The Grand Bornand ski resort is located in the Aravis massif. It operates at an altitude between 1,000 and 2,100 meters. Grand Bo’, as it is called in Haute-Savoie, allows you to ski on over 90 kilometers of slopes and practice many other winter sports. The Grand Bornand resort can accommodate up to 40,000 skiers per hour!
An authentic Savoyard village
This typical village is located at the crossroads of two valleys in the Aravis massif: the Bouchet valley and the Chinaillon valley. Mont Lachat is in the middle, and the village is organized around the bulbous church and the grenette. This is an old grain hall, which has existed since at least 1569, according to the earliest writings. Since 1795, every Wednesday, Grand Bornand hosts the last reblochon market of the Savoie.
Grand Bornand is a French resort that has retained 400 chalets, many of which are over two hundred years old. The oldest has housed the same family since 1664. From a gastronomic perspective, it is an opportunity to taste the excellent reblochon. This typical and tasty cheese has been produced locally since the 13th century. You can discover traditional dishes: the péla, the farcement savoyard, and potato fritters.
Grand Bornand is the leading agricultural municipality in Haute-Savoie, with 40 farms and 2,000 cows. Beyond tourism, it is therefore an authentic village that lives to the rhythm of the seasons to support its agricultural operations.
Many traditional festivals are offered: winter torch descents, Christmas festivities, and a festival for children. The historical heritage is rich. It deserves a guided visit by a local guide, which you can book at the tourist office, located at 62 place de l’Église, 74450 Le Grand Bornand.
The ski area
Suitable for every level of skiing, the resort has complete facilities.
- Number of slopes: 42, including 11 green, 14 blue, 14 red, and 3 black
- Kilometers of alpine ski slopes: 90
- Number of ski lifts: 30, including 13 chairlifts, 15 drag lifts, and 2 gondolas
- 4 beginner areas for alpine skiing, a snowpark, and 3 competition stadiums.
The best-rated hotels
There are many tourist accommodations in the Grand Bornand resort. Hotels, apartments, and chalets, the options are numerous.
Depending on your budget, we have selected five hotels located in this beautiful village. They offer excellent value for money and receive very good customer reviews:
Best Western Chalet les Saytels
This establishment is located 350 m from the ski slopes and offers complete facilities: outdoor and indoor swimming pools, spa, hot tub, sauna, and solarium. The rooms are decorated in a Savoyard and contemporary style.
From €96 per night.
Le Vermont
This hotel ticks all the boxes: located 100 m from the ski lifts, it features a covered outdoor pool, a jacuzzi, a gym, a ski room, and a sauna open from December to April. A prime location in the village center.
From €110 per night.
La Pointe Percée
This establishment is located in the town center. Its Savoyard-style decor and rooms with views of the Aravis mountains are particularly appreciated. You can visit Annecy, which is only 30 km away by car.
From €90 per night.
Hôtel et Spa Le Delta
The rooms of this beautiful establishment are decorated in wood, in a Savoyard style. A sauna, a hammam, and a hot tub complete the facilities. Located 300 m from the town center and close to the ski slopes, the hotel also offers private parking.
From €105 per night.
Logis La Croix-Saint-Maurice
In the heart of the village, this hotel is located 10 km from the neighboring resort of La Clusaz. It is equipped with a spa, a hammam, and a jacuzzi. You will enjoy the typically local dishes served in the restaurant and its well-exposed terrace.
From €88 per night.
The most beautiful chalets
For an unforgettable mountain vacation, we offer the rental of three chalets in Grand Bornand that receive excellent customer reviews:
Chalet Lyoba
This beautiful chalet is very well equipped, offering a 35 m² apartment with a kitchen and a view of the resort. Free private parking, Wi-Fi, and a garden with barbecue are also available. The Grand Bornand ski school is less than 4 km away.
Chalet La Lyaz
This large 200 m² chalet includes 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a garden terrace with a barbecue. The view of the massif is magnificent. Access to the slopes is ski-in/ski-out. The chalet has a ski room.
Chalet Soleya
A beautiful area of 150 m², with a splendid view of the resort. The chalet has 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a garden, and free parking. The large shaded terrace allows you to have breakfast before a great day of skiing on the slopes of the Grand Bornand ski area.
Winter sports
The authentic Grand Bornand resort has a beautiful ski area for downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, ski touring, snowboarding, sledding, snowshoeing, and Nordic walking. People with reduced mobility are welcome and can enjoy adaptive skiing, dual skiing, or tandem skiing with a qualified instructor.
