Last Updated on April 8, 2024

The Aravis Massif France 

The Aravis Massif is part of the Annecy Mountains stretching from Lake Annecy, an area otherwise known as the pre-Alps. Located in the Haute Savoie region it is very close to Geneva, around an hour by car,  making it a superb choice for short ski breaks with easy transfers. 

For skiers, the Aravis whole area pass lets you ski in all the areas, with more than 220 kilometres of slopes, from Le Grand Bornand to La Clusaz as well as Manigod and the small village of St Jean de Sixt. Unlike the purpose-built French ski resorts, skiing here has grown out of the pretty villages which are lived in year-round. A short shuttle bus ride takes you from La Clusaz to Le Grand Bornand or St Jean de Sixt.

Le Grand Bornand is a great area for family skiing with lots of green and blue runs perfect for building confidence. This area is well served by mountain restaurants to stop and soak in the beautiful scenery.

La Clusaz and Manigod are linked and available as a cheaper ski pass for those less adventurous, with around 132 kilometres of pistes. The area is famous for freeriding and free skiing with major competitions regularly taking place here as part of the world tour.

The skiing varies from easy tree-lined slopes in the Manigod area to the family-friendly runs on the Beauregard plateau. For more challenging skiing the La Balme area, the highest point with accessible lifts, at 2477 metres, offers steeper runs with breathtaking views of nearby Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in France. The Passerelle, a glass viewing walkway at the Col de Balme gives amazing views over the Mont Blanc Massif.  And of course, if you are looking for a break or a tasty mountain lunch, it’s easy to stop at one of the pretty chalet restaurants dotted around the mountains.

For non-skiers or those thinking of exploring further afield, you can combine a visit to the Aravis area with a day trip to Annecy, a picturesque town on the shores of Lake Annecy with castles, lovely restaurants, and stunning views of the surrounding area.

La Clusaz has plenty of activities for non-skiers including from horse-drawn sleighs to ice skating as well as a public swimming pool. On Mondays, there is a traditional alpine market in the church square where you can buy local mountain delicacies and gifts

I spent the 2022 – 2023 winter season working for Inghams, based in the Tarentaise with remote responsibility for our guests staying in La Clusaz. For me, a trip to the area was excellent to visit the hotels where my guests were based and experience the village of La Clusaz firsthand.  I drove over the Col des Aravis, a great spot to stop and admire the view, before heading down into La Clusaz.

The heart of the Aravis region is the traditional mountain village of La Clusaz with its shops, restaurants, and hotels. There is accommodation to suit all budgets from the self-catering apartments at the Residence Mendi Alde, the Beauregard a 4-star hotel located at the Bossonnet lift, the 3-star Alpen Roc Hotel, and the Hotel Au Coeur du Village a luxurious 5-star hotel in an enviable location as its name suggests (at the heart of the village) close to the vibrant village square with its church.

If you are looking for ski-in ski-out accommodation in the Arravis Massif,  the Hotel Au Coeur du Village fits the bill, a few steps from the ski kindergarten, ski school meeting point, and some of the main gondolas up the mountain – the location is excellent for easy access to the pistes.

The hotel took ten years to build to the exacting standards of the owner Gaston Pollet-Villard who was born and raised in La Clusaz. An underground car park under the hotel was one of the challenges during the construction.

The hotel is built from wood, stone, and other natural materials with a light and spacious feel about it. Crystals are dotted around the communal areas, the spa is named the Crystal SPA, and dainty orchids adorn the tables in the dining room. The atmosphere is understated luxury with two restaurants, one offering a gastronomic menu, a spa, a swimming pool, and a comfortable bar with a lounge area.

The rooms are tastefully decorated with state-of-the-art bathrooms and whirlpool baths in the larger rooms. The choice of double rooms varies from standard junior rooms (the smallest with a queen-sized bed) to the more spacious ‘privilege’ room with a comfortable seating area and a Kinedo whirlpool bath.

For families or couples looking for extra space or greater luxury, there are suites designed to meet all needs with some offering balconies with panoramic views over the village and the mountains beyond. All room options come with Nespresso machines, Cinq Mondes toiletries, and spa baths or high-powered showers.

At the end of the day, guests can relax in the spa area or take advantage of the swimming pool, steam room, and sauna, spa treatments including heavenly massages can be booked to restore your aching limbs after an active day on the slopes.

In keeping with the high quality of this luxurious hotel there are two restaurants: Le Cinq a cosy gastronomic restaurant offering an exceptional dining experience (open in the winter season) and Le Coeur a gourmet restaurant offering tasty dishes using top-quality local produce. Both menus have been created by the innovative head chef Vincent Deforce.

Restaurant Le Coeur offers a choice of set menus with starter, main, and dessert at 68 euros, or starter and main or main and dessert at 55 euros. The enticing menu contains dishes such as foie gras candy – apple from Savoie, candied celery and brioche with vergeoise, a delicious way to start your meal.

Moving on to the main course, there is a good choice of meat dishes, fish dishes, and Savoyard specialities such as tartiflette and raclette as well as vegetarian options. I sampled the Fera fish from Lake Geneva with Roscoff sea lettuce, Corsican clementines, and sand carrots – it was beautifully presented and delicious.

For dessert, a portion of timeless crêpes Suzette is highly recommended, freshly prepared at the table with winter citrus fruits marinated in Timut pepper with cottage cheese sorbet from Val d’Arby.

The hotel boasts its own cheese cave with a large range of local and regional cheeses in a glazed temperature-controlled environment. Diners enter the room to select their choice of cheese which, naturally, includes Reblochon the speciality cheese of the surrounding area.

The breakfast buffet is served in the Le Coeur dining room in the morning. This sumptuous spread includes everything you could possibly want for breakfast from fruits and nuts to cereals, pastries, cold meats, cheese, yoghurts, and hot options. An additional menu for various egg dishes can be ordered at a separate cost. Gluten-free requirements are well catered for.

Service at the Hotel Au Coeur du Village is exceptional, friendly staff are there to help you with any questions or information about the village and the Aravis area as a whole.

The Aravis Massif has skiing to suit every level of ability, in its pretty traditional mountain villages with stunning alpine views. If you haven’t visited this area it is definitely somewhere you should consider, its proximity to Geneva airport allows you to make the most of your holiday without lengthy transfer times.

I would certainly recommend the Hotel Au Coeur du Village for an exceptional ski holiday experience in the beautiful village of La Clusaz.

 I was a guest at the Hotel Au Coeur du Village staying in a ‘privilege’ room with breakfast included. I dined at Le Coeur restaurant with a taster of some of the dishes on the set menu.

 

For more details and to book your next ski holiday at the Hotel Au Coeur du Village with Inghams visit Inghams Ski.

For more information on La Clusaz as a holiday destination visit La Clusaz.