The ski resort of Praz-sur-Arly is located in Haute-Savoie, in the Val d’Arly. Summer and winter, it is possible to spend family holidays in the municipality, in a family-friendly and pleasant setting.
Praz-sur-Arly, a village resort
Praz-sur-Arly is a village resort, known as a first-generation resort. The concept of snow classes developed in this village in the Val d’Arly in March 1950, initiated by Parisian teachers. Once there, you will have all the amenities nearby.
Praz-sur-Arly is the quintessential family resort. It also benefits from a rich and varied heritage. As a side note, the village has 4 AOCs and 2 IGPs, a record in France. These designations relate to cheeses and concern here the tomme, beaufort, reblochon, abondance, chevrotin, and Savoie emmental.
Praz-sur-Arly and the smugglers
In 1860, Savoy became French. At that time, a free zone was established, which included Praz-sur-Arly. Gradually, the villagers set up a smuggling network with the rest of the Val d’Arly. It must be said that the village is ideally positioned, at the border between Savoy and Haute-Savoie. The lucrative trade began, with the passage and sale of coffee, sugar, and tobacco. Smuggling disappeared in 1923, along with the status of free zone that Savoy had. Today, you can follow in the footsteps of the smugglers via a designated trail.
The ski area of Praz-sur-Arly
The ski area of Praz-sur-Arly is located in the Espace Diamant. You can ski on 157 slopes ranging from 1,000 to 2,070 meters in altitude. During your stay, you will also have the opportunity to ski at Les Saisies. However, you can very well stay within the ski area of Praz-sur-Arly. The Val d’Arly area also includes Flumet and Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe and has 90 kilometers of slopes. This represents 51 ski lifts and 97 slopes: 4 black, 34 red, 38 blue, 21 green, and 3 areas dedicated to children.
© Praz-sur-Arly – Tourist Office
The best-rated hotels
The small ski resort of Praz-sur-Arly is very popular with families. It is indeed possible to find tourist accommodations suitable for this clientele, from apartments for 4 people to chalets for 10 people.
Depending on your budget, we have selected a hotel in the heart of the Praz-sur-Arly resort for you. We will also present three others, located in Megève. They receive very good reviews from customers.
Les Portes de Megève
Les Portes de Megève is an establishment located 1.2 kilometers from the ski school. You can enjoy the sauna and hammam, as well as the ESF point on site. A bike rental service is available at the establishment.
From €110 per night.
Les Fermes de Marie
Les Fermes de Marie is an establishment located 10 minutes on foot from the heart of Megève. A shuttle service is provided from the hotel. The rooms are decorated in Savoyard style and you can enjoy the spa.
From €401 per night.
Au Coin du Feu
A Savoyard hotel par excellence, Au Coin du Feu welcomes you 500 meters from the center of Megève and the ski lifts. The rooms offer a lovely view of the surrounding mountains.
From €124 per night.
Les Cimes
The hotel Les Cimes is located in the heart of Megève. Free parking is available for guests and a shuttle is offered for those arriving by plane. The common lounge will allow you to relax after a day of skiing or hiking. The slopes are located 450 meters away.
From €124 per night.
The most beautiful chalets
To spend an unforgettable holiday in the mountains, we offer the rental of three chalets. They are very popular with vacationers.
Chalet Alpen
With an area of 235 m², Chalet Alpen is located near the slopes. In addition to benefiting from a garden and a sauna, you will have the option to rent your ski equipment directly on site.
Chalet Diamant
Chalet Diamant is located 500 meters from the first ski lifts. With an area of 170 m², it can accommodate up to 8 people. From the garden and the rooms, you will enjoy a lovely view of the mountains.
Chalet Arly
Chalet Arly is a 210 m² accommodation, comprising 4 bedrooms. It is located 800 meters from the ski school and 600 meters from the slopes. The accommodation is situated in a quiet area, from where you will enjoy a lovely view.
Winter sports
The Praz-sur-Arly resort is also suitable for people who do not ski alpine skiing or wish to diversify their activities. Thus, you can try cross-country skiing, on a 5-kilometer loop located in the Arly plain.
Another option is to try ski touring. If this is your first experience, we recommend being accompanied by a professional.
And if you are staying in Praz-sur-Arly with family, why not try the new sliding sports? We will think in particular of the Yooner, a recent version of the paret, or the Snooc. The latter will allow you to go up the ski touring slopes and come down in sledding. An original activity, to be tested urgently.
Thomas Fanara, the Pralin Elf
In Praz-sur-Arly, Thomas Fanara is nicknamed the Pralin Elf. Licensed to the village ski club since his early age, the French skier was born in Annecy in 1981. In 1996, he participated in his first FIS competition. Now retired from sports, the giant slalom skier has several victories to his credit. In 2016, he won the giant slalom in Saint-Moritz. It was in 2019 that Thomas Fanara ended his sports career. He then became an ambassador and consultant for the Salomon brand.
