Flaine is the snow reservoir of the Grand Massif. Set in a north-facing high-altitude bowl at 1,600 m, it’s the snow-surest part of the area, and the highest. Ski-in ski-out, pedestrian and facing Mont Blanc, it’s an ideal base camp for one of the largest linked areas in France.
The ski area
The Flaine bowl gathers a broad spread of pistes above the resort, up to the Grandes Platières (2,480 m), a balcony over Mont Blanc. From there you cross onto the whole Grand Massif: Les Carroz, Samoëns, Morillon and Sixt. The Grand Massif pass opens over 250 km of pistes, including the famous Cascades piste — a 14 km green descent from Flaine to Sixt through the forest, one of the longest in the Alps.
Who it’s for
The area is progressive and family-friendly: a broad snow front, beginner areas at the foot of the resort, and room to progress without leaving the bowl. Strong skiers find vertical drop, renowned off-piste (the Combe de Gers) and the long links of the massif. The ski-in resort makes family life easier.
Booking
Grand Massif passes and ski-school lessons are booked through the area operator and local schools. Compare the local Flaine pass and the Grand Massif pass according to your wish to roam the five resorts.
Good to know
Snow. North bowl at 1,600 m: Flaine is the snow-surest sector of the Grand Massif, ideal early and late season.
Which pass? Local pass for the Flaine bowl; Grand Massif pass for the 250 km and the five resorts.
The Cascades piste. A 14 km easy descent from Flaine to Sixt, worth doing at least once (return shuttle).
For families. A pedestrian, ski-in resort with beginner areas: a reassuring setting.
Also worth seeing in Flaine
Discover the resort’s art and architecture, or hiking in summer. Back to the destination: Flaine.