Flaine

Flaine Ski Resort

Flaine is a firm Ski Club favourite and there’s plenty of reasons why. The snow quality is consistently excellent, the ski-in-ski-out resort is as convenient as it gets and then there’s the 265km of varied slopes in the Grand Massif ski area.

The north-facing bowl above Flaine has a reputation for maintaining great snow conditions, whether this is on the gentle blues above the resort or on the plentiful off piste that gives this resort so much variety. Add in the network of mostly tree-lined slopes dropping down towards Samoëns, Les Carroz and Morillon and the 265km of linked pistes will keep all but the most expert of skiers happy.

The purpose-built resort was designed with a striking Bauhaus style in mind and although it may appear quite stark, it is incredibly convenient and most of the accommodation is ski-in-ski-out. The car free streets are very family-friendly and when you add in a quick, hour-long transfer from Geneva, this is one of the most accessible resorts in France.

It is therefore no surprise that Flaine has long been a key part of Ski Club Freshtracks and once again this winter we’re offering 17 weeks of holidays at the two Chalet Freshtracks – ranging from Advanced Powder Skills holidays to Learn to Ski Powder trips.

In addition, our popular Instructor-led Guiding Service, led by the fantastic Phillipe Clerc returns to the resort again this season – sessions can be booked between 22nd December and 13th April this season.

Why not also join our Ski Club Flaine Facebook Group, the hub for members heading out to the resort this season.

What's New for 2021/22?

There are four new hotels being built currently with completion ranging from 2021-2023 for each project; Aujon hotel (2021), Pierre et Vacances hotel (2022), Belambra holiday village (2022), and MGM Constructeur (2023).  An initiative to provide more beds for the resort. 

There are new Covid-19 guidelines available here. 

Our Flaine Resort Ratings

• Beginner ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Intermediate ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Advanced ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Snow Reliability ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Fast Lifts ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Resort Activities ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Après ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Value ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Accommodation

All of our Flaine Off Piste courses are accompanied by the full board Chalet experience. We have 2 chalets which are side by side located in the Hameau area of Flaine, each boasting mountain  views and cosy traditional chalet interiors. Sone of our courses this season will be offered on a single occupancy basis and the others can be single occupancy with a supplement. You will be looked after for the duration of your trip by our dedicated in resort team who will provide you with everything you need for your stay to ensure your comfort after a hard day of skiing. The chalet team will have 2 nights off, on one night the group will eat out at a restaurant (payable locally) and on the other night, the hosts will have a meal ready prepared for Ski Club rep to help serve. All of our Flaine chalet holidays are inclusive of:

• Canapes & drinks every evening pre dinner, with Cremant served on the first and last nights
• 3 course evening meal with wine served on 5 nights, plus 1 night of a prepared meal with your Rep
• Afternoon tea left out for you daily
• Breakfast each morning
• Use of the Sauna
• Return transfers to resort from Geneva
• In resort team to help you throughout your stay
• Dedicated rep for the duration of your trip

Flaine Skiing and Snowboarding

The ski area is perfect for families, with most of the local slopes ending up right back in the heart of town – it’s pretty hard to get lost. There’s some great on piste cruising, especially when you include the rest of the Grand Massif and take advantage of the long, tree-lined runs down towards Samoëns. With such a good snow record, Flaine is also a great resort for off piste and this is the reason why we keep returning to this great area year on year.

• Total Pistes: 145km (265 km in Grand Massif)
• Green: 14%
• Blue: 44%
• Red: 34%
• Black: 9%
• Lifts: 24 (63 in Grand Massif)
• Altitude: 697m (lowest slopes in Flaine 1600m) – 2480m

For Beginners

This is a great resort for beginners, and there are some fantastic learning areas right in town, just steps away from most of the accommodation. Several of the lifts are free and there is also an excellent beginner points card. For a longer green, it is worth moving across to the Arolle piste below the Le Lac chairlift – you do need to drive there or catch the bus however. Progression on to gentle blues and longer runs is then possible across the ski area.

For Intermediates

Flaine is ideal for confident intermediates, with a great variety of long, well-groomed blues and reds in the snowsure bowl above Flaine. Many of these drop the full 800m of vertical back to the resort and are a blast first thing in the morning when freshly pisted. More adventurous intermediates will want to explore the blues and reds above Samoëns and Morillon – we’d recommend the long runs served by the Coulouvrier chairlift.

For Advanced/Expert & Off Piste

Some fantastic lift-served off piste and some seriously challenging terrain is within easy reach of the resort. Most of the blacks are genuinely steep and the two marked freeride zones – off the Lindars Nord chair and Veret draglift – are always popular. The Combe de Gers is another excellent area, although it is served by a fairly tricky draglift. Make sure you utilise the Ski Club’s ILG Service to experience the very best that the resort has to offer.

Flaine Piste Map

The Grand Massif piste map can be downloaded here.

Flaine Ski Pass Prices

It is only possible to purchase one or two day passes for Flaine. Should you wish to ski for longer than this, you will have to purchase a pass for the entire Grand Massif. A Grant Massif season pass costs €525 if bought before 30th November, after which point it will cost €1050. Note that these prices may change, so check with the resort for the latest or give the Ski Club’s expert info & advice team a call on 020 8410 2009.

Flaine Season Dates

• Opening Date: 11th December 2021
• Closing Date 18th April 2022

For full details see the resort's website and note that these dates are subject to change. The Ski Club’s expert info & advice team are also on hand to help – call 020 8410 2009.

Flaine Resort

There are two main sectors. The lower zone is Hameau de Flaine, a collection of smaller chalets that are home to the Ski Club’s two Freshtracks Chalets, and the upper village with its larger apartment blocks and hotels. As you’d expect with a purpose-built resort, it has all the amenities you need, although it is relatively quiet – don’t come here expecting raucous après.

For Families

The ski-in-ski-out convenience of the traffic-free resort makes Flaine a fantastic base for families, especially as all the nursery slopes are located right on the edge of the compact sector. There are lots of English-speaking facilities and there’s a very good chance the ski school group will be English. That being said, away from the slopes there isn’t a huge amount to entertain kids.

For Après

Nightlife in Flaine is very chilled, however there are a couple of options for those wanting to sample a local bar. The Dutch-run Flying Dutchman in Forêt and the White Pub, which has a big-screen TV, rock music and a happy hour. The Perdrix Noire also has a pub feel, whilst the bar at the bowling alley is popular with families.

How to get to Flaine

Around a 1.5 hour drive away from Geneva airport, Flaine is one of the most accessible resorts in the Alps. This makes it an ideal weekend destination. Booking a transfer or hiring a car is the easiest but there are also buses departing Geneva each day. Chambéry and Lyon airports are other alternatives.

Flaine is also one of the closest resorts to the UK for driving and on a good run, you could be in resort less than 10 hours after departing Calais.

• Geneva airport: 1.5 hour (driving/transfer)
• Chambéry airport: 2 hours (driving)
• Lyon airport: 2.5 hours (driving)
• Calais: approximately 10 hours driving (548 miles)

Flaine Contact Details

• Website: www.flaine.com
• Email: Contact via online form
• Telephone: +33 04 50 90 80 01
• Facebook: @officedetourismeflaine
• Instagram: @flaine_resort_official
• Twitter: @FLAINESki