Finally returned to La Rosiere in mid-March 2023 as part of a whirlwind French Alps ski safari of 10 resorts from Megève all the way to Valfréjus and everything in between. In what could best be described as a redemption tour, I was a little wary about what I would find at La Rosiere. Our previous visits were not in the best of circumstances but turns out this one was. New (ish) lifts opening up fantastic terrain, a deep Spring snowpack, sunny weather, softened snow on the southerly aspects, powder on the shaded steep northerly aspects, great hospitality and its usual remarkably good value lift pass. What more could one wish for?

Started and finished the visit well in the Les Eucherts sector of the La Rosiere village, parking my rental car right opposite the chairlift in time for first lifts. I adore ski-in ski-out parking.

The newer lifts in the Mont Valaisan sector are a game changer here. A short hike up from the top of the lift at 2,800m, one can drop into the backside of the mountain, slide the steeps from the summit, or head off on a voyage of discovery into Italy, coming out in the La Thuile lifted sector of Espace San Bernardo. It is exactly what La Rosiere needed – a little spice in the sauce so to speak. I did a couple of wonderful variations from the top with both ending up crossing some massive avalanche debris before the Chardonnet chair to return back into France proper. Clearly the ‘hors-piste’ accessed from the top of the Valaisan chair needs to be treated with respect.

The long beginner & intermediate pistes in the resort were as popular as ever with the masses, and so they should be. Whilst the resort has a whopping ‘on paper’ skiable vertical of 1,630m, it could never be skied in full. With the newer zone up to 2,800m, it is possible for intermediates to ski nearly 1,300m in one run all the way down to the bottom of the Petit Bois triple chair at 1,500m. The lower portion of the run (Marmottes) has snowmaking on its shaded sector guaranteeing its skiability. Previously one could do a maximum of 1,140m, but that was down from the 2,330m Roc Noir to the rarely open Ecudets at a very low 1,190m.

I checked out a few mountain restaurants and it seems new bars & cafes have sprouted along the slopes since our last visit. Makes toilets breaks for those in need a little easier than previous. All the mountain spots looks the goods, but in the end, the pièce de resistance was delivered at the unassuming Ledemé Boulangerie/Patisserie with its combo of a heavenly Mille Feuille and flavoursome baguette. Located in the Les Eucherts village commercial buildings, it was unbeatable for taste and value. Whenever you want a good, simple lunch in France, find the local bakery. Probably true of anywhere really!

As I booked to stay in the region at the last minute, decent affordable lodgings in the resort were not available. So I stayed in the valley at the wonderful in Viclaire at the Auberge Le Perce Neige d'Alicia. I recommend it if exploring the Haute Tarentaise in a rental car and seeking convivial, affordable room & board. But if you can, stay in the village. Rule of thumb is there are some fabulous ski-in ski-out hotels in the Les Eucherts part of the village, and there are loads more apartments in the main La Rosiere village. I’ve found that many of the apartments can only be booked for a minimum of 7nights from Saturday to Saturday. So if you are in the area on a Saturday, skiing here should be very quiet. I skied here just before the weekend, so saw it at its most hectic, which wasn’t very hectic at all.

The drive up in the morning for first lifts reminded me why some people do not drive in the French Alps. The road is a little challenging in parts and GPSs do get a tad confused, spewing out instructions to take turns that are questionable at best, dangerous at worst. Be wary not to be sucked into short cuts that are little more than goat tracks. Local signs warn drivers about this, so it is clearly a known problem. Thankfully I was a wake up to it early and avoided any missteps. Turn it off and follow the signs.

La Rosiere delivered on this visit and fully redeemed itself in my mind. The snow, terrain, lifts, food, convenience, views, price all stack up. I now want to go back on a full-on powder day. You should too. And if you are a family of intermediate of better skiers that want a fun, affordable ski resort, the combination of La Rosiere & La Thuile is well worth consideration.

Read more about the pros & cons of this ski resort on the La Rosiere overview page.

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We popped over a couple of times from the La Thuile side. First visit, La Rosiere had been closed a day or two due to blizzard conditions (meanwhile La Thuile didn’t cop much at all), so we had uncrowded mid-week powder most of the day!

Second visit was wind-scoured to buggery, but there were fun powder “rivers” off-piste to rip down. Very much enjoyed my days there!

Predictably stunning views, and the croissant/hot choccie combo was outstanding. Also good mulled vino.

Will be back.
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La Rosiere is a medium size resort that is linked up with La Thuile in Italy. If it snows, La Rosiere is tracked up pretty fast but La Thuile stays fresh and untracked (for some reason the locals there aren't into the off-piste, so good news for the powder seeker). The part that links  both resorts is flat and windy so be aware. 

La Rosiere is okay for nightlife. 
See our video here

Our second visit to La Rosiere was during a week in the Tarentaise sampling all the ski resorts. The visit re emphasised some of the good and bad points of the ski area, but snow quantity and quality was exceptional.

Weather on the actual we skied the skied the mountain was near zero visibility and snowing. The resort is tough to ski in poor viz, but the snow quality was excellent which made it easier. There is nowhere to hide for most beginner and intermediate skiers when the weather is foul.

When the sun came out on other days, the mountain looked resplendent from our accommodation at nearby Sainte Foy ski resort.

The terrain at La Rosiere is still too gentle to hold much interest for upper intermediates and higher. It is close to La Thuile though and skiing to Italy is fun any day of the week!

The village is quite nice when compared to others nearby (with the notable exception of Sainte Foy). Would recommend La Rosiere for family groups just starting to explore ski resorts beyond the learn to ski areas.
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La Rosiere ski resort is a family friendly resort that will delight lower intermediate and beginner skiers and boarders. The tidy modern village reminded the Powderhounds of a North American style resort base, albeit one that is not pedestrian friendly.  The village has a sunny disposition and glorious views across the valley to Les Arcs.  La Rosiere's terrain is mostly low angle beginner and intermediate. It is very well set up for children. 

Once away from the village, shelter and toilet facilities are few and far between. Toilets at the top of Le Roc Noir were a disgrace, and other toilets at Fort were closed.

La Rosiere's snow quality during the Powderhounds visit was very poor when compared to the adjacent La Thuile in Italy. La Rosiere's slopes are predominantly south facing so receive a serious dose of sun. Skiing across the border from Italy to France the snow was noticeably sun and wind affected, plocky and very thin down low at La Rosiere.  The piste was extremely poorly groomed - another sign of difficult snow conditions the preceding day and night.  The contrast with La Thuile's comparatively dry, crisp snow was stark. 

On a powder day, La Thuile clearly has the better terrain and snow quality, so if in La Rosiere, head to Italy and the Piccolo San Bernardo chair pronto.
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