Ice diving under the Lac des Confins
A guided dive beneath the frozen lake near the chalet, in silence and filtered light, with an instructor at your side. A photo package is available, and evening sessions for those who have tried it by day.
Massif des Aravis, French Alps
Luxury Chalets in La Clusaz
A real, working French village with a serious ski area, about an hour from Geneva.
Altitude1,100–2,600 m3,609–8,530 ft
Ski area125 km78 mi of runs
Lifts50across five massifs
84 marked runs
18 green30 blue29 red7 black
Best forFamilies and groups who want a real French village, a short transfer from Geneva, and a private chalet in nature with no neighbors in sight.
Less ideal forSkiers who want to walk out of the door onto the slopes, or the scale of a giant linked ski area. Chalet Aravis needs a short drive or shuttle to the lifts.
Our Chalets in La Clusaz
Our La Clusaz home is Chalet Aravis: built entirely in wood, alone in the Confins valley, with four ensuite bedrooms, a home cinema and an outdoor hot tub. Rented to one group at a time.
Tell us your dates and your group, and we'll tell you which chalet fits.
Check availabilityWhy La Clusaz
La Clusaz is closer to what most Americans picture when they imagine the French Alps: a village that existed long before skiing did, with its church, its farms and its cheese, set below the limestone peaks of the Aravis. People live here year-round, and the village stays a village even in February.
The skiing is better than its size suggests: 125 km (78 miles) of runs across five massifs, from 1,100 m in the village to 2,600 m on Balme, where the snow holds best. The slopes are varied and rarely crowded, and the view toward Mont Blanc from the top lifts is one of the finest in the northern Alps.
And it is close. Geneva airport is about an hour from the village, which makes La Clusaz the easiest of our destinations for a first trip or a shorter stay. Compared with Megève, its better-known neighbor, La Clusaz is less formal, more sporty and, many French families would say, more authentic.
Our guideLa Clusaz: The Family Alps Village Most Americans Have Never Heard OfRead the article →Where Our Chalets Are
La Clusaz spreads across one valley and five massifs, each with its own character:
1,100 m / 3,610 ft
The village
Church, shops, restaurants and the main lifts, in a real mountain village.
Plateau, by gondola
Beauregard
Gentle slopes and cross-country trails above the village, ideal for beginners.
Up to 2,600 m / 8,530 ft
Balme
The high, snow-sure sector, loved by good skiers and freeriders.
Our chalets1,450 m / 4,760 ft
Les Confins
A quiet valley with a lake, 53 km of cross-country trails and a view of Mont Blanc. This is where Chalet Aravis is.
Chalet Aravis sits in the Confins valley, at about 1,450 m (4,760 ft), alone in the forest with no neighbors in sight. The valley is the quiet side of La Clusaz: a frozen lake in winter, cross-country trails, and the Aravis peaks rising straight above.
The chalet is not ski-in, ski-out, and we prefer to say so: the slopes are close, but you reach the lifts by car or shuttle. The village center is about 5 km (3 miles) away, around 17 minutes by road. Most of our guests keep a car for the week, or we arrange a driver.
That small effort buys something rare: complete privacy, silence at night, and a chalet built in the local style, in wood, with a ski room at the entrance and space to park.
Our guideThe 2030 Winter Olympics Are Coming to Courchevel and La Clusaz: What to Know NowRead the article →
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Each circle shows an approximate area, never an exact address. Click a circle to see the chalets inside.
The Skiing
The numbers: 125 km of runs, 84 marked pistes (18 green, 30 blue, 29 red, 7 black) and 50 lifts, between 1,100 m and 2,600 m. The area spreads across five massifs, Beauregard, L'Étale, L'Aiguille, Balme and Manigod, so there is always a side of the mountain in the sun or out of the wind.
Beginners start on the Beauregard plateau, reached by gondola from the village, with gentle slopes and quiet runs. The La Clusaz ski club has produced generations of French champions, and we book private lessons before you arrive, matched to each skier's level.
