The Skiing

Les Laix is within the same commune as La Rosière and its lifts can be reached with a ten minute drive. There is a choice of starting your day at either the main resort at 1850 metres or at the chair lift which starts close to Séez at about 1200 metres. Taking the latter means that one can end the day with a very long and uninterrupted run from the fort at La Rosière which is also a jumping off point for the skiing on the Italian side of the resort. La Rosière is linked with La Thuile which is becoming more popular every year and has some very varied skiing and lovely tree runs. Some of the lower runs into the village are awesomely steep and fast and as much of a challenge as one could wish for; but there are several much more gentle ways down! A lunch in Italy is another highlight of the day’s skiing. The skiing at La Rosiere is surprisingly varied and extensive. The resort is south facing with long hours of sunshine and a great snow record and with some wonderful views of the other resorts in the Tarentaise.

A new resort in the Tarentaise; and one that we are slightly reluctant to talk about as we would like to keep it to ourselves and just the way it is! With only 3 main lifts it serves a wide ski area from 2700 metres to 1550 metres. It also gives access to some of the best and most beautiful off-piste ski areas of the Tarentaise. Many of the best known guides from Val d’Isère, Tignes and Les Arcs can be seen on the slopes of Ste Foy and some of them come on their days off as well. It has a wonderfully unsophisticated and friendly feel and although much of the mountain is quite steep the snow, both on and off piste, is usually very good and forgiving. The mountain restaurants are simple but the food is delicious and the ambience both convivial and sometimes somewhat eccentric.

So well known is the Espace Killy and so much has been written about the quality and extent of the skiing that it would be pointless to add any further superlatives here. John and Juliet Bidwell lived in the resort for a whole season during the 80s and know the area and many of its characters intimately. Val d’Isère can be reached by car in about 25 minutes from Les Laix, while Tignes (Les Brévières) can be driven to in about 15 minutes.

For those keen on big name resorts, Les Arcs is also on our doorstep and can be accessed from the village of Villaroger where two chair lifts take one into the main Les Arcs lift network. Villaroger can be reached in about fifteen minutes from Les Laix. The skiing at both extremes of Les Arcs (Villaroger and Peisey Nancroix) offers delightful tree skiing with a choice for skiers of all abilities; and with the right conditions some wonderful powder snow. Les Arcs also has one of the longest piste runs in Europe, from the top of the Aiguille Rouge cable car to the car park at Villaroger (15 minutes from home).