La Clusaz ski holidays
Established in 1925 the French ski resort La Clusaz lies at 1100 metres altitude in the Haute Savoie region of the French Alps / Alpes. With the highest lifts and ski slopes at 2600m the area is snow sure. Over 103 snow cannons ensure artificial snow making covers 2km of trails, which equates to around 1.5 of the slopes. The nearest airport transfer to La Clusaz is Geneva / Geneve at a distance of 50km or approximately 60 minutes driving time. Their season runs from December to April.
SNO-man says
Traditional Savoyard village, regarded by some as one of the most picturesque in France. Large ski area for a single resort. Off the piste there is plenty to do - the area is famous for its farm foods, including wine, cheese (reblochon and chevrotin), pastries and ham. There is a weekly village welcome evening for guests and a market.
Alpine Downhill Runs
Beginner Trails
 27 runs 23km |
32% |
Intermediate Trails
 28 runs 68km |
33% |
Advanced Trails
 23 runs 30km |
27% |
Expert Trails
 7 runs 7km |
8% |
Resort and Holiday Stats
| Beginners |  |
| Intermediate | |
| Advanced/Expert | |
| Snowboarders | |
| Apres Ski | |
| Family/child Friendly | |
| Snow-Sure | |
| Ambience | |
| Value for money | |
| Lift Pass Prices (adult 6 day) | €175 - €175 |
Traditional Village / Purpose Built Resort |
| Resort Opens | Dec 2013 |
| Resort Closes | Apr 2014 |
| (snow conditions often influence opening/closing) |
Mountain and Slopes
| Downhill Runs | 132km |
| total length of La Clusaz trails |
| Longest Lift-Served Run | 4km |
| longest piste or trail reachable by lift |
| Slope Orientation | N NW E |
| direction La Clusaz area faces |
| Top Altitude | 2600m |
| top station of highest lift |
| Bottom Altitude | 1100m |
| bottom of lowest run |
| Resort Altitude | 1100m |
| centre of La Clusaz ski resort |
| Vertical Drop | 1500m |
| total descent from top lift to bottom piste |
| Skiable Vertical | ^v 1500m |
| can include extra hike up above top lift |
Skiing in La Clusaz
84 pistes and trails means approximately 132km of runs. 55 La Clusaz lifts have capacity to transport 53000 per hour. The longest run in the French ski resort is over 4km.
SNO-man says
La Clusaz is the largest station of the Aravis mountain range and presents 130km of trails that run from wide open glades into treelined pistes. There are five areas across the five mountains: Beauregard, La Croix Fry, L'Etale, L'Aiguille and Balme , all linked by 50 lifts .Beginners and families are well catered for with areas close to town, especially those on Beauregard peak and above the Col de la Croix Fry as they tend not to draw speed lovers or jumpers . Intermediates have plenty to keep them entertained and can cover quite a bit of mileage using the ski lifts and an occasional bus trip. L’Etale, is fairly steep and above the treeline, whilst Aiguille has sunny slopes with big veriticals, like the 1200m drop on the Grand Crete. La Balme, which is a large snow bowl with a small number of pistes and a nice range of off-pistes routes, is a excellent area for expert skiers. Be sure to take note of any warnings posted as this area has a greater avalanche risk. Other options for the advanced skiers are The summit circle, which has only red and black runs, the challenging la Combe du Fernuy, a black red, which leads you to La Balme, the Cret du Loup “The Edgar Wall” mogul run and the natural mogul pistes found on the Aiguille mountain. Off piste touring and heliskiing in Switzerlnd and Italy are also options.
The mountain has 32% beginner runs or nursery slopes, 33% intermediate, 27% advanced slopes and 8% for experts - the most difficult piste is the 3.9km Levraille run, with a steepness/slope angle of ?%. You can ski La Clusaz after dark as there is night skiing on ?km of illuminated piste.
