The ski resort of Samoëns in Haute-Savoie is part of the Grand Massif, a vast ski area. You can spend winter or summer holidays in this traditional and authentic village.
The Samoëns Station
This village, partly pedestrian, is known for its tranquility and the quality of its architecture, mainly made with cut stones. It differs from other Haute-Savoie villages, which prefer wood for building farms and chalets. This peculiarity comes from the history of Samoëns. The stone was worked by the Frahans, the stone cutters of the village who notably contributed to the construction of the Town Hall of Annecy and the Senate of Savoy in Chambéry. Every two years in August, the municipality organizes a Stone Sculpture Symposium to commemorate this centuries-old tradition. The village gets its name from the seven mountains that surround it, and thus its inhabitants are called the Septimontains. Upon your arrival, you will discover Le Criou, which rises to 2,207 meters above sea level and overlooks the Giffre valley and the resort.
You can visit the Alpine botanical garden of La Jaÿsinia, which has over 2,400 species of flowers and plants. This space has been classified as a “Remarkable Garden of France.” It consists of more than 2,500 varieties of mountain plants from all continents. The visit takes place on a sloping path of over 3 km. This garden, created in 1906, is a gift from Marie-Louise Jaÿ who founded La Samaritaine in Paris. The garden is now managed by the National Museum of Natural History.
The Gros Tilleul is a tree that was planted in the 15th century. You can admire it in the square of the same name. Classified since 2000 in the inventory of remarkable trees, villagers would gather around it to discuss, exchange, and meet. The village of Samoëns was voted in 2021 as the most beautiful village in Haute-Savoie ahead of Yvoire and Combloux.
We recommend visiting the Sixt Nature Reserve on snowshoes or hiking. Close to Samoëns, it allows you to admire two immense glacial cirques: the Fer-à-Cheval and the Fonts.
The slopes
From the village, you can access the Grand Massif area in just 8 minutes using the gondola. At an altitude of 1,600 m, you can ski on over 265 km, making it one of the largest and most beautiful areas dedicated to skiing. 139 slopes are available for skiing according to your level, and 5 snowparks are offered:
- The black slopes for advanced skiers at the highest part of the resort at 2,118 m above sea level
- An area for most intermediate level practitioners with the blue and green slopes of Dahu and Marmotte
- An area reserved for young people and beginners located at the entrance of the ski area. It’s the ideal way to discover alpine skiing with family in a safe and fun way
The snowpark of Samoëns is located near the Soleil slope. It is suitable for intermediate level freestylers.
Cross-country skiing is possible in two distinct areas: from the bottom of the valley to the Fer-à-Cheval Cirque with 46 km of trails and from the Col de Joux Plane accessible by car or shuttle.
The best-rated hotels
Various types of tourist accommodations are available for rent in Samoëns. Some rather advantageous prices will be available to you, especially if you can travel outside of school holidays.
Depending on your budget, we have selected five hotels in Samoëns. They offer excellent value for money and receive very good customer reviews:
Chalet-Hôtel Neige et Roc, The Originals Relais
This well-located establishment offers a leisure area with an indoor pool, sauna, a hammam, jacuzzi, and a game room. The landscaped garden has a large heated pool. The owners are very welcoming, according to travelers’ reviews.
From €120 per night.
Logis Hôtel Gai Soleil
Ideally located in a large park in the center of the resort, you can enjoy a hot tub, sauna, and hammam all year round. The ski slopes of the Grand Massif and the Haut-Giffre valley are 5 minutes away by ski bus.
From €110 per night.
CGH Résidences & Spas Les Chalets De Laÿssia
A good location 15 minutes walk from the Grand Massif Express lift. This residence has a good level of services. A ski room is available. A good address for a successful holiday in Samoëns.
From €130 per night.
Lagrange Vacances Les Fermes de Samoëns
This beautiful residence consists of 130 apartments in 3 buildings and a few chalets built in the Savoyard style. Shops are 400 m away and a free shuttle takes you to the ski slopes located 1 km away.
From €115 per night.
Hôtel Les Glaciers
The building is made of white wood and Giffre stone typical of the region. It is located in the center of the village close to shops. According to tourist reviews, the staff is very pleasant and provides many tips for discovering the region.
From €135 per night.
The most beautiful chalets
For an unforgettable holiday in the mountains, we offer the rental of three chalets in Samoëns. They receive excellent customer reviews:
Luxury Chalet L’Hibiscus
One of the most beautiful addresses in Samoëns for this typical 150 m² wooden chalet with 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and a jacuzzi. The large terrace is well exposed and offers a beautiful view of the mountains. The Grand Massif Express gondola is only 1 km away and will allow you to easily access the slopes.
