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Client Review: Christmas in Les Saisies
Our loyal client and her family headed to Les Saisies last Christmas for a festive break, read all about it below!
Notre‑Dame‑de‑Bellecombe is an attractive traditional ski village set amongst forested slopes and with open Alpine views towards Mont Blanc.
Part of the Espace Diamant ski area that it shared with resorts including Les Saisies and Praz sur Arly, it offers relaxed, scenic skiing that’s particularly suited to beginners and intermediates.
Picturesque traditional village with genuine Savoyard charm and character
Access to Espace Diamant’s 192km of varied scenic skiing
Gentle slopes ideal for beginners and steady intermediate progression
Stunning Mont Blanc views across many slopes and viewpoints
Peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere with a slower pace throughout resort
Limited advanced terrain compared to larger high-altitude destinations
Learn about Notre Dame de Bellecombe beyond the basics, from the skiing to the village atmosphere.
Traditional Alpine village of small hamlets with farming roots
Quiet, family-friendly atmosphere rather than lively or party-focused
Scenic setting with forests, mountain pastures and Mont Blanc views
Notre‑Dame‑de‑Bellecombe is a village that feels genuinely rooted in Alpine life. Spread across 11 small hamlets, it has grown from an ancient farming community and still retains that authentic feel. The Baroque church with its distinctive bulb-shaped bell tower, which has its origins in the 14th century, sits at the heart of the main village, surrounded by wooden chalets and open mountain views.
It’s the kind of place where, whether you’re heading to the weekly market or buying your croissants in the bakery, you feel part of a real village community. The slower pace, combined with its setting among spruce forests and Alpine pasture, makes it particularly appealing if you’re looking to unwind and enjoy the surroundings.
The atmosphere here is calm and welcoming. There’s a strong sense of community, and while you won’t find a buzzing après scene, you will find a friendly, low-key environment that suits families, couples and those looking for a quieter escape.
Notre‑Dame‑de‑Bellecombe is easy to reach, with good road and rail links and relatively short transfers from nearby airports.
A free shuttle bus runs between the different hamlets and access points, helping you move around the resort and reach the lifts without needing a car. This also makes it easier to explore nearby villages within the Val d’Arly.
Access to the wider Espace Diamant ski area with 192km of pistes
Best suited to beginners and intermediates with high proportion of easy runs
Scenic skiing through trees and open slopes with Mont Blanc views
Notre‑Dame‑de‑Bellecombe is an excellent choice for beginners. Nursery slopes are located at village level, making it easy to get started, and there are additional gentle areas higher up for when you’re ready to progress with a blue run to take you back down to resort.
Wide green runs and easy blue pistes give you plenty of space to build confidence, and the overall layout allows you to gradually explore more of the mountain without feeling overwhelmed. Take a shuttle bus to nearby Crest Voland to explore even more long green slopes.
Intermediates are particularly well catered for here. The Espace Diamant offers a large network of blue and red runs, many of which are long, scenic and ideal for cruising. There are 71 blue runs across the ski area.
You can ski between neighbouring villages such as Praz‑sur‑Arly and Les Saisies (conditions permitting), giving you a real sense of variety across your stay. The terrain is perfect for building mileage in a relaxed and enjoyable way.
Advanced skiers will find fewer dedicated black runs (10 across the ski area) than in some ski areas, but there are still opportunities to challenge yourself on steeper reds and selected more technical descents. In contrast to the number of black runs, the Espace Diamant has around 50 red runs.
The area around Hauteluce has challenging runs and is a favourite among local freeriders. However, overall, the focus here is more on accessible and scenic skiing than on steep, high-adrenaline terrain.
Family-friendly fun zones are available within the wider ski area, particularly in neighbouring sectors like Les Saisies.
These include themed areas with playful features designed to keep younger skiers engaged. In les Saisies the Elves’ forest is a magical wonderland for little ones while the Elfik Park is a fun snowcross track with bank turns, tunnels and giant mushrooms to cross; all of which adds an extra dimension to the ski experience for families.
There are Nordic options available locally, with trails accessible in the Mont Rond area.
These routes are ideal for a more relaxed day, whether you’re cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, winter walking or simply enjoying the quieter side of the mountains.