Rating for skiing gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Snowboarding in La Clusaz
Of the 55 ski lifts, 36 are surface lifts or "drag lifts" - this gives an indication of how modern the lift system is and how good La Clusaz is for snowboarding - especially for beginners learning to board. Facilities include 2 terrain parks and 1 half pipe (longest half pipe length is 100 metres), 1 quarter pipe and 1 boardercross courses.
SNO-man says
Snowboarding in La Clusaz has much to offer, with the Balme ski area considered a boarding paradise with powder bowls, big slopes for carving and lots of natural hits. La Clusaz was one of the first resorts to grant all area access to snowboarders and build terrain features, which can be found on Cret du Loup and Manigod. These include a permanent Boarder Cross where freeriders can race down a course of bumps and banks. The funpark also includes a halfpipe, quarter pipes, gaps, tables, fun boxes and whoops.
Rating for snowboarding gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
La Clusaz Apres Ski
Off-Slope activities include:
12 apres ski bars 68 restaurants 0 bowling 2 night club 1 cinema 3 billiards / pool 1 games room 0 concert 1 indoor swimming 1 outdoor heated pools 3 saunas 1 hot tubs 0 solariums 3 masseurs 0 indoor ice skating 1 outdoor ice skating 2 indoor sports centre 0 indoor tennis 0 squash racquetball 1 sleigh rides 0 ballooning 0 horse riding 10 prepare winter walks 0 climbing 0 golf 0 fishing 1 museum 1 library Plus these additional apres ski facilities Canadian Hikes, Climbing Wall, Farm Visits, Heritage Tours, Carriage Rides, Ice Climbing, Weekly Market (Monday), Microlights, Mountain Biking on Snow, Orienteering, Snowcat Tours, Survival Days, Winter Camping.
SNO-man says
There are a great range of winter sports available in La Clusaz - including some unusual options like orienteering or spending a couple of nights on a Hunter camp in a heated tent, or even participating in a Winter Survival Day. For something a little more leisurely try snowshoe hike, a winter hike or a husky-powered dog-sleigh ride.
The Confins Lake is a centre for all sorts of winter sports fans in the snowy months. Apart from cross-country skiers, ice skaters and tobogganists there are winter mountain bikers and even fishermen. La Clusaz has 25km (15 miles) of signposted walking trails which most of the snow is cleared off, a special 'Stroller Pass' gives you access to five key lifts to get up the mountain and entitles you to a free hot drink in the altitude restaurants! Horse driven carriage rides are possible in the visit and their are weekly farm visits (Friday afternoons) to see the making of the local Reblochon cheese every Friday afternoon. Heritage tours of the village and valley are also organised on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
For the most energetic, snowmobiling is available and night skiing is organised once a week from 8.30 to 10.30pm on the slopes by the Ice rink cable car. Visitors can also take part in torchlit descents once a week for children and for adults under the supervision of the Ecole de ski Français (ESF) during the French February school holidays. Parascending is also popular and there are ice waterfalls to visit and possibly climb with the mountain guides. The big, covered ice rink and swimming pool was renovated recently. The resort has four fitness centres, in the Alpenroc, Beauregard and Carlina hotels and the Aqua Centre.
Rating for apres ski gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
"La Clusaz" by any other name
The French resort is also known as La Clusaz and has common misspellings: Laclusaz, Laclusaze, Lacluza, Lacluzas
The direction which the various La Clusaz slopes face can make or break your ski holiday. To guarantee good snow conditions, choose a resort with piste which face the right way for the time of year you're travelling.
- In the coldest winter months of January and February pick a resort with sunny south facing slopes, so your days on the snow doesn't feel like a polar expedition. Conversely, in the warmest spring skiing months of March and especially April, a resort with cool and shady north facing trails will ensure you're not riding on slush, but benefitting from best late season snow. The best destinations have areas which face in all directions so that you're guaranteed greating conditions whatever the weather. La Clusaz has slopes facing N NW E.
Rating for snow gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
La Clusaz reviews, 4.3 star rating and information is collated by SNO man from staff experience and customer feedback.