Winter Activities
Only 6 Km from the nearest lifts in Les Carroz, Chalet Sigismond is a great launch pad into the mountains. The Grand Massif is well known area across the Alps for catching good snow in the winter months and Les Carroz is a bit of a hidden treasure. Whether powder skiing in the trees or cruising on well groomed pistes are your preference, the variety is excellent. With 1 cable car, 4 gondolas, 26 chairlifts and 49 draglifts to give you access to 134 pistes you will always find some slopes that you are drawn to. In 2004/05, a new 8 person gondola lift was built, and it is very rare to experience delays as you make your way to the slopes.

Grand Massif 1140-2500m
Piste Map
The Grand Massif includes 265km of pistes. It links five resorts 5 linked resorts: Les Carroz, Flaine, Morillon, Samoens and Sixt. The highest point is 2500m. There are 80 lifts and 134 pistes. The total vertical descent is 20000 metres.
  • Marked, patrolled and mechanically groomed: 13 green 41 blue 56 red 15 black
  • Marked, patrolled but not mechanically groomed: 10 black
Capacity: 73 500 persons per hour.
Artificial snow: 128 snow canons
Piste preparation: 37 machines

Grands Massif (265km) - winter 2007 prices

€ Adult (16-59 yr) Senior (+60 yr) Junior (12-15 yr) Kid (5-11 yr)
2 day 66 54 54 50
3 day 96 79 79 73
4 day 127 103.5 103.5 95
5 day 158 129 129 119
6 day 173.5 140 140 127
7 day 202.5 162.5 162.5 148.5
8 day 231.5 185 185 170
9 day 260.5 207.5 207.5 191.5
Massif  
Piste Map  
The Massif area includes 130km of pistes. It links four resorts: Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoens and Sixt. The highest point is 2200m. There are 57 lifts and 103 pistes. The total vertical descent is 13800 metres.
  • Marked, patrolled and mechanically groomed: 13 green 32 blue 37 red 12 black
  • Marked, patrolled but not mechanically groomed: 10 black
Capacity: 16 200 persons/hour 28 Pistes :

All ski passes are available from the main station desks. There are two main ski passes: the Massif pass (140km of runs) which covers Les Carroz, Morillon, Sixt, Samoens OR the Grand Massif pass (265km of runs) which covers and Flaine.

Massif (140km) - winter 2007 prices
€ Adult (16-59 yr) Senior (+60 yr) Junior (12-15 yr) Kid (5-11 yr)
2 day 53 41 41 37
3 day 79 61.5 61.5 55.5
4 day 106 82 82 74
5 day 132.5 101.5 101.5 93
6 day 144 111 111 100
7 day 167.5 129.5 129.5 116.5
8 day 191 148 148 133
9 day 214.5 166.5 166.5 149.5
 
 
Ski School  
Please see the following for contacts and web details. All ski schools are based in Les Carroz town centre and have English speaking instructors
  
  • Bureau des Guides, Maison de la Montagne - +33 (0)4 50 90 06 55
  • Ecole de Ski Nouvelle Dimension - +33 (0)4 50 90 36 03 - www.nouvelledimension.com
  • Ecole du Ski Francais - +33 (0)4 50 90 02 38 - www.ski-ecole.com/lescarroz
  • Patrick Klufts - +33 (0)4 50 90 33 76
 
 
Ski Guiding
Private ski guiding is always available in resorts, however, it rarely comes cheap. It is a great way to get around on the first couple of days, using local knowledge for the best snow conditions during your visit.
  
 
For Children  
Les Carroz has a large choice of activities and courses for children aged 0 to 15 years. Baby sitting services and nannies can be booked via the tourist office.
  
 

Club des Loupiots

  
Looks after children from 4 to 12 years old all day and provides lots of activities both inside and outside. +33 (0)4 50 90 24 58
  
La Souris Verte
Welcomes children from 3 months to 5 years of age and can be reserved by the hour, half day, full day, or for the whole week and meals can be provided. +33 (0)4 50 90 08 80
Ski Garden (Jardin des Neiges/ESF)
Provides morning or afternoon 3 hour lessons and introduction to skiing. Courses start just 350 metres from the ESF chalet. +33 (0)4 50 90 02 38
 
Other Ski Areas

Aiguille du Midi (3842m) - Chamonix
The famous Valley Blanche with its 20km run over the glacier is easiest to reach from Aiguille du Midi. For the more adventurous, there are four challenging off-piste runs to try from the same lift. There are a further two off-piste runs from the mid-station, but check conditions before attempting. It is strongly advised only to attempt the Valley Blanche with an experienced guide. The route finishes on the giant glacier before the Montenvers train takes you back down to Chamonix.
Italy - Courmayeur
You can also go for a day through the Mont Blanc tunnel to the Italian resort of Courmayeur. This can also be organised from your local ski hire shop. The skiing there is varied but not as difficult usually as in the Chamonix valley. Restuarants are far cheaper than in Chamonix.
Porte du Soleil - Les Gets
Varied skiing, but at lower altitude the snow conditions are less consistant.

Other winter sports available
Ski de fond and Snow shoe walking
Ten minutes from Chalet Sigismond by car, there is an extensive cross country skiing area. The well groomed tracks offer a selection of routes, for beginners and experts for both styles, 'Classic' and 'skating'. The entire area is great for snow shoe walking too and there is a fabulous local restuarant situated at start and finish points on the routes for the option of a sunday lunch or a few Vin chaud after a tramp in the snow.
Ski touring
For those who enjoy a more remote experience on the winter mountains, Ski touring routes are in abundance. Log books are available at the chalet, with recommended proven routes. Although not everyone understands why individuals may want to ski up hill when lifts are provided, it makes for a fantastic alternative outdoor experience. It is particularly worth while when you are stood on a mountain top before the lifts have started and the fresh snow is waiting. It is recommended to ensure all the correct mountain survival equipment is carried when touring, ensuring there is experience within the group. Guiding and equipment hire can be booked in Les Carroz.
Ice climbing
For the serious climbers, the Haute Savoie is regarded as one of the finest areas in the alps for Ice and waterfall routes. Guides and advice on which areas are in good condition can be sourced from all Bureau Guide de Montagne.
Dog sledging
Dog sledging makes for another alternative experience throughout the winter season. Whether during the day or as an evening activity, after a couple of vin chuads you will fell like the Schumacher of snow!
Sledging for the kids  
Sledging from the chalet is not excellent due to its location (on the side of a mountain). However, at the base of the ski slopes or at the Ski de fond pistes in Agy, there is excellent opportunity for a sledging tournament for the kids.
  
 
Parapente / flying  
Flights are easily arranged through the Bureau Guide de montagne. Coordinated round Les Carroz, it is a very graceful way to descend the mountain and see the Haute Savoie from an arial perspective, fantastic!