from £148pp
LES CONTAMINES, FRANCE
Les Contamines
Apartment L'Enclave I et J 7
Apartment Les Combettes D et E
Apartment Les Moranches
L'Enclave I et J (FR7455.500.17)
Apartment L'Enclave I et J 14
Apartment Pierres Blanches F et H 20
Pierres Blanches F et H (FR7455.140.23)
Apartment L'Enclave I et J 7
Les Lapons II
Apartment L'Enclave I et J 28
Les Moranches
Apartment L'Enclave I et J 14
Les Trolles
Pierres Blanches F et H (FR7455.140.24)
La Borgia A, B, C (FR7455.300.6)
L'Enclave I et J (FR7455.500.3)
Pierres Blanches F et H (FR7455.140.14)
Apartment Les Combettes D et E 19
Apartment La Borgia A, B, C 1
Apartment La Borgia A, B, C 10
Apartment L'Enclave I et J 28
Apartment La Borgia 10
Apartment Pierres Blanches F et H
Les Cimes d'Or A, B et C (FR7455.110.2)
Les Cimes d'Or A, B et C (FR7455.110.18)
Pierres Blanches F et H (FR7455.140.12)
Apartment Pierres Blanches F et H 10
Apartment Le Brûlaz
Apartment Le Brûlaz
L'Enclave I et J (FR7455.500.22)
Apartment La Borgia 1
Apartment Pierres Blanches F et H
Pierres Blanches F et H (FR7455.140.8)
Les Combettes D et E (FR7455.170.13)
Ski holidays in Les Contamines
Les Contamines is a quiet unspoilt village at the head of the Montjoie valley and lies at the base of Mont Blanc. The resort itself is based around its main street with attractive with wooden chalets, old fashioned hotels and an old church, with nightlife centred around the bars and restaurants. Visitors can also access the resorts of Chamonix, Saint-Gervais, Megeve, St Nicolas de Véroce, La Giettaz and Combloux which comes under the Evasion Mont Blanc lift pass which total 445km of slopes.
Resort Statistics
| Level | Rating | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| Beginners | 20 | |
| Intermediates | 19 | |
| Advanced | 9 | |
| Snowboarders | ||
| Total Runs | 48 |
Good for
- Off piste
- Families
- Groups
Resort features
Ice Rink
Walking Trails
Snowshoeing
Snow sure
Traditional village resort
Picturesque
Resort bus
Tourist Office
Resort Statistics
| Resort Altitude | 1164m |
| Highest Lift | 2500m |
| Total Piste | 120km |
| Uphill Capacity | 24000 |
| Total Lifts | 24 |
| Gondolas/Cable cars | 4 |
| Chairlifts | 8 |
| Drag Lifts | 12 |
| Snow Parks | 2 |
Skiing in Les Contamines
It boasts 120km of piste suitable for all standards but with an emphasis for intermediates and advanced skiers as there are some interesting black runs and plenty of off piste. Its slopes run down its two main valleys of Val Montjoie and Beaufortain. Getting to the bottom of the ski lifts from the resorts requires a shuttle bus or a horse drawn carriage ride.
A great area that all abilities will enjoy is at Signal 1900 which has cruisy blue runs, long runs with very scenic views into the Hauteluce section. But for beginners, the resort is a great place to start thanks to its quiet pistes. There is also a dedicated beginners zone as well as a dedicated blue run at the top of Signal and we also recommend the Col and Croiz blues down into Hauteluce if you’re progressing.
Blues and reds are in abundance to satisfy every level of intermediate skiers and snowboarders. Again at the top of Signal lift, there is the Gentaines red piste which is a great one but it also runs into two more reds, the Fredze and Buche, and a Combe blue piste. This is also a great area to stop for lunch at there are a few restaurants. The Tierces, Coins, Nant Rouge and Besiens runs on either side of the Nant Rouge chairlift are also worth a ski!
Advanced skiers will take the drag lift up to Veleray 2450m and take the black Rebans which descends all the way down to an altitude of 1577m. Croche run with a 900m descent into the Grevettaz is another option to try. Experienced skiers will also love the resort’s off piste opportunities. Some of Les Contamines best snow conditions can be found at the top of the Montjoie and Gorge cable cars. We recommend hiring a guide if you wish to try off-piste terrain for safety and to get the most out of the area.
Freestylers will be pleased as there is a dedicated freestyle zones or ‘X-Zones’. The X-Zone des Loyers is located in the heart of the village hosts a number of world cup competitions on its super-pipe and further up the mountain is the X-Zone de Tierces. This freestyle zone is built on the Tierces piste and has obstacles, jumps, rails and a boardercross course.
There is also 23.5km of cross country ski trails including an area for beginners near the welcome centre. Access is completely free and has trails for all abilities.
Snow conditions in Les Contamines
Its snow record is reliable and as most of the slopes are above 1800m and face north and north-east, they retain their snow when other nearby resorts are suffering. The resort also has 210 snow canons to make artificial snow when needed.
Après ski, restaurants and other activities in Les Contamines
Les Contamines has a wide selection of restaurants in the village and on the mountains, with most serving Savoyard specialities.
Apres ski in the resort is quiet although some livelier venues are the Tetras, Saxo and Ty Briez, the latter being more of a casual spot for both tourists and locals.
Restaurants and bars isn't all it has to offer. Visitors can enjoy the activities of ice skating, sleigh rides, snowshoeing, paragliding, or even going to the cinema or driving to the thermak baths in St Gervais for a spa treatment. A fun cultural trip is up to the Chalet Auberge de Colombaz at 1500m which hosts a traditional Savoyard evening in which you arrive by lift or horse drawn sleigh have a delicious local meal and then toboggan back down.
Transfer times to Les Contamines
Geneva (GVA) - 1hr
Chambery (CMF) - 1hr 10mins
Grenoble (GNB) - 1hr 50mins
Ski Hire in Les Contamines
There are normally a number of shops where you can pick up your pre-booked ski or snowboard equipment from. Which shop you go to will depend on where you are staying in Les Contamines. Here is a guide to ski or snowboard hire in Les Contamines:
| Ski Hire Type | Adult 6 days | Child 6 days |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze - Skis and Boots or Snowboard and Boots | £72 | £58 |
| Silver - Skis and Boots or Snowboard and Boots | £104 | £72 |
| Gold - Skis and Boots or Snowboard and Boots | £125 | |
| Platinum - Skis and Boots or Snowboard and Boots | £135 |
You can book your ski hire for your trip to Les Contamines here
Les Contamines Reviews
(1 Review)
02/09/2009
I had an amazing time at Les Contamines last winter. I was traveling with my family and we appreciated the fact that this ski resort offers various opportunities for different levels of skiers and snowboarders. The resort boasts great sunshine and excellent natural snow conditions. The slopes wind down between glens and dales, wide runs, pine forests chalets and old farm buildings. The village nestles at the foot of Mont-Blanc, the higher slopes offering magnificent views, the lower areas tree-lined skiing. What we enjoyed the most were the incredible views of the Mont-Blanc. It’s a beautiful ski resort for ski holidays in France.
Laura stevens
Read all Les Contamines reviews