If you haven’t already done so, time to dust off your skis and go and enjoy one of our family’s favourite ski areas: ⛷Les Contamines-Montjoie / Hauteluce – some broad, sunny pistes, ❄️ excellent snow conditions (even later in the season!), 🗻 panoramic views of the Mont-Blanc Massif and Beaufortin, ☕️ lovely restaurants on the slopes . . . just great! ⛄️ Snow machines also ensure good snow at the start and end of the season.
The ski station straddles over both sides of the 🗻 Col du Mont Joly, linking Haute Savoie and Savoie, from Les Contamines to Hauteluce-Belleville. Access from Les Contamines-Montjoie is via two departure cable-cars (from 🚡 Notre Dame de la Gorge or 🚡 Montjoie) or from 🚠 Hauteluce-Belleville (one cable-car).
⛷ Ski Pass Options ⛷
On its own, ⛷ Les Contamines-Montjoie / Hauteluce boasts 120km of pistes from 1200m-2500m altitude, 46 slopes (a varied selection of green, blue, red and black), the 🌈 Ludo-Parc for family fun (between the blue piste Les Coins and the red piste Les Tierces) and 🚩 1 slalom.
⛷ Les Contamines-Montjoie is also part of the extensive ⛷ Evasion Mont Blanc skiing area (445km of pistes in six ski stations au Pays du Mont-Blanc: Saint Gervais, Megève, Saint Nicolas de Véroce, Combloux and la Giettaz), though not connected directly to the other stations.
⛷ Beginner & Family Skiing ⛷
With its mix of ⛷ green, blue, red and black pistes, Les Contamines has something for the whole family!
For ⛄️ very young beginner skiers there are two green slopes in the centre of the resort equipped with drag lifts: ⛷Nivorin and ⛷ Loyers.
⛷ good to know: especially appealing last year for our 4-year old skier was the gentle 🗺 Col-ruelle green piste that meanders at a very leisurely pace downs on the Hauteluce side of the ski station (I rather enjoyed this myself!
⛷ good to know: 🗺 the ski piste map highlights a great route for beginners on green and blue pistes (staying up high), leaving from 🚡 Le Signal!
⛷ Intermediate & Advanced Skiing ⛷
⛷ Les Contamines-Montjoie has plenty of excellent ⛷ skiing for more advanced skiers! See 🗺 the piste map (lescontamines.com) below:
🌈 Ludo-Parc & Ecureuils Park 🌈
🐿 NEW for 2020 ! 🐿 – there are two new features for children, 🐿 two Ecureuils Parks: –
- 🐿 one is a playground and relax area at l’Etape;
- 🐿 and the other is a parcours ludique on the Ecureuils green piste:
We’ve had some great fun at the 🌈 Ludo–Parc these last couple of seasons . . . it gets better every year, and this year there are some relaxing net hammocks at the start of it!
🛷 Sledging🛷
Les Contamines-Montjoie has two designated sledging areas:
- 🛷 Piste de Luge Nivorin (next to téléski);
- 🛷 Piste du Chalet Nordique (no sledging zones in main areas up at Le Signal / Etapes);
☕️ Eating Options ☕️
One of the many reasons we love skiing in Les Contamines-Montjoie is the excellent selection of ☕️ restaurants and snack bars on the pistes.
[ ⇒ see lescontamines.com for more details ]
We particularly enjoyed our lunch recently at La Roselette: (located on the red Tièrge piste):
You will also find 🍏 a Salle Hors Sac at Le Signal and picnic areas . . .
⛷ ESF Les Contamines / Ski Lessons ⛷
For ⛷ ESF (Ecole de Ski Français) Les Contamines details and Piou Piou ski classes for small children, see here.
❄️ Cross-Country Skiing (Ski Nordique) ❄️
The ❄️ domaine nordique is located near the beautiful Notre-Dame de la Gorge, and has 25km of cross country ski trails. You can choose from:
- ❄️ 1 FREE piste découverte (piste violette, 0.5 km) – a Beginner area, next to the Chalet d’Accueil;
- ❄️ 2 pistes familiales et débutants (piste verte “les Lacs”, 3.3 km, and piste verte “la Gorge”, 1.9 km);
- ❄️ 3 pistes classiques and skating (piste bleue “les Chapelles”, 4.6 km; piste rouge “le Belvédère”, 8,2 km; and piste noire des Dômes, 8,3 km);
- ❄️ 1 nocturnal piste – cross country skiing at night on a 2km piste, lit every Wednesday night from 19h to 21h, and FREE!
[ 🗺 see here for cross country skiing map ]
The ❄️ Chalet Nordique is open from 9h to 16h30;
[ good to know: the Domaine Nordique is a lovely place to head en famille, as you’ll find plenty of activities: ❄️ winter wonderland walk in the woods, along the Bon Nant river up to Notre Dame de la Gorge, ⛪️ the pretty church of Notre Dame de la Gorge and the ⛪️ Sainte-Chapelle chapel, 🐺 husky dog-sledding, 🐴 sometimes ski-joering, 🛷sledging . . . ]
❄️ Snow Shoeing Trails ❄️
A couple of the ❄️ snow shoeing trails leave from the bottom of the 🚡 Télécabine Montjoie and 🚡 Télécabine de la Gorge, which is practical for members of the group preferring to do this activity.
[ ⇒ see here for Les Contamines’ 🗺 snow shoeing trail map ]
While you are in Les Contamines-Montjoie . . .
As well as the Domaine Nordique, the beautiful ⛪️ baroque church at Notre Dame de la Gorge and the ⛪️ Sainte Chapelle, while you are in Les Contamines-Montjoie, you could . . .
- ⛸ go ice-skating at Les Loyers;
- 🍲 eat at the renowned L’Ô à la Bouche restaurant in the centre of town;
- ⛪️ visit the baroque church in town and the lovely 🖼 Samivel gardens behind it . . .
Practical Information
🚙 parking: ou can park for FREE either at the 🚡 Télécabine de la Gorge or 🚡 Télécabine de Montjoie;
contact: ⇒ see here for Les Contamines Tourist Office’s website – here you will find more details about ski alpin and cross country skiing / current prices / and you can buy or recharge ski passes;
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