Travel to Le Grand Bornand with travel insurance from Essential Travel

Only 50kms from Geneva, in the Haute Savoie ski region of the French Alps, is the combined resort of Le Grand Bornand (1,000m) and Le Grand Bornand Chinaillon (1,300m). This well-organised, dual ski resort is commonly referred to simply as Le Grand Bornand. It is one of the smaller resorts in the Alpine region, with particularly good skiing for beginners and intermediates, and is perfect for a family getaway.

The ski terrain at Le Grand Bornand is especially suitable for beginners and intermediates, but experienced skiers may find it rather lacking in challenge due to the low altitude of the resort. There are 48 pistes in total, covering an area of 65kms, and served by a system of 40 lifts. Of these, 15 are green runs, 17 are blue runs, 13 are red runs and 3 are black runs.

The nearby resort of La Clusaz is a traditional Savoyard village with great intermediate and advanced level skiing, and a reputation for liveliness. Also accessible from Le Grand Bornand is La Balme de Thuy, with a fascinating museum tracing the history of the French resistance in the area.

The ski season at Le Grand Bornand runs from December to April. The easiest way of reaching the resort is to take a flight to Geneva Airport and a bus or taxi the rest of the way.

Skiing in Le Grand Bornand

Le Grand Bornand offers skiing suitable for all levels, but super-advanced skiers may be less impressed than beginners and intermediates, due to the resort’s low altitude. The resort is divided into two parts, with Le Grand Bornand village situated at 1,000m and featuring excellent cross-country skiing in the Valley of the Bouchet, and Le Grand Bornand Chinaillon at 1,300m, the main starting point for downhill runs. The ski area is well-organised, and the Aravis ski pass issued by Le Grand Bornand also allows you to ski at La Clusaz, only six kilometres away.

Le Grand Bornand has 90kms of skiing spread over 48 slopes, which can be accessed by means of 39 lifts. There are 15 green pistes, 17 blue pistes, 13 red pistes, and 3 black pistes. The longest of these runs spans a distance of four kilometres.

Le Grand Bornand is known for its fine cross-country skiing for all levels of experience, with 58kms of scenic trails in Valley du Bouchet and in Chinaillon, moving past clusters of farms and century-old chapels. There is some good off-piste skiing at the back of Le Grand Bornand’s Lachat site as well.

Le Grand Bornand has accommodation in the form of hotels, flats, chalets and holiday villages. There are also banks, a gas station and a childcare centre to ensure absolute convenience.

The ski season at Le Grand Bornand runs from December to April. High season periods are from Christmas to New Year’s Day, and from February to mid-April. The resort can be reached by road, or by taking air or rail transportation to Geneva, and completing the journey by bus or taxi.

Apres-ski in Le Grand Bornand

Le Grand Bornand is an ancient farming village which has retained its rustic charm, despite providing all the amenities of a modern ski resort. Ancient aspects of life here remain unchanged after centuries, such as the weekly farmers’ market where locally produced cheese and other goods are on offer. The town is permeated with over 500 traditional chalets, with distinctive wooden exteriors and protected balconies. Le Grand Bornand also has a splendid bulb church, and miniature chapels and oratories are scattered all over the village.

In addition to its ski slopes, Le Grand Bornand offers a gymnasium, paragliding, an ice-skating rink, cinema, library, Jacuzzi, museum, classical and jazz dancing, and yoga. Restaurants are plentiful, and there are 35 bars and 2 nightclubs for those who still have the energy for nightlife after a day on the slopes. Additionally, three banks, a gas station and a childcare centre are located in the village. The ski resort encompasses a range of accommodation, including hotels, flats, chalets and holiday villages.

Evening entertainment is supplied by a number of restaurants, with some sublime cuisine available for reasonable prices. Additionally, there are 35 bars and two nightclubs to keep night owls happy.

Transportation to Le Grand Bornand

Le Grand Bornand’s proximity to Geneva means that the resort is easily accessible by taking a plane or train to the Swiss city, and arranging an alternative means of transportation from there.

If you opt for taking your own vehicle to Le Grand Bornand, the journey from the UK involves taking a car ferry to the French port of Calais. From here, there are excellent motorways (autoroute A41, exit 17 to Annecy Nord) that take you to within 40kms of the resort. The remainder of the journey is on regional roads, which are well-maintained and efficiently cleared of any snowfalls.

The Eurostar runs from Waterloo Station in the UK, arriving in Paris approximately four hours later. From Paris, high-speed TGV trains run to Annecy, taking just over three hours. From the station, there is a daily bus service to Le Grand Bornand. Alternatively, taxis provide transport to the resort. Alternatively, Eurostar also offers a direct service from London to Bourge St Maurice and Aime La Plange on Fridays and Saturdays (overnighter), taking about 10 hours.

Geneva’s international airport is less than 50kms from Le Grand Bornand. In the winter, there is a connecting bus service direct from the airport to the resort. Eurolines buses run from the UK to Paris and Geneva. From either of these destinations, Le Grand Bornand is accessible by means of local buses.

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