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The Massif des Aravis is a two-resort ski area in the Haute-Savoie region of the French Alps, linking La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand beneath the rugged limestone peaks of the Aravis mountain chain. It's an area with a strong local identity - both resorts are proper working villages with year-round communities, traditional architecture, and a farming heritage that's still visible in the landscape. The skiing is varied and spread across five separate sectors, and the whole area sits close enough to Geneva and Annecy to be one of the easiest Alpine ski destinations to reach from the UK.
The area covers 220 km of marked piste served by 80 lifts, sitting between 1,000 m and 2,600 m. There are 132 runs in total: 24 green, 37 blue, 43 red, and 28 black. The season typically runs from mid-December through to mid-April. La Clusaz has five distinct ski sectors; Le Grand-Bornand has two. A single Aravis pass covers both resorts.
La Clusaz is the larger and livelier of the two, with more terrain, a stronger nightlife, and a youthful energy. Le Grand-Bornand is quieter, more traditional, and particularly well-suited to families. Between them, you get a surprisingly complete ski area barely an hour from Geneva. Browse Massif des Aravis ski deals on WeSki to start planning your trip.
La Clusaz is a characterful village at 1,040 m with a medieval church at its centre and a buzz that's hard to find in resorts this size. The skiing spreads across five sectors - Beauregard, Manigod, l'Étale, l'Aiguille, and La Balme - each with a different character. Beauregard is sunny, wide, and ideal for cruising. La Balme (reaching 2,600 m) is the highest and most snow-sure sector, with steep off-piste and a north-facing bowl that holds powder well. The village has a strong après-ski scene, good restaurants, and a youthful, sporty atmosphere that makes it popular with weekend visitors from Geneva and Annecy as well as holidaymakers.
Le Grand-Bornand is one of the most authentic Savoyard villages you'll find at a ski resort. The centre is full of traditional wooden chalets, there's a twice-weekly market, and the local Reblochon cheese is made in farms you can actually visit. The skiing is split between two sectors: Chinaillon (the main area, with a good spread of blues and reds through the trees) and Le Maroly (a smaller, quieter area with gentle slopes). It's a particularly strong choice for families - the village is calm, the slopes are well-managed, and there's a genuine sense of community. The free shuttle bus links the village centre to the Chinaillon slopes in a few minutes.
Both resorts have good learning terrain. Le Grand-Bornand's Maroly sector is a gentle, dedicated beginners' area separated from faster traffic - it's quiet, sheltered, and ideal for first-timers. In La Clusaz, the base of the Beauregard sector has a nursery zone with easy green runs and a magic carpet, plus wide blues above for early progression. Le Grand-Bornand's Chinaillon area also has gentle greens at the base, with tree-lined blues that make the transition from nursery slopes feel manageable.
WeSki does not currently have lessons available in the Massif des Aravis, but both resorts have local ski schools with English-speaking instructors.
WeSki tip: Le Grand-Bornand's Maroly sector is one of the calmest places to learn in the northern Alps - it's a separate area from the main slopes, so you can take your time without feeling rushed. Once you're confident on greens, the blue runs through the trees in Chinaillon are a natural next step.
With 37 blues and 43 reds, intermediates have plenty to work with. In La Clusaz, the reds on l'Étale and l'Aiguille are long and well-groomed, with consistent pitch and some satisfying rollers. The blues across Beauregard are wide and cruisy, with views across to the Aravis peaks. Le Grand-Bornand's Chinaillon sector has a good network of reds through the forest - they're slightly narrower than La Clusaz's runs but well-maintained and enjoyable. Skiing between the two resorts in a day is possible with the shared pass, though you'll need to take the free shuttle bus between them as the link is by road rather than on-mountain.
WeSki tip: The red runs off l'Aiguille in La Clusaz are quiet in the mornings and have a satisfying, sustained pitch. Head there first, then work your way across to Beauregard for a more relaxed afternoon in the sun.
The 28 blacks are concentrated in La Clusaz, particularly in the La Balme and l'Étale sectors. La Balme's north-facing bowl at 2,600 m is the pick of the advanced terrain - it holds powder well, and the off-piste routes either side of the marked runs are excellent after fresh snow. The Combe des Juments and the Vraille are well-known itineraries for experienced skiers. Le Grand-Bornand has a few steep runs off the top of Chinaillon, but La Clusaz has the real depth of challenging terrain. A guide is recommended for any off-piste beyond the marked itineraries.
