🗻 Combloux is another of MBFF’s favourite play areas, for ⛷ skiing, ❄️ snowshoeing, 🛷 sledging, ☕️ eating (!) and simply playing!
Both of the MBFF boys have had ⛷ ski lessons here, and my youngest claims that it is his favourite ski station! And my elder son has just started having 🏂 snowboarding lessons here too! ⛷ Combloux ski station links up with ⛷ Le Jaillet (Megève) and ⛷ La Giettaz to form ⛷ Les Portes du Mont-Blanc so there are normally lots of ski pistes, and this year, numerous ski rando pistes!
In addition, while the boys have their ski or snowboarding lessons, there are plenty of activities to keep us parents active (or not so active!), with ❄️ showshoe and ski rando routes, sunny terraces for ☕️ a hot chocolate . . .
With the recent announcement that ski stations will most probably be having a saison blanche (ie not opening at all this season), I continue to highlight the other activities on offer in our 🗻 Pays du Mont-Blanc ski sations, with this new article about 🗻 Combloux . . .
For starters, here is 🗺 the NEW MAP of ⛷ Les Portes du Mont-Blanc, with many of the activities highlighted (to view it more clearly, see online leaflet here):
ESF ski alpin & snowboarding lessons 2021
Though collective ESF ski lessons are not happening this season (except for🐥 Piou-Piou and 🐻 Oursons; these guys can still have their lessons at the Jardin de Neige), you can still book private beginner lessons.
In addition, ski clubs are still running (with the proper licence), though they are skiing elsewhere on the whole.
If your older kids are experienced skiers, but not part of a ski club (this is the case for my older son), you might want to consider 🏂 a private snowboarding lesson? If you get a group of three of four together, then the price is really reasonable.
Ski Jump (Cuchet)
The ESF instructors have built a ski jump, and they are on-hand every Tuesday afternoon (15h30 until 16h30) to teach you how to jump! You’ll need to be at 3ème étoile level of skiing / FREE activity! / see them in action here;
Ski rando (ski touring) routes
There is an extensive ski rando network spread across ⛷ Les Portes du Mont-Blanc (Combloux, Megève Jaillet and La Giattaz)
From Combloux, you can access the ski rando pistes either from any of 🅿️ the car parks (Les Brons, Le Cry or Cuchet, or from the bottom of the Bouchet drag-lift). You’ll find more than 10km of uphill routes and 2 downhill pistes (groomed) available. These are open from 9h on Wednesdays and weekends, with security measures put in place by the pisteurs secouristes. (note: do please check when preventative avalanches are being set off for security measures; FB page).
[ ⇒ a more detailed 🗺 map / or pick up leaflet from tourist office ]
Ski de Fond (cross country skiing)
There are x2 FREE cross country skiing loops at 🗻 Combloux (one green, one blue), set across 5,5km / access from 🅿️ Cuchet or Parking du Maisonneuve;
Raquettes (showshoe) routes & hiking options
There is a great network of ❄️ circuits raquettes in Combloux!
You’ll find these snowshoe routes, and many more 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, in this booklet available for FREE from any tourist office!
[ note: remember, if you head OFF the sign-posted snowshoe routes, you may find yourself in dangerous avalanche risk territory, for which you should have the proper safety equipment and knowledge (and not be alone!) ]
In addition, for families you’ll find « La randonnée des p’tits loups », x2 circuits de raquettes ludiques (one shorter, one longer), allowing you to discover 🐾 winter animals in the mountains. You can pick up a carnet from the tourist office, which gives you extra games. The circuits leave from 🌲 Le Cry, and follow the piste ski rando; see here);
Sledging
There are 🛷 two designated sledging zones within the 🗻 Domaine Skiable de Combloux, one at 🅿️ Cuchet (highest car park) and the other at 🅿️ Le Cry (a smaller area, for wee ones, next to the Garderie Loupiots).
🛷 NEW for February 2021 – a new sledging piste has been constructed between Cuchet and Le Cry (you can take navette between the two, or walk). It is AMAZING, you really pick up speed! For 5+ years (5 to 8 year olds must be with an adult), and a casque and gloves are required! FREE!
Fat Biking & Fat Trottinettes
🚵♂️ Fat biking is one of the new sensations of the winter season: you get to bike on 🗻 SNOW, thanks to a tyre with a traction suitable for the terrain, and with electric help!
In 🗻 Combloux, you can take a guided fat bike tour with Alpes Aventures, and these guys also offer descentre trott sur neige (snow scooters) from Combloux (from the sommet of the Télésiège de Beauregard – 1500m – a one hour descent of 600m, between ski pistes and forest, to the centre of Combloux / suitable for children 1m35) or La Giettaz (see here) / see website and FB page for more details;
Motoneige électrique / Snowmobiles (Le Cry)
NEW for this winter season at Le Cry (just next to the restaurant Chez Albert) is ❄️ Snowmobile E-Park – an electric motoneige for children (5+ years) / more information / price: 20€ for 15mins initiation or 16€ for x10 rounds;
My nearly 7 year old has had a go at this (his special treat, as big brother is having snowboarding lessons!), and LOVED it!
La Tanière de Tilou softplay and Mont-Blanc Kids
Little ones can play at the 225m² outdoor soft-play area 🐺 La Tanière de Tilou (🐺 Tilou the wolf is the mascot of Combloux) – FREE to play! (note: ski boots NOT permitted, so thing to take normal winter boots!).
