Val Cenis Vanoise ski resort guide Ski area, apres-ski, things to see & so in Val Cenis
Val Cenis Vanoise Review
Guarded by the La Dent Parrachée standing at 3697m, the stunning Haute-Maurienne Vanoise valley runs for 33km flanked either side by majestic peaks and has 7 traditional villages dotted along the valley floor including the main ski resort of Val Cenis Vanoise.
The resort of Val Cenis Vanoise is really three traditional and authentic villages – Lanslevillard, Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis and Termignon which share 125kms of linked pistes. They are a few minutes away from each other and linked by the efficient ski shuttle.
Après-ski
Despite the relative small size of the villages, there is a wide selection of local bars and superb restaurants that serve a range of dishes including typical Savoyard fare such as foie gras, Farci de Bessan and Pic de Assiette where you barbecue local meats on a hot stone.
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 1260m |
| Top lift | 2800m |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Piste (km) | 125 |
| Longest run | 15 km |
| Off piste | |
| Cross country | 130 km |
| Season | Dec - April |
| Snowboard parks | 2 |
| Heli Skiing | ✘ |
| Summer skiing | ✘ |
| Glacier skiing | ✘ |
| Babysitting | ✘ |
| Creche | ✔ |
| Apres ski | Relaxed |
Val Cenis Vanoise Ski Area Guide
The ski area is impressive with 790 acres of skiable terrain offering over 1500m of vertical between 1260m and 2860m. With an annual average of 400 inches of that famous Haute Maurienne Vanoise powder, the ski season is long, typically starting mid December running through to mid April.
The local skiing area is directly above the 3 villages of Val Cenis Vanoise with many of the green and blue pistes passing through the forests back in to the resorts. Its also possible to ski in the nearby resorts of...
- Aussois
- Norma
- Valfréju, and
- Bonneval sur Arc
...which together with Val Cenis Vanoise, form part of the Eski-Mo ski area that provides a total of 300km of fantastic pistes. All these neighbouring ski resorts are around a 5-10 minutes drive away via the free ski bus.
The village of Bessans is Haute-Maurienne's biathlon and Nordic skiing centre with 130kms of beautiful trails through the larch and pine forests.
Beginners
There are many green pistes for beginner skiers and boarders in Val Cenis but the best is 15km long and called the Escargot or snail trail! When the snow comes, the famous road to Italy through the Mont Cenis col turns into what is probably the longest green run in the world.
Intermediate
With 40 pistes graded as blue and red, intermediate skiers will feel the ski area around Val Cenis is tailor made for them. With zero queues and modern high speed lifts, so much more time is spent skiing rather than hanging around.
Advanced
With just 5 black pistes, there is not much to entertain advanced skiers. However, the story changes when you look at the back country touring possibilities high up in the Vanoise National park. Ski tours can be anything from 1 to several days staying overnight in the mountain huts - superb fun!
Snowboarding
This part of the French Alps received its fair share of snow and surfing through the deep powder is a dream for any snowboarder especially on the trails at Val Frejus which is a popular place for freeriders. There is also a terrain park suited for beginners and intermediates plus a natural half-pipe.
Val Cenis Chalets
Traditional chalets are the norm in the pretty villages of Lanslevillard, Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis and Termignon where you will find excellent great value accommodation close to the lifts and apres-ski. New high spec residences such as the Les Chalets de Flambeau have appeared in recent years in anticipation of increased tourism as the word gets out about just how good Val Cenis is.
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Childcare
The 3 ESF ski schools - Les Sablons, Plan des Champs and Le Haut Lanslevillard provide kindergarten for children aged between 3 months and 6 years old and can be booked locally. For children between 6 and 12 years old, there is the Club Declare Jeunesse and Sports Club Enfants les P'Tits dur Le Haut Lanslevillard.
Things to Do & See
Val Cenis and the nearby villages provide some mouth watering activities other than skiing such as...
- Bobsleigh in Bramans
- Snow kiting
- Sledging from the top of the Vieux Moulin gondola
- Guided back-country ski tours
- XBiking - mountain biking on snow!
- Ice diving in the lake
Our view on Val Cenis Ski Resort
Val Cenis is off the grid for most skiers and boarders and thats how the locals like it - but for how long? With its state of the art lift system, excellent snow record, pristine pistes and superb ski touring options, our guess is not for long.
If you want to go skiing and not queue for hours for the morning lift, enjoy first class mountain restaurants serving high quality, value for money food and feel you are in a traditional and authentic mountain village, Val Cenis is not to be missed.
