Grand Massif - Samoens

SEE SAMOENS SKI SPECIAL OFFERS!

Labelled as a ‘Famille Plus Montagne’ resort it is also an ideal family destination.

Non-ski activities in Samoens village 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!

Being at the heart of the Giffre Valley, the very pretty village of Samoens Grand Massif is only a 20 minute drive from the motorway exit near the TGV train station of Cluses and only 55km from Geneva making your ski holidays in Samoens easily accessible.

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. There is a large beginner’s area at Samoens 1600 ideal for those starting out.

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

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

See article.

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

Grand Massif Resort Opening Dates

Samoens ski area opens on 17/12/11 – 15/04/2012

Partial opening from 16/04/12 - 22/04/12, Flaine only however Samoens could also be open until 22/04 depending on snow conditions.

See here for Samoens ski area virtual tour - http://www.e-com-photos.eu/images/flash/Samoens/visite-virtuelle_hiver.html

Why Samoens Haute Savoie?

·          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

Childcare in Samoens

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

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

The Loupiots kindergarten welcomes your children in Sameons aged between 3 months and 6 years (before the date of their 6th birthday) to its brand new premises (several activity rooms, dormitories, a co-ordination skills room, garden…).  Open everyday from 8.30 – 17.50.  Pre-booking is strongly recommended.

garderielesloupiots@cegetel.net

www.garderielesloupiots.com

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

Prices 11/12:

Full day with meals: 37,40 € (33.70€ low season)

Half-day (8:30 am to 12:30 pm) morning + meal 24,20 € (21.80€ low)

Half-day (1:00 pm to 5:50 pm) afternoon 22,50 € (20.20€ low)

Half day morning with lunch (leaving for ski lessons only) €29 (26.10€ low)

Half day in the afternoon with lunch (returning from ski lessons only) €29 (26.10€ low)

6 day packages:

6 full days with lunch: 200€ (180€ low)

6 half days morning with lunch (08.30-12.30): 127€ (€114.30€ low)

6 half days afternoon  (1.00-5.50): 122€ (109.80€ low)

6 Half days morning with lunch (leaving for ski lessons only) €160 (144€ low)

6 Half days in the afternoon with lunch (returning from ski lessons only) €160 (144€ low)

High season:

17/12/11 to 31/12/11 included

11/02/12 to 17/03/12 included

between those dates the rates for low season will be charge if we have spaces available.

From 17/12/2011 to 31/12/2011 and 11/02/2012 to 17/03/2012 included, only the formula of 6 or 6 1/2 days is available.
If you prefer only some days during these periods, the reservation must be made the day of your arrival as there is a limited number places available.

Bookings strongly recommended. Possibility of inclusive rates for 6 half-days or 6 full days. Each hour begun is due in full (total capacity 30 children). Nursery for children aged 3 months to 18 months, 10 % supplement as compared with the basic rate.

Maison des P'tits montagnards

Sameons 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.

Booking is required before noon, at the Tourist Office. Free entrance.

NEW! Family Plus Playground

New playground for 3-6yrs, near to the toboggan run. Make up workshop, storytime, fun and games etc. FREE.

Children’s Ski Lessons in Samoens

Children can ski from 3 years old in Samoens with ESF Samoens.

Peak Retreats can pre-book this. See here for details on Samoens Ski School.

Activities in Samoens

In Samoens there is 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 Samoen

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

Enjoy tracing out a route through totally

unspoilt nature

Ice climbing

Bureau des Guides

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

Discover ice fall climbing in the company of experienced and enthusiastic guides.

Price per adult (half-day): 55-70 €. Price per adult (day): 95-100 €.

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

2 hours from €50, half day from €100

Pégase Air Samoëns

Tel. +33 (0)4 50 34 95 80- www.parapente-samoens.com

Helicopter skiing

Adult €250-€560

Bureau des Guides

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

‘Mont Blanc Helicoptere’

Maiden flights in a helicopter from Samoens

€190-€290

Paragliding

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

First flight from 70€-€100, child 65 €

Performance flight €120

Pégase Air Samoëns - Tel. +33 (0)4 50 34 95 80

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.

€3.80 per adult, €3.20 per child. Skate hire €3.50.

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. €80 per hour.

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

Cinema - Le Criou

Open during the season. 3 shows per day. Few films in original version.

