Flaine
Flaine is the main resort fo the Grand Massif - 265kms of marked piste and 70 lifts link 5 resorts - Flaine, Samoens, Morillon, Les Carroz and Sixt - collectively known as the Grand Massif. Conveniently situiated just over 1 hour from Geneva airport and in the shaddow of Mont Blanc the Grand Massif has an envious snow record.
Flaine is a purpose built resort ( ome say a concrete jungle but over the years Flaine has evolved to a prettier Alpine resort) situated at 1600m in the foot of a vast bowl. Les CArroz is a pretty resort full of alpine charm located just off the road up to Flaine at 1250m. Lower down on the Vallee Verte flour is gorgeous villages of Samoens, Morillon and Sixt. Samoens and Morillon are connected to the ski area by fast bubble lifts, while Sixt sits at the end of a magnificent blue run but you need to jump on a ski bus to access the main ski area.
The Skiing
The main bubble lift from Flaine goes up to the gentle summit of Les Grandes Platiere up at 2480m - . The highest point of the ski area is just to the right accessed by the Lindars Nord chairlift - Tete de Lindars is up at 2561m and opens up some wonderful off piste. Otherwise blue and red pistes drop down the bowl - you have a choice of skiing all the way back to Flaine or staying high by using either the Desert Blanc or the Diamant Chairlits back up to the top.
One of the longest runs in the Alps - a stunning 14km descent dropping 1700m down to Sixt is a must for every intermediate skier and above during their stay in Flaine. Do the run mid morning then take you time having a nice lunch in the beautiful village of Sixt.
Heading over to Les Carroz opens up treeline skiing on reds and blues. Les Carroz is a traditional alpine village and makes a plenasent change to purpose built Flaine. Above Les Carroz the Les Moulliets chairlift acceses the pistes down to Moriilon while the Tete des Saizx chairlift opens up Samoens. The runs here are wide opne reds and blues