Snowsure: 4.1
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Samoens is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Samoens Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
February 02, 2009
Ian C from
United Kingdom
Ian C from
United Kingdom
Having just returned from a one week break in Samoens, I felt compelled to submit a review whilst my experience was still fresh. This is, beyond doubt, the most picturesque ski base that I have ever encountered and it accesses some fabulous terrain, albeit somewhat slowly via some antiquated links (particularly into Flaine). The town is jaw droppingly pretty with a real sense of history and understated charm. Samoens may not have the rugged splendour of Chamonix but the scenery will not disappoint.
The local ski runs at Samoens 1600 are sufficient for beginners and early intermediates although there seemed to be a higher proportion of button tows than I have seen in other resorts. Beyond 1600 there is great tree lined skiing at Morillon and Les Carroz. A particular favourite with the kids was the Marvel run in Morillon - labelled green but more like an easy blue - with lots of bumps and jumps off the sides and through the trees.
Blue sky days should be spent in Flaine bowl where you will find great cruising off the Grands Platieres and fabulous views of Mont Blanc; particularly liked cruising Cristal and the bumps and gullies off the sides of Faust.
All in all, Samoens is a great destination for a family with young kids, particularly if they are competent enough to manage all blues and easier reds as this really opens up the whole area. Just be prepared for slow links and bottle necks when trying to get to and from Flaine.
December 19, 2008
A Patterson from
United Kingdom
A Patterson from
United Kingdom
We have been to Samoens twice now and are going back again this year. The skiing in the Grand Massif is awesome, there maybe not the hundreds of runs found in the Trios Vallee, but there is ample enough for a week, and some brilliant off piste at the top of Flaine, also try dropping into the Valley behind Grand Vans (top of Vernant chair) but be warned you end up in Sixt and will have to bus back! Samoens is a charming village, big enough to entertain with plenty of small shops/restaurants and bars. But it is growing in size and popularity but there are plenty of bargains to have.
Definitely suggest you try it out, and you might find you re-visit year after year. We stayed in Chalet Sougey (find on internet); lovely helpful young couple, and Steve may point you in the direction of the off-piste he showed us.
Well worth a visit.
March 25, 2008
Mike Phillips from
United Kingdom
Mike Phillips from
United Kingdom
Samoens (Samowah) is the prettiest resort I have stayed in including pretentious Megeve. 1 hour from Geneva. Cheaper to pre-hire from the French side of the airport. The new 8 seater gondola is about 700 metres from the village but large car park or use ski bus. Ski area is extensive and varied enough for my wife, 12 year old son and me with tree line skiing and vast open pistes if you venture across to Flaine. Very good blue/red intermediate territory. The lift system is good with some very long lifts and consequent long runs. Less mountain restaurants than other resorts such as Les Gets but most of our experiences were good. Lots of weekenders so you need to pre book village restaurants at the weekend. Good for families as night life is quiet. Locals are very friendly. I can imagine it's a great place in summer as well. Will be back to ski next year.
January 31, 2008
Thomas from
United Kingdom
Thomas from
United Kingdom
Samoens is the most beautiful and enchanting ski destination we have ever tried and we've skied everywhere in the last 25 years!! With both the Sunday Telegraph and Times describing it as the "next big thing" we loved it so much we went back in August where the 20 waterfalls pouring off the mountains at Sixt blew us away with their beauty and the white water rafting, paragliding, mountain biking and bustling village were all fantastic. The skiing was superb and the apres great with the whole town seemingly out on the streets drinking vin chaud in the early evening. We're now seriously contemplating buying an apartment in a small swish new development right by the new gondola station being built by 4 British guys who have also fallen in love with the place - the website is megachalet.com!! Enjoy!
February 01, 2006
Anne Wilson from
United Kingdom
Anne Wilson from
United Kingdom
Samoens - a very pretty medieval village with old church square, stone fountains, a garden with alpine flowers from around the world which rises above the village....(more Summer than Winter).
The skiing links into the Flaine circuit, covering the villages of Sixt, Les Carroz, Morillon and Flaine. Excellent skiing for all levels. I hear there is great off-piste but so far have been too sissy to try. Wonderful blue run down to Sixt on Les Cascades, which runs for apparently 14K - through wonderful national park - once you are on it no turning back, no lifts etc. There is a restaurant who will send a snowmobile to collect you if you phone them - as yet untried...
Some good restaurants in town - for families with kids, or more grown up food as required. Our favourites, Le Bois du Lune - has a super cocktail bar or Le Monde L'Envers. Mountain restaurants are a bit scarce, although Le (La) Vieille above Morillon, is very charming hut but quite tiny - so early booking required. Menu limited but cosy atmosphere inside with old wood burning stove and tiny windows.....night life - there are a couple of great bars, Covey's being one and how many do you actually need? Have spent many an hour reviewing the meaning of life over a vin chaud in the Bar de Savoie...
