Les Contamines Ski Resort

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Les Contamines Hauteluce ski resort in France is deserted early on mid-week days
Les Contamines Hauteluce ski resort in France is deserted early on mid-week days
Off-piste powder to start the day from Signal (1,900m) at Les Contamines Hauteluce ski resort
Off-piste powder to start the day from Signal (1,900m) at Les Contamines Hauteluce ski resort
Les Contamines ski resort viewed from the Hauteluce side of the mountain
Les Contamines ski resort viewed from the Hauteluce side of the mountain
Les Contamines Hauteluce ski resort France in sunnier, winter conditions
Les Contamines Hauteluce ski resort France in sunnier, winter conditions
Les Contamines Hauteluce ski resort lift lines midweek in March!
Les Contamines Hauteluce ski resort lift lines midweek in March!
Driving through Hauteluce village to the ski resort is a fun Alps road experience
Driving through Hauteluce village to the ski resort is a fun Alps road experience
Les Contamines ski resort access on the Montjoie gondola is a great way to start a day
Les Contamines ski resort access on the Montjoie gondola is a great way to start a day
Etape mountain base is where the skiing truly begins at 1,470m at Les Contamines
Etape mountain base is where the skiing truly begins at 1,470m at Les Contamines
Les Contamines Hauteluce ski resort France on a sunny day
Les Contamines Hauteluce ski resort France on a sunny day
Reblochon cheese dish at Hotel Christiania in Les Contamines is divine
Reblochon cheese dish at Hotel Christiania in Les Contamines is divine
Novices are well catered for at Les Contamines from here at Etape up to Col du Joly at 2,000m
Novices are well catered for at Les Contamines from here at Etape up to Col du Joly at 2,000m
Col chairlift rises to Col du Joly in the Hauteluce sector of the ski resort
Col chairlift rises to Col du Joly in the Hauteluce sector of the ski resort
Modern 6-seater Roselette chair rises along the advanced Olympique slope & off-piste ski terrain
Modern 6-seater Roselette chair rises along the advanced Olympique slope & off-piste ski terrain
Slopes below 1,750m are tree-lined & sheltered at Les Contamines-Hauteluce ski resort
Slopes below 1,750m are tree-lined & sheltered at Les Contamines-Hauteluce ski resort
Les Contamines piste terrain above Etape
Les Contamines piste terrain above Etape
Our local partners at Skiset have a rental outlet in the village, close to the gondola base in Les Contamines
Our local partners at Skiset have a rental outlet in the village, close to the gondola base in Les Contamines
Lots of options from the top of the Signal gondola at Les Contamines
Lots of options from the top of the Signal gondola at Les Contamines
Hauteluce village in snow with nearby Areches Beaufort visible on the horizon
Hauteluce village in snow with nearby Areches Beaufort visible on the horizon
Our favorite bar in Les Contamines is also an excellent creperie, Le Ty Breiz
Our favorite bar in Les Contamines is also an excellent creperie, Le Ty Breiz
Ski Les Contamines Hauteluce in the French Alps
Ski Les Contamines Hauteluce in the French Alps

Les Contamines Ski Resort

Readers Ratings

Les Contamines

Les Contamines4/51
Les Contamines4 out of 5 based on 1 reviews
  • Recommend
    100%
  • Would Revisit
    100%
Ride & Learn in the Alps Sherpas Ride

Nearby Ski Resorts

Areches Beaufort
Chamonix
Megeve
St Gervais - St Nicolas

Maps & Stats

     Les Contamines Ski Trail Map
  • Les Contamines Ski Trail Map
  • Vertical (m)
    1,179m - 2,485m (1,306m)
  • Average Snow Fall
    Unknown
  • Lifts (25)
    4 Gondolas
    8 Chairs
  • Opening Dates & Times
    Mid December to mid-April
    9:00am to 4:00pm
  • Terrain Summary
    Runs - 120km
    Longest run - 10km+
    Advanced - 17%
    Intermediate - 50%
    Beginner - 33%

    Evasion Mont Blanc
    445km
  • Ski Lift Pass Price
    Day Ticket 23/24
    Evasion Mont Blanc (Les Contamines + 5 other resorts)
    Adult - €59.50
    Child - €50.50
    Child u/5yr - Free

    Other lift passes valid in the resort include Mont Blanc Unlimited
     Evasion Mont Blanc Ski Trail Map
  • Evasion Mont Blanc Ski Map

Les Contamines - Hauteluce Ski Resort France

Les Contamines - Hauteluce ski resort straddles the Haute Savoie & Savoie in the heart of a massive French Alps skiing region near Mont Blanc. In a quiet valley between Megeve & Chamonix, Les Contamines has 120km of trails plus a lusty skiable vertical of over 1,300m; enough to pique the interest of any self-respecting powder hound. As well as great value local lift passes, anyone with a valid Evasion Mont Blanc or Mont Blanc Unlimited Lift Pass can ski at Les Contamines-Hauteluce as well.

