You pass through Les Carroz on the drive up to Flaine. It's a traditional village that has spread widely across a sunny, wooded shelf. It claims an altitude of 1,200m, but only the top fringes of the village are that high – the centre is at about 1,120m. It is linked to Morillon, Samoëns and Flaine.

We like

Part of the big, varied Grand Massif
Pleasant, traditional village in a lovely balcony setting
Wooded slopes good in a storm

We don't like

Still lots of slow old chairlifts
Village and local slopes are at modest altitudes
Nightlife not a highlight

Village charm

Les Carroz has the lived-in feel of a real village, where life turns around the neat central square. Sadly, it’s far from car-free – traffic on the through-road to Flaine intrudes at weekends.

Convenience

Your lodgings may be some distance from the gondola or from the centre, or both; there are free ski buses on five lines, but you may find you need to use a timetable.

Scenery

There are good views from the upper village, and the partly wooded valleys between here and Flaine are very scenic.

Where to Ski and Snowboard

This guide is taken from Where to Ski and Snowboard, written by Dave Watts and Chris Gill.