Ski Holidays in Le Grand Bornand
If you are after a quiet, family ski getaway with quiet slopes during the day and cosy restaurants in the evening, Le Grand Bornand would be your ideal destination. Split into two smaller villages ( Grand-Bornand Chinailon at 1300 metres and Grand Bornand Village at 1000 metres), the ski village still manages to keep its incredible charm.
Despite the increasing numbers of ski holidaymakers to the Aravis ski area over the years, Le Grand Bornand still remains impressively unspoilt. The village also emanates an authentic alpine feel; from the chalets nestled within the treelines in Chinailon and its sleepy, wooden huts to the old church and central village square in Grand Bornand Village. As part of the Aravis ski area, ski pass holders get access to 220 kilometres of pistes within Le Grand Bornand and the 4 other ski resorts in the area.
Located in heart of the Haute-Savoie department, between Annecy and Chamonix, Le Grand Bornand is relatively easy to get to, being only less than a 90 minutes transfer from Geneva’s International Airport.
Le Grand Bornand is also quite popular with non-skiers and offers several non-skiing activities such as hiking, snowshoeing, air ballooning and snowmobile rides among others. Its apres activities are rather subdued but it has several charming restaurants perfect for family meals and small gatherings.
The accommodation options here range across a good mix of chalets, small family hotels and self-catering apartments; all of which have relatively decent prices, especially in comparison to the larger and more popular destinations in the French Alps. Overall, Le Grand Bornand offers the perfect family ski getaway if you’re looking for uncrowded slopes during the day and cosy evening meals in the evenings.
Heres the lowdon on skiing in Le Grand Bornand:
Skiers visiting Le Grand Bornand have access to 84 kilometres of pistes within the local area and 230 kilometres across the wider Aravis ski area with the Aravis Alpine ski pass. Access to the ski area is impressively convenient with a network of 24 lifts in total consisting of 2 gondolas, 10 chair lifts, 9 drag lifts and 2 carpet lifts. The ski area ranges between 1,000 metres and 2,100 metres with a 1,100 vertical drop.
Le Grand Bornand is ideal for beginners and intermediate-level skiers. There are 3 separate beginner areas at the base of both villages with nursery slopes as well as wide cruising blues that progressing beginners will find perfect for developing technique.
Intermediate skiers have almost half of the local ski area with up to 40 different runs spread across the ski area and easily accessible from Chinaillon or the Bornand Village.
Advanced and intermediate skiers can also head over to the steep red and blacks coming down La Floria at 1,800 metres for a bit of an adrenaline boost. There are limited advanced pistes in the area for expert skiers with a few more coming down Mont Lachat at 2100 metres.
Freeriders will have fun on the long steep red and blacks coming down La Floroa and Mont Lachat. The terrain is steep enough for beginners and intermediates to enjoy the wide easy blues as well. Freestylers will find some action at the snowpark fully equipped with jump lines to accommodate all levels. It also has several rails, kickers, a half-pipe and a large airbag, a boardercross and fun areas.
Snow Conditions in Le Grand Bornand
No weather forecast available
Le Grand Bornand is a family-oriented ski resort and is popular with kids and families looking for a quiet holiday away. It generally has a subdued apres ski atmosphere with only a couple of bars and nightclubs. The majority of the nightlife in the resort is centred around cosy, traditional restaurants as opposed to loud raucous bars and pubs. There are a number of bars such as Bar Pub Le Cafe and The Green Monkey but most of the other late-night spots are predominantly restaurant and bistro-style establishments. For a night of cocktails and late-night dining, check out Ambiance Bar le Dérapage in Chinaillon or Les Bistrot de Cellier. In Bornanrd Village visit Bar Aux Aravis or Bar Pub Les 2 Guides.
Le Grand Bornand has fantastic facilities and services available to cater all ski holiday-makers all season long. The resort has very good amenities and leisure facilities from piste maintenance and efficient lift networks to excellent accommodation, restaurants and cafes.
There is a handful of ski hire and rental stores dotted across the village, however, you can also very easily order your ski equipment directly from us as part of your ski holiday package to the resort. Simply select the equipment you require, add it to the basket and proceed with your order. We have partnered with some of the Alp's most reputable ski rental companies which allows us to make your ski hire experience as seamless as possible. Our partners deal in some of the best, high-quality equipment brands available. Hiring from us also saves you lots of time and helps secure your equipment far in advance.
You can easily pre-book your Le Grand Bornand ski pass with us and add it to your ski holiday booking. It is perhaps one of the easiest and most convenient ways to book your ski pass. Our process allows you to secure your ski pass weeks in advance so you do not have to be concerned with joining the queues at the lift machines or tourist offices. For any additional information, please contact us directly.
Le Grand Bornand has a good selection of swimming pools and wellness centres to enjoy a bit of aqua therapy after long days in the cold snow. The village has a public swimming pool open at varying hours all week. For more luxurious swimming pool and spa options, your best bet will be at one of the village's top hotels, most of which have resident pools and wellness centres.
Le Grand Bornand offers a pleasant shopping experience with everything from arts and crafts shops, wine cellars, gift shops, beauty and hairdressers, boutiques, snow sports shops and many more. There is also a grocery store with essentials as well as a few cafes and restaurants.
Awarded with a Famille Plus Montagne label, Le Grand Bornand is a well-recognised family-friendly ski resort which has excellent child entertainment and welfare facilities and services. The resort continues to exhibit its commitment to children and their families' experiences both on and off the pistes. From ski schools to kids' clubs and entertainment, the resort is more than capable of adequately accommodating and being of service to its little guests.
Le Grand Bornand has very experienced instructors; some of which have partnered with us at Erna Low. If you are visiting the resort this season and you are looking to enrol your children into ski schools at the resort, you can certainly include your children's ski lessons as part of your overall booking with us. It is super easy to complete and saves you a world of time and hassle completing it with us.
Children are in for a lot of fun at Le Grand Bornand. The nursery area has an outdoor playground with slides and swings. Away from all the cold and snow, there is a reading and games room at the information centre in the village. If your visit falls on the first Saturday of the school holidays, there are special events held in celebration for the kids. Take the kids for a splash in the aquatic centre in the village. There are also kids swimming lessons as well as water sports.
The village has very good child care options to select from. Please inquire with the Tourist office for recommendations. You will also find a baby’s corner with changing table, children's toilets and a microwave at the resort.
The Les Aravis mountain skiing ski area in Le Grand Bornand offers a total of 220 kilometres of slopes and stretches between 1,100 metres and 2,500 metres (which also includes La Clusaz) altitude. Thanks to its impressive height, the slopes do have decent snow covering over the season.