Nestled in the foothills of Mont Blanc at an altitude of 1164 meters in the Mont-Blanc area, les Contamines-Montjoie has all the charm and personality of a mountain village resort. Enjoy 120 km of slopes, between Savoie and Haute-Savoie, magnificent scenery, well integrated architecture and modern equipment.
Les Contamines ski resort
The Les Contamines ski area spreads across two different regions - Savoie and Haute-Savoie. Les Contamines ski resort is part of the Evasion Mont Blanc region which totals 445km of terrain over five other resorts - Saint Nicolas de Veroce, Saint Gervais, Megeve, Combloux and La Giettaz. Village isn’t lift linked to this wider ski area, but you can easily reach it by bus.
Mountain access is via a choice of gondolas, the closest to the village and most of the visitor accommodation being the Montjoie lift. Further up the valley, close to the Baroque church of Notre-Dame de la Gorge, is the second gondola, along with a lift-pass office and a large, free car-parking area. The lifts converge on Etape 1470, where you can enjoy a meal in a mountain restaurant, take a chairlift serving a selection of gentle blue runs, or hop on the Signal gondola for a haul up to 1900m, and a lot more possibilities.
Beginners can pick up the basics on bunny slopes on either side of the village, set apart from the rest of the ski area. There’s a short green up at Signal, and a lovely long one on the Hauteluce side but you’ll probably want to take the lifts back down to Les Contamines
The Gentianes red piste drops into lifts serving red, blue and black runs (plus some accessible off-piste) below the Aiguille de Roselette (2384m). Alternatively, you can take a blue cruiser to reach one of the gentler runs into the Hauteluce sector, continuing all the way down among sensational scenery to Belleville with three bar/restaurants along the way. A return gondola and chairlift ride will drop you at the Col du Joly, gateway to some of the steeper terrain below the Aiguille Croche (with panoramic views from 2487m) and Veleray. Intermediates will enjoy the red and blue descents from the Aiguille Croche leaving Veleray’s draglift-served long black-only runs for more hard-core skiers. All in all, the mountain is varied and entertaining, and at the end of the day, it’s possible to ski (on a red-graded piste) back to either starting point.
Nine black runs make up the expert terrain in the local ski area - nearly all above the tree line and incredibly scenic (the Tierces and Valeray lift serves a handful of them). The Grevettaz is a local legend, in parts so steep the groomers can’t get to it, in others gentle enough to come to a stop and enjoy the view. Don’t miss the Toboggan and Olympique pistes from the Roselette lifts for an additional adrenaline fix.
Les Contamines village
Les Contamines village has an appealingly authentic feel, and still has a reassuringly down-to-earth skyline. This vibrant village has 2 beautiful baroque churches which are open to visitors.
Chalet style still rules, with larger apartment developments only really in evidence (conveniently) closer to the Montjoie gondola. There’s also limited on-mountain hotel accommodation at Etape 1470. Shuttle-buses around the valley are free.
Les Contamines ski resort