Aussois Ski Resort France

Aussois is the sunniest & most family friendly of the wonderful Haute Maurienne Vanoise ski resorts but still has plenty for the powder seeking freerider fraternity! The lift pass price is so low at Aussois, that any day on snow here is a good day.

Aussois is one of five local ski resorts that combined offer some of the best value big mountain skiing in the Alps. All within easy driving distance of each other, Aussois’s opposite is the north-aspect Powderhounds Gem of La Norma. Further up the valley, expansive Val Cenis is the largest in the region & further still is the other local certified Powderhounds Gem of Bonneval sur Arc. Back past Modane, Valfrejus makes up the quinella - a ready-made ski safari week.

Pros & Cons for Aussois Ski Resort

Pros

• Amazing value, family friendly ski resort
• Entire 1,250m skiable vertical can be skied on blue/green, red, black, or off-piste runs.
• Efficient lift system, slowly being modernised.
• No lift lines.
• Excellent range of piste trails for all novices, beginners & intermediates, but less for advanced – perfect for families.
• Interesting variety of freeride terrain on the eastern side of the resort.
• A real French Alps mountain village at its base.
• Ski-in ski-out accommodation available.
• Super cheap day lift pass, that is even cheaper if pre-purchased online.
• Amongst the world’s best ski-out, ski-in day car-parks – and its free!
• Easy public transport access by train/bus.
• Amazing scenery & local history, including historic forts.
• Loads of snow-shoe, toboggan & cross-country ski action.
• Perfect base for a ski safari of the entire valley.

Cons

• Predominantly south-facing terrain means snow can get sun-baked.
• Not a whole lot for advanced skiers on-piste (but Balmes & the adjacent off-piste have lots to offer).
• The Plan Sec surface lift & associated terrain is a nonsense.

Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)

• Sunny south-facing location – with all the pluses & minuses that come with it at a ski resort!
• Limited hotel accommodation & few (if any) luxury accommodations (mostly apartments).

Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain

What is not to love about a place with 1,250m of skiable vertical, highest lifted point of 2,750m, 55km of piste trails, runs over 7km long in a sunny reliable natural snow location? Why then haven’t you heard of Aussois? So many questions, but it is probably because the Haute Maurienne resorts are amongst the most 'off the radar' Alps ski resorts. Its skiing & snowboarding on-piste terrain is fabulous for novices to intermediates. The sunny base area is a perfect learn to ski/board environment. Progression is up at mid-mountain via the Grand Jeu chair. A wonderfully long novice trail from the top of the Eterlou chair has a short section of blue/red trail, which whilst annoying from a trail perspective, doesn’t present too many challenges for anyone learning to slide. Intermediates & advanced riders can revel in the wide super-fast intermediate runs with the top to bottom combination of Bellecôte-Cochette-Choulliere, the pick of them. Experts will need to search the off-piste & backcountry for inspiration, if any is needed amongst the stupendous landscape.

Check out the ski trail map for Aussois below.

Aussois Ski Trail Map

Off-piste wise, Aussois has one massive drawcard – Balmes & its surrounding freeride terrain. East of the main ski area, it is best accessed by a short walk up from the top of the Fournache chair at the resort's summit. The run itself can be tracked out quickly once it opens & has a long but beautiful ski out that may challenge snowboarders in sticky snow conditions. But between the marked Balmes route & the rest of the resort, a vast bowl with varied features plunges down to join the exit trail. The bowl can be accessed further down the mountain, providing new fresh lines at every entry, but the exit remains the same. This zone does have avalanche risk (observed by us during our visit & despite its alluring nature, as with freeride terrain, should not be taken lightly.

The ski lifts at Aussois range from the ancient to ultra-modern. The two main chairs (Grand Jeu & Armoise) are new, & a third, the important Fournache is being replaced by a quad chair for season 22025, but this project has been delayed several times, so time will tell if it is completed. We suspect not. Some lifts, like the Plan Sec surface tow, are bemusing. It's trails lead to nowhere of any merit & the lift leads similarly to nowhere of any use. Dropping below the lift & hooking up with the sledding trail makes far more sense!

Lift Pass

Lift passes at Aussois are cheap, however, understand that the adult rate includes children from 12yr & over.