Intermediates have long, varied runs on L'Étale and L'Aiguille. Good skiers head to Balme, the highest sector, where a new chairlift opens this winter toward 2,500 m. Off-piste terrain is excellent; ski it only with a qualified guide, which we can arrange.
One honest note: La Clusaz is lower than Tignes or Val Thorens. Snow is usually best from late December to March, and the high Balme sector holds it longest. In a thin year, we will tell you so before you book.
Our guideHow Ski Lessons Actually Work in France: ESF, ESI, and What to BookRead the article →
For American skiers
France grades runs on four colors instead of three. Green and blue are beginner and easy, much like at home. A red sits between an American blue and black. A French black is the hardest on the mountain, comparable to a black or double-black diamond.
Does your Epic or Ikon pass work here? → · Piste map (PDF) ↗
Beyond the Slopes
Cross-country skiing at Les Confins
53 km of trails at the foot of the Aravis, minutes from the chalet, with a view of Mont Blanc. Fun courses for children, and a training ground for French champions.
La Bascule
An aerial swing on the Aiguille massif, hanging over the Confins valley and the Aravis range. A few seconds of flight, and one of the most photographed spots in the resort.
Reblochon farms
La Clusaz is reblochon country. Visit a working farm, meet the families who make the cheese, and taste it right on the slopes. A side of the Alps most visitors never see.
The new mountain coaster
A rail toboggan designed for families, new this season and open all year. Children can ride with an adult, and the descent through the trees is a good finish to a ski day.
Snowshoeing
Snowy paths from the Beauregard plateau to Les Confins, through forest and open pasture, at a pace that suits the whole family. No experience needed, and a guide shows you the tracks of the animals.
Photos: Ice diving under the Lac des Confins © Laurelenn Jacquet
La Clusaz in summer
In summer, La Clusaz is a green valley of pastures and farms, with Lake Annecy under an hour away. The Confins valley, around the chalet, becomes a place for long walks and quiet evenings.
Hiking in the Aravis
Trails for every level, from lake walks at Les Confins to high passes below the limestone peaks of the Aravis, with views of Mont Blanc from the top.
Lake Annecy
Known as one of the cleanest lakes in Europe, under an hour away: swimming, boating, paddle and a long lunch by the water in Talloires or Annecy's old town.
Mountain biking
Lift-served trails for confident riders, and quieter routes through the pastures and forests of the valley for families. Electric bikes can be delivered to the chalet.
Farms and alpine pastures
Summer is when the cows go up to the high pastures and the reblochon is made on the spot. Visit a farm at milking time and taste the cheese where it is made.
The mountain coaster
The new rail toboggan runs in summer too, through the trees above the village. A favorite with children, and a fun way to end a day of hiking.
Paragliding
The Aravis are one of the best places in the Alps to fly. Tandem flights with a qualified pilot, above the village and the lake of the Confins, weather permitting.
Photos: Lake Annecy © Xavier Souty
When to Go
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
SeasonBusiest weeksQuietest weeks
Typical seasonMid Dec to early April
Busiest weeksChristmas and February
Quietest weeksMid-January
From Geneva airportJust over 1 hour
La Clusaz skis best from late December to March. The season usually opens in early December and runs to late April, and the high Balme sector holds its snow longest. For late-season trips, we will tell you honestly how the snow looks.
Planning dates? Read when French school holidays fall. Opening and closing dates change every year, so check the resort's official site before booking flights.
Our guideBooking Christmas Week: Why It's Already Later Than You ThinkRead the article →Getting There
- DepartNew York · WashingtonNewark, JFK or Dulles, evening
- ≈ 8 h overnight nonstop
- LandGenevaearly morning
- ≈ 1 h 30 private transfer
- ArriveLes Confinsin time for lunch
La Clusaz is the easiest of our destinations to reach. From the United States, fly overnight to Geneva, nonstop in about 8 hours from New York (United from Newark, SWISS from JFK) or Washington Dulles (United). The chalet is then about 1 h 30 away by road, so you can be in the hot tub by lunchtime. From Boston and most other US cities, connect once in Europe, or fly nonstop to Paris and continue by short flight to Geneva or TGV to Annecy.
