A beginner's guide to skiing in La Rosière

Life is rosy for beginner skiers in the French resort of La Rosière. It’s truly a little gem, high up in the Tarentaise Valley and not far from big name neighbours (such as Les Arcs and Tignes), but totally different in character. In this guide, we clue you into why La Rosière is the perfect ski resort for first time skiers and first time families.

In this beginner's guide, we answer:

• Is La Rosière a good resort for beginners?
• Where to stay if you're a beginner in La Rosière
• Is La Rosière suitable for a first time family ski holiday?
• Beginner skiing in La Rosière
• How much do lift passes cost?
• Beginner access to bars and restaurants
• How much do ski lessons cost?
• Is there a beginner friendly snow park?

Let’s dive into the details of your first trip to La Rosière.

Is La Rosière a good resort for beginners?

If you’d like to learn to ski in a pretty and calm resort, La Rosière could be for you.

In particular, families are drawn to La Rosière in big numbers, due to its fabulous friendly atmosphere, and wide open slopes.

Older family members can dash off to the Italian resort of La Thuile next door to stretch their ski legs, and rejoin the younger ones for early evening easy après.

An efficient free bus service runs around the different parts of La Rosière, which means plenty of variety - even for beginners - as there's no need to navigate difficult terrain to get to suitable runs. It also means lots of choice on where to stay. The bus comes every 15 minutes, making it super quick and convenient to get from where you're staying to the nursery slopes, shops and bars.

It’s an area which is full of surprises, such as a high-adrenaline X-TREME luge track; stunning sunsets and moonlit snowshoe walks.

In short, La Rosière is good fun, quiet and welcoming, and an excellent place for all ages to learn to ski.

Phil, Head of Sales at Iglu Ski, stayed in La Rosière with his young family in the 23/24 season. Here's what he has to stay on beginner skiing in La Rosière:

"There is a great selection of easy slopes coming into town, which are all easily accessible from the ski school meeting points.  

The slopes are really quiet compared to most of the other French ski areas we've been to, and we had no lift queues.

You can also head over the border into Italy and ski down to La Thuile, where there are some more intermediate and advanced pistes, and some great mountain restaurants to stop at for an Italian lunch."

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If you're set on France but want somewhere more lively, check out our beginner's guide to skiing in Val Thorens. Europe's highest resort has an easily accessible nursery slope, plenty of leisurely runs, and an excellent après scene.

With its family friendly villages and après hub of Arc 1800, Les Arcs is another great option for beginners. It truly offers the best of both worlds and one of the largest beginner slope offerings in Europe.

Where to stay in La Rosière in if you’re a beginner

There are two choices, either in La Rosière itself or the newer, satellite village of Les Eucherts (pronounced lez oocars), which is self-sufficient but smaller and short bus ride away from the main village of La Rosière.

Being just 1km apart, it's also easy to safely walk between the two villages, with a floodlit forest walk that offers a wintery wonderland experience in fresh snow. Both La Rosière and Les Eucherts are attractively-built in low-rise chalet-style, a world away from bigger French resorts.

In terms of hotels, Club Med La Rosière is a great option, with ski lessons, food, drink, snacks, kids clubs, and lift passes included in the all-inclusive package. It's slightly away from the resort centre, but it sits on a lovely green run and is serviced by the bus, with the last bus back to Club Med shortly after 6pm.*

If you prefer self-catered accommodation, Les Balcons on the outskirts of La Rosière offers spacious, sunny apartments, while those looking for a more luxurious (yet very reasonably priced) stay should take a look at the beautiful 5* Alpen Lodge and Spa in Les Eucherts. 

Traditionally, it’s a resort where there have always been plenty of great value chalets, and this remains the case. A catered chalet holiday takes away any holiday hassles, and leaves you to concentrate on learning to ski.

*Bus times indicative of 23/24 season. Make sure to check up-to-date timetable once available.

Is La Rosière suitable for a first time family ski holiday?

La Rosière is absolutely ideal for a first time family ski holiday, with easy slopes right next to the resort to make everything as straightforward as possible on the first day and every day thereafter. There are a couple of bars at the foot of the slopes that are popular with parents, as kids can bring along their toboggans and whizz up and down with other kids under your watchful eye, while you enjoy a well-earned drink. 

Follow the Saint Bernard signs to find dog-themed obstacles to ski through and around for maximum fun in the snow.

Off the slopes there are family-friendly activities including ice-skating, ten-pin bowling and a cinema. There’s an Igloo village to explore and you can go sledging down forgiving snowy slopes. As there is no through road there are few cars, making for a laid-back vibe.

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Another great beginner resort is Meribel. It's got more going on than La Rosière with a traditional resort centre playing host to plenty of bars, restaurants and shops.

