Ski Season in La Giettaz
From Christmas to Easter there is always somewhere to ski within a short drive of the chalet. Here are the 2026-27 dates for the nearby ski areas and what last winter was like.
Live from the slopes
Lifts and snow right now at the three ski areas closest to the chalet, from the resorts' own bulletins.
Portes du Mont-Blanc
5 min from the chalet
Season: 19 December 2026 to 21 March 2027
La Clusaz
15 min from the chalet
Season: 12 December 2026 to 25 April 2027
Espace Diamant
Down the valley via Flumet
Season: 5 December 2026 to 10 April 2027
Opening dates for 2026-27
These are the dates announced by the ski areas. They always depend on the snow, so check the resort websites before you travel.
| Ski area | Distance from the chalet | 2026-27 season |
|---|---|---|
| Portes du Mont-Blanc (La Giettaz, Combloux, Megève-Le Jaillet) | 5 min by car | 19 December 2026 to 21 March 2027 |
| La Clusaz, Balme sector | 15 min by car | Early opening 5–6 December, then daily from 12 December 2026 to 25 April 2027 |
| La Clusaz, Aiguille and Beauregard | 15 min by car | 12 December 2026 to 11 April 2027 |
| La Clusaz, Étale | 15 min by car | 19 December 2026 to 4 April 2027 |
| Megève | Via the Portes du Mont-Blanc or by car | Partly open 5–6 December and from 12 December; fully open from 19 December 2026 |
| Espace Diamant | Down the valley via Flumet | 5 December 2026 to 10 April 2027 (forecast) |
Sources: Portes du Mont-Blanc, La Clusaz, Megève, Espace Diamant.
When to come
- December: the season starts in the first half of the month in La Clusaz and Megève, and on 19 December at the Portes du Mont-Blanc, right on our doorstep.
- Christmas and the February school holidays are the busiest weeks on the slopes, as French families head to the mountains.
- January and the second half of March are quieter outside the holidays, and March brings much longer, sunnier days: last winter the chalet’s altitude had about 280 hours of sunshine in March, against 190 in January.
- Late March and April: the Portes du Mont-Blanc closes on 21 March, but you can keep skiing at La Clusaz, 15 minutes away, where the Balme sector goes up to 2,600 m and stays open until 25 April.
How the snow was last winter
Winter 2025-26 started well, with heavy snow in the northern Alps at the end of November, then turned unusually dry and mild in December. From late January a series of storms brought the snow back: it was the wettest February in France since 1959, and by the end of the month the snow cover in the northern Alps was above normal. Storm Pedro on 19 February, for example, brought 15–20 cm of snow above 1,200 m and 40–60 cm above 1,500 m, with heavy rain lower down in the valleys. It was a mild winter overall, the 4th warmest in France since 1900, but cross-country skiers in Haute-Savoie described March as outstanding.
At La Giettaz itself, the Météo-France station (1,217 m) measured up to 163 cm of snow on the ground on 23 February, and never less than 88 cm from mid-January until the lifts closed. See the figures in last season’s weather.
More than downhill skiing
- Sledging: there is a free, groomed sledging slope at Le Plan, the base of the La Giettaz ski area, open from 9:00 to 16:30 when there is enough snow.
- Cross-country skiing: La Clusaz has 53 km of trails at Les Confins and 38 km at Beauregard, and Les Saisies has 120 km at 1,650–1,720 m.
- Snowshoeing and ski touring: see our Portes du Mont-Blanc guide for the routes that start at Le Plan.
Driving in winter
From 1 November to 31 March, cars in the area must have snow tyres or carry chains or snow socks. The roads around La Giettaz are cleared several times a day. The Col des Aravis, on the way to La Clusaz, stays open all winter except after exceptional snowfalls, which close it on about five days a year.