Sainte Foy
Often referred to as the “best kept secret in the French Alps” and “the jewel in the crown” of the Tarentaise, Sainte Foy is where the local ski instructors choose to ski on their day off.
Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise is a ski area for people who want to slow down and take it all in. Tucked into unspoilt mountain scenery, far from the crowds of mass tourism, it offers wide, groomed slopes for peaceful descents, quiet forest runs, and some of the Alps' most celebrated off-piste terrain. Whether you're here to learn, to cruise, or to chase powder, there's a way to ski it that suits you.
The mountain at a glance
- Vertical drop: 1,100 m, from 1,550 m to 2,620 m
- Skiable area: 88 hectares of high-mountain terrain
- Runs: 25 in total
| Green | Blue | Red | Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 7 | 12 | 4 |
From gentle, contemplative cruises to technical descents for confident skiers, the runs cover every level. Along the way you'll find skiing through the forest and rolling, little-used slopes that give a real sense of freedom, open to everyone.
Learn to freeride, safely
Curious about off-piste? There are three Natur' runs, ungroomed but marked and secured, making them an ideal place to build freeride skills with complete peace of mind:
- Natur'Crystal Dark
- Natur'Morion
- Natur'Shaper Paradise
Family fun: the adventures of Nuts & Foxy
Younger children have their own playground on the "La Chapelle" slope. Les aventures de Nuts & Foxy is a tobogganing and sliding area filled with playful features, such as arches to glide through, hanging objects to tap with your poles, and animal sounds along the way. It's built for little ones, but grown-ups will have just as much fun, and the whole family will come away with great memories.
Boardercross and freestyle
Two more areas to play in:
- Boardercross: race a friend or take on the clock.
- Freestyle area: features at several difficulty levels, so beginners and experts, young and old, can all join in.
Non-skiers will find plenty to enjoy too. There are well-marked trails for snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing or simply hiking which offers breath-taking views of the surrounding mountains. One of the best trails takes you to the picturesque, tranquil summer farming hamlet of Le Monal where you can picnic gazing at the glaciers of Mont Pourri across the valley.
You could also choose to try your hand at dog-sledding with your own sled pulled by a team of huskies. The less active can while away the day soaking up the sun with a glass of wine or a beer on one of the mountain restaurant terraces, or be pampered at one of the two spas at Sainte Foy. Christmas and New Year are the perfect time to get together for a ski holiday with loved ones.
Sainte Foy certainly lives up to the old adage that the best things come in small packages.
The Tarentaise Valley
Few corners of the Alps can match the Tarentaise Valley for skiing pedigree. Carved deep into the Savoie region of France, this valley is home to some of the most celebrated winter resorts in Europe. Our properties are within comfortable reach of the big names as well as Sainte Foy. Whether you dream of high-altitude glacier runs, vast interconnected ski domains or quiet off-piste powder, the Tarentaise delivers with remarkable consistency.
Snow You Can Rely On
What sets this region apart is its reliability. Many of the resorts here sit at significant altitude, with lift-served terrain climbing well above 3,000 metres. That elevation, combined with north-facing slopes and glacier skiing, means the snow arrives early and stays late. For guests booking months in advance, that confidence matters. You can plan a December getaway or a spring break knowing the mountains are likely to deliver.
Val d'Isère and Tignes: The Espace Killy
For confident skiers, a day in the Espace Killy is a rite of passage. Heading up the valley, you reach Val d'Isère and Tignes, whose linked slopes offer around 300 kilometres of pistes. Val d'Isère is a World Cup venue, and the Face de Bellevarde, which hosted Olympic racing, is a thrilling test for strong skiers. Tignes, beside its high-altitude lake, sits near the Grande Motte glacier, so the snow is superb even late in the season. Intermediates will find plenty of long, rolling runs, and there is serious off-piste for those with a guide.
Our tip: leave early to enjoy fresh corduroy before the lift queues build, and save a long lunch for a mountain restaurant with a view.
Les Arcs and La Plagne: Paradiski
If you want variety, spend a day in Paradiski. Les Arcs and La Plagne are joined by the Vanoise Express, a huge double-decker cable car that glides across a deep gorge in a few unforgettable minutes. Together they offer roughly 425 kilometres of pistes, so you could ski a different area every day and still not run out of terrain. Les Arcs has fast, flowing intermediate runs and modern villages, while La Plagne's broad, sunny slopes suit families and those building confidence.
Our tip: ski one side in the morning, cross over after lunch, and be sure to catch the last return before the lifts close.
La Rosière and La Thuile: Lunch in Italy
For a day that feels like a real adventure, head to La Rosière. This sunny, south-facing resort enjoys a relaxed atmosphere and a wonderful secret: a cross-border link to La Thuile in Italy. Ski over the frontier, order a plate of fresh pasta and a glass of red wine in the Italian sunshine, then make your way back to France in the afternoon. It is a favourite with our guests, and is particularly good for groups of mixed ability, with gentle runs on both sides.
Our tip: bring your passport or ID, and keep an eye on the time, as the return lifts close earlier than you might expect.
