Aravis – a little valley with a lot to offer Aravis (935-2477 m)

Its location, nestled between the mountain ranges of Point Blanche to the north and the Aravis Massif to the south, ensures perfect snow conditions in Aravis throughout the entire season. The small valley is surrounded by lofty peaks, where clouds gather and serve to provide the ski runs of Aravis with more than enough snow. Nevertheless, particularly in the northernmost and southernmost parts of the ski area, there is plenty of sunshine to be enjoyed by all. Aside from plenty of sunshine and snow, skiers in Aravis can expect stunning views over snowy woodlands, rustic chalets and quaint mountain restaurants. Against such a backdrop, setting off on any of the 138 ski runs is made all the more exciting, and it’s hard not to get that real holiday feeling.

A total of 210 kilometres of ski runs, centred around the main 2100m peak of Mont Lachat, promise to leave nobody disappointed, seasoned skiers and complete novices alike. First-timers, making their first few slips and slides on the snow, can look forward to the use of 11 extensive practice areas. One of these areas is situated on a broad plateau beneath the Roc des Arcs, just one cable car ride away from Le Grand Bornand village, and provides plenty of space for you to find your feet. The other beginners’ zones can all be found within the “Grand-Bornand-Chinaillon” area.

A haven for newbies

Once they’ve got the hang of the basics, those who are looking to make their first foray onto the slopes have plenty of choice, as 81 of the 138 ski runs are rated as “easy”. The blue-graded run “Piste Le Col” takes skiers down a gentle south-facing slope from Tête des Annes (1869 m), and is the perfect place for a skiing debut. Another ski run suited to beginners is the “L’Abondance-Piste”, which, stretching from the top of the La Floria ski lift all the way down to the bottom of the Le Grand-Bornand-Chinaillon lift, is one of the longest runs in the Savoy Alps.

For those with a little more experience there are a total of 16 red-graded runs, including the longest in the ski area, the 4-kilometre “L’Envers-Piste”. An absolute must for advanced skiers is “La Noire de Lachet”, a mogul run starting right at the summit.

In addition to everything you would expect in a ski area, such as a comprehensive network of 29 conveniently situated lifts, the skiing network of Le Grand-Bornand also has some surprises in store for its visitors. Skiers can make use of three competition runs, a slalom course, and a picturesque “Freeride” area on Mont Lachat.

Every Tuesday visitors to Le Grand-Bornand-Chinaillon get the chance to pull some turns under the stars, as the ski runs “L’Abondance” and “Les Cyclamens” (either side of the Gettier lift) are open and floodlit.

The main attraction for snowboarders at Le Grand-Bornard is the “Le Park du Grand-Bo” snow park (1800m), which ranks among the 10 best snow parks in the French Alps. Within a total area of 5 hectares, the snow park has a halfpipe, a 700m “boardercross” run, 4 jumps, a practice area and a “railzone”.

The cross-country skiing facilities at Le Grand-Bornand ensure that skiers with even the most exacting standards will be satisfied. In the Bouchet Valley, as well as further up in the mountains at Chinaillon, visitors will find a total of 43 meticulously prepared trails winding their way through the breathtaking high-alpine landscape. On some of these trails skiers are following in the tracks of the famous French biathlon world champion Sylvie Becaert, who made use of them in training. 9 of the trails start off in Le Grand-Bornand village itself. Each of these are between 1.5 and 14.5 kilometres long, and there are also some skating sections. Additionally, there is a Biothlon area and a practice area located in the centre of the resort. 4 further trails, each with a length of between 2 and 12 kilometres, are to be found in the area around Le Grand-Bornand-Chinaillon.