Zell am See in Austria also has a good offering for beginners and first time families. It has a similar laid-back vibe, a bustling, pedestrianised resort centre, and access to the Skicircus for any experienced skiers in the group!

Beginner skiing in La Rosière

There are good nursery slopes and short lifts at both the main village and Les Eucherts, with two lifts free to use - the Manessier in the main village and Lutins in Les Eurcherts.

Try the dedicated area of green runs including Clarines; Libellule and Orêt, beside the Clarines and Lièvre Blanc lifts. Over in Les Eucherts start with the Lutins magic carpet and the green runs via the Dahu lift.

Where to head when you’re ready to explore La Rosière

There are blue runs above the beginner areas which are good to progress to. Purchase the beginner's lift pass, which gives you access to 5 lifts and several friendly green and blue runs (map below) for a heavily discounted price - ideal for an afternoon of practicing after a morning of lessons.

At Les Eucherts, beginners will find a good range of interlinking blues for fun skiing, and from here it is easy to wind your way back to the resort. Lovely blue runs take you to the Col de la Traversette, where you’ll see the ruins of an old fort.

From here you can get to the Petit St. Bernard Pass to take in incredible views of Mont Blanc, a great goal to aim for.

How much do lift passes cost in La Rosière?

For Espace San Bernardo (which includes La Rosière and La Thuile), a daily lift pass is €55.50 per adult; €41.50 per child (5-12 years) and €50 per senior (65-74 years) in the season 23/24.

It's usually better value if you buy a lift pass that covers all the days you plan to ski. For example, if you purchase a 5 or 6 day lesson package, buy a 5 or 6 day lift pass. Do check with your ski school to see if you need a lift pass on your first day (the nursery slopes in La Rosière and Les Eucherts are serviced by free lifts).

Groups can select a Family-Tribe pass with a discount, and those with the energy may want to take the X-PERIENCES multi-activity pass, which includes skiing.

How much is a local lift pass?

For La Rosière only, a daily lift pass is €51 per adult; €38.50 per child (5-12 years) and €46 per senior (65-74 years) in the season 23/24. Again, check to see if it's better value to purchase a lift pass for multiple days.

Is there a free lift pass for La Rosière?

Enjoy two free lifts in La Rosière, the Manessier ski lift in the main village, and the Lutins carpet at Les Eucherts. 

Is there a discounted lift pass for beginners?

Yes, a beginner’s lift pass is just €23 for three hours which gives access to five ski lifts for three consecutive hours. The lifts are:

Lutins magic carpet; Clarines drag lift; Dahu chair lift; Lièvre Blanc drag lifts and Manessier drag lift.

Children up to 5 years old receive a free lift pass.

Can you access après bars and restaurants from the beginner slopes?

No need for FOMO here, as there is not a huge number of bars and restaurants, however, on the blue Tétras run, at the foot of the Stade Joel Chena run is L’Antigel, which offers a varied menu in a light and spacious building with great views from the terrace.

Or try La Traversette with its south-facing terrace at the foot of the Fort chair, reached on the blue run Belette.

Slopeside venues include Le Flocon, for low-key live music and La Taverne du McKinley.

There are plenty of options for bars and nightlife in La Rosière including Genépi, a family-owned restaurant with a cosy Savoyard interior or Ancolie, an authentic French restaurant in Les Eucherts.

Or we can recommend the Relais du Petit St. Bernard at the foot of the slopes, ideal for lunch.

How much do ski lessons cost in La Rosière?

There is an excellent ESF (French Ski School) in La Rosière, plus a choice of other schools waiting to help you progress from beginner to experienced skier. ESF instructors speak English and you'll be placed in a group with other English speakers at a similar ability to you if a group lesson is what you want to go for.

Beginners usually start in a small group getting used to their equipment and doing simple drills on gentle slopes. A group lesson starts at €35 per person per session, rising to €135 per hour for a private teacher. Private classes do get booked up early, especially for school holiday dates, so get ahead to confirm your choice. Here are ‘from’ prices, indicative for the 23/24 season.

Is there a beginner-friendly snow park in La Rosière?

Fun times can be had at the Poletta Park with its green, blue, red and expert lines.

It includes a fun box, bumps, rails and big airbag. For the brave, there’s a snow-cross course under the Fort.

Overall, is La Rosière a good choice for beginners?

La Rosière has been called the ‘best kept secret of the French Alps’ as visitors rush to the bigger resorts.

However, with its friendly feel, awe-inspiring views and sunny vistas, together with excellent ski schools and plenty to do off-slope, La Rosière is perhaps one of the best ski resorts in the French Alps for a beginner ski holiday.