Sainte Foy Ski Resort

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Sainte Foy ski resort is high above the legendary Tarentaise valley, France.
Sainte Foy ski resort is high above the legendary Tarentaise valley, France.
Low crowds, low cost and powder are Sainte Foy ski resort
Low crowds, low cost and powder are Sainte Foy ski resort's strengths.
Sainte Foy is a snow magnet.
Sainte Foy is a snow magnet.
Uncrowded, wide open piste trails are the norm at Sainte Foy.
Uncrowded, wide open piste trails are the norm at Sainte Foy.
Sainte Foy ski resort also has wide, uncrowded powder bowls.
Sainte Foy ski resort also has wide, uncrowded powder bowls.
The resort village at Sainte Foy is a delight.
The resort village at Sainte Foy is a delight.
No lift lines at Sainte Foy ski resort.
No lift lines at Sainte Foy ski resort.
Ski powder at Sainte Foy.
Ski powder at Sainte Foy.
Sainte Foy ski village.
Sainte Foy ski village.
On mountain dining at Sainte Foy is excellent in modern facilities........
On mountain dining at Sainte Foy is excellent in modern facilities........
....... and in traditonal mountain huts serving haute cuisine.
....... and in traditonal mountain huts serving haute cuisine.
The chairlifts start directly from the centre of Sainte Foy ski resort village.
The chairlifts start directly from the centre of Sainte Foy ski resort village.
Sainte Foy has some tree skiing options on bad weather days.
Sainte Foy has some tree skiing options on bad weather days.
The Aiguille chair provides superb backcountry access at Sainte Foy.
The Aiguille chair provides superb backcountry access at Sainte Foy.
Sainte Foy is a haven amongst the mage ski resorts like Tignes-Val d
Sainte Foy is a haven amongst the mage ski resorts like Tignes-Val d'Isere..
Ski powder at Sainte Foy.
Ski powder at Sainte Foy.
Sainte Foy ski resort has terrain for everyone from beginners to experts.
Sainte Foy ski resort has terrain for everyone from beginners to experts.
Sainte Foy has a wonderful range of dining options in the village.
Sainte Foy has a wonderful range of dining options in the village.
Sainte Foy alpine village is always called Sainte Foy Station.
Sainte Foy alpine village is always called Sainte Foy Station.
Ski Sainte Foy - heaven in the Tarentaise.
Ski Sainte Foy - heaven in the Tarentaise.

Sainte Foy Ski Resort

Readers Ratings

Sainte Foy

Sainte Foy4/54
Sainte Foy4 out of 5 based on 4 reviews
  • Recommend
    100%
  • Would Revisit
    100%
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Nearby Ski Resorts

La Rosiere
Les Arcs
Tignes
Val d'Isere

Sainte Foy Maps & Stats

    Sainte Foy Ski Trail Map
  • Sainte Foy Ski Trail Map
  • Vertical (m)
    1,550m - 2,622m (1,072m)
  • Average Snow Fall
    7m+
  • Lifts (6)
    4 Chairs
  • Opening Dates & Times
    Mid Dec to mid-April
    9:00am to 4:55pm
  • Terrain Summary
    Runs - 41km
    Longest run - 6 km
    Advanced - 22%
    Intermediate - 42%
    Beginner - 36%
  • Lift Pass Price
    Day Ticket 23/24
    Adult (15-64yr) - €36.50 to 38
    Child (8-14yr) - €32 to 34
    Child u/8yr - Free
    Adult >74yr - Free
    Passes are cheapest if bought online
    Saturday Flat Rate often available

Sainte Foy Ski Resort France

Sainte Foy ski resort is a little gem tucked away in the high Tarentaise valley in France. Surrounded by the skiing behemoths of Les Arcs, Tignes & Val d'Isere, Sainte Foy is a French Alps sanctuary for all that is good about the snow.

Known for its powder laden off-piste freeride terrain, uncrowded piste trails, fun tree skiing & access to superb backcountry, Sainte Foy is one of those small secret stash resorts that powder hounds are naturally attracted too. Another blessing is that it has a host of excellent bars & restaurants on the mountain & in the compact village to satisfy all your gastronomic desires.

Pros & Cons for Sainte Foy Ski Resort

Pros

  • Rated equal #1 ski resort in Europe for Powderhounds in 2018 & 2019 (with Pitztal Glacier & Kuhtai) & 2020 (with Santa Caterina & Kuhtai).
  • High quality and reliable snow.
  • Awesome off-piste freeride & backcountry terrain.
  • Uncrowded, even on the busiest days.
  • Simple & efficient lift system.
  • Compact, beautiful village with all services.
  • Excellent piste trails for beginners and intermediates.
  • Superb on-mountain and village restaurants and bars.
  • Excellent value for money - close to the best value ski lift pass in the world!
  • Central to all the major Tarentaise mega ski resorts.
  • Numerous ‘ski-in’ lodging options.

