The Grand Bornand ski resort is located in the Aravis massif. It is situated at an altitude of between 1,000 and 2,100 metres. Le Grand Bo’, as it is called in Haute-Savoie, allows you to ski on more than 90 kilometres of slopes and to practice many other winter sports. The Grand Bornand resort can accommodate up to 40,000 skiers per hour!
An authentic Haute-Savoyard village
This typical village is located at the crossroads of two valleys of the Aravis massif: the Bouchet and Chinaillon valleys. Mount Lachat is in the middle and the village is organised around the bulbous church and the grenette. This is an old grain market, which has existed since at least 1569, according to the first writings. Since 1795, every Wednesday, Le Grand Bornand has hosted the last reblochon market in the Savoie.
Le Grand Bornand is a French resort that has retained 400 chalets, many of which are two hundred years old. The oldest has been home to the same family since 1664. Gastronomically, it is an opportunity to taste the excellent Reblochon. This typical and tasty cheese has been produced here since the 13th century. You can discover the traditional dishes: the péla, the Savoyard stuffing and the potato fritters.
Le Grand Bornand is the leading agricultural commune in Haute-Savoie, with 40 farms and 2,000 cows. Apart from the tourist activity, it is therefore an authentic village that lives to the rhythm of the seasons to support its farms. Many traditional festivals are offered: winter torchlight descents, Christmas festivities, festival for children. The historical heritage is rich. It deserves a visit with a local guide, which you can book at the Tourist Office, located at 62 place de l’Église, 74450 Le Grand Bornand.
The ski area
Suitable for all levels of skiing, the resort is fully equipped.
- Number of runs: 42, i.e. 11 green, 14 blue, 14 red and 3 black
- Kilometres of downhill ski runs: 90
- Number of lifts: 30, including 13 chairlifts, 15 drag lifts and 2 gondolas
- 4 beginners’ areas for downhill skiing, a snowpark, as well as 3 competition stadiums.
Top rated hotels
There is a wide range of tourist accommodation in the resort of Grand Bornand. Hotels, flats or chalets, the possibilities are numerous.
All accommodation in Grand Bornand
Depending on your budget, we have selected five hotels located in this beautiful village. They offer excellent value for money and have very good customer reviews:
Best Western Chalet les Saytels
This establishment is located 350 m from the ski slopes and offers a full range of facilities: outdoor and indoor swimming pools, spa, whirlpool, sauna and solarium. The rooms are decorated in Savoyard and contemporary style.
From €96 per night.
The Vermont
This hotel ticks all the boxes: located 100m from the ski lifts, it features an outdoor covered swimming pool, a jacuzzi, a gym, a ski room, and a sauna open from December to April. A prime location in the centre of the village.
From €110 per night.
La Pointe Percée
This establishment is located in the town centre. Its Savoyard style decoration and its rooms with a view of the Aravis mountains are particularly appreciated. You will be able to visit Annecy, which is only 30 km away by car.
From €90 per night.
Hotel and Spa Le Delta
The rooms of this beautiful establishment are decorated in wood, in a Savoyard style. A sauna, a hammam and a whirlpool complete the facilities. Located 300 m from the town centre and close to the ski slopes, the hotel also offers private parking.
From €105 per night.
Logis La Croix-Saint-Maurice
In the heart of the village, this hotel is located 10 km from the neighbouring resort of La Clusaz. It is equipped with a spa, a hammam and a jacuzzi. You will appreciate the typical local dishes served in the restaurant and its sunny terrace.
From €88 per night.
The most beautiful chalets
For an unforgettable holiday in the mountains, we suggest renting three chalets in Le Grand Bornand that have excellent customer reviews:
Chalet Lyoba
This beautiful and well-equipped chalet offers a 35 m² flat with kitchen and view on the resort. Free private parking, Wi-Fi and a garden with barbecue facilities are also available. The Grand Bornand Ski School is less than 4 km away.
Chalet La Lyaz
This large 200 m² chalet has 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen and a garden terrace with a barbecue. The view on the mountain is magnificent. The access to the slopes is on skis. The chalet has a ski room.
Chalet Soleya
A beautiful 150 sqm area, with a splendid view on the resort. The chalet has 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a garden and free parking. The large shaded terrace allows you to have breakfast before a beautiful day of skiing on the slopes of the Grand Bornand ski area.
Winter sports
The authentic resort of Le Grand Bornand has a beautiful ski area for downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, ski-touring, snowboarding, tobogganing, snowshoeing, and Nordic walking. People with reduced mobility are welcome and can enjoy handisport skiing, dualskiing or tandemskiing with a qualified instructor.
