Samoens is close to Geneva airport with a transfer time of about an hour. Morillon is even closer and Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval is only twelve minutes up the road. All three villages are also relatively easy to reach by train via Cluses,...
Samoens
The centre of Samoens is a charming medieval village, but its lifts connect it to Flaine, Morillon, Les Carroz and Sixt Fer-a-Cheval, forming the Grand Massif ski area. You can’t ski back to the main village though.
The Grand Massif ski area caters for all standards. It has over 60 lifts and about 140 different runs including the famous Gers bowl for advanced skiers and freeriders, and this makes it large enough for most skiers for a week’s holiday. It’s not particularly high by French standards (the top lift in the Samoens sector reaches 2120m and the highest in the Grand Massif ascends to only 2480m), but a microclimate ensures a decent snow record. And most of the slopes, including those closest to Samoens, face north which means the snow stays in good condition longer.
There are also advantages to being at the foot of the Grand Massif ski area like Samoens, rather than higher up the mountain like Flaine. For a start Samoens is quicker to get to – Geneva airport is only about an hour away and Samoens is one of the easiest ski resorts to drive to from the UK or Northern Europe. And it’s easier to get out of as well, if you want to visit other ski areas: Les Gets and the Portes du Soleil are less than an hour’s drive away.
But judging Samoens purely on its skiing rather misses the point. This is a village that since medieval times has been famous for its stone masons who left their mark with charming old buildings, fountains and an interesting church. (It’s the only ski resort in France to be listed as a Monument Historique.) Add to this a regular market, a pedestrianised centre, plenty of cosy bars and restaurants, and even a 500 year-old lime tree, and you can appreciate how Samoens feels very different from a normal ski resort. Its setting is beautiful too; Samoens takes its name from the seven dramatic mountain peaks that overlook the village.
No resort is perfect, however, and Samoens is now very spread out. You can stay up the mountain at Samoens 1600 in a purpose-built, modern ski-in/ski-out complex, or 650m lower at the very bottom of the slopes in Vercland, but these are effectively mini-resorts and cut off from the old village. If instead you stay in the main village, the Grand Massif lift is on its far southern edge, so it’s a long walk or a bus ride from the historic centre, and even further from its northern suburbs. Therefore choose your accommodation in Samoens carefully and weigh up which is more important – quick access to the slopes or charm.
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- Discounted Ski & Snowboard Rental in Samoens
- SKISET has two outlets in Samoens and will give advance booking discounts if you book online here.
- ALPINRESORTS.com works with ski hire shops in Samoens and the surrounding villages and can secure discounts if you book online here.
Samoens Pros and Cons
+ Beautiful, charming historic centre
+ Big enough ski area (Grand Massif)
+ Skiing to suit all standards
+ Decent snow record
+ Quick and easy to get to (good for weekends)
– Too much traffic outside the pedestrianised centre
– Village is spread out: you may have to take buses
– Weekend crowds and queues
– Unless you’re staying at Vercland or Samoens 1600, you can’t ski back to the resort
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Samoens has a good choice of hotels, chalets and apartments. You can stay close to the Grand Massif Express lift on the southern edge of the resort, or in its historic centre about 800m (0.5 miles) away, or in its...
Book Ski Schools & Ski Lessons in Samoens Looking for private or group ski lessons in Samoens? Ultimate-Ski and partner CheckYeti work with leading ski schools and ski instructors in over 500 ski destinations throughout Austria, France, Germany, Italy and...
Samoens Ski Area The Grand Massif Express connects the village of Samoens with the Samoens 1600 ski area, with its nursery slopes, ski-school and choice of cafes. Spend time to look around and enjoy the view: summits of the Tete...
Samoens Lift Pass & Ski Lifts The elegant, efficient, and scenically beautiful Grand Massif Express operates every day, longer as the light improves. There is a large free car park at the bottom, bus stops and clean toilets. Queues are...
Samoens Beginners Beginners skiing Samoens have an easy baptism into the sport using the network of greens and short blues around the main lift area, all with drag-lifts, easing gently via excellent quad and double lifts to the higher slopes....
Samoens Intermediate Intermediates get a huge choice of runs and can plan their day to include blues and reds within the Samoens area, or, by going over to the Flaine or Les Carroz areas. Ski-ers with intermediate skills have a...
Samoens Advanced There are plenty of challenging blacks and reds from the top of the new lift down to the Samoens area and snow-boarders will be delighted by the fact that there are few drag lifts, and that it’s easy...
Samoens Snowboarding The area is great for fresh powder, with a fantastic board park in Flaine. There are numerous events, including the Bolie Winter Tour, and open contests with some of the world’s best riders. Samoens has very few drag...
Samoens Mountain Restaurants On-mountain restaurants in Samoens have historically been limited; but this is rapidly improving, with several smart new eateries for people-watching at the top of the Express.
Samoens Village Samoens is a historic Alpine market town linked to good skiing, rather than a purpose-built ski resort. If you don't want this kind of ambience, stay up the mountain in Vercland or Samoens 1600, or above Morillon in...
Samoens Bars & Restaurants First rate restaurants about in Samoens. With something to satisfy every palate, but an emphasis on local Savoyard cuisine, Samoens is foodie heaven. Samoens is foodie heaven! Some of the best restaurants are listed below. However,...
Samoens Other Activities There’s a popular ice-rink, which makes a good après-ski destination for kids and grownups, and great facilities for snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing, with some incredible runs alongside scenic lakes and the Giffre river. Cross-Country Skiing Cross Country...