La Rosiere Ski Resort France
La Rosiere ski resort is a high elevation ski area beautifully situated on a sunny mountainside at 1850m. La Rosiere is getting some new lifts & terrain for 2018/19 that are game changing. The resorts international link with La Thuile in Italy is one of its best features.
Overlooking the Tarentaise valley in the Savoy region of south eastern France, La Rosiere is the valley's snowiest ski resort. Views across the valley to Les Arcs & La Plagne give a hint as to what this region has to offer.
Pros & Cons for La Rosiere Ski Resort
Pros
- Family friendly ski resort;
- Wide open piste trails for beginners and intermediates;
- Beautiful views across the Tarentaise valley;
- One of the region’s most reliable snow packs;
- Uncrowded, no lift lines;
- Excellent value for money lift pass;
- Numerous ski-in ski-out lodging options;
- Linked with La Thuile in Italy.
Cons
- Nothing for advanced skiers;
- Poor on mountain toilet facilities;
- Low angle off-piste terrain (but now may be better with the new Mt Valaisan terrain);
- No good on a powder day, need to head to La Thuile (but now may be better with the Mt Valaisan terrain).
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective)
- South facing terrain is very sunny (& gets sun affected!);
- Long windy road to reach village.
La Rosiere Skiing & Snowboarding
A visit to La Rosiere ski resort is particularly worthwhile for beginners, intermediates & families. The terrain is predominantly easy intermediate standard & below. Some sheltered beginner & children's areas are near the base area. New lifts in the Mont Valaisan area for season 2018/19 will widen La Rosiere's appeal to more advanced skiers & snowboarders. Freeride skiable vertical in the area will be nearly 1300m. See the La Rosiere ski trail map here.
International Link with La Thuile, Italy
In a combination known as the Espace San Bernardo, La Rosiere is linked by lifts, pistes & lift pass with the excellent La Thuile ski resort across the border in Italy. La Thuile has a nice range of north facing steeper skiing & snowboarding options for more advanced freeriders. Snowboarders beware the flat sections between the two resorts. See the Espace San Bernardo ski trail map here.
Snow & Weather
La Rosiere is statistically the snowiest ski resort in the magnificent Tarentaise valley. The annual average snowfall is around 7m but can be a lot higher. La Rosiere's high elevation base generally ensures good snow cover on its sunny south facing slopes.
During the first Powderhounds visit, an unusual set of weather circumstances turned La Rosiere's snow to wind scoured crud whilst over the ridge (& border) in La Thuile Italy, on a reported overnight snowfall of 20cm, we skied up to 45cm of pristine fresh snow on the deep base. On our second visit at a similar time of year the next season, La Rosiere had a base of 4m & loads of fresh snow. Such are the vagaries of skiing & the never-ending hunt for POW - Protect Our Winters.
Where is La Rosiere, France?
La Rosiere ski resort is in the famous upper Tarentaise valley 55km east of Albertville & sits snug on the Italian border below the Petit Saint Bernard Pass.
La Rosiere's closest international gateway airport is Geneva in Switzerland. Flights via Dubai or Montreal & European origins can utilise Lyon Saint Exupery airport. Both airports are around 210km or 2.5hr drive away. Limited flights from UK & some European origins utilise Chambery airport, the closest to the Tarentaise.
Geneva & Lyon airports are connected by train to La Rosiere's closest main town of Bourg Saint Maurice via Chambery. The train provides the most environmentally friendly method of transport to the area. Buses & taxis provide links between the Bourg St Maurice train station & La Rosiere, 20km to the east.
La Rosiere Accommodation
La Rosiere's village area is in parts more reminiscent of a North American resort, which when compared to many French ski resort villages is not a bad thing! Some well-located 'ski in' 2 & 3-star hotels & apartments are near the main Roches Noires express chairlift. One of the best ski-in ski-out lodgings is the Relais du Petit Saint Bernard Hotel. Other hotel & apartment complexes line the main road down the hill. A smaller village area known as Les Eucherts has additional hotels that are in part ski-in, albeit in a quieter part of the resort.
Search & book all La Rosiere ski accommodation here.
Lodging options in the general area are limitless. On the French side below La Rosiere, the villages and ski resorts of Sainte Foy, Bourg St Maurice, Les Arcs & La Plagne will fulfil your needs.
On the Italian side, La Thuile is a real town that provides well priced lodging close the excellent north facing advanced pistes that stream down from Les Suches.
Search & book all La Thuile ski accommodation here.
Review
The Powderhounds will review La Rosiere again in season 2019/20. We wonder whether the terrain expansion will improve our view of this intriguing resort. Stay tuned for our photos & insights.
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