All the winter sports equipment can be hired on site, in the many shops in the resort.
The resort’s athletes
Tessa Worley
Lucas Chavanat
Benjamin Daviet
Sylvie Becaert
The Au Bonheur des Mômes Festival
This festival, dedicated to children, but also to families, takes place every year in the summer at the end of August. More than 90,000 festival-goers are present in the Haute-Savoie resort. Hundreds of artists and international companies offer more than 400 shows in the streets, as well as in halls or under tents.
Nicknamed “the Avignon of children“, this festival is a great rendezvous for live entertainment. A reading tent is proposed so that the little ones can discover the joys of being read a nice tale. Creative workshops, thematic exhibitions and games are a delight for children. A literary prize is awarded each year to a children’s novel selected from among 5 works. The young readers choose the winner by sending in a ballot before the festival.
Attractive ski passes
More than ten different passes allow you to choose the one that suits you best, depending on the time of day, the composition of your family and the duration of your stay:
Snowshoeing itineraries
The natural alpine setting of Grand Bornand is particularly suitable for snowshoeing. This sport, accessible to all, allows you to discover the mountain pastures while respecting the wilderness.
The Dodes outing
This circuit on the north side of the Danay forest allows you to discover the animal tracks. At the start, turn left between the two chalets of Les Dodes and then descend to the Pessey farm. The return journey is via footpath no. 19, to the ice rink.
The little plus : watch the sunset.
Le Petit Balcon des Aravis
This walk allows you to discover the sunny plateau of La Joyère and its beautiful view of the Aravis massif. The departure is at the exit of the Joyère cable car, via the path leading to the place called La Croix. You will carefully cross a ski run and a ski lift. The loop turns before Les Touillettes, on the right.
The old village of Chinaillon
A beautiful circuit at the foot of the Roc des Tours and the Roc de Charmieu. The departure is from the groomed track of the Chapelle. You will pass through the beautiful hamlets of La Bouvardière and Les Mouilles, in the direction of Cotagne. The return is a loop on the Mouilles, to Chinaillon.
The Rosay plateau loop
It allows you to admire the panorama of the Jalouvre massif and Chinaillon. The departure is at the top of the Rosay cable car, on the way to the top of the covered carpet of the Alpage Express. The descent is near the Raiches ski lift.
Ideas for summer activities
In summer, tourists can enjoy the natural surroundings of an authentic village. The tourist office offers numerous hikes to discover the fauna and flora of the mountains: marmots, ibexes, chamois and bearded vultures, which are the largest birds of prey in Europe. Excursions take you to the following mountain lakes: Lac de la Cour, Lac de Peyre and Lac de Lessy.
The Grand Bornand aquatic centre is located in the centre of the village. It consists of a swimming pool, a bubble pool, a play pool, a slide, a paddling pool and a snack bar.
For mountain bike enthusiasts, the resort offers 92 km of marked trails on 8 circuits. You can also try paragliding, golf, climbing or choose to visit farms.
La Source du Grand Bornand is a space that offers the public inter-generational exchanges, with fun outdoor or indoor activities on the themes of the mountains, agriculture and pastoralism. For example, woodcutting competitions are organised. An organic educational mini-farm and an old traditional farm are proposed.
Access and public transport
Located only 42 minutes from Annecy, Le Grand Bornand is easily accessible by car from Thônes or Bonneville. Buses run between Le Grand Bornand and Annecy all year round, via the Thônes bus station, for €8. The journey is free for children under 6 years old. In summer, the ticket allows you to put your bike in the bus hold and in winter, your skis are accepted without extra charge.
The resort also offers a CAR + SKI package, which includes transport and a day ski pass. Tickets are on sale at the bus station in Annecy and Thônes. A bus line called SKIBUS provides a shuttle service between the resorts of La Clusaz, Grand Bornand, Manigod and the town of Thônes. The public transport service is open from 19/12 to 05/04 and from 19/06 to 04/09 every day.Fare: 2 € per ticket and 10 € per week card Free on presentation of the Aravis bus card, a cross-country or downhill ski pass and for children under 5 years old.
A free shuttle called“La Toupie” serves the car parks at the foot of the gondola slopes and Tardevant during weekends and school holidays. Timetable: 8.30am to 10.30am and 3pm to 5.30pm. During the night skiing, a shuttle service is available between Grand Bornand and Chinaillon.