Annecy station, about an hour from the chalet, is served by TGV trains from Paris. Lyon and Chambéry airports are about 2 hours away. Whichever route you choose, we arrange a private transfer timed to your actual arrival.
Geneva airport≈ 1 h 3063 km · 39 mi
Lyon airport≈ 2 h 15164 km · 102 mi
Chambéry airport≈ 1 h 3588 km · 55 mi
Annecy train station≈ 1 h37 km · 23 mi
Driving times from our chalets, without traffic. Allow more on winter Saturdays. Geneva airport to your chalet, step by step
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How We Help in La Clusaz
Everything that makes the week easier is arranged before you land: transfers, a driver for the ski days if you prefer not to drive, ski rental fitted and delivered, private lessons, childcare, dog sitting, a private chef, a massage in the chalet. One contact for all of it, based in New York and in your time zone, and the team on site welcomes you at the chalet.
Private Chef
Airport Transfers
Ski & Equipment Rental
Ski Lessons
Childcare
Dog Sitting
In-Chalet Massage
Wine Tasting & Grocery Delivery
Restaurant Reservations & Local Experiences
Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Clusaz a good choice for families and beginners?
Yes, it is one of the most family-friendly resorts in France. Beginners start on the gentle Beauregard plateau, the village has everything within walking distance, and the ski schools are excellent. We book lessons and childcare before you arrive.
How does La Clusaz compare to Megève?
Both are real villages close to Geneva. Megève is more polished and more formal, with luxury boutiques and a social scene; La Clusaz is sportier and more relaxed, with a larger and higher ski area for its size. Many French families choose La Clusaz for exactly that reason.
Is the snow reliable at Christmas and Easter?
Less than in Tignes or Val Thorens, and we prefer to say so. La Clusaz tops out at 2,600 m and is usually at its best from late December to March. The high Balme sector holds snow longest. For an Easter trip, we would usually point you to a higher resort.
How do we get to La Clusaz from the US?
Fly overnight to Geneva, nonstop in about 8 hours from New York or Washington Dulles, then a private transfer of about 1 h 30 to the chalet. From other US cities, connect in Europe or fly to Paris and take the TGV to Annecy. It is the shortest transfer of all our destinations.
Is Chalet Aravis ski-in, ski-out?
No. The chalet is in the Confins valley, about 5 km from the village center: the slopes are close, but you reach the lifts by car or shuttle. In return, you have complete privacy and no neighbors in sight. We can arrange a driver for the ski days.
Can you arrange a private chef, ski instructors or childcare?
Yes, from a single celebratory dinner to every meal of your stay, matched to your group's tastes and any dietary needs, and arranged before you arrive rather than negotiated once you're there. Yes, all three. Equipment is fitted and delivered to the chalet before you arrive, lessons are private or small-group and arranged around your schedule, and childcare is vetted and briefed on your children's routine in advance.
How far ahead should we book?
For Christmas, New Year and the February school holidays, as early as you can: many returning guests rebook their week a year ahead. For other weeks, a few weeks' notice is often enough, and we tell you honestly what is still available. A 30% deposit secures the dates, with the balance due 60 days before arrival.
Will the 2030 Winter Olympics take place in La Clusaz?
La Clusaz is among the French Alps sites announced for the 2030 Winter Games, for cross-country and Nordic events. Our Journal has a dedicated article on what this means for travelers.
Planning a week in La Clusaz?
Tell us your dates, your group and what matters most. We'll tell you whether Aravis fits, and how to organize the ski days.
Start an enquiryCompare all destinations · Tignes · Courchevel · Val Thorens