The ski resort of Praz-sur-Arly is located in the Haute-Savoie, in the Val d’Arly. In both summer and winter, it is possible to spend family holidays in a pleasant family atmosphere.
Praz-sur-Arly, a village resort
Praz-sur-Arly is a first generation village resort. The principle of the snow class was developed in this Val d’Arly village in March 1950, on the initiative of Parisian teachers. Once there, you will have all the amenities nearby.
Praz-sur-Arly is the family resort par excellence. It also benefits from a rich and varied heritage. For the record, the village has 4 AOCs and 2 IGPs, a record in France. These appellations are relative to cheeses and concern here tomme, beaufort, reblochon, abondance, chevrotin and emmental de Savoie.
Praz-sur-Arly and the smugglers
In 1860, Savoie became French. A free zone was then established, of which Praz-sur-Arly was part. Little by little, the villagers set up a smuggling network with the rest of the Val d’Arly. It must be said that the village is ideally positioned, on the border between Savoie and Haute-Savoie. The fruitful trade began, with the passage and sale of coffee, sugar and tobacco. In 1923, smuggling disappeared, along with the free zone status enjoyed by Savoie. Today, you can follow in the footsteps of the smugglers via a path.
The ski area of Praz-sur-Arly
The Praz-sur-Arly ski area is located in the Espace Diamant. You will be able to ski on 157 slopes spread out between 1,000 and 2,070 metres in altitude. During your stay, you will be able to ski on Les Saisies. However, you can also stay in the Praz-sur-Arly ski area. The Val d’Arly area also includes Flumet and Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe and has 90 kilometres of pistes. This represents 51 ski lifts and 97 runs: 4 black, 34 red, 38 blue, 21 green and 3 areas dedicated to children.
Praz-sur-Arly – Office de tourisme
The best rated hotels
The small ski resort of Praz-sur-Arly is very appreciated by families. It is also possible to find tourist accommodation adapted to this clientele, from flats for 4 people to chalets for 10 people.
Depending on your budget, we have selected for you a hotel in the heart of the resort of Praz-sur-Arly. We will also introduce you to three others, located in Megève. They all have very good reviews from guests.
Les Portes de Megève
Les Portes de Megève is located 1.2 km from the ski school. Guests can make use of the sauna and hammam as well as the ESF point on site. A bike rental service is available at the hotel.
Prices start at €110 per night.
Les Fermes de Marie
Les Fermes de Marie is a 10-minute walk from the heart of Megève. A shuttle service is provided from the hotel. The rooms are decorated in a Savoyard style and you can enjoy the spa.
From € 401 per night.
Au Coin du Feu
A Savoyard hotel par excellence, Au Coin du Feu welcomes you 500 metres from the centre of Megève and the ski lifts. The rooms offer a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains.
From 124€ per night.
Les Cimes
The hotel Les Cimes is located in the heart of Megève. Free parking is available for guests and a shuttle bus is available for guests arriving by plane. The shared lounge allows you to relax after a day of skiing or hiking. The slopes are 450 metres away.
From 124€ per night.
The most beautiful chalets
For an unforgettable holiday in the mountains, we offer three chalets for rent. They are very popular with holidaymakers.
Chalet Alpen
With a surface area of 235 m², Chalet Alpen is located close to the slopes. In addition to a garden and a sauna, you can rent your ski equipment directly on site.
Chalet Diamant
Chalet Diamant is located 500 metres from the first ski lifts. It has a surface area of 170 m² and can accommodate up to 8 people. From the garden and the rooms you can enjoy a beautiful view of the mountains.
Chalet Arly
Chalet Arly is a 210 m², 4-bedroom flat. It is located 800 metres from the ski school and 600 metres from the slopes. The accommodation is located in a quiet area with a nice view.
Winter sports
The resort of Praz-sur-Arly is also suitable for people who do not ski downhill or who wish to diversify their activities. For example, you can try cross-country skiing on a 5-kilometre loop in the Arly plain.
Another option is to try ski touring. If this is your first experience, we recommend that you are accompanied by a professional.
And if you are staying in Praz-sur-Arly with your family, why not try out some of the new snow sports? We are thinking in particular of the Yooner, a recent version of the paret, or the Snooc. The latter will allow you to go up the ski touring slopes and come back down on a sledge. An original activity, to be tested urgently.
Thomas Fanara, the Praline Goblin
In Praz-sur-Arly, Thomas Fanara is nicknamed the Praline Goblin. A member of the village’s ski club since he was very young, the French skier was born in Annecy in 1981. In 1996, he took part in his first FIS competition. Now retired from sport, the giant skier has several victories to his credit. In 2016, he won the giant in Saint-Moritz. In 2019, Thomas Fanara will put an end to his sporting career. He then became an ambassador and consultant for the Salomon brand.
