The Alpine ski area Grand Massif is your go-to playground in the French Alps: five interlinked resorts, a wide choice of groomed runs for every level, beginner areas, fun zones and freestyle spots. Use the quick links below to plan your day (runs & lifts), book lessons and choose the right equipment … Here, in the villages of Châtillon-sur-Cluses, La Rivière-Enverse, Verchaix, Morillon and Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, right at the heart of Savoie Mont-Blanc, you are at the foot of exceptional ski areas. Let’s have a closer look at the Alpine and Nordic ski areas!
Alpine ski area Grand Massif
Download the Grand Massif runs & lifts plan (PDF)
Grand Massif ski area overview
Which level are you? Choose the right runs
The Grand Massif sits between 700 m and 2,500 m and offers 265 km of runs across
Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, Samoëns, Morillon, Les Carroz and Flaine. Start on green and blue
runs to build confidence, move to red runs to improve carving and speed control, and keep the
black runs for a more technical challenge. For freeride lovers, iconic areas like Combe de Gers
are a reference spot when conditions allow.
Lessons & ski schools (ski + snowboard)
A lesson is the fastest way to progress: stance, edging, turn initiation, speed control and confidence.
You can book alpine ski and snowboard lessons directly online.
Equipment: rental, fit & what to choose
For beginners, choose forgiving gear (softer boots/boards or easy-turning skis). For intermediates, prioritise comfort
and precise boot fit: it improves control instantly. Don’t forget helmet, goggles and warm gloves — and consider back
protection if you spend time in fun zones or freestyle areas.
Snowboarding, fun zones & freestyle areas
Morillon and the Grand Massif are great for snowboarders: you can warm up in fun zones (gentle slopes with banked turns
and whoops) and step up to freestyle areas with modules, rails/boxes and jumps. Morillon highlights two dedicated spots:
Ze Kidz Park (ideal for young riders and beginners) and Ze Funky Park (freestyle progression).
Tip: ride the same line a few times first, then increase difficulty gradually.
Snowboarding for all levels in Morillon and the Grand Massif
Snowboarding enthusiasts won’t be disappointed in Morillon and across the Grand Massif,
one of Haute-Savoie’s flagship ski areas. Whether you’re discovering your first turns or already comfortable with frontside and backside riding, you’ll find perfectly groomed slopes and a wide choice of terrain to keep progressing — and having fun.
Dedicated snow parks and fun zones for beginners and freestylers
Morillon is a great place to get into snowboarding. Two dedicated areas make progression easy and fun:
- Ze Kidz Park (access from the top of the Esserts chairlift) — a gentle slope with
bends and whoops, ideal for young riders and beginners to build confidence. - Ze Funky Park (access via the Crête red run) — a step up for freestyle: a succession
of modules, rails/boxes, plateaus, jumps and a big air line for experienced riders looking to try new tricks.
Tip: start in the fun zone, repeat the same line a few times, then move to bigger features only when you feel in control.
Learning, progression and beginner areas across the Grand Massif
Snowboarding is the kind of sport where you improve your technique without even noticing — but before going for a grab, a lesson with an instructor can speed up your progression (stance, edging, turn initiation and control).
Beginners will also find what they’re looking for at Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, with a secure beginner area
designed for learning at your own pace (including the snowplough technique and first board control). A French Ski School in the village welcomes children and adults, and easy-to-access green and blue runs are perfect to master the basics.
Next step: head higher to explore the wider slopes of the Grand Massif, easily accessible via a
free shuttle service, and unlock longer descents and more varied terrain.
The Grand Massif ski area is in an exceptional location, with 265 km of slopes. It is situated right at the heart of the French Alps, halfway between Chamonix and Geneva, with a unique view of the Mont-Blanc mountain range. At an altitude of between 700 and 2,500 metres, this ski area links Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, Samoëns, Morillon, Les Carroz and Flaine. It is mostly north-facing, meaning that the Grand-Massif slopes have exceptional natural snow covering for the majority of the season.
Beginners will enjoy the fun slopes and beginner’s areas, ideal for starting on skis and/or a snowboard at your own pace. The green, blue and red slopes are great for mastering your technique, and the black runs will give you a dose of adrenaline and get the blood pumping!
It’s impossible not to mention the famous Marvel slope, a 5 km green run, or the famous Piste des cascades slope, 14km through nature, starting from Flaine peak all the way down to the authentic village of Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval. More experienced skiers can easily reach the Flaine ski area and enjoy the Combe de Gers, Combe de Veret and Aup de Veran sector, all excellent places to pick up a bit of speed and have some fun.
The Grand Massif offers endless possibilities for all levels of ability!
Giffre Valley Nordic ski area…
Are you more a traditional skier or are you into skating?
Here, in the Haut-Giffre Valley you have unique views all around you as you ski! On one side is the Lac Bleu lake with a breath-taking view of Criou Mountain, and on the other side you have the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval. The two are linked by slopes winding through the forests and across plains!
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Skating at Lac Bleu in Morillon ![]()
Traditional cross-country skiing at Joux Plane ![]()
Nordic ski lessons
At the top, at the Col de Joux Plane mountain pass at an altitude of 1,600 metres, the snow covering is superb, and you have a breath-taking view of Mont-Blanc. 90km of marked slopes are on offer, to go at your own pace through this superb natural environment, at the heart of the French department of Haute-Savoie!
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