La Clusaz, France

La Clusaz is a French Alpine ski resort located near to the Swiss border. La Clusaz has been home to winter sports since 1907 and now plays host to the annual Candide Invitational, which is a ski contest located on La Balme Mountain.

At the beginning of December, the Confins Nordic area will host a new stage of the 2009 Cross-Country Skiing World Cup. La Clusaz is home to a number of winter sports champions including Guy Perillat, who was Double Alpine world champion in 1960 and 1966, as well as Candide Thovex, who recently made history as a triple X-games winner (Slopestyle 2007, Big Air 2001, and Super Pipe 2003).

Away from the slopes, guests can enjoy several different activities including ice-skating, ice-karting, snow-shoeing, and hang-gliding. La Clusaz also has a fitness centre, aquatic space, and numerous discos and bars.

How to get there

There are several convenient ways to reach La Clusaz:

By air

The three nearest airports to the resort are Geneva in Switzerland (50 miles away), Lyon Saint Exupery in France (150 miles away), and Annecy in France (30 miles away).

Return flights from London to Geneva start at £35 if booked well in advance. Return flights between London and Lyon start at £50. Annecy is a small airport and only receives flights from Paris Orly airport. There is a shuttle bus which runs between Geneva and La Clusaz during the ski season.

Lyon Saint Exupery airport offers a shuttle bus service which travels via Annecy airport. A single trip costs €60 and a return trip costs €90. There are discounts available for groups, young people under the age of 24, and children. Further information on this shuttle bus service can be found here.

By train

The nearest train station is 32 kilometres away from the resort in Annecy. It receives TGV trains from most major cities. For further information on TGV trains and timetables, please click here. Upon arrival at Annecy you will need to take a taxi or a bus transfer. Bus timetables can be found here and a list of taxi firms serving the La Clusaz area can be found here.

By car

If you are travelling from northern regions of France, you should take the A39 motorway from Dijon towards Geneva. If weather conditions are bad, it may be necessary to travel through Annecy. You should then transfer to the A40 (Autoroute Blanche) and continue for 20 kilometres before exiting at exit 16 (Bonneville).

Follow signs towards Stations des Aravis before taking the A41 and exiting at Annecy Nord. You should then follow signs to Thones. La Clusaz will be signposted from this point.

Who does the resort cater for?

La Clusaz is well-known for being one of the ski resorts which caters well for beginners and intermediate skiers. This ski resort provides several different ski and snowboard schools suitable for both adults and children at reasonable prices. Information on these schools can be found here.

The resort also hosts a variety of activities specifically aimed at children, including a children’s workshop, tobogganing, and ‘Tea-time in the Mountains’. Full details of these events can be found here. La Clusaz also has a well-equipped Snow Park.

Accommodation

La Clusaz offers a wide range of accommodation, from hotels and lodges, to B&Bs and package deals. However, make sure you check the information online because some of the accommodation options at the resort only accept cash as payment.

• Hotels: La Clusaz offers a variety of hotels, ranging from 1* options to 4* options. Hotel prices start at around €50 (£42) per night for a double room but can go up to €482 (£413) per night for a double room. Information on all the hotels in La Clusaz can be found here.

• Bed & Breakfasts: There are five B&Bs in La Clusaz. Prices start at €45 (£38) but can be as high as €130 (£112) for a twin room. Information on all of the bed and breakfast options can be found here.

• Gîtes and Lodges: There are three private half-board gîtes and one semi-private gîte available at La Clusaz. Prices start at €34 (£29) but can go as high as €60 (£51). For accurate prices and contact information, please click here.

• All-Inclusive Packages: La Clusaz offers several all-inclusive packages to help make your holiday as comfortable as possible. These packages include the La Clusaz tour, the Chalet Alpage, and the Carlina and Beaulieu. Further information on these packages can be found here.

• Other accommodation: La Clusaz ski resort also offers a variety of other accommodation options, including youth hostels and family hotels. For further information on these options please click here.

Slope Information

The resort has over 130 skiable pistes and 220 kilometres of trails. There are 42 green runs (suitable for beginners, these slopes are often very wide), 45 blue runs (marked and perfect for beginners and intermediate skiers), 35 red runs (great for intermediate and experienced skiers), and 10 black runs (often steep and unmarked, these are suitable solely for experts and those looking for a challenge).

Resort Vitals

• 220km Downhill Pistes
• 168km Cross Country trails
• 55 Ski Lifts
• 1,500m Max Vertical
• 2,600m Highest Lift
• 1,100m Resort Altitude
• 3km Longest Run

Contact Information

Tourist Office
161, Place de L'église
BP 7
74220 LA CLUSAZ

Tel: +33 (0) 4 50 32 65 00
Fax: +33 (0) 4 50 32 65 01
Email:infos@laclusaz.com