Les Saisies ski resort is located in the French Alps, 30km north east of Albertville, on the Col des Saisies, 1650m. between Flumet and Beafort.
Les Saisies ski resort - Espace Diamand ski area
There are two different areas for skiing in the resort, which are spread over Les Saisies and Espace Diamant.
Les Saisies ski resort has over 77km of well groomed, blue and red runs with fantastic views of Mt Blanc available on the Les Saisies ski pass. Les Saisies' charm also makes it an excellent family-friendly destination, especially for families travelling with young children who are just learning to ski. It has excellent snow conditions and uncrowded pistes that are perfect for families.
This resort also has a very impressive snow sports history as its slopes have hosted the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics in the cross-country discipline.
Espace Diamant ski area, which includes the resorts of Praz-s-Arly, Flumet, Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe, Crest Voland and Hauteluce giving a total of 192 km of inter-connected downhill skiing.
Skiing
Les Saisies is a really good choice for beginners. With its limited vertical the resort knows its core market is first timers and early intermediates so tries extra hard to attract both child and adult beginners, meaning better service and facilities than less specialised resorts.
There are separate beginner zones and two ski schools will help you quickly progress on to a selection of easy green and blue slopes close to the centre of the resort. There are similar facilities for first time cross country skiers and an easy ‘green’ line through the terrain park, plus a big air bag for a safe landing, if you want to be a beginner freestyle skier.
Les Saisies is not well known for its advanced level skiing although there are now a dozen black runs dotted around the Espace Diamante area. In a bid to counter the image and beef up its more challenging terrain, the resort recently opened a new black trail down from the top of Légette.
A little pinch of fun and freestyle: that is the best way to describe the snow parks in Espace Daimant. The largest snow park is located directly at the Tour du Pin lift in Crest Voland. There, the "Waouland Cohennoz" offers skiers and snowboarders several boxes, rails and various kickers. In Les Saisies, at the Fôret lift, there is another area with kickers and rails, as well as one of several boarder and skicross tracks that can always be found in the ski area Espace Diamant.
For the more adventurous, off-piste skiing will allow you to discover remote areas and spectacular landscapes of the resort and the Espace Diamant in general. The Bisanne and Hauteluce sectors in particular offer some pretty nice spots for this. From the Chard du Beurre (easily accessible from Les Saisies), there are also a number of different itineraries to choose from. A climb to the summit will reward you with a 360° panoramic view.
Winter sports enthusiasts who still cannot get enough of the piste experience after dark are in good hands in Les Saisies. The one-kilometre-long piste at the Les Périots lift, for example, is the only one in Espace Diamant equipped with a floodlight system for night skiing.
Les Saisies village
The village is relatively new, but is an attractive place with traditional wooden alpine chalets and no concrete! The usual facilities can be found; including shops, street market, ski hire, ski school, bars, restaurants and tourist information office, though this is not a resort for those seeking extensive après ski activities.
Les Saisies has a more laid-back vibe than most ski-resorts, though there are plenty of activities available to enjoy once visitors have finished on the slopes.
The primary place to go is the "La Dava" restaurant, which is particularly popular with local ski instructors thanks to its location right next to the chair lift Challiers and offers a wide selection of drinks and food. Live music and DJ performances are also a regular feature at the café "L'Olymp" in the centre of town. Other restaurants serve classics such as cheese fondue and raclette as well as specialities from the Savoy Alps.
Besides culinary delights, Les Saisies also offers plenty of action off the slopes in the open air. For example, the popular 750-metre-long summer toboggan run "Mountain Twister" takes you downhill in a double-seater toboggan at up to 40 kilometres per hour also in winter. Positive adrenaline rushes are also guaranteed for guests on the "Escaladventure". Above the gorge of Nant Rouge (between Les Saisies and Crest Voland), the adventure course offers suspension bridges, rope slides and high ropes course elements.
Les Saisies ski resort