From high-altitude glaciers to whisper-quiet forest lines, the French Alps deliver every kind of sensation a skier could want.
This curated guide highlights the most memorable pistes exclusively within resorts where GSI by Foncia offers stays.
You will find one or two emblematic runs per destination, practical level guidance, and direct links to plan your trip.
Plan your holiday and book the perfect base near the lifts:
gsi-immobilier.com/en/destinations/
Table of Contents
- La Plagne
- Les Arcs
- Peisey-Vallandry
- Champagny-en-Vanoise
- Montchavin – La Plagne
- Méribel-Mottaret
- Alpe d’Huez
- Le Grand-Bornand
- Combloux
- Valmorel
- Megève
La Plagne
Part of the Paradiski area, La Plagne spreads over multiple altitude villages with terrain that feels almost tailor-made for long, confidence-building arcs.
Wide groomers, glacier views, and sheltered woodland sections mean you can chase mileage in most conditions.
Mont de la Guerre: a signature descent that strings together nearly seven kilometres of varied gradient.
The upper rolling pitches invite broad, flowing turns before the line narrows and guides you toward the valley.
Intermediates will love the tempo; advanced riders can push speed and edge angles when the snow is soft and freshly groomed.
Les Verdons: an inviting, consistent face that rewards clean technique.
The width gives beginners-turned-intermediates room to experiment while stronger skiers can work on carving pressure and transition timing.
Plan your stay in La Plagne:
Accommodation in La Plagne
Les Arcs
A resort of perspectives and altitude, Les Arcs ranges from lofty glacier bowls to the long, wooded reaches of Villaroger.
Expect sustained gradients, open vistas and the kind of vertical that turns one run into a story.
Aiguille Rouge: launching above 3200 m, this legendary top-to-bottom journey can stack around 2000 m of cumulative vertical when you continue to Villaroger.
The top is steeper and best for advanced skiers; lower down, the slope eases and widens into a scenic cruise.
Time it for early-morning groomers or late-afternoon glow when visibility is clear.
Cachette (Arc 1600): a sporty staple with rhythmic walls and linking flats that reward precise edge control.
It is a fantastic “benchmark” piste to test progress at the turn of the season or after a coaching session.
Stay at Les Arcs:
Les Arcs destination page
Peisey-Vallandry
The natural hinge between Les Arcs and La Plagne, Peisey-Vallandry hides some of the most enjoyable forest skiing in the Alps.
Sheltered from the wind with immaculate grooming, its pistes are ideal when light is flat or when you just want effortless flow.
Plan Bois: a gentle, panoramic traverse that links sectors intuitively.
It is perfect for building confidence, finding rhythm, and moving around the area without stress.
Ours: a forest-line favourite with great width and rolling terrain that never becomes intimidating.
Intermediates will appreciate its forgiving tempo and the smooth, natural transitions between pitches.
Book your base in Peisey-Vallandry:
Peisey-Vallandry accommodation
Champagny-en-Vanoise
The sunny south-facing side of La Plagne pairs village charm with scenic descents.
You will find welcoming cruisers for family days, as well as longer runs that feel like small adventures when conditions align.
Rossa: a confidence-builder with progressive pitch that encourages relaxed, connected turns.
The views across the Vanoise give every stop a reason to take out the camera.
Mont de la Guerre (via the upper access): when open, this is the grand escape that drifts toward the valley with a pleasing mix of cadence and scenery.
Time your lap to hit the best snow quality across its different aspects.
Explore Champagny stays:
Champagny-en-Vanoise destination
Montchavin – La Plagne
Tucked among trees, Montchavin – Les Coches offers protected grooming and playful gradients that hold up through the season.
It is an excellent base for families and mixed-ability groups.
Mont Blanc: one of the area’s longer blue pistes with generous width and readable fall-line.
It delivers continuous glide and is perfect for intermediates looking to stretch their turns and settle into a smooth pace.
Coches: a slightly punchier alternative threading the forest.
Expect alternating dynamic sections and gentle benches where you can regroup or reset technique.
