While many French ski resorts boast spectacular scenery and a distinctly alpine character, only one can be included in a list of the country’s most beautiful towns. Samoens, set in the picturesque Giffre valley, is part of the Grande Massif ski area, set high in the Haut Savoie mountains. As well as a winter sports paradise the town’s rich history and picturesque setting, overlooking the neighbouring valley with Mont Blanc at its head, make it a year round destination with mountain sports enthusiasts and wildlife spotters.
With great links to the Grand Massif’s extensive network of pistes, Samoens accommodation in the French Alps puts you in the middle of more than 250km of great skiing and snowboarding, including the new 13km run through Lac de Gers and the nearby villages of Carroz and Flaine. The region also has an extensive choice of cross country tracks across secluded pistes and woodland.
Renting a seIf-catering apartment in Samoens is ideal for anyone wanting a more relaxed pace of life with their skiing. Above the village, which lies at just 700m, is Samoens 1600, otherwise known as Plateau de Saix, closer to the action and popular with serious skiers. the resort is more developed and offers a great range of activities for children, making renting a chalet in Plateau de Saix a popular choice for shorter trips and with family groups.
With many of its slopes facing north, the area around samoens retains a good deal of its snow cover throughout the season, and it offers more challenging off-piste than most other resorts in the Grand Massif. With a good selection of restaurants spread over the mountyain and several bars staying open late, Samoens also has an understated but nonetheless lively apres ski