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The French Alps ski specialist
Le Grand Bornand village ©(Monique Lucchesi)
1 of 15 Le Grand Bornand village ©(Monique Lucchesi)
Le Grand Bornand village - Hiking
2 of 15 Le Grand Bornand village - Hiking
Le Grand Bornand village - High ropes
3 of 15 Le Grand Bornand village - High ropes
Le Grand Bornand village - Hiking
4 of 15 Le Grand Bornand village - Hiking
Le Grand Bornand village © (Monique Lucchesi)
5 of 15 Le Grand Bornand village © (Monique Lucchesi)
Le Grand Bornand village
6 of 15 Le Grand Bornand village
Le Grand Bornand village - Outdoor pool
7 of 15 Le Grand Bornand village - Outdoor pool
Le Grand Bornand village - Climbing
8 of 15 Le Grand Bornand village - Climbing
Le Grand Bornand village - Hiking
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Le Grand Bornand village
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Le Grand Bornand village - Golf
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Le Grand Bornand village - Trampolines
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Le Grand Bornand village - Mountain biking
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Le Grand Bornand village - Mountain biking
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Le Grand Bornand village - Pastures
15 of 15 Le Grand Bornand village - Pastures

Grand Bornand

Le Grand Bornand is one of the best preserved and most beautiful of the Savoyard villages. Its ideal for a family holiday in the French Alps with plenty of outdoor activities to keep everyone happy.

Perfectly located between Mont Blanc, Lake Annecy and Switzerland, the local community has carefully worked to combine their visitor's needs, whilst maintaining the area's traditional charm and respecting its alpine heritage. The Aravis Mountains form the main backdrop to the village. Le Grand Bornand sits at two distinct elevations: Le Grand-Bornand Village is located at 1000 meters, a typical Savoyard village with its outdoor market, central plaza, church, and shops, as well as the spectacular Bouchet Valley in the background, at the foot of the Aravis Mountains. Six kilometers further up the road leading to Col de la Colombière Pass is Le Grand-Bornand Chinaillon, where our residences Roc des Tours and Le Village de Lessy are located. Located at 1300 meters elevation, the well-preserved historic village centre dates back to the 17th century. 

Apart from the usual mountain activities, Le Grand Bornand and Aravis mountain range offer more than 200km of marked mountain bike trails accessible with a special lift pass. The more adventurous can try paragliding or hot air ballooning above the impressive mountain range and valleys.

Only a 30 minute drive away, a visit to Annecy is a must; with its dramatic backdrop of sharp mountain peaks, the turquoise lake is one of Europe’s most romantic lakes. Annecy often referred to as ‘the Venice of the Alps’, is a pretty city with old quarters offering an array of restaurants, bars, shops and activities. The attractions of Chamonix and Lake Geneva are only a one hour drive away.

Interested in buying an apartment in Grand Bornand? See our Buying in the Alps section

 

Top summer activities to experience in Grand Bornand

Please note Peak Retreats do not book any activities and most activities are payable. For more information about pricing and availability, please contact the Samoens Tourist Office on 0033 450 02 78 00 or visit www.legrandbornand.com

Passloisirs Aravis
Paying for activities with a Leisure Pass Aravis, you get discounts on the retail price of up to 30% (depending on the activity)!

Grand Bornand leisure centre (Grand Bornand village)
Centre Aquarecreatif
The centre has a swimming pool, an island fountain, bubbles, a massage jet, a wave pool, a wading pool, a slide, a snack bar with a patio, and numerous grassy areas.

Ice skating rink 
An 800 m² covered ice skating rink. Spend a relaxing moment, in beautiful surroundings, facing Le Grand-Bornand Village and the Aravis Mountains.

Grand Bornand Watersports
Indiana Canoraft
Enjoy whitewater adventures on the Giffre or Dranse rivers. Open to everyone, even beginners (must know how to swim). Hydro-speed (river-boarding): swim down a river using fins, a board, and a special wetsuit.
Ages 12 and up (mini descent: ages 7-12). Gear provided.

Grand Bornand Electric Vehicle Track for kids (Grand Bornand village)
Formule Kid SARL
www.formulekid.com 
Le Grand-Bornand Village 
Learn to drive (for fun) on a secure circuit using electric motorcycles and cars. 
From 3 to 12 years old.

Little Farmers (Grand Bornand village)
Aravis Passion
www.aravis-passion.com
Take care of the animals, nature and garden. Feed the ponies, sheep, goats, rabbits, chicken and ducks, then go for a pony ride! For ages 5 - 12.

Grand Bornand Golf
Golf Le Rocher Blanc
www.golf-grandbornand.com
Vallée du Bouchet

Grand Bornand Mini Golf (Grand Bornand village)
15-hole miniature golf in the heart of the village.  Ages 3 and up.

Bicycle touring of "Col de la Colombière"
www.timtoo.fr
Mythical col from the Tour de France. "La Colombière" is equipped with the Timtoo Timing® system to compare yourself to other racers and improve your performance every time! Rent or buy your Timtoo Timing® chip. Chip rental and sale at the Tourist Office. Timed cycling ascent of "Col de la Colombière" organized every week in summer. Registration fees apply.