Cons

  • On-piste terrain is only big enough for a few days.
  • Limited piste trails for advanced riders.
  • If the off-piste is not skiable, the resort can feel small (but then go to nearby Les Arcs from Villaroger, or Italy via La Rosiere!)

Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)

  • The village is small & relatively quiet after-hours.
  • You may never want to leave!

Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain

With only 6 lifts in total but a respectable vertical of 1,072m, Sainte Foy is tiny when compared to surrounding ski resorts. But less lifts means less people and more great skiing & boarding for those fortunate enough to be here on a powder day (or any day for that matter!). Skiing here comes cheap too. Lift tickets are only €38 (23/24) - practically free! (TTF - Totally Tightarse Friendly)

Check out the ski trail map for Sainte Foy below.

Sainte Foy Ski Trail Map
Sainte Foy Ski Trail Map

Two of the six lifts are for beginners in the base area. Sainte Foy has four chairlifts, with two extending from the base to the treeline and then the Aiguille and Marquise chairlifts access the high alpine areas. Extensive and challenging off piste skiing exists above the treeline & gentler, sheltered skiing below. Tree skiing is available, but some areas are protected as offsets for other resort developments. Sainte Foy is a ski resort with a good environmental ethic - another Powderhounds tick of approval!

Back-country ski access to awesome terrain from Sainte Foy is legendary. Several peaks over 3,000m are easily attainable from the ski lifts & tours can take one as far as the Aosta valley in Italy. Heliskiing is also available for the financially flush.

For more information on ski lifts, terrain trail maps & passes, see our Sainte Foy Skiing & Snowboarding page.

Snow & Weather

Sainte Foy is known as a Tarentaise valley snow magnet where fresh powder can lay untouched for days. The resort's north-west aspect, relatively high base of 1550m plus low crowds means snow quality persists longer. Regular easterly winds from Italy push snow into the Sainte Foy ski resort & freshen conditions when other areas are bereft. A new top to bottom snow-making system has been installed for season 2019/20 on four ski trails ensuring premium conditions at the resort from season start to finish.

Where is Sainte Foy France?

Sainte Foy is in the Tarentaise valley of the Savoy region in south east France. It is close to several of the French Alps best known ski resorts.

The major transport hub of Bourg Saint Maurice is located 11km west of Sainte Foy village & 18km from Sainte Foy ski resort base area (a.k.a. Station Sainte Foy).

Geneva (GVA) & Lyon (LYS) airports have the most convenient train & bus shuttle connections with Sainte Foy, but the smaller regional airport at Chambery can also be utilised for limited flights from the UK & within Europe. Search & book direct airport or train station transfers to Sainte Foy.

Trains provide a convenient (& carbon emission friendly) method of transport to Sainte Foy. Trains from London, Paris & Lille terminate at the nearby Bourg Saint-Maurice station, where a bus or taxi will take you to Sainte Foy. At Bourg St Maurice train station, the T14 & T15 line buses to Tignes & Val d'Isere stop at Sainte Foy Tarentaise village in the valley where the Sainte Foy ski resort free bus shuttle will complete the journey to the ski village. Search & book train tickets to Bourg St Maurice. At Bourg St Maurice railway station, purchase bus tickets or take a taxi to the resort.

For detailed information on the best ways of getting there, see our Travel to Sainte Foy page.

Sainte Foy Accommodation

Sainte Foy ski resort has a delightful village area at the base of the ski runs & lifts referred to as Station Sainte Foy. The Station Sainte Foy accommodation includes a range of beautiful chalets, hotels & numerous apartments - most with ski-in convenience. Bars, restaurants, shops, food markets, a bakery plus several ski shops give one everything required for a wonderful ski holiday. Plus, the resort village is blissfully quiet compared to the relative hustle 'n bustle of the surrounding 'industrial resorts' and the road noise in the valley below. Well priced & equipped lodgings include the Residence Club Apartments & Black Diamond Lodge. More expensive but perfectly positioned are the CGH Residences & Spa Apartments.

Search & book all Sainte Foy Ski Accommodation here.

The actual town of Sainte Foy-Tarentaise is 7km & over a dozen hairpin bends away down in the valley from the ski resort. The two are linked by a regular shuttle bus in winter. The Hotel Le Monal is the 'go to' proposition & can be a good base if one has a car to ski all the ski resorts in the area, including Les Arcs via the nearby Villaroger lifts. Speaking of which, the tiny village of Villaroger is a time-warped piece of paradise off the main roads but close enough to everything to provide a true French village experience, but still close to the ski lifts & only a short drive from Sainte Foy.

The nearby authentic hamlets of La Masure (also spelt Mazure) & Le Miroir are connected to the ski area via the free bus (although the service is limited!). Several outstanding chalets are for rent plus rooms & suites are available at the exceptional Eleven Experience Chalet Hibou Resort in Le Miroir or the wonderful Chalet Aline & Chez Michel guesthouses in La Masure. Both hamlets can be skied to via the long off-piste Vallon de Mercuel route.

If skiing Sainte Foy for only a day or two, it is possible to stay at a nearby ski resort like Tignes or Val d'Isere, but our recommendation is to stay in Sainte Foy alpine village & use it as a base to ski the other mega resorts.

