - 33 x 18 metres. 600 m2 of artificial ice.

Open from early November to April. Ticket and skate hire at the rink. Information at the rink or by phone.

Information at place, by phone +33 (0)4 50 34 13 92

Skidoos

Outing with a qualified guide over a signposted route close to the downhill ski runs. Suitable for all levels. No licence required.

Tel. +33 (0)4 50 34 40 84

Cinema - Le Criou

Open during the season. 2 or 3 shows per day and 4 shows in the event of bad weather. Few films in original version.

Price 7,20 €

Tel. +33 (0)4 50 34 41 40

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 in Samoens

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 in Samoens

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).

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

Samoens Tourist Office

BP 42 - 74340 Samoëns - Tel. +33 (0)4 50 34 40 28

Email : infos@samoens.com

Open all over the year - Winter season from Dec. 20th 2008 to April 19th 2009 - 7/7 from 9.00 to 12.00 am and 2.30 to 6.30 pm, except on Tuesday from 9.00 to 12.00 am and 3.30 to 6.30 pm. During Christmas and February’s holidays, same timetable except on Saturday from 9.00 to 12.00 am and 2.30 to 7.00 pm

www.samoens.com

Read about Samoens on www.mountainpassions.com

Access to Samoens    

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.

It’s all motorway apart from the last 12 miles (20km).

By Rail:There are easy rail connections from European cities, linking to France’s high speed TGV train service. The nearest station to Samoëns is 12 miles (20 km) away at Cluses. www.sncf.com

Airports:

Geneva is 67km from Samoens (1 hour)

www.gva.ch/en 

Chambery Airport is 117km from Samoens (1 ½ hours)

www.chambery-airport.com

Grenoble Airport is 204km from Samoens (2 hours)

www.grenoble-airport.com

Lyon Saint-Exupery is 204km from Samoens (2 hours)

www.lyonairport.com

Airport Transfer

Pre-book your taxi transfer with Peak Retreats

From Geneva Airport to Samoens – from £68 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

PAGE UPDATED 21/07/08

There is an excellent nursery slope area at Samoens 1600.

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.

Les Cascades piste - this 14 km piste takes you from the summit of Les Grandes Platières at 2,500 m down to the village of Sixt located 900 m further down the mountainside. A great descent through alpine meadows and forests on one of the finest pistes in the Alps. A forest ski run on the edge of the Sixt Fer-à-Cheval Nature Reserve where it’s not unusual to come across mountain goats. 14 km of quiet surroundings and breathtaking landscapes!

The slopes above Samoens face due north so above 1600m snow is fairly reliable but there is also snowmaking around 1600m.

Although Samoens village has an altitude of around 700m the ski area actually starts at Samoens 1600m.

Over the last 5 seasons (prior to 2008/2009) the Grand Massif has had an annual average snowfall of 4.85m (16 feet) - one of the highest levels in France.

Click here for a webcam of the slopes

Samoens Lift Pass

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 PR

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 (€159 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…).

Samoens Ski School

PRE-BOOK* your 6 Half-Day Group Ski/Board Lessons

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

1 SKI: 20/12-07/02: 09.30-11.45 or 14.00-16.30. 07/02-06/03: 10.00-12.15 or 15.00-17.15. 07/03-19/04: 09.30-12/00 or 14.30-17.00 (March) and 13.30-16.00 (April)

2 SNOWBOARD: Adults: 20/12-02/01: 09.30-11.45, 07/02–06/03: 10.00-12.15. Junior (10-15yrs): AFTERNOONS ONLY: 20/12-02/01: 14.00-16.30, 07/02-06/03: 15.00-17.15

DATES AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGES, TO BE CONFIRMED

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

The ski school offers 2 kinds of hours: promotional and other hours
Private lessons can be arranged at the following times:

*Promotional hours (a minimum of 5 consecutive days is required for bookings) From Christmas to the end of January: noon to 2 pm
School holidays of February: 9 am to 10 am
March and school holidays of Easter: 12.30 to 2.30
**Other hours (no possible booking in advance but during February French holidays between 12.45 and 2.45 pm) with a minimum of 5 consecutive days.

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 in Grand Massif

ON THE GRAND MASSIF SKI AREA

Le Pré d’Oscar

Tel. +33 (0)6 64 93 65 42

L’Igloo - Morillon

Tel. +33 (0)4 50 90 14 31

Gîte du Lac de Gers

Tel. +33 (0)4 50 89 55 14

Le Tremplin

Tel. +33 (0)4 50 18 07 54

Chalet l’Aéro

Tel. +33 (0)4 50 18 00 21

www.aero1607.com

Cross-country in Grand Massif

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

Terrain Parks

JamPark Pro is in Flaine and is the main park. Has a quarter-pipe, tables, rails, a boardercross course and chill-out zone.

There is a tiny kids’ park in Samoens, a boardercross course in Les Carroz and another kids’ park, JamPark Kids, with a boardercross on the Morillon side.