Les Contamines-Montjoie ski area
Skiing opposite Mont Blanc, without the crowds of the big Haute Savoie resorts
It’s not the biggest ski area in the Alps. But that’s exactly what it’s all about. The Contamines Montjoie ski area boasts 120 km of runs at altitudes of between 1,200 and 2,500 m, with a real variety of terrain and above all… space.
From mid-December to mid-April, we ski facing Mont-Blanc, between forests and wide open spaces, with a sensation that’s quite rare these days: to breathe…
A complete downhill ski area
As far as downhill skiing is concerned, the area is well balanced:
- 48 tracks in all
- 8 green, 12 blue, 19 red, 9 black
- 25 lifts (gondolas, chairlifts, surface lifts)
What we really like here:
- Long, natural, not overdeveloped trails
- Lots of accessible reds → perfect for progress
- Beginners’ zones in the heart of the village (for children)
Photo credit: Gilles Lansard
It’s a station where everyone finds their place
Families, intermediate skiers and even very good skiers…
Julia Simon, Simon Desthieux and other ski greats frequently choose Les Contamines as their training ground.
The Ski Club des Contamines is not new. It has been training village children since 1911. Downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, telemark, jumping… Here, you grow up with skis on your feet. Nicolas Raffort, Anouck Errard… don’t these names ring a bell?
And there are some great events every year: skicross world cup, telemark junior world championships, cross-country skiing French championships…
Who like to think outside the box. It’s not for nothing that this is the playground of the big teams! Did you know that the French Telemark team is often in the area?
A sunny domain (and that changes everything)
Les Contamines is also home to an exceptional exhibition.
The result: light all day and snow that’s often pleasant to the touch.
The Signal and Col du Joly areas, to name but a few, offer incredible panoramic views between Mont-Blanc and Beaufortain.
Sunny, Panoramic, Pleasant
Practical info
This is also an important (and increasingly rare) point. The adult day pass here is around 55€, giving your ski holiday in Les Contamines Montjoie unbeatable value for money compared with the big neighboring resorts.
Before you go skiing (or from the terrace with a cup of coffee), remember to check :
Often reliable snow thanks to altitude + snow guns
Indispensable for understanding the sectors and avoiding getting lost
Signal, Hauteluce, Montjoie to choose your first slopes