The city of Bourg St Maurice can make for a great base as well. Buses connect to Sainte Foy but are not regular & require a change in the valley. Better if one has a rental car.

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Ski Rentals, Lessons & Guides

Ski rentals are available in the two main accommodation clusters of the Station Saint Foy resort village. Receive a discount when you search & book via our Sainte Foy Ski & Snowboard Rental page.

A full range of guiding & ski instructor services are provided by several companies out of Sainte Foy. For options, see our Sainte Foy Ski Lessons & Guiding page.

Services, Food & Nightlife

Even though small, Sainte Foy has full services & amenities for a comfortable long-term stay. With most accommodation being self-contained apartments, the resort village has 2 supermarkets, a bakery, tabac, pharmacy, 2 delicatessens plus a couple of odds & sods gift shops.

The three on-mountain restaurant/bars are all excellent. Lunches & afternoon drinks at the rustic Les Brevettes are sublime. For something less formal, the 'fast food' at the back of La Marquises is the place to be. Pull up a pew in the snow. Next to the Marquises chair, it is the highest of the resort's eateries with views stretching down the valley & across to the Aiguille Rouge.

In the village, the historic La Maison a Colonnes is the place for lunches & après on a sunny afternoon. Then head across to the La Bergerie bar & restaurant for dinner. Say hi to the friendly owners. They love a chat & have a laugh. Food & drink is top quality.

Aside from the seven or so bars in the village, the nightlife is rightfully limited in Sainte Foy. Anything too loud & raucous late into the night would be out of place. Head to Tignes or Val d'Isere if you want nigh time action. Hell, go to St Anton in Austria & do it properly!

If you need a new ski outfit comprising modern jacket, pants, gloves & goggles, Sainte Foy is one of the French ski resorts served by our local partner ski clothing rental company, Ski Chic. Order online & your ski outfit is delivered direct to your accommodation at the resort.

[AdListings Filter="Meribel Ski Rentals Clothing"]

Nearby Ski Resorts

Some of Europe's best ski resorts are within a short drive from Sainte Foy, alleviating any anxieties one might have of basing here on a ski holiday. Val d'Isere, Tignes, Les Arcs & La Rosiere are all within sight of some part of Sainte Foy.

Review

The Powderhounds reviewed Sainte Foy in 2018 & found it be to be utterly delectable. We returned briefly in 2023 in order to confirm our love for the hill. Looking forward to seeing you there next season. Click on the review link in the left column (or at the top of the page if on a phone) to read its startling insight!

See how Sainte Foy compares to the other French ski resorts on our France ski resort ratings page, or compare to the rest of the European ski resorts on the Europe ski resort ratings page.

Follow Powderhounds Europe on Instagram to see where we are currently skiing. Follow our main Powderhounds page on Facebook to stay in touch with up-to-date info, tours, and discussions.

Tours in or near Sainte Foy

Safari (Road Trip) Tours

Tarentaise Powder Ski Safari
GUIDED OFF-PISTE SKI ADVENTURE
8 Days | 7 Nights | 6 Days Skiing | 3+ Resorts
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Discover the best snow & off-piste terrain in the world famous ski areas of the French Alps' Haute Tarentaise. Lead by an experienced guide, ski descents of up to 2,000m vertical through untracked powder, days after a snowfall. Join a "fixed date" tour or get your own group together for your best dates & duration.
Price p/p From price based on twin/double-share room occupancy & min group of 6 people on an 8-day tour
Base/invoice currency is in EURO inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,290
View Details
 
See all Safari (Road Trip) tours that visit Sainte Foy here

Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area Tours

Tarentaise Valley Star Ski Tour
GUIDED OFF-PISTE ADVENTURE
8 Days | 4+ Ski Resorts
Ability: Intermediate to Expert
Ski untracked powder in the most famous ski areas of the world in France with an experienced guide riding vertical descents of up to 2,000m vertical. Explore the 3 Valleys, Les Arcs, Sainte Foy, La Plagne & La Rosiere. Join a "fixed date" tour or get your own group together for a custom tour on your best dates....
Price p/p From price based on twin/double-share room occupancy & min private group of 4 people on a 8-day tour
Base/invoice currency is in EURO inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,149
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See all Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area tours that visit Sainte Foy here

Single-Base, Single-Ski-Area Tours

Sainte Foy Off Piste Ski Day
GUIDED OFF-PISTE SKIING & LESSONS
2 to 3hr , Half, Full or Multi-Day
Ability: Intermediate to Expert
Ski the glorious off-piste terrain at Sainte Foy with an experienced local guide who will show you the best untracked lines around the resort & into the valley. Get your own group together for a custom 2or 3hr, half or full day tour, or inquire about joining another group. All abilities welcome ...
Price p/p From price based on min group of 6 on a full day tour.
Base/invoice currency is in EURO inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 99
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See all Single-Base, Single-Ski-Area tours that visit Sainte Foy here
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