We visited Les Contamines in early March 2023. Whilst we slowly build up the information on the resort, check out the ski trail map for Les Contamines below.

Les Contamines Ski Trail Map
Les Contamines Ski Trail Map

Where is Les Contamines France?

The Les Contamines ski resort has two base areas in vastly different locations spanning the Savoie & Haute Savoie regions of the French Alps. The main Les Contamines-Montjoie base is in the Haute Savoie, 20 minutes by road south of the Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, close to Megeve and Chamonix. The closest international airport is Geneva (GVA), only 94km away by road. The other sector in Hauteluce is a relatively quiet Savoie mountain valley of the Savoie, 120km (2hr drive) southeast of Geneva airport via Megeve. The Les Contamines - Montjoie sector is the busier of the two but provides brilliant accessibility to a huge number of nearby ski areas, many of which are linked on the Evasion Mont Blanc lift pass. For more solitude & quiet, choose to stay in the Hauteluce sector.

The train is the recommended mode of travel to the Les Contamines-Montjoie sector as it avoids the chaotic traffic on the nearby valley roads at peak times and helps to POW (Protect Our Winters). From Geneva Airport, catch a train to the main Geneva train station (also called Cornavin) then a connecting service to Annemasse (on the Swiss/French border) before continuing to St Gervais- Le Fayet. The entire train journey should take around 2⅕hr. From the St Gervais- Le Fayet train station, take the route 84 bus to Les Contamines. Up to 9 services run per day.

Search & book here for train tickets to Les Contamines. Buy the bus ticket from the driver.

For Hauteluce, the best option is a rental car. This provides the best flexibility to get to the ski lifts from the local accommodation or other nearby resorts like the fabulous Areches Beaufort.

For anyone with an aversion to winter driving or public transport, we recommend looking at a private transfer (particularly if in a group of 3 or more people) to get to the region. The journey from Geneva airport is short and so relatively affordable for even the tightest of powder hounds.

Search & book here for all airport transfers to Les Contamines or Hauteluce.

If you didn't get a rental car, once in Les Contamines a regular free ski bus runs throughout the day and will drop you off at either the Montjoie or Gorge gondola bases.

For hints, tips & warnings about getting to French ski resorts in winter, see our Travel in France page.

Les Contamines - Hauteluce Accommodation

Convenient to one of the French Alps most expansive ski resort regions in the Haute Savoie, but also just a little ‘off the beaten track’, the village of Les Contamines-Montjoie is the livelier staging point to ski Les Contamines-Hauteluce. The main ski lift up the mountain is only a short walk, drive or free ski bus shuttle from the centre of town. The village retains its authenticity, has a good range of affordable accommodations, quality restaurants and a few lively bars. We stayed at, and enjoyed, at the centrally located Hotel Le Christiania.

See the Les Contamines-Montjoie village map.

Search & book here for all Les Contamines-Montjoie ski accommodation.

In winter, Hauteluce, the resort’s opposite village across the range in the Savoie, is a far quieter alternative. The village is quaint but not quite convenient to the ski lifts, still 5½km to the Ruelle ski lift base at Belleville. See the Hauteluce village map.

Search & book here for all Hauteluce ski accommodation.

Down valley from Les Contamines - Mont Joie, is St-Gervais-les-Bains. St Gervais has the important railway station nearby, plus is convenient to the Chamonix resorts, as well as the Evasion Mont Blanc lifts & slopes via the Bettex cable car. It is low altitude so rarely has natural snow these days. The small hamlet of St Nicolas de Veroce, between St Gervais & Les Contamines is a beautiful place to stay. If you have the coin and prefer to stay in a quieter location, try the Hôtel l'Armancette.

Search & book here for all St Gervais ski accommodation.

Ski Rentals, Lessons, Guiding & Services

Ski rentals are available via our local partners in Les Contamines Montjoie. Receive a discount when you search & book via our Les Contamines Ski & Snowboard Rental page.

The search for fresh tracks or skills /technique improvement can be made easier by skiing or riding with a local ski instructor or mountain. To narrow down the field, search & book a private/group lesson or mountain guide with the best providers via our partners on the Les Contamines - Hauteluce Ski Lessons & Guiding page.

If you need a new ski outfit comprising modern jacket, pants, gloves & goggles, Les Contamines 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"]

Review

The Powderhounds reviewed Les Contamines & Hauteluce in early March 2023. Despite some frightful weather when we visited, we had some fun skiing, and loved the villages, general vibe, food, & potential of the ski terrain. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all the reviews.

See how Les Contamines compares to the rest of the French ski resorts on the France ski resort ratings page, or compare it to the rest of Europe on the European 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.

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