Grand Bornand Mountain Biking
8 circuits, 93km of marked trails, many from the top of the Le Rosay gondola, which are open all summer. There is equipment to wash bikes at the bottom of the gondola. Take advantage of the Aravis mountain bike pass, which provides access to the lifts.

Discover more than 200 km of marked and well-maintained mountain bike trails in the Aravis Freeride zone, as well as a number of inter-resort trails that cater well to families.

Aravis mountain biking facts:

  • Highest Point: 2000m
  • Maximum vertical: 1000m
  • 13 cross-country circuits
  • 10 downhill runs
  • 1 north-shore style trail at La Clusaz
  • 1 four-cross / dual slalom at La Clusaz
  • 3 mountain-bike washing areas
  • 5 lifts open to mountain bikers:
    Le Grand-Bornand: Le Rosay gondola, Le Chatelet chairlift
    La Clusaz: Le Crêt du Merle chairlift and Beauregard gondola
    Manigod: Le Chevreuil chairlift

Maps and guidebooks for sale at the Tourism Office and in local shops at the resort.

Summer lift opening in Grand Bornand
Rosay gondola, Chatelet and Lachat chairlift open last week in June for pedestrians, mountain bikers or paragliders.

Grand Bornand Adventure Parc (Grand Bornand village)
"La forêt des Dodes"
www.dodes.fr
Tyrolean traverses, rope bridges, cable traverses, and catwalks, bike and skate high-wires...more than 80 exciting activities in the trees. 200m zip line.
Discovery itinerary for children, equipped with a continuous lifeline (maximum security). Children under 16 years old have to be with an adult.
Dodes Forest Challenge: leap into the void 14m above the ground
Escalad’arbre 12m high climbing wall in 1 tree with a "quick jump" device for safety.
Located next to the ice skating rink.

Grand Bornand Horse-Drawn Carriage (Grand Bornand village)
Tissot Jean-Marie
www.caleche-mariage-haute-savoie.fr 
Horse-drawn carriage in Le Grand-Bornand Village and in La Vallée du Bouchet. Night-time available on request.

Grand Bornand Nordic Walking
www.compagnie-guides-aravis.com
An outdoor fitness activity with lightweight walking poles that provides a complete body and cardiovascular workout. Program available every week at the Tourist Office. For ages 10 and up.

Grand Bornand Markets
Le Grand-Bornand Village:
Every Wednesday morning in the centre of the village (all year round)

Le Grand-Bornand Chinaillon:
Every Sunday morning in the main street (July-August)

Other activity contact details 

 

Bars and restaurants in Grand Bornand


Various restaurants and a few bars are open during the summer, not only in the Village but up in Chinaillon too.

Amenities in Grand Bornand

Sport shops, mini-markets (Spar and Sherpa in village and Spar under the residence Le Village de Lessy in Chinaillon, pharmacy, gift shops, bakery, butcher, delicatessen, wine shop, cheese shop.

There is quite a wide selection of shops, mostly in the village.

Accessing Grand Bornand

By Road (self drive options pre-bookable with Peak Retreats): 
Driving distance from Calais to Grand Bornand 536 miles (approx 7hrs30)
From Calais, Le Massif des Aravis is easily accessible:
A 40 (Autoroute Blanche) ; exit N° 16 Bonneville, direction Stations des Aravis at 20 km
A 41 exit Annecy Nord direction Thônes / Stations des Aravis at 30 km

By Rail (pre-bookable with Peak Retreats): 
SNCF d’Annecy at 30km from Grand Bornand
www.sncf.com

By Plane (not pre-bookable):
Annecy-Meythet airport at 33km from Grand Bornand (30 mins)
www.annecy.aeroport.fr
Bus transfer Satobus Alpes: 0033 437 255 255
Geneva airport at 65km from Grand Bornand (1 hour)
www.gva.ch
Chambery
Airport is 75km from Grand Bornand (1 ¼ hours)
www.chambery-airport.com
Lyon
- Saint Exupéry airport at 141km (1 ¾ hours)
www.lyon.aeroport.fr/
Grenoble
Airport is 165km from Grand Bornand (1 ¾ hours)
www.grenoble-airport.com

Getting around the resort

Buses serve the various hamlets in the resort to take you to the resort centre or bottom of the ski runs. In particular it links the Grand Bornand Village and Grand Bornand Chinaillon. 

Grand Bornand Airport Transfer or Car Hire (pre-bookable with Peak Retreats):
Need an Airport Transfer? Call our reservations team for details on 0844 576 0170 or email reservations@peakretreats.co.uk

News and Events 2021/22

Events: 

  • 30th Festival Au Bonheur des Momes 21st-25th August 2022 is one of the biggest cultural rendezvous for children in Europe. The theatre of the Toupine and the village of Le Grand Bornand have organised an event celebrating children and families and performing art. This year is the festival’s 30th anniversary.

Special Offers
* Special offers applicable to accommodation cost only, not to travel or ski extras

Accommodation in Aravis

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Also, don’t forget you can give us a call on 023 9283 9310 or email reservations@peakretreats.co.uk if you couldn’t find what you needed.
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