Good range of family-focused activities beyond skiing
Mix of fun, relaxed and outdoor experiences across the resort
Interesting heritage options for non-skiers and mixed groups
Notre‑Dame‑de‑Bellecombe is very well suited to families, with a nice range of things to do off the slopes. There are dedicated sledging areas in different parts of the resort, as well as a unique baby dog sledding experience for younger children. You can also try Snake Gliss, where you ride a train of sledges driven by an instructor.
Weekly events organised by the tourist office and playful experiences on the slopes help keep children engaged, adding to the relaxed, family-focused feel of the resort.
If you’re looking to explore further, there are options such as dog sledding, fat biking, snowshoeing and even paragliding.
These activities allow you to experience the surrounding landscape in a different way, whether that’s gliding quietly through forests or taking in panoramic mountain views from above.
For a slower pace, there are simple pleasures like visiting local farms, enjoying the village atmosphere or spending time at the outdoor ice rink.
Evening activities such as guided snowshoe walks with a traditional Savoyard meal offer a cosy, memorable way to experience the mountains beyond skiing.
The resort has a rich heritage. You can learn about the Télétraineau, the first ski lift in the resort, 1937, which used a Ford V8 engine to pull the traineau along a cable up a slope. The resort also has a fairy tale museum.
Small but varied selection of restaurants and local dining options
Quiet après-ski scene focused on relaxed evenings rather than nightlife
Good range of essential shops and services for a comfortable stay
Dining in Notre‑Dame‑de‑Bellecombe is centred around local, traditional options. You’ll find a selection of restaurants serving Savoyard specialities alongside simple, relaxed meals.
The atmosphere is informal and welcoming, with a focus on enjoying good food rather than a high-end dining scene.
Après-ski here is understated and relaxed. Rather than busy terraces and late nights, it’s more about a quiet drink or a cosy evening with friends or family.
It’s ideal if you prefer a low-key end to your ski day rather than a lively party atmosphere.
The resort has all the essentials you need, including mini-markets, bakeries, sports shops and a handful of other services.
Everything is easy to access, making it a practical choice for self-catered stays and longer holidays.
Espace Diamant - NOTRE DAME DE BELLECOMBE
Star rating:
Sleeps: 1 - 10
Type: Self Catered
Accommodation: Apartments
Espace Diamant - NOTRE DAME DE BELLECOMBE
Star rating:
Sleeps: 1 - 8
Type: Self Catered
Accommodation: Apartments
Yes, it’s an excellent choice for beginners. There are village-level nursery slopes and additional gentle terrain higher up, allowing for steady progression. The wide, uncrowded pistes make it easy to build confidence, and the relaxed atmosphere helps take the pressure out of learning.
Notre‑Dame‑de‑Bellecombe is particularly well suited to intermediates. With access to the 192km Espace Diamant ski area, you’ll find plenty of blue and red runs to explore, many of which are long and scenic, ideal for building confidence and enjoying relaxed days on the slopes.
Advanced skiers will find some steeper runs and off-piste potential, but the resort is not primarily focused on expert terrain. It’s better suited to those who enjoy varied cruising rather than steep or highly technical skiing.
Notre‑Dame‑de‑Bellecombe is part of the Espace Diamant ski area, which offers around 192km of pistes across six linked villages. This provides a large and varied area with plenty of options for a full week’s skiing.
The resort is not high altitude, but its slopes run through forests and benefit from maintained pistes and snowmaking. Access to varied terrain across the wider area helps ensure good coverage throughout most of the season.
Yes, it’s a great option for families. The quiet atmosphere, gentle slopes and range of activities make it particularly well suited to those travelling with children or looking for a more relaxed ski holiday.
Yes, lift passes can be pre-booked with us. This helps you get on the slopes sooner. There are also different pass options available locally, including the smaller Val d’Arly area pass.
Yes, ski hire can be pre-booked with us. This is recommended to save time on arrival and ensure everything is available for you, especially during busy weeks.
Group ski school for children and adults can be pre-booked with us, which helps secure availability during peak periods. We can look into private lessons for you too, just contact our team.
Yes, ski schools and childcare are available, including a local daycare for children aged 3 to 5. However, these cannot be pre-booked with us and must be arranged directly with the provider, we can offer guidance on this however. Spaces are limited, so we’d recommend booking early, especially for peak travel periods.
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