Samoens Ski Resort Review

 

Samoens is a beautiful alpine village with all the trappings of a thriving village with a happy community living alongside. The Haute Savoie Region has one of the largest ski areas in France. Samoens is only twenty minutes by car from the town of Cluses which has a TGV train station which is only 55km from Geneva. There are plenty of hotels or if you preferrent a ski chalet in Samoens.

 

The pretty town sits at the bottom of Crioux an imposing mountain. The town has remained unspoilt and France's only resort to be given a listing of Land of Art and History. It was once a stone cutting centre and it still enjoys the ancient church and medieval fountains.

 

Within the town of Samoens you will find many traditional bars and restaurants keeping the feel for real rural France. It is an ideal family destination. In the summer season the activities include white water rafting, paragliding, fishing, walking, mountain biking and activities for both adults and children. There is a market every Wednesday which sells a wide variety of local products.

 

The ski resort is linked to the massive Grand massif (with Les Carroz, Morillon and Flaine ) and provides extensive skiing for all levels. Not many places offer such a wide variety of skiing and very few have such fantastic panoramic views over Mont ' Blanc. There is an excellent nursery slope area at Samoens 1600, in fact now the biggest beginners' area in the Haute Savoie. For the more advanced there is also a testing terrain. The steep north-facing mogul slopes from the Tete des Saix, the central point of the entire Grand Massif system, down to Samoens are particularly enjoyable. Intermediate and more advanced skiers and boarders will enjoy the 49 red pistes and 12 black pistes of the Grand Massif.

 

Also try the fast ski lift at Morillion that also links to the Grand Massif. From the lift you can see the beautiful hillside across the valley to the region of Verchaix with its ski chalets dotted across the hillside.

 

The town also has an ice rink for all ages.

 

Since Winter 2009/10 there is a fast new (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.

 

So why Samoens? A beautiful unspoilt ski and summer resort with fantastic restaurant and great accommodation in hotels orSamoens ski chalets for private rental. Close to Geneva airport (less than 50 minutes by car)