The Portes du Soleil is one of the three largest French ski resorts where you can ski in and out of Switzerland and find loads of off-piste opportunities (safe and within sight of the slopes or a little more hairy and adventurous).  But you’ll know all that anyway.

 

 

Getting to the slopes quickly

Chalet Belle Dranse is just over 10 minutes from the main Ardent lift up into the heart of the high level Avoriaz skiing.  There’s a huge car park and it’s very easy to find.

 

 

Learning to Ski

What you may not know is that there is a lovely little French family ski resort in St Jean d’Aulps itself.  It’s perfect for learners and young children. Our friends have taken their youngsters there for their first ever week’s skiing and can’t speak too highly of the teaching and easy simple atmosphere.

 

Called La Grande Terche, the views from the bar and restaurant terraces are fantastic.  It’s less than five minutes drive up the mountain behind the Chalet.  If it has snowed heavily we will just as soon go there for some “deep stuff” first thing in the morning.  And the prices in the bars and restaurants are considerable cheaper than in the main Portes du Soleil area.

 
Text Box: Skiing Chalet Belle Dranse

Downhill only.  We know that’s probably what you will come for.  The Portes du Soleil is huge and St Jean has its own small family ski resort “la Grande Terche”.

 

But there’s some great cross country (ski de fond) skiing too.

 

Cross County Skiing

For ski de fond there are many places to go in the Portes du Soliel. 

 

But even better, is a lovely French resort called Praz de Lys which is next door to Les Gets and within twenty minutes drive of the chalet. 

 

Ski de fond is the major activity at Praz de Lys although it is a fully fledged ‘family’ downhill ski resort which we thoroughly enjoyed.  The views of Mont Blanc and the mountains of the Chamonix valley from Praz de Lys on a clear blue sky day are “to die for” – definitely the best from anywhere.

 

There is also a magnificent ridge walk for the summer which gives 360 degree views of at least three valleys as well as the Mont Blanc range.