Val Cenis Ski Area France
Val Cenis connects 3 Ski Villages, Lanslevillard, Lanslebourg and Termignon, and from the high alpine 2800-metere summit, you can ski see Italy and the beautiful glacial Lac du Mont Cenis! We love this French Alps ski valley of Haute Maurienne Vanoise, just over the mountain ridge from more popular Val d’Isère Tignes and La Plagne Les Arcs. The ski mountains are spectacular, high altitude, and far less busy than other French ski resorts, and far more affordable. In fact, there may not be another valley on the planet that offers more affordable big mountain skiing than the Haute Maurienne Valley.
Val Cenis is vast with lower mountain lifts and gondolas from the three villages that take you to upper mountain snow fields and fun long pistes/trails, plus tons of free-ride terrain. The ski lifts are modern enough, six packs, quads, gondolas. Our runs from the summit to the base were over 3500-vertical feet, well-pitched, and interesting.
Val Cenis highlight is skiing from the Met chair summit at 2800-meters, with a spectacular view of the Lac Du Mont Cenis and the Italian Alps in the distance. But there is so much more to explore, like the old-school Cardinal double chair that serves great off-piste skiing plus one fun long groomed run. The Mont Cenis upper mountain poma brings you to lovely open, low-angle snowfields perfect on a fresh snow day, perfectly scenic too with views of the Lake and Alps surrounding you.
For beginners, so called “debutants” in French, skiing the Escargot trail allows you to see the mid mountain and ski a long meandering trail to the base, its Europe’s longest green run at 10 kilometers, six miles! Lanselvillard is the hub for learn-to-ski with fun snow parks and a Mickey Mouse ski trail for kids, plus an efficient modern gondola.
Don’t miss skiing over Termignon on the far right side of the resort. Ride the connector six-pack Turra over to this area, which has a completely different vibe. The upper mountain Grand Coin poma brings you to a gorgeous high mountain plateau with stunning vistas and pleasant runs. The Roche Fuge chalet here is a cool mid-mountain hut, and you can ski all the way to the base village of Termignon, down to 1300-meters, thanks to snowmaking, often just a ribbon of snow on the trail at this lower elevation.
On mountain chalets for ski lunch include Bar l’Alpage d’Augustin which we loved, very chic with delicious food on le Tétras blue trail, so reserve ahead for lunch. Chalet La Ranôva near the Arcelle chairlift is more humble, and cozy but also delicious food and great value with a fun team of servers. La Ferme du XXIII on Piste de l’Escargot, turn 23, is tricky to find and doesn’t have a commanding view, but we are told the food here is excellent here as well.
We recommend you stay in the central village of Lanslebourg. We stayed at Hotel Saint Charles at Val Cenis, with a nice spa, right on the ski slopes next to the lift, just be aware there is a nightclub downstairs. You can walk across the river bridge to the pretty village, with its few ski shops, restaurants and markets. While not as cozy or historic as neighboring Bonneval sur Arc up the mountain road, Val Cenis village is pleasant, with events and concerts at their theatre. We loved our dinner at Pub Naploean, wonderful food, great team and Chef/proprietor, even though the location is understated. Also La Vielle Poste is more elegant, traditional with very good cuisine. Creperie Ramasse serves happy humble crepes, very affordable.
Val Cenis is family and beginner-friendly for skiers, popular for parasailing (parapente) too. With good snow, Val Cenis has tremendous free-riding terrain just off the groomed ski slopes. Combine a few days here with skiing nearby further up the beautiful valley to Bonneval sur Arc, or at La Norma, Valfrejus, Aussois, all in the same Alps, and Valloire Valmeinier is close as well. as mentioned earlier… this Haute Maurienne Vanoise region in the Savoie Alps might have more affordable big mountain ski areas per square mile than anywhere on the planet.
Val Cenis Ski Resort Ski Stats:
Elevation: 1300 – 2800 meters, 9,186′ summit
Vertical Drop: 1500 meters – 4,921′
Lifts: 29
Trails: 125km