Price 7.80 € adults, 6.50€ child, 7€ seniors.

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

Dog sled in Samoen

+33 (0)4 50 34 13 79

Ride in a sled driven by a musher.

Once a week. Booking is recommended.

Nordic walking

Bureau des Guides

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

Nordic walking involves walking with a specific type of stick.

Price: individual adult ½ day: 12 €.

Afghan Walking

Match your breathing to your stride for an invigorating form of walking.

½ day - €15, day - €25.

Philipczyk Claire ‘Quintessence’.

Outing in horse-drawn carriage

Rides through Samoens in a horse-drawn carriage.

Price per carriage: 20 minutes: 20 €. One hour: 50 €.

SARL Chevrot

+33 (0)4 50 25 84 41

Septi-Train

Guided tours leaving from Church square. Tour of the master cheesemakers’ cellars - Booking compulsory is necessary.

From 3 €.

Septiloisirs

+33 (0)6 10 40 83 08

Internet café

+33 (0)4 50 18 01 12 www.websamoens.fr

Internet Café with computers and wireless access.

Snowshoe trekking

Half-day or full-day snowshoe outings.

• Moonlit outings ending with a typical Savoie meal

(fondue, potato bougnettes).

• Torchlight descents.

• Special-interest outings to learn about orienteering, snow cover, animal tracks and landscapes.

• Excursions over several days living life at the mountain’s own speed and sleeping in mountain huts.

PRICES:

Half-day 20 €

Full Day 27 €

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 in Samones!

Eating Out and Après-Ski in Samoens

In Samoens there are 30 Restaurants, 15 bars & a tearoom, cinema, shops

Other amenities in Samoens

Cash points, doctors, Carrefour & Sherpa supermarkets, 2 pharmacies, physiotherapists, bakeries, butcher, shoe shop, sweet shop (150 varieties), regional products, hairdressers, tea room, Intersport, Vet (Delacoste Magalie 0033 450 34 44 93)…

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

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

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 to Samoens is 67km (1 hour)

www.gva.ch/en 

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

www.chambery-airport.com

Grenoble Airport is 204km from Samoans (2 hours)

www.grenoble-airport.com

Lyon to Samoens is 204km (2 hours)

www.lyonairport.com

Bus transfers from Geneva Airport – see timetable/prices/info.

Runs from 18/12/10-16/04/11. On 25/12, bus 70 & 77 only.

Leaves GVA airport at 11.20, 13.00, 14.30, 18.30.

Departs Samoens – times to be confirmed.

Tickets must be reserved with altibus.com (not pre-bookable with Peak Retreats). Transfer time 1 ½ hrs. Cost when pre-booking online is €80 per adult return (cheaper prices for groups of 6 adults). Child is half adult rate (2-10yrs).

Samoens Transfer

Pre-book your Samoens airport 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 view here

Access Plan

Samoens france

Click on maps to enlarge

Resort Map

Samoens France

For Les Samoens piste map see right hand panel

SKI AREA

Samoens is a little alpine village which is linked to the large Grand Massif ski area so you get the best of both worlds.

The Grand Massif Express lift transformed the Samoans ski area due to its fast and high capacity (8-seater) when it was built in 2003. It takes you to the Samoens 1600 area where you start skiing from Samoens village (700m) in around 8 mins.

The slopes above Samoens face due North, so above 1600 snow is fairly reliable.

BEGINNERS

Skiing in Samoens couldn’t be easier with an excellent nursery slope area at Samoens 1600 for beginners to practise on with 7 lifts. The area for beginners is separated from the other sectors of the domain, to enable users to ski in complete safety, and avoid having users with different levels of experience on the same pistes. The restaurant terraces overlooking the pistes enable you to make the most of a relaxing rest in the sun while keeping an eye on your children.  

INTERMEDIATES

Intermediate and boarders will enjoy the 49 red pistes and 15 black pistes of the Grand Massif.  The Grand Massif itself has extensive intermediate slopes with big lift networks.

EXPERTS

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. There is also extensive off-piste.

SKIING BACK TO THE RESORT

You cannot ski back to Samoens village from Samoens 1600 but you can ski down to Vercland where the old Saix gondola is between Samoens and Morillon using the ‘Velarge’ red run or ‘Grand Cret’ black run. From Vercland there is a free shuttle bus back to Samoens village just down the road. You can also ski back down to Morillon village on the ‘Diona’ red run, and again catch the shuttle bus back to nearby Samoens village.