Stay close to the lifts:
Montchavin – La Plagne
Méribel-Mottaret
In the heart of the Three Valleys, Mottaret is a magnet for skiers who like altitude, consistent snow quality and honest gradients.
From photogenic high bowls to physical black runs, you can dial the challenge to taste.
Combe du Vallon: a long, beautiful descent from Mont Vallon with an even, athletic pitch.
The terrain undulates just enough to keep you engaged from the first turns to the final roll-out.
Roc de Tougne sector: for strong skiers, the blacks beneath the Roc de Tougne chair deliver a classic, physical workout.
Use them to practise absorption, stance and line choice when conditions are firm.
Méribel-Mottaret accommodation:
See the destination
Alpe d’Huez
Nicknamed the “island in the sun”, Alpe d’Huez also shines for its ultra-long descents.
Glacier shoulders, suspended bowls and characterful walls combine to create big-mountain sensations on-piste.
La Sarenne: a legendary 16 km run from Pic Blanc that shifts character as you lose altitude.
Start with lofty views and crisp air, then slide into a long, immersive journey through the eponymous gorge.
Expect burning thighs and a grin at the bottom.
The Tunnel: a dramatic exit from a rock-carved corridor straight onto a steep wall.
Precision is essential and conditions matter; it is a rite of passage for advanced skiers who enjoy decisive edge work.
Plan your stay in Alpe d’Huez:
Alpe d’Huez stays
Le Grand-Bornand
Between Le Lachat and the Maroly sector, Le Grand-Bornand serves up lively skiing with sweeping outlooks and a few proudly old-school black runs.
The atmosphere mixes village authenticity with slopes that come alive on cold, clear mornings.
Lachat sector: a wide-open canvas for big, confident arcs.
When groomed cold, the surface lets you feel clean edge engagement from tip to tail.
Sonnerie: a direct, no-nonsense black with a rewarding pitch for skiers who like their runs firm and technical.
Choose a centred stance and let the skis run.
Find your base in Le Grand-Bornand:
Le Grand-Bornand destination
Combloux
Facing the Mont Blanc massif, Combloux blends sunlit alpine meadows with sheltered forest stretches.
It is a great place to refine technique without stress, with views that make you pause between sections.
Jorace: a balanced descent under the Jouty chair where you can alternate short, precise turns with longer, progressive arcs.
The scenery is a constant highlight.
Grand Cerf: a more direct line that remains reassuringly wide.
Ideal for building confidence, working on turn shape and linking sequences smoothly.
Stays in Combloux:
Combloux destination page
Valmorel
Gateway to the Grand Domaine, Valmorel charms with its pedestrian centre and quick access to sunny combes.
Expect an even split between perfect learning terrain and rewarding lines for intermediates.
Combe de Beaudin: a flowing fan-favourite where medium-radius turns feel natural on fresh corduroy.
It is also a smart choice when you want predictable traffic and a clear fall-line.
Planchamp: a more committed option that funnels efficiently back toward the heart of the resort.
Its aspect often makes it a late-morning pick when the snow begins to soften.
Book your Valmorel trip:
Valmorel accommodation
Megève
Elegant and expansive, Megève stretches across several massifs where placement and rhythm matter more than brute force.
It combines gentle profiles with selective challenges for skiers who love refinement.
Émile Allais (Côte 2000): a storied itinerary with real character.
At times left un-groomed, it keeps technique honest and rewards skiers who enjoy reading terrain and choosing lines.
La Face (Mont d’Arbois): sustained, satisfying and ideal for working strong, linked turns when the snow is cold.
The pitch makes it an excellent training ground for mastering pressure management.
See stays in Megève:
Megève destination
Quick Piste Finder
For families and learners, tree-lined blues in Montchavin and Peisey-Vallandry offer comfort and clarity.
Intermediates who want long, flowing descents should try Valmorel’s Combe de Beaudin and Les Arcs’ Cachette once technique is dialled.
For a bucket-list challenge, La Sarenne and The Tunnel in Alpe d’Huez remain essential, as does Combe du Vallon in Méribel-Mottaret.
gsi-immobilier.com/en/destinations/