All winter sports equipment can be rented on-site, in the many shops in the resort.
The station’s athletes
Tessa Worley
Lucas Chavanat
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Benjamin Daviet
Sylvie Becaert
The Festival Au Bonheur des Mômes
This festival dedicated to children, but also to families, takes place every year in summer, at the end of August. More than 90,000 festival-goers are present in the Haute-Savoie resort. Hundreds of artists and international companies offer over 400 performances in the streets, as well as in venues or under tents.
Nicknamed “the Avignon for children”, this festival is a major event in live performance. A reading tent is offered so that little ones can discover the joys of having a lovely tale read to them. Creative workshops, thematic exhibitions, and games delight children. A literary prize is awarded each year to a children’s novel selected from 5 works. It is the young readers who designate the winner by sending a ballot before the festival.
Attractive ski passes
More than ten different passes allow you to choose the one that suits you best, depending on the schedule, your family’s composition, and the duration of your stay:
Snowshoe trails
The alpine natural setting of Grand Bornand is particularly conducive to snowshoeing. This sport, accessible to all, allows you to discover the alpine pastures while respecting the wild environment.
The Dodes outing
This circuit on the north side of the Danay forest allows you to discover animal tracks. At the start, take a left between the two Dodes chalets and then descend to the Pessey farm. The return is made via the pedestrian route n°19, until the ice rink.
The little extra: watch the sunset.
The Little Balcony of Aravis
This walk allows you to discover the sunny plateau of Joyère and its beautiful view of the Aravis massif. The departure is from the Joyère gondola exit, via the path leading to the place called La Croix. You will carefully cross a ski slope and a ski lift. The loop turns before the Touillettes, to the right.
The old village of Chinaillon
A beautiful circuit at the foot of Roc des Tours and Roc de Charmieu. The departure is from the groomed track of the Chapelle. You will pass through the beautiful hamlets of Bouvardière and Mouilles, heading towards Cotagne. The return is made in a loop on the Mouilles, back to Chinaillon.
The Rosay plateau loop
It allows you to admire the panorama of the Jalouvre massif and Chinaillon. The departure is at the top of the Rosay gondola, heading to the top of the covered carpet of Alpage Express. The descent is near the Raiches ski lift.
Summer activity ideas
In summer, tourists benefit from a natural setting, in an authentic village. The tourist office offers many hikes, allowing you to discover the fauna and flora of the massifs: marmots, ibex, chamois, and bearded vultures, which is the largest bird of prey in Europe. Excursions take you to the following alpine lakes such as Lake Cour, Lake Peyre, and Lake Lessy.
The Grand Bornand aquatic center is located in the center of the village. It consists of a swimming pool, a bubble bench, a playful pool, a slide, a paddling pool, and a snack bar.
For mountain biking enthusiasts, the resort offers 92 km of marked trails on 8 circuits. You can also try paragliding, golf, climbing, or choose to visit farms.
La Source du Grand Bornand is a space that offers the public intergenerational exchanges, with fun outdoor or indoor activities on the themes of mountains, agriculture, and pastoralism. For example, lumberjack competitions are organized. A mini organic educational farm and an old traditional farm are offered.
Access and public transport
Located just 42 minutes from Annecy, the Grand Bornand resort is easily accessible by car from Thônes or from Bonneville. Buses provide the connection between Le Grand Bornand and Annecy all year round, via the Thônes bus station for a price of €8. The trip is free for children under 6 years old. In summer, the ticket allows you to put your bike in the bus’s luggage compartment, and in winter, your skis are accepted at no extra charge.
The resort also offers a CAR + SKI package, which includes transport and a daily ski pass. Tickets are on sale at the Annecy and Thônes bus stations. A bus line called SKIBUS provides the shuttle between the resorts of La Clusaz, Grand Bornand, Manigod, and the town of Thônes.
The public transport service is open from 19/12 to 05/04 and from 19/06 to 04/09 every day.
Price: €2 per ticket and €10 for a weekly pass. Free with the Aravis bus card, a cross-country or alpine ski pass, and for children under 5 years old.
A free shuttle called “The Toupie” serves the parking lots at the foot of the ski lifts and Tardevant during weekends and school holidays. Schedule: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM and 3 PM to 5:30 PM. During night skiing evenings, a shuttle service is set up between Grand Bornand and Chinaillon.