Must-see events in Praz-sur-Arly
The resort of Praz-sur-Arly organises many events throughout the year. Some of them are internationally renowned, while others are gradually becoming a must.
The International Montgolfiades
The Montgolfiades Internationales is certainly the event not to be missed in the resort of Praz-sur-Arly. For a weekend, you will see many hot air balloons in the sky. Activities are proposed on Saturday and Sunday and demonstrations also take place. Since the creation of the Montgolfiades, several flight directors have succeeded one another, such as Jo Roulet or Daniel Dupuis.
And here’s a littleextra information: the patron of the event is none other than the film director Claude Lelouch.
The Diamond Canitrail
The Canitrail du Diamant is a trail race in which runners are accompanied by their dogs. During 3 days, the couples run through the Espace Diamant. This canitrail is an FFST (Fédération Française des Sports de Traineau) race. Several stages take place, the distance of which is between 10 and 15 kilometres. The positive difference in altitude varies between 500 and 700 metres.
Extra info: the departure times can be brought forward depending on the temperatures, in order to ensure the safety of the runners and their dogs.
The Praz Yooner Challenge
The Praz Yooner Challenge takes place every winter in Praz-sur-Arly. Before competing with your family or friends, you will have the opportunity to train on the dedicated Yooner track. This sled is composed of a seat located at 20 cm from the ground, a runner and a handle. The latter will allow you to guide yourself. A thrill in store for you.
Extra info: you can rent a Yooner in the shop before the competition and why not take lessons with the ESF.
Ski passes
Several ski passes are available online or directly at the Praz-sur-Arly ski lifts. You can choose to take advantage of the entire Espace Diamant, or to limit yourself to the resort’s ski area. Another option is to take the Carte Blanche pass, which will allow you to ski in the 9 Labellemontagne resorts. You will also have the opportunity to choose a pass valid for 2 hours, 3 hours or 4 hours. It all depends on how much you love skiing, but also on your level.
The extra tip: if you book your stay 6 weeks in advance, you can benefit from discounts on your ski passes.
Snowshoeing itineraries
Two snowshoeing itineraries are worth trying out during a stay in Praz-sur-Arly. These are the Évettes loop and the Cassioz loop. The departure in both cases is from the Varins car park.
The Évettes loop
To start, take the Rosière chairlift. You will have to pass over the Crêt and in front of the Montagnette before reaching the Évettes lake, situated at an altitude of 1,350 metres. It takes 1 hour and 50 minutes to walk 4.8 kilometres and a difference in altitude of 220 metres. Don’t forget to check the weather forecast before setting off.
The Cassioz loop
To complete the Cassioz loop, walk past the Thouvassières and the Rochat, from where you will have a beautiful view. Once at the top, take the time to picnic and admire the panorama. Allow 1 hour and 10 minutes for the walk without stops, 2.2 kilometres and a positive difference in altitude of 150 metres.
Ideas for summer activities
Praz-sur-Arly is a resort that also operates in the summer. In addition to hiking, there are many other activities you can do during your stay in the mountains. We suggest you discover three of them:
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Hot air ballooning. This activity is an institution in the resort of Praz-sur-Arly. It will allow you to discover the landscapes of the valley from a new angle. We recommend this experience at the end of the summer or during the autumn, when the mist is present in the morning.
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The treasure hunt. This is a family hike along the smugglers’ trail. The departure is at the top of the Crêt du Midi chairlift. Throughout the walk, you will meet various characters. Count on 2 hours of walking for a difference in altitude of 300 metres.
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Mountain biking. The Espace Diamant offers 26 mountain bike circuits, i.e. 230 km of tracks in Praz-sur-Arly. You will find itineraries adapted to all levels, but also to various practices.
Access and public transport
To reach Praz-sur-Arly, nothing could be easier. You can opt for the car, but also the train to the station of Saint-Gervais les Bains or Sallanches. The village is served by two bus lines throughout the year, so you can easily make the connection. Once in Praz-sur-Arly, you won’t need to take your car. During the winter months, a free shuttle bus runs to 10 stops every 8 minutes.
Video presentation of Praz-sur-Arly
Praz-sur-Arly – Office de tourisme
Resorts close to Praz-sur-Arly
Several resorts are close to Praz-sur-Arly. Les Saisies comes to mind, as the ski areas are linked. You will also have the possibility to go to Megève, Saint-Gervais and Combloux for the day. The resorts of Plaine-Joux and Chamonix are also quite close and will offer you another view of Mont Blanc.
