_edited.jpg){kind=small}
Where to ski WITHOUT A CAR from Chambéry
- annatripp757
- May 12, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: May 21, 2020
Chambéry's location makes it a great spot for people who love those outdoor adventures but also want to live in the city or visit a city. It's in the perfect spot for a day trip to the slopes. Even if you don't have a car or you prefer a lower carbon emission adventure it is easy to get to the slopes for a ski day! Below you can read about my top 3 favorite and accessible ski resorts around Chambéry!
Aillons - Margériaz
Aillons is located 50 min by bus from Chambéry, in the the Massif des Bauges. From the resort you can see the Mont Blanc and the surrounding mountains. The resort is split in two sections on either side of the valley, 1400 and 1000. Aillons 1400 is normally the most popular because they are higher and will have snow for longer. On the 1400 side when you take the lifts up to the black slopes you can get a wonderful view of the other side of mountain, looking down at Les Déserts, La Feclaz and Mont Revard.
This station in very familial and you will often see lots of kids learning to ski with their families or in ski school.
My favorite things about Aillons:
This is a great place for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. A large part of the resort has blue slopes that are perfect if you are starting with the sport.
It's a small and lower altitude resort, BUT you don't freeze your butt off and you still get the awesome mountain views.
There are a lot of options for off-piste (off the slope) runs for people who want to dip their toes in the water. You can hop onto a few novice tree runs or ski between slopes for some extra powder (accessible around the chair lift). If you want to get into more advanced terrain, it's always recommended to get a guide or ask the local ski school.
There are some fun boarder cross courses on the side with the blue slopes.
The down sides:
Small number of black and red slopes.
There is only one télésiège (chair lift).
How to get there:
From Chambéry (as well as Aix-les-Bains) there is a ski bus from the end of December to mid-March that drops you off at the foot of Aillons 1100 and 1400.
It only costs 24 euros for the bus, aller-retour (there and back) and the lift ticket! You can pay on the bus by card or cash, or you can reserve your spot in advance on the website.
With the ski bus there is a special counter for lift ticket pick-up, so you win some more time on the slopes!
They normally run every weekend of the season, and every day during the region's (zone A) christmas and winter vacation (except Christmas and new years day).
It leaves from the Gare routière (bus station), beside La Poste (post office) next to the Parc du Verney (1 min walk from the TGV train station).
The bus leaves at 9h getting you to the 1400 station around 10h15, because of stops. Then it picks you up in the same place at 16h35 dropping you back off at La Poste around 17h15.
Les Sept Laux
Sept Laux is one of the bigger resorts with direct bus access from Chambéry. There are two sides to this station, Le Pleynet and Prapoutel. With the summit at 2400 meters (7870 feet) you get a wonderful view of the surrounding mountains, notably Les Belledonnes. This resort is also located about a 50 minute drive from Chambéry.
My favorite things about 7 Laux:
You get a nice variety of chair lifts here, with 1 télécabine, 8 chair lifts, and 13 button lifts.
It is mainly for intermediate to advanced skiers / snowboarders. Fifty percent of the 120 km of pistes are red and black slopes (the equivalent to black and double diamond in N. America).
The ski bus option from Chambéry!
How to get there:
From Chambéry there is also a ski bus deal. It costs 32.50 euros (bus and lift ticket) and drops you off near the ticket counter.
The bus leaves at 8h from the bus station at La Poste in Chambéry or 8h15 in La Ravoire.
It runs on the weekends and every day during the school vacation of the region (zone A).
Le Collet d'Allevard
Le Collet d'Allevard sits a little south-east of Chambéry, just above Pontcharra. Here you get nice views of the vallée de Grésivaudan, les Massif des Bauges, and la Chartreuse. It is a smaller familial resort with a summit of 2100 meters (6890 feet), 4 chair lifts, and 7 button lifts. There are only a few black pistes, the majority being blue and red.
They also have night skiing tuesdays and fridays from 20h - 22h30!!
How to get there:
From Pontcharra there is a ski bus that departs from just beside the train station.
The ticket for the ski bus is 4 euros round trip. If you are coming from Chambéry you can take the train for 15 minutes to Pontcharra for around 5 euros.
When you arrive at the station you can get 15% off your lift ticket when you show your ski bus ticket.
The bus takes about an hour and drops you off next to the slopes.
Comments