WeSki tip: La Balme faces north and holds snow longer than anywhere else in the Aravis. After a storm, head straight there - the bowl fills up with locals from Annecy and Geneva by mid-morning, so an early start makes a real difference.
The Aravis ski pass covers all 220 km of piste and 80 lifts across both La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand on a single ticket. Passes are available from one day up to the full season, with discounted rates for children, teens, and seniors. Individual resort passes for La Clusaz or Le Grand-Bornand only are also available at a lower rate if you're planning to stay local, with upgrade options.
You can add the lift pass directly to your WeSki booking, along with ski equipment hire at La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand - so everything's sorted before you arrive.
WeSki tip: Even if you're based in one resort, the Aravis pass is worth considering for variety. The two resorts have quite different terrain - La Clusaz is more open and adventurous; Le Grand-Bornand is more sheltered and tree-lined. A day on the other side makes a good change of pace.
Geneva is the closest major airport, around 1 hour's drive to both resorts. Lyon is roughly 2 hours 15 minutes away, and Chambéry is about 1 hour 30 minutes. The town of Annecy is just 30 minutes down the road and serves as a useful staging point - the drive from Annecy to La Clusaz follows the shore of Lake Annecy and is one of the most scenic resort approaches in the Alps. By train, the nearest station is Annecy, with bus connections to both resorts. A free shuttle bus runs between La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand during the season.
WeSki has private transfers to both La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand. Add them to your booking for a straightforward door-to-door trip.
The season runs from mid-December to mid-April. There's no glacier skiing, so conditions depend on natural snowfall and snowmaking. La Balme at 2,600 m holds snow best throughout the season, while the lower tree-lined runs in both resorts benefit from good snowmaking coverage. January to early March typically sees the most reliable conditions across the full area.
The proximity to Geneva and Annecy means the area can be busy on French weekends, particularly in La Clusaz. If you've got flexibility, midweek skiing is noticeably quieter. School holiday weeks in February are the peak period. Late March and early April bring spring conditions and longer days - the south-facing slopes on Beauregard are particularly enjoyable when the sun's out.
Yes. Le Grand-Bornand's Maroly sector is a dedicated, calm beginners' area separated from faster traffic. La Clusaz has a nursery zone at the base of Beauregard with green runs and a magic carpet. Both resorts have local ski schools with English-speaking instructors. WeSki does not currently have lessons available in the area.
The Massif des Aravis covers 220 km of marked piste served by 80 lifts, ranging from 1,000 m to 2,600 m. There are 132 runs in total: 24 green, 37 blue, 43 red, and 28 black. Two resorts - La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand - share the same lift pass.
La Clusaz is larger, livelier, and more varied - it has five ski sectors, a stronger après-ski scene, and more challenging terrain at altitude. Le Grand-Bornand is quieter, more traditional, and family-oriented, with tree-lined slopes and a genuine village atmosphere. Both are proper Savoyard communities with year-round residents, not purpose-built resorts.
No. The two resorts share the Aravis ski pass but are not connected by lifts. A free shuttle bus runs between them during the season, and the drive takes about 10 minutes. You can ski both in the same day, though you'll need to use the bus or drive between them.
The season typically runs from mid-December to mid-April. There is no glacier skiing. La Balme at 2,600 m holds snow best, and both resorts have snowmaking on key runs. January to early March sees the most consistent conditions.
Fly to Geneva, which is about 1 hour's drive from both resorts. Lyon is around 2 hours 15 minutes, and Chambéry 1 hour 30 minutes. Annecy is just 30 minutes away and is the nearest train station, with bus connections to both villages. WeSki has private transfers to La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand.
Yes, particularly Le Grand-Bornand. The village is calm, the slopes are well-managed, and the Maroly beginners' area is a sheltered, dedicated zone. Le Grand-Bornand also has a genuine community feel with a market, farm visits, and activities beyond skiing. La Clusaz's Beauregard sector is also family-friendly, with wide, sunny slopes.
Yes. Ski equipment hire is available through WeSki at both La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand. You can add it to your booking along with your lift pass and transfers. WeSki does not currently have lessons available in the Massif des Aravis.
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