The must-see events in Praz-sur-Arly
The Praz-sur-Arly resort organizes numerous events throughout the year. Some have international renown, while others are gradually establishing themselves as must-sees.
The International Hot Air Balloon Festival
The International Hot Air Balloon Festival is certainly the event not to be missed in the Praz-sur-Arly resort. For one weekend, you will see numerous hot air balloons in the sky. Activities are offered on Saturday and Sunday, and demonstrations also take place. Since the creation of the Montgolfiades, several flight directors have succeeded each other, such as Jo Roulet or Daniel Dupuis.
Additional info: the event’s sponsor is none other than the director Claude Lelouch.
The Canitrail du Diamant
The Canitrail du Diamant is a trail race in which runners are accompanied by their dogs. For 3 days, the pairs traverse the Espace Diamant. This canitrail is a FFST (French Federation of Sled Sports) race. Several stages take place, with distances ranging from 10 to 15 kilometers. The positive elevation gain varies between 500 and 700 meters.
Additional info: the departure times may be advanced depending on the temperatures, in order to ensure the safety of the runners and their dogs.
The Praz Yooner Challenge
The Praz Yooner Challenge takes place every winter in Praz-sur-Arly. Before competing with family or friends, you will have the opportunity to practice on the track dedicated to the Yooner. This sled consists of a seat located 20 cm off the ground, a blade, and a handle. It is the latter that will allow you to steer. Thrilling sensations await.
Additional info: you will have the option to rent a Yooner in-store before the competition and why not take lessons with the ESF.
Ski passes
Several passes are available online or directly at the ski lift ticket offices in Praz-sur-Arly. You can choose to enjoy the entirety of the Espace Diamant, or limit yourself to the ski area of the resort. Another option is to take the Carte Blanche pass, which will allow you to ski in the 9 Labellemontagne resorts. You will also have the opportunity to choose a pass valid for a duration of 2 hours, 3 hours, or 4 hours. It will all depend on your love for skiing, as well as your level.
Additional tip: by booking your stay 6 weeks in advance, you can enjoy discounts on your ski passes.
Snowshoe trails
Two snowshoe trails are to be tested during a stay in Praz-sur-Arly. These are the Évettes loop and the Cassioz loop. The departure is made in both cases from the Varins parking lot.
The Évettes loop
To start, take the Rosière chairlift. You will need to pass over the Crêt and in front of the Montagnette before reaching the lake of Évettes, located at an altitude of 1,350 meters. Allow 1 hour and 50 minutes of walking, for a length of 4.8 kilometers and a positive elevation gain of 220 meters. Don’t forget to check the weather before you go.
The Cassioz loop
To complete the Cassioz loop, pass in front of the Thouvassières and the Rochat, from where you will have a nice viewpoint. Once at the top, take the time to picnic and admire the panorama. Allow 1 hour and 10 minutes of walking without stops, 2.2 kilometers, and a positive elevation gain of 150 meters.
Summer activity ideas
Praz-sur-Arly is a resort that also operates during the summer. In addition to hiking, you can engage in many activities during your stay in the mountains. We suggest discovering three of them:
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Hot air ballooning. This activity is an institution in the Praz-sur-Arly resort. It will allow you to discover the valley’s landscapes from a new angle. We recommend this experience at the end of summer or during autumn, when the morning mist is present.
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Treasure hunting. It takes place during a family hike on the smugglers’ trail. The departure is from the top of the Crêt du Midi chairlift. Throughout the walk, you will meet various characters. Allow 2 hours of walking for a positive elevation gain of 300 meters.
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Mountain biking. The Espace Diamant offers 26 mountain biking circuits, or 230 km of trails in Praz-sur-Arly. You will find routes suitable for all levels, as well as for various practices.
Access and public transport
To access Praz-sur-Arly, nothing could be simpler. You can opt for the car, but also the train to the station of Saint-Gervais les Bains or Sallanches. The village is served by two bus lines throughout the year, which will allow you to make the connection easily. Once in Praz-sur-Arly, you will no longer need to take your car. During winter, a free shuttle is provided and stops at 10 stops every 8 minutes.
Presentation video of Praz-sur-Arly
© Praz-sur-Arly – Tourist Office
The resorts near Praz-sur-Arly
Several resorts are located near Praz-sur-Arly. We will particularly think of Les Saisies, as the ski areas are connected. You will also have the option to go for a day to Megève, Saint-Gervais, and Combloux. The resorts of Plaine-Joux and Chamonix are also quite close and will offer you another view of Mont-Blanc.