Outside Samoens, 5 mins away, a tiny hamlet called Vallon with old farms, a chapel but that's for another time....
December 06, 2005
Simon J Price from
United Kingdom
Simon J Price from
United Kingdom
Great place for those who want fantastic skiing, little queuing and good non-rip-off restaurants. The fact is it's a place without the rowdies but with the french charm. There are night clubs in Flaine if you feel the need. The off-piste is good, the piste is so extensive that you will struggle to cover it all in a week. There is a 17km run, Le Cascade from Flaine to Sixt (blue) with a great refuge at Lac de Gers on the way (book in advance) but if you prefer the fast way down, Styx is a black run to blow you away. All my children (3) have learnt to ski here so the nursery slopes etc are excellent and improved recently at Samoens 1600. Ski passes are about 2/3rds Val etc £250 for a season ticket before mid-Dec. Come but if you don't it'll be quieter so I don't mind.
December 05, 2005
al foster from
United Kingdom
al foster from
United Kingdom
On the Samoens side of the Grand Massif the best place to stay for access to and from the slopes, is Morillon 1100. It is a mixture of old and new with its own nursery slopes and bluse and red runs linking to Les Carroz and Samoens and the on to Flaine. The village is 10 minutes drive from old Morillon village and 15 minutes from Samoens. The main drawback with Samoens is that there are no pistes down to the village so a lift, bus or car has to be used at the start and end of the day. Morillon 1100, also called Les Hauts des Esserts does not have these problems.
July 28, 2005
Mark Kelly from
United Kingdom
Mark Kelly from
United Kingdom
Samoens is one of the prettiest villages on France's skiing circuit. Its strict conservation policy means that it has none of the ugly purpose-built high rises that spoil many of the modern resorts. Samoens has a community and life of its own, so visitors can enjoy a true flavour of Frances - particularly in its many good restaurants and bars. The skiing is abundant and varied. Linked to Flaine, Morillon, Les Carroz and Sixt, Samoens offers a vast domain of runs - from challenging blacks to gentle nursery slopes. For those with insatiable appetites, Les Gets and the Portes de Soleil can be reached in under 40 minutes by car.
Although Samoens itself is at a modest 820 metres, a brand new gondola - linked in to the whole of the Grand Massif - whisks skiers to the slopes at 1600 metres in 8 minutes. The ski school (ESF) is excellent and has responded to demand by providing English-speaking instructors. The village runs a nursery where children of all ages can be safely left under the guidance of trained nursery staff. And the best news of all, Samoens is a mere 50 minute transfer by road form Geneva airport.
Nearest resorts Morillon, Flaine. Les Gets, Morzine/Avoriaz.
April 08, 2005
Ralph Kent from
France
Ralph Kent from
France
Samoens is a very charming typically French ski resort, a year round town which thankfully has yet to be blighted by the 'brits on tour' brigade that have invaded VdI and parts of the 3 vallees. It has recently benefitted from the investment in the Grand Massif express, which supercedes the old bubble at Vercland, meaning you get from the outskirts of Samoens to Samoens 1600 in about 10 minutes. That said, as the lift is about 1km outside of the centre of Samoens, you still will need a car or be prepared to wait for the ski-bus - this isn't really a package holiday type of place.
I've heard a lot of people say the Grand Massif is a 'beginners' resort - I'd disagree with this - I'd say is a 'progressing intermediate' resort with plenty of easily accessible large powder fields for those who are ready for it. It is not, as other reviewers have said, that geared up for complete newbies - the beginners slope at Morillon is serviced by a drag lift, which can be tricky for boarders who are learning, meaning that the nursery green at Samoens is your only real option.
It is also true that unlike some other resorts, the Grand Massif is not littered with mountain restaurants and the like. I think its quite a serious ski domain in as much as people who come here come to ski / board firstly, eat second. I prefer it that way, the mountain is less spoiled, the standard of skiing quite good. Nightlife is also pretty subdued, so if you're looking for a week on the raz, Samoens probably won't keep you entertained. John & Shane run a nice bar at Samoens (Coveys) and a restaurant at Verchaix (Caribou), there is also La Clarine Bar, and there are loads of other really good places to eat in Samoens too, but no real clubs to speak of (unless you count the awful Tomawack at Morillon / Verchaix).
March 04, 2005
Steve from
United Kingdom
Steve from
United Kingdom
The Samoens link into the Grand Massif makes this a very large ski area, and the new telecabine from the village makes for quick access to the slopes. But this isn't the Trois Vallees...lifts are older and slower, and it is very lacking in mountian restaurants. But the skiing is wonderful and there is lots of variety, from off-piste to skiing below the treeline. Very few hard blacks. The lifts over to Flaine can be slow at half-term. This is one of the best resorts to get to in the Alps, only 50 minutes from Geneva. And lift passes are good value.
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