Travel to Flaine with travel insurance from Essential Travel

Situated in the northern French Alps between Geneva and Chamonix, Flaine is the centre of the skiing area on the Grand Massif, which includes the resorts of Samoens, Les Carroz, Morillon and Sixt. At 1,600m, Flaine has the largest ski bowl in the Grand Massif. Its pistes rise to 2,500 m, offering beautiful views of Mont Blanc.

Flaine was created in 1969 by architect Eric Boissonnas, in the centre of a natural bowl at 1,600m altitude. It is the youngest of major mountain resorts in the French Alps and has been designed for maximum convenience and comfort. Perfectly accessible and at the same time a hidden treasure, Flaine offers an exceptional natural setting stimulating both relaxation and concentration

With over 265kms of pistes, Flaine has a good choice of runs. The village height and the north- and west-facing slopes mean that the snow record is good here. The Grandes Platieres is the main gondola which takes you up the single stage to the north face of the Flaine bowl and the highest point of the ski area. From here, you can take the numerous red and blue runs back down to the village or cruise down the 14-kilometre Cascades blue run, which is one of the longest in the Alps and will lead you down to Sixt at 700m.

The season runs from November to April, with the best conditions considered to be in early March. Cheap rates are offered until mid-December and towards the end of April. Flaine is located 70kms from Geneva, the location of the nearest international airport.

Skiing in Flaine

Flaine is known as the White Desert for its excellent snow, but is also famous for its unusual 1960s architecture. As the centrepiece of the Grand Massif ski area (the fourth-largest ski domain in France), Flaine is linked to Samoens, Morillon and Les Carroz, with 267kms of pistes in total.

The skiing is extensive and varied, with trees, moguls and motorways. All levels of skiers will find something suitable, with great off-piste being one of Flaines major strengths.

With over 265kms of pistes, Flaine has a good choice of runs. Lots of the reds are wide and swooping, providing great fun. There are plenty of gentler blues and some great little tree-lined runs leading down to the lower resorts. The nursery slopes are conveniently located close to the village centres and are served by free lifts.

There are long, green runs to progress to in the Flaine bowl, as well as the gentler blues. The off-piste runs here are surprisingly good and there are many black runs to choose from, including the Diamond Noir, the Styx and the wooded trails down to Samoens. Boarders also have a park, with a half-pipe and a cross-country course.

Flaine is located in the northern French Alps, in the Haute-Savoie region, 30kms from Mont Blanc, and 70kms from Geneva, where the nearest international airport is located. Getting here is extremely easy with a combination of plane and then taxi or hire car. Alternatively, the drive from Calais takes about a day.

Apres-ski in Flaine

Flaines two dozen restaurants offer a good range of cuisine, ranging from value meals at the Limes Rock Café to family fare at La Perdrix Noire. Chez Daniel is famed for its crêpes.

Other facilities at the resort include: a sports centre, swimming pool and ice-skating rink. If you’d like to try something different, check out the ice-driving circuit where you can take lessons in spinning, or more importantly, learning how not to spin while driving on ice.

Flaine resort is becoming increasingly popular with families. This school also has a crèche for non-skiers. With its fitness centre, skating rink and indoor swimming pool, the school ensures children stay entertained.Additionally, childcare here is good with a kindergarten called the Petit Loup as well as good ski schools run by Ski École, featuring a snow garden, playground, jumps and slides.

Theres a lot to do in Flaine besides skiing and snowboarding. Outdoor sports include: snowshoeing, ice-skating at the natural open-air rink, paragliding, hang-gliding and snowmobiling. You can also enjoy helicopter flights over the scenic terrain.

The resort is based around families and therefore nightlife has been slow to liven up; however, the most vibrant venues are the White Grouse pub with its extreme sports videos and happy hours, and the Climes Rock with its karaoke or live bands.

Transportation to Flaine

Flaine is located just down the road from Avoriaz in an area known as the Grand Massif. The Grand Massif compromises several mountain villages with over 60 lifts. Flaine is the last mountain village you come to after driving through some serious switchbacks. The resort of Flaine is in the northern French Alps, in the Haute-Savoie region (30kms from Mont Blanc), and getting here is extremely easy.

If driving from Geneva to Flaine, the journey should take you about 65 minutes. Take the A40 highway and follow the signs to Chamonix; get off the A40 at Cluses and follow the signs to Sallanches. The turn-off to Flaine is just out of Cluses. The road into Flaine is very windy and it takes about 40 minutes to get from the highway to Flaine. Alternatively, it would take you about eight to nine hours to drive here from Calais.

There is no train station in Flaine. The nearest train stations are Cluses on the Paris-St Gervais line and Annecy-Geneva on the TGV line. Coach or taxi transfers are available from the railway station up to Flaine. However, the taxi fare (for over three people) from Geneva Airport to the resort can be cheaper and much quicker than taking the train and taxi.

The nearest international airport is located in Geneva, 70kms from Flaine. You can fly to Geneva on one of many airlines from the UK, including: British Airways, KLM, BMI Baby, Easyjet and Swiss Air.

There are three shuttles to Flaine daily from Geneva Airport or the downtown Geneva bus station. Alternatively, you can take the train to Cluses and then a Transport Alpbus (tel: 450 03 70 09) to Flaine.

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