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!

CAR PARKING

There is parking at the Grand Massif Express gondola so taking your car is no problem and with 800 spaces you shouldn’t have a problem finding somewhere to park. However please be aware that the Grand Massif Express car park is not accessible for vehicles over 2.40 m in height. Take care if your skis are stored vertically on your vehicle. Free parking.

SNOW COVER

80% of the slopes above Samoens face due north so above 1600m snow is fairly reliable but there is also snowmaking around 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.

SAMOENS PISTE MAP

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

SAMOENS SNOW REPORT

To see the Samoens snow report view the resort guide panel on the top right hand side of the current page.

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

See SAMOENS RESORT NEWS

Samoens Lift Pass

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

PRE-BOOK* your GRAND MASSIF LIFT PASS with PR

FREE PASSES!

Children under 5 and seniors over 75 receive a FREE lift pass.

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

BEGINNER 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 the ‘Massif’ lift pass in resort (€164 for 6 days).

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

Massif ski pass – ½ day and daily rates:

½ day - €23 children, €31 adults

Day - €25 children, €34 adults

Grand Massif ski pass – ½ day and daily rates:

½ day - €28 children, €37 adults

Day - €31 children, €41 adults

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.

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

All lessons are SUNDAY-FRIDAY.

¹ SKI: Adults, Children (6-14):

¹ SKI: Piou Piou (3-5):

^* SKI FULL DAYS: Adults, Children (6-14) ONLY:

(*) Full days NOT available 1/1-11/2 & 11/3-22/4. Full days only for 6yrs+.

² SNOWBOARD: Adults & Juniors (10 to 15 years old):

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.

Samoens Individual Tuitions

(11/12 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 Samoens contact numbers:

Ecole du Ski Francais Village  +33 450 34 43 12

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

Samoens ski hire

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

Mountain restaurants in Grand Massif

9 mountain restaurants in Samoens Flaine Grand Massif including:

Au Pre d’Oscar (sunny, 360 view)

Chalet l’Aero (panoramic view of Giffre Valley)

Gite du Lac de Gers

La Luge a Teran

L’Igloo (Morillon)

La Relais des Vallees (Joux Plane)

Le Tremplin

Lou Caboens

Snow shoeing

Half-day or full-day snowshoe outing in Samoans.

• Moonlit outings ending with a typical Savoie meal (fondue, potato bougnettes).

• Torchlight descents.

• Special-interest outings to learn about orienteering, snow cover, animal tracks and landscapes.

• Excursions over several days living life at the mountain’s own speed and sleeping in mountain huts.

Prices: Half-day 20 €

Full Day28 €

Week-end 115 €

Bureau des Guides Samoans

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

Cross-country in Grand Massif

The site in the valley, on the banks of the Giffre, offers 46 km of tracks that are also suitable for skating.

The Haut Giffre circuits are popular with cross country skiers.

• the tracks in the Glière sector (2 km) and the Salvagny sector (5 km) are suitable for beginners, while the Fer à Cheval (16 km), Molliet (9 km) circuits

& the return to Samoens (10 km) will appeal to more experienced skiers.

• Joux Plane pass, situated at an altitude of 1,700 m, guarantees good skiing conditions when there is not enough snow in the valley. Open only when the site in the valley is closed.

Shuttle buses run between Samoens and the Col de Joux Plane.  Tel: +33 4 50 34 13 79

11/12 prices

Passes: 1 day €6.50* for adults and €4* for child.

1 week €27 for adults and €16 for child

* discounted rated after 12hr30.

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.

Skidoos

+33 (0)4 50 34 40 84

Outing with a qualified guide over a signposted route close to the downhill

ski runs. Suitable for all levels. No licence required.

Sledging (free)

• Tobogganing at Samoëns 1600 m

You can go tobogganing on the Plateau des Saix at Samoens 1600 m.

• Tobogganing in Samoens village

No need to go higher up the mountain to enjoy a sledging run.

• Tobogganing at Joux Plane

A toboggan run on a south-facing slope a few kilometres from the centre of Samoens villagev, on the Joux Plane cross-country skiing area.

Slope open when there is not enough snow in Samoens village.