Les Carroz - France
Whilst Les Carroz (Lay cah-roh) is perfect for short breaks the extent of the terrain in the Grand Massif is such that anyone staying for a full week will still struggle to exhaust all the options. Between them the five stations of the area offer a wide variety of runs for skiers and boarders of all abilities, but if there were to be a criticism it would be that the lift links are not as well-developed as they could be. There are still a lot of bottlenecks that can frustrate anyone looking to get miles under their belt.
Despite not being particularly high at 1200m Les Carroz benefits from a favourable microclimate between Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva so skiing back to the village is normally possible all season. At just 45 from Geneva it is one of the easiest resorts to get to, and short airport transfers, reasonably priced lift passes and an abundance of chalet beds make Les Carroz a great option for those on a tight budget.
At a glance
| Resort altitude | 1200m - 1200m |
|---|---|
| Highest lift | 0m |
| Lowest lift | 0m |
| kms of piste | 265km² |
| Black pistes | 15% |
| Red pistes | 49% |
| Blue pistes | 55% |
| Green pistes | 16% |
| Snow parks | 2 |
| Glacier | No |
| Snowmaking | Yes |
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Five to try
- lunch at the Refuge de Gers in Flaine
- cruising the 14km Cascade through the back country.
- eating the best burger in the Alps at the Le Desert Blanc in Flaine
- skiing the Marvel piste in Morillion, a beautiful lng descent through the trees.
- relishing a boozy lunch at the off-piste refuge Chalet de Tronchet (Morillion)
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Planning your trip
Les Carroz is under an hour from Geneva airport, making it an excellent choice for short breaks and people with young children. If at all possible, do book your flights in advance as even the ‘cheap’ airlines can be very expensive at peak times. Other airports such as Grenoble and Lyon are about 2 ½ hours more...
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Where to stay
Les Carroz is a traditional village and therefore has a high percentage of chalet accommodation and just a handful of hotels and apartment complexes. There are several British-run establishments and the proximity to Geneva has made the resort a firm favourite with catered chalet operators. Amongst the more...
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Food and drink
Les Carroz has an array of restaurants clustered around the town square. There are plenty of places offering pizza, which is generally the cheapest option, but this is also one of the best places to try genuine Savoyard dishes, prepared by families who have been cooking the recipes for more...
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Things to do
The tourist office produces a weekly events programme, check their window or in the leaflets they more...
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On the piste
Les Carroz is ideal for novices and its ski schools have an excellent reputation amongst families with young children, but beyond nervous intermediate stage it is well worth paying the extra for the full area pass. For an extra 8 Euros per day you can access double the terrain, the majority of which is higher up in more...
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MadDogView
A traditional Savoyard village on a sunny plateau less than an hour from Geneva. Ideal for a weekend or longer.
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Map
- Download piste map
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Our favourites
Igloo
Lifts: at the top of the Bergin lift in Morillon or just of the Mavel run. With a large terrace to catch the rays and a cosy interior with a large log fire for the colder days, the Igloo is one of the best mountain restaurants in the Grande Massif. Friendly service offers you Savoyard classics or fondue. Omelettes are a speciality. -
Useful stuff