For the February holidays, Mont-Blanc Kids have also set up a bouncy castle – 5€ for 10 descents!
Calèche dinatoire – Le Cheval de Feug
You can go for 🐴 a snug horse-drawn ride, a balade dînatoire en calèche avec fondue savoyarde, offered by 🐴 Le Cheval de Feug (Demi-Quartier) / for more information, see here;
A bit further away, at Le Maz in Megève, you can do 🐴 ski joëring (you are on skis, lead by a horse), poney luge (small children) and bâpteme traîneau à luge / see here;
Visite de la ferme: GAEC Ferme Les Montagnards
You can currently organise a private family visit to this eductational farm in Ormaret / see here;
[ ⇒ more information about this farm in separate MBFF article here ]
Treasure hunts / Jeux de piste
Combloux town offers various different activities across the week / see website;
- 📱 visite numérique – ” découvrez Combloux autrement grâce à un nouvel outil de visite numérique. Au cours de votre visite, seul(e) ou en famille, rencontrez des personnages historiques (incarnés par un comédien) qui vous dévoileront l’histoire du village, les clés de compréhension des édifices. Église baroque, palace hôtelier, ferme de village, cabaret bistrot… c’est tout un pan de l’histoire de Combloux condensé en une visite immersive d’environ 2h! L’Office de Tourisme de Combloux propose la location d’un guide multimédia audio et vidéo pour partir à la découverte du patrimoine bâti des 18ème, 19ème et 20ème siècle. L’outil de visite numérique est également disponible via l’application “visite de Combloux” disponible gratuitement sur les stores Android, en français et en anglais. Un livret en vente à l’Office de Tourisme complète l’outil et permet d’emporter avec soi une trace de cette expérience inédite “;
- 📷 défi photos Combloux – ” chaque semaine, découvrez le thème de notre défi photo : un lieu à immortaliser, à votre façon ! RVD à l’Office pour découvrir le thème de la semaine. Les internautes voteront pour la meilleure photo sur le compte Instagram @comblouxtourisme “;
- 🗺 chasse au trésor – ” menez l’enquête ! Munissez-vous de la carte et découvrez le village à la recherche d’énigmes pour aider Jean-Loup, notre Combloran, dans sa mésaventure à travers le temps. Partez à la rencontre de nos commerçants pour une belle aventure ! Dès le dimanche, rendez-vous à l’Office de Tourisme pour débuter la chasse au trésor. Vous aurez jusqu’au jeudi suivant pour résoudre les énigmes et savoir si, oui ou non, vous avez résolu le mystère des Légendes de Combloux. La carte aux indices est disponible, en vente, à l’Office de Tourisme. Elle s’adresse aux enfants, mais les parents sont les bienvenus pour aider nos enquêteurs en herbe à résoudre les différentes énigmes ! Un joli moment à partager en famille “;
address: Office de Tourisme de Combloux, 49 chemin des Passerands, 74920, Combloux / tel: +33 (0)4 50 58 60 49;
Restaurants & Foodtrucks – takeaway options
⛷ Combloux ski station (and town centre) has adapted to the governement regulations, with restaurants on the pistes, at Le Cuchet and Le Cry serving takeway:
Le Cry (ESF offices, departure of Beauregard chairlift, ticket offices):
- ☕️ O’PB & ☕️ La Taverne near the ESF building, ski hire shops;
- ☕️ Chez Albert – conveniently located right by the bottom of the Beauregard chairlift / fast service, very friendly;
Cuchet (top car park):
- ☕️ Au Petit Cuchet – we’ve had some super and friendly meals here;
- ☕️ Le Chalet d’Emilie – with a new fondue hut;
on the pistes:
- ☕️ Le Chalet des Bachais – currently open for takeway, this is conveniently located for ski randonneurs, just down from the Pertuis chairlift;
- ☕️ NEW for this season – Foodtruck Le Bivouac / located at the top of the télésiège de Perthuis / Instagram;
- ☕️ Le Cœur d’Or – SHUT for now (perhaps re-opening in February / this is one of MBFF’s favourite spots to eat! Located near the top of the Beauregard chairlift (a short ski down), this is a short snow-shoe or ski rando from Le Cuchet car park;
If you head over to La Giettaz, you’ll find the Foodtruck 1930 at Tête du Torraz / see here;
There are some 🍏 great picnic tables (if not under snow, which is likely this season!), ready for sunshine, throughout the ski station . . . for example, on the La Croix blue piste, heading down from the Télésiège Pertuis (at blue markers 17, 15 and 10)!
Sometimes you need to dig out your picnic table . . . (this one on the Bel Ava piste!)
[ note: the 🍏 Salle Hors Sacs (indoor picnic room) are obviously SHUT this season! ]
Mont-Blanc massif & mountain views
Combloux has, without a doubt, some of the most impressive views of the 🗻 Mont-Blanc massif in the whole of the 🗻 Pays du Mont-Blanc!
Practical Information
new leaflet: see calameo online here;
webcams: to check out the weather and snow cover, see here;
🅿️ parking: the car parks at Le Cry and Cuchet are charging 5€ over the February holidays – this is a very fair price (despite the consternation of many!), as Combloux has set up the front de neige with lots of FREE activities: luge, maintained ski rando and raquette pistes, softplay . . .
