Mon, 13 February 2023
Minimum altitude: 1,017 meters
Distance: 70.9 km
Slope Aspect: North-East
Vertical Climbed: 6,893 meters (22,616 feet)
Vertical Descended: 6,893 meters
General Description
Arêches-Beaufort is a typical Beaufortain village resort, located in the heart of Savoie, 20 km from Albertville. The ski area features 100 hectares of skiing with 1300 meters of vertical drop over 30 ski runs covering 50 kilometers in total. The lower slopes start at just 1080 meters and the top of the pistes are at 2320 meters. The Beaufortain range is typically one of the snowiest in the French alps with the proximity of le Mont Blanc creating a microclimate. Skiing is through forests and mountain pastures and chalets. The area is known for Beaufort AOP, the famous cheese of the valley.
As well as alpine skiing there are some cross country trails and marked ski touring routes. The mountains are something of a mecca for ski touring and there is the international Pierra Menta ski touring stage race.
The alpine skiing is over two linked sectors: le Grand-Mont and le Planay. These offer different slope profiles suitable for both beginner to more advanced. There are beginners areas on the Cuvy plateau at 1710m and at le Planay. Curvy offers two blue slopes, a green an a play area with superb views of le Mont-Blanc. There is seating and picnic tables. At le Planay the Espace Fripons includes a sledging run and a green run around a covered conveyor belt lift as well as green and blue slopes, a KidCross and a MiniPark to learn both freestyle and skicross. Bovoland is oriented towards skicross.
Access
Airports: Chambéry 85km / 1 hour, Lyon 160km / 1h45, Geneva 115km / 1h40, Grenoble 150km / 1h40
Bus: Alti 21 from Albertville train station
Ski Touring
Trip Report
The area feels bigger than 50km however the lift system is fairly old and resort is a bit dated with drag lifts. Le planay is more modern. There is a new gondola this season that links the two sectors otherwise the area feels like two separate resorts that have been joined up. It is not too hard to get from one sector to another. The scenery is attractive with stunning views of le Mont Blanc from the plateau. I wouldn’t go for a week if advanced unless I planned other activities like ski touring but it is great for day trippers. The wide road up from Albertville is straightforward with no real climbs but take care of the speed limits, it is just 50 in places. One family seems to own all the ski rentals so maybe the village would be a bit claustrophobic if staying longer if you are not a local.
Good on the plateau, poorer le planay as it is too low, at least this season. Busy in Arêches with lift queues, quieter le Planay
