Les Carroz-d'Arâches

Les Carroz is a village in Haute Savoie with excellent accessibility (located just ten minutes from the nearest motorway exit and around 45 minutes from Geneva airport), offering experienced and novice skiers alike the opportunity to enjoy one of the most beautiful ski areas in the Alps: the Grand Massif. Situated right next to Mont Blanc, the resort boasts 265 km of runs, 80 mechanical lifts and some of the best snow cover in Europe.

A resort for both winter and summer seasons, Les Carroz d’Arâches belongs to the commune of Arâches-la-Frasse. This also includes several other villages, as well as the Flaine resort, which was built in 1968. 

History

Les Carroz is an intriguing name and there is much debate about its etymology. Some people think it means a "crossroads", whilst for others Les Carroz signifies a primitive scree (from the Celtic word "kaer"), stone or rock (from the Mediterranean pre-Indo-European word "kal/kar"). People living in the commune are often given unusual names such as “Catelus” for those living in Arâches, and “Angorins” for those in La Frasse. The Les Carroz resort was built in 1936, but it was the administrative capital of Arâches where village life soon took hold.

Skiing at Les Carroz: history

In 1936, work began building the first ski tow in Les Carroz, where the current cable car now sits. The “Quédeuse”, or “Kédeuse” ski tow was completed two years later. It remains France’s longest ski tow ever built and the second longest in Europe, traveling 1,600 meters in just 12 minutes, and can carry 200 people per hour. Nowadays the resort continues to invest in new facilities designed to improve visitors’ overall experience, focusing on comfort, availability and optimized skier flow. 

Ski resort facts 

The resort of Les Carroz, right in the heart of the Grand Massif ski area mixes every aspect of a great ski vacation into one easily accessible and affordable package. Winter or summer, the peaceful Les Carroz captures hearts and souls. With the towns' authentic ski resort atmosphere, surrounded by an extremely well preserved natural environment it should be on the top of the list of places to visit for the perfect family ski vacation.  With 265 kilometers of marked ski runs, the Grand Massif ski area is made up from the resorts of Flaine, Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoëns and Sixt Fer à Cheval. 

The ski area offers a huge choice of skiing to all ski fanatics. Green, blue, red and black; it's where novice and experienced skiers can mix freely without anyone feeling out of place. The huge range of ski slopes on offer allows all abilities to enjoy a great ski holiday, tailored successfully to their needs. Les Carroz welcomes all, in particular families looking to share time together.  

For cross country ski lovers, the ski resort of Les Carroz offers free shuttle buses taking you up to the simply stunning Agy Nordic Ski area. The panoramic views over the surrounding mountains are exceptional and a must for all budding intermediate cross country ski enthusiasts. 

The villages' easy accessibility is one of Les Carrozs great conveniences. There are loads of places to eat, drink and socialize. Alternatively relax in one of the town's health centres. Culture: Concerts, festivals and street shows. In the evening discover the friendly atmosphere in Les Carroz.

Ski area in figures

  •    ▪ Top station - 2200 m, middle station - 1750 m, Base station - 1140 m, Village - 1140 m, Verticap drop 1060 m
  •    ▪ Slopes: 3 green (2 km), 14 blue (20 km), 9 red (12 km), 2 black (3 km). Total slopes - 28 (37 km). 
  •    ▪ Lifts: 1 cabin-lift, 7 chair-lifts, 7 tow-lifts.
  •  

Winter activities

Skiing, off-piste skiing, ski trekking, cross-country skiing, touring ski. Snowboarding. Snowshoeing. Snow activities: dog sledging, taxi horse-drawn carriage drives, pony ski joëring, tobogganing, ice skating, ice climbing, ice quad. Les Carroz sports centre. Restaurants on the pistes. Relaxation and wellness: spas and mountain beauty treatments, children's spa. Parapenting, hot air balloon flights, paragliding. Night-time activities: night ice skating, snowshoeing and dinner in a teepee, evenings in refugies, husky dogs sledging and dinner in a restaurant, snowmobiles at night, bowling.

Summer activities

Hiking, biking, Sports Centre, ballooning and parapenting, canyoning, rafting, golf, horse-riding, fishing, indoor activities, relaxing, culture activities.