Passes of 6-days or more duration include one day at each of the Haute Maurienne ski resorts (Val Cenis, Bonneval-sur-Arc, La Norma and Valfréjus).

Where is Aussois France?

Aussois ski resort is on the sunny side of the Haute Maurienne valley in the French Alps. Close to the Italian border, Aussois is only 8km east of the transport hub town of Modane. The drive via the narrow road takes less than 15min. Aussois is 205km (2¼hr) drive south of Geneva, 215km (2¼hr) drive east of Lyon & 113km (1½hr) west of Turin. Gateway airports to the region are Geneva (GVA) & Lyon St Exupéry (LYS) for all travellers.

Public transport to the region is excellent. Modane has a railway station served by TGV high speed trains on the Paris-Lyon-Turin-Milan line. A major bus terminal is next to the station. Regular buses head to all five Haute Maurienne ski areas, including Aussois (on the M11 line). Alternatively, a private transfer from the train station to just about anywhere in the Haute Maurienne will be relatively inexpensive.

Search & book train tickets to Modane.

Driving to Aussois can be super quick when compared to other French ski resorts, but that speed will come at a price. The motorways leading to Modane from both France & Italy are all toll roads. From Italy, the Frejus tunnel at the French border costs significantly more than a day ski lift pass one way – so day trips to the region from Bardonecchia or the Via Lattea are generally out of the question!

If already in the valley with a rental car, Aussois can be approached from several different directions. From Lanslebourg, Bonneval-sur-Arc, Bessans or Termignon, a beautiful road leads to Aussois via Sardieres, but care is required in snowy conditions (which goes without saying!). From La Norma, a short cut can be taken via Avrieux, but the road is narrow so take your time. Make sure your rental car is fully winterised!

Aussois Accommodation

Amongst one of the most authentic valleys remaining in the French Alps, with villages ranking amongst the most beautiful in France, Aussois has the sunniest disposition of them all and with wide ranging views & accommodation options. Aussois sits comfortably on a wide bench above the valley & retains its old town centre. The ski area & associated lodgings stepping up the hill above it. The Résidence Goélia Les Flocons d'Argent apartment hotel is a great ski-in option close to the Aussois ski lifts. Many other self-contained apartment lodgings are lined up directly below the ski lifts. In the old village centre, the Hotel du Soleil will provide an authentic experience plus relaxation from its sun terrace hot tub.

Search & book all Aussois ski accommodation.

If wanting to stay in the largest centre of the Haute Maurienne, it is best to head to the Val Cenis base villages including Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis. There is usually availability at short notice, particularly in the lower elevation village at Termignon (closer to Aussois!). For those with a car wanting to ski the entire Haute Maurienne Vanoise the transport hub of Modane always has budget hotel rooms available, plus a full range of services including several large supermarkets (something lacking in all the upper valley towns).

Ski & Snowboard Rentals, Lessons, Guiding & Clothing

Ski rentals are available from our partners in a ski-in location at the resort village just below the Grand Jeu chairlift. Receive a discount when you search & book via our Aussois ski or snowboard rental page.

Ski & snowboard lessons & guiding are available with our local partners. See the listings below.

Activities

Aside from downhill skiing & snowboarding, the Haute Maurienne Vanoise has a festival of winter activities to distract you. The great Alps tradition of parasailing is popular in Aussois & other ski areas in the region. Aussois (& Val Cenis) has some extended Swiss-like toboggan slopes plus winter walking & cross-country ski trails near the resort & further along toward Sardieres. Up the valley in Bessans is an incredible cross-country ski & winter walking trail network that goes all the way to Bonneval. Lovers of ‘old stuff’ (like us) will enjoy wandering around the forts either side of the deep defile spanned by the Pont Du Diable (crampons needed for the climb down to access the bridge in winter!) below Aussois. The Fort Victor-Emmanuel, Fort Charles-Félix & Redoute Marie Thérèse make for an interesting distraction from the slopes. Look out for the weekday street market in the village. The vendors move through all the Haute Maurienne villages through the week.

Review

The Powderhounds visited Aussois in January & March 2020. We had a great time exploring this exceptionally good value resort & skiing the advanced 'Balmes' run in deep powder. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all the reviews.

See how Aussois compares to the rest of the French ski resorts on the France ski resort ratings page, or compare to the rest of Europe on the European ski resort ratings page.

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