Grand Massif
Welcome to
Samoëns
An attractive alpine village with a resort centre that is traffic free. Samoëns has a good range of restaurants and shops to choose from too.
It’s a great resort from which to explore the huge Grand Massif ski area (the fifth largest ski area in France) with its 265 kms of linked slopes and many of the local slopes are tree-lined making the area still really skiable even in bad weather. The Grand Massif ski area is suitable for skiers of all levels and ranges from 1100 to 2500 metres altitude with an efficient network of ski lifts.
Access to the ski area is via the Grand Massif Express gondola lift which takes skiers swiftly from the resort centre to the pistes at almost 1600m.
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TRAVEL
Flying - There are a few options when it comes to your destination airport; but Geneva is the recommended option because of greater flexibility for transfers and car hire to take you onto Samoëns. The transfer is 64 kms and takes around 1 hour 30 minutes.
Train - The Eurostar glides through France directly from London St Pancras to Bourg-Saint-Maurice in a little over seven-and-a-half hours and, from there, it’s 139km on to Samoëns with transfer options available.
Driving - Drivers will find the roads through France faster and emptier than those in the UK and this is largely down to them being toll roads…so there is a price to pay! London to Samoëns takes around 11 hours without stops and this includes the tunnel crossing.
SUPERMARKETS AND RESTAURANTS
On the edge of Samoens is a large Carrefour supermarket and within the village there are two smaller options - a Casino and Sherpa. The resort also sports the usual boulangeries and charcuteries that one would expect in a traditional and charming village such as this.
Did you know that beautifully creamy Reblochon cheese, the key ingredient of the famous Tartiflette, is made right here in Samoens? Be sure to make sure you get your fix in one of the many mountain restaurants during your holiday!
We still haven't had the pleasure ourselves, but we hear nothing but good things about 8M des Monts in the heart of the village, with customers returning year in-year out. Make sure you book ahead or you may be disappointed.
THINGS TO DO IN RESORT
There are the usual ski resort options of snowshoeing, husky-dog sledding, Nordic walking, ice-skating and even sledges drawn by ponies, but fairly unique and special to Samoëns is the weekly market held in town, one of the of the largest markets in the Haute Savoie even, showcasing local produce including deli products, cheeses and bread.
For those looking for something inside, you may be a non-skiier or the weather might not take your fancy, there is an aqua-centre with indoor pool and wellness area available, as well as options for bowling and a cinema.