la saises

LA SAISES AT A GLANCE

WHY WE LOVE LA PLAGNE

• Excellent off piste
• Most slopes are above 2000m
• It’s a great family-friendly destination
  

Beginners

Beginner skiing in Les Saisies (La Saisies) is often described as friendly, scenic, and stress-free—a great place to learn with confidence rather than pressure. Here’s what it’s like:

🏔️ The Resort Vibe

Les Saisies sits on a sunny plateau in the Beaufortain mountains in the French Alps, so it feels open and relaxed rather than steep and intimidating. The village has a cozy, family-focused atmosphere, which makes beginners feel very welcome.

🎿 Slopes for First-Timers

Les Saisies is known for its excellent beginner terrain:

• Large areas of wide, gentle green and blue runs
• Soft, rolling slopes instead of sudden steep drops
• Clear signage and easy navigation

There are dedicated “learning zones” near the village with magic carpets and slow chairlifts, so you can practice without fast skiers rushing past.

 Easy Access

Most beginner slopes are right next to the village, meaning:

• Short walks to lifts
• No stressful gondola rides just to get started
• Simple routes back home at the end of the day

 Snow & Conditions

Because it’s high (around 1,650m) and open to the sun:

• Snow stays reliable all season
• Visibility is often better than in deep valley resorts
• Slopes feel less icy and more forgiving

 Ski Schools

Les Saisies has well-regarded ESF and private ski schools:

• Patient, English-speaking instructors
• Small group lessons
• Great progression from beginner zones to gentle mountain runs

The Experience

Beginner skiing here feels:

• Relaxed instead of overwhelming
• Scenic instead of crowded
• Confidence-building rather than scary

You’ll often find yourself cruising down long, gentle blues with Mont Blanc views in the background—pretty motivating for a first ski holiday.

 Who It’s Best For

Les Saisies is perfect for:

• First-time skiers
• Nervous or returning beginners
• Families with kids
• Adults who want a calm, pretty place to learn

If you’d like, I can also suggest specific beginner runs and lift areas to start with based on whether you’re going solo, with kids, or in lessons.

Intermediates

Intermediates skiing at Les Saisies (in the French Alps, part of the Espace Diamant ski area) will find plenty of enjoyable and confidence-building terrain — though it’s worth bearing in mind that the resort’s character is more cruisy and scenic than highly technical.  Terrain for Intermediate Skiers

• Blue runs dominate the resort’s trail map — around 47% of the local pistes — plus a good selection of reds that suit skiers comfortable on steeper slopes.

Blues like Bergerie, Gentiane, Grand Combe and Rhododendrons are typical intermediate favourites: wide, rolling and well-groomed, perfect for carving turns and building technique without being intimidating.

Red runs (intermediate to advanced level in French grading) such as Girolles, Hirondelles and Les Hauges add variety — these offer slightly steeper pitches and more engaging terrain without becoming too strenuous. Experience on the Mountain

• The terrain around Mont Bisanne and Mont Lachet is often recommended for intermediates: scenic open slopes with gentle cambers, letting you cruise with views over the valley and Mont Blanc.

Because Les Saisies links into the bigger Espace Diamant (about ~192 km of pistes across several villages), intermediate skiers can string together longer days of cruising if you explore beyond the core Les Saisies area. Les Saisies’ intermediate reds are generally not very steep — they’re graded more to add interest than challenge. If you’re seeking steep, punchy reds or black pistes, you might feel limited and may want to explore further into Espace Diamant.

Advanced

Les Saisies itself is not known as a highly technical, extreme terrain resort — it caters mainly to beginners and intermediates — but there are opportunities for stronger skiers within the resort and across the larger Espace Diamant ski area: Expert terrain: About 10 % is classed expert, which tends to be steeper or narrower pistes rather than extreme couloirs.

The longest single run is ~ 7.5 km — great for big, sustained descents even at higher speed.

Notable Advanced Routes

While Les Saisies isn’t like the big technical ski arenas (e.g., Chamonix or Espace Killy), you can find more challenging fall-lines and steeper terrain:

Red & Black slopes under Chamois and La Légette chairs: These give more gradient and speed for confident skiers.

Red Lanches: A longer red that bridges intermediate and advanced skills — good for faster, carved turns.

Some unmarked routes and freeride lines through trees or toward Hauteluce offer more challenge if conditions and avalanche awareness permit.

 Off-Piste and Free-Ride Options

If you’re adventurous and the snow’s good:

• Tree skiing / off-piste near Hauteluce or Bisanne: After fresh snow, there are opportunities to drop off the piste into ungroomed terrain — but always assess conditions and consider a guide for safety.

Les Saisies is more rolling than rugged — good off-piste terrain won’t be as steep or sustained as in big mountain areas, but it’s fun and scenic.

Tips for Strong Skiers

• Explore the full Espace Diamant (192 km): With one lift pass you can ski into neighbouring Crest-Voland, Notre Dame de Bellecombe & Praz sur Arly — some routes here feel more variegated and less crowded.

Snow conditions matter: Because the top elevation isn’t super high compared to major Alpine giants, fresh snow vastly improves the “advanced” feel of runs.

 What to Expect

• More cruising and technical carving than very steep, sustained pitches.
• Good speed and rhythm runs, but it’s not a destination for extreme couloirs or huge vertical drops.
• For big mountain skiers looking for serious technical terrain, resorts like Chamonix, Tignes/Val d’Isère or La Grave are more classic choices.

Summary: Les Saisies offers pleasant advanced skiing — with some black pistes, long rhythm runs and fun terrain off the main groomers — but it’s not a high-end expert resort. Strong skiers will enjoy exploring the Espace Diamant area, the black runs like La Légette and occasional tree/off-piste lines, especially after fresh snow.  Advanced runs (Black): ~ 21 % of the local domain is advanced/expert runs, including several black pistes. Black run from the top of La Légette: One of the steeper groomed pistes in the area with narrower lines and more technical skiing. Hire a local guide or instructor: Even strong skiers can benefit from local line knowledge — especially for off-piste.