Luxury Chalet Les Mélèzes
This beautiful chalet is located 800 m from the ski school. It has an area of 15 m², a living area, a fully equipped kitchen, 4 bedrooms, and 4 bathrooms. You will benefit from a hot tub and a beautiful terrace. The Grand Massif Express gondola is less than 1 km away.
Chalet Clos Moccand
This accommodation is located just 500 m from the ski school of the resort. The apartments include a balcony, a fully equipped kitchen, a fireplace, a living area, a sauna, and a ski room. You can easily ski nearby.
Snowshoeing routes
Many snowshoe circuits are offered to vacationers. We propose a selection that combines pleasure and discovery of nature:
The Verchaix Interpretation Path
This route starts from Verchaix and descends towards the beautiful torrent of Valentine before climbing towards the village church. Fifteen panels installed along the circuit allow you to understand the fauna, flora, and architecture. Two orientation tables allow you to discover the names of the surrounding peaks. Duration: 1 hour, elevation gain: 95 meters. Easy circuit.
La Rosière
This site allows for snowshoe initiation, especially for children, in a large plain that offers a beautiful view of the Mont-Blanc massif. Climbing small hills allows you to discover animal tracks. Duration of two hours with 72 meters of elevation gain, very easy circuit.
The Fer à Cheval Cirque
Classified as a grand national site, the site presents itself as a large amphitheater of limestone cliffs with beautiful waterfalls frozen by the cold. As you climb, you will discover a small lake. Be careful not to walk on it if it is frozen. Duration of one hour, elevation gain 45 meters, easy and marked circuit.
The Allamands
This excursion allows you to discover the village of Allamands, which was founded by a Germanic tribe in 1206. The village was frequented by smugglers as it was part of the Valais route. The departure is from the parking lot of Crêt at the exit of Samoëns. Duration of 1 hour 30 minutes. Elevation gain of 103 meters. Easy and marked circuit.
The village of Chantemerle
This outing is an opportunity to discover a very beautiful typical village that was previously inhabited all year round. The farms have beautiful stone door lintels sculpted by the Kegnes and the Frahans. They were the stone cutters and masons who contributed to the charm of the village. Duration 3 hours 30 minutes. Elevation gain of 400 meters. Quite high difficulty.
Summer activity ideas
In summer, it is the time to discover many water activities:
- Fishing in rivers or lakes: the various permits are issued by the tourist office of the resort.
- Canoraft: This very maneuverable inflatable boat allows you to descend the Giffre by maneuvering with a paddle, with a maximum of two people on board. For beginners, the circuit does not pass through the Giffre gorges.
- Airboat: The Airboat is an inflatable kayak that only carries one person. The sensations are guaranteed, in complete autonomy.
- Rafting: in a boat of up to 8 people starting from Sixt, you will descend through the plain of Samoëns and the Tines gorges while rafting. A barbecue break is offered by some organizers.
- Hydrospeed: With fins and a reinforced suit, you will descend the Giffre on a foam float while learning to understand the currents.
- Caving: The underground of the valley, due to its karst environment, has many caving routes to discover with experienced instructors. The Mirolda abyss is the deepest cavity in France. In 2003, diver Michel Phillips set a world record at 1,733 m deep.
The Samoëns American Festival (SAF)
This festival is dedicated to American culture with concerts of country music, rodeos, equestrian and mechanical exhibitions. The atmosphere worthy of westerns transforms the resort. Many paid stands allow you to experience traditional American life. The shows are free. Packages are offered that include accommodation, activities, and the festival at advantageous rates.
Date: second week of July.
Address: Samoëns Village, 74340 Samoëns.
The Botanical Days
Every year, in mid-June, the resort organizes an event dedicated to the plant world. Around the splendid alpine garden La Jaÿsinia, guided tours are organized to discover the 4,800 mountain plants. Spectators can attend film screenings about insects, workshops to learn gardening, and walks to discover the heritage of Samoëns.
Date: second week of June. Free entry.
Address: La Jaÿsinia, 74340 Samoëns
Access and public transport
To reach the Samoëns resort, you have a choice of your means of transport:
By car: Take the A40 motorway towards Geneva-Chamonix then exit n°18 Cluses towards Samoëns.
By train: TGV station of Cluses or TGV station of Geneva Cornavin then bus, taxi, or shuttle to Samoëns.
By plane: two airports are at your disposal: Geneva Cointrin or Lyon-Saint-Exupéry.
In terms of public transport, you can use the Skibus network of the Grand Massif resorts to move between Morillon, Samoëns, and Sixt and reach the foot of the slopes. This service operates only in winter and is free to encourage its use.
