Sainte-Foy ski resort guideSki areas, apres-ski, things to see & do in Sainte-Foy
Overview
Skiing in Sainte-Foy is unlike most resorts in the Alps. The French alpine ski resort is renowned for its off-piste and also for its heli-skiing excursions over the border into the Italian Alps.
It is authentic, rustic and full of charm with some pretty impressive views of the Thuria glacier opposite and up and down the Tarentaise valley. It is also only a short drive to Tignes if you want access to a world renowned massive ski area such as the Espace Killy for a change of scene. You will probably pass a load of instructors and guides heading in the other direction to take their clients to experience the off-piste in Sainte-Foy!
Sainte-Foy ski area guide
People tend to love the charm of Sainte-Foy and the pretty appearance however the skiers searching for endless massive ski areas with huige variety will be disappointed and get bored after a day or so. Those that crave quiet slopes, a mixture of tree-lined, altitude, heli-skiing and of course the huge off-piste opportunies will fall in love with this place.
There is something magical and truly old-school about skiing in Sainte-Foy. Skiing or boarding on the pistes is only half the story, as the true magic of Sainte-Foy is in her off piste prowess. This resort is considered by many as paradise for natural skiing and boarding with endless off-piste opportunities as well as heli-skiing itineraries. If you find yourself off piste in one of the endless bowls of powder on a bluebird powder day, it will probably be the best day's skiing of your life.
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 1550m |
| Top lift | 2620m |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Ski area (acre) | 1977 |
| Longest run | km |
| Off piste | |
| Cross country | km |
| Season | Dec - April |
| Snowboard parks | 1 |
| Heli Skiing | ✔ |
| Summer skiing | ✘ |
| Glacier skiing | ✘ |
| Babysitting | ? |
| Creche | ✔ |
| Apres ski | Relaxed |
Sainte Foy ski area
Sainte-Foy ski area ranges from 1550m to 2620m, offering 800 hectares of forests and high-altitude slopes with 26 pistes of varying difficulty.
Beginners
For a ski resort famed for it's off-piste, what does all this mean for beginners? Well, Sainte Foy has more than enough for beginners and is ideal thanks to the quiet slopes and a lot of tree lined runs lower down protecting you from the elements.
Intermediate
For intermediate skiers, Sainte-Foy may not look great on paper with a lack of distance for those wishing to cover vast distances. It does however have some great quality runs and a 1000 metre vertical drop descending from the more open slopes at the top all the way down through the forest lower down. With 12 red runs there is a lot to keep you entertained.
Advanced
There are 4 marked black runs here, the most challenging of which is the 2km long Cristal Dark. Three of these black runs are left ungroomed, so called natur runs creating a more off-piste style option and offer several ways down. If we're honest, experts come to Sainte-Foy for the off-piste possibilities, from the top of the L'Aiguille and La Marquise chair-lifts it easy to access long north-east facing powder fields which are awesome! There are several more extreme option such as the 1 700 metre vertical drop on the Fogliettaz, this involves a hike but is well worth it for more experienced off-piste skier.
Things to see & do
- Parapenting
- Cinema, ten-pin bowling
- Swimming pool
- Ice skating
- Winter hiking trails
Après-ski
Sainte Foy is not famous for its après ski however what it lacks in in wildness it makes up for in rustic charm with 8 nice eateries, ideal for familes and those wanting nice peaceful surroundings after unforgettable days out on the mountain.
Our view on Sainte Foy
You've got to hand it to Sainte Foy, it really does pack a punch for its size. It may not be the biggest, but it has that undeniable 'je ne sais quoi' that will have you hooked. If you like skiing in Sainte Foy, you may also want to take a look at St Anton and Verbier in Switzerland.
