La Rosière, France

* Extensive, varied skiing linked to La Thuile...

* Family-friendly, low-rise village...

* Snowy micro-climate...

Spectacularly set high above Bourg St Maurice, not far from the Little Saint Bernard pass, La Rosière is a small family-friendly ski resort with a good-sized and very snow-sure ski area, linked to La Thuile in Italy.

Unlike many of its more famous Tarentaise neighbours (such as Tignes, Val d’Isère and Les Arcs), La Rosière’s main village is not purpose-built, and mostly consists of attractive chalet-style buildings.

La Rosière at a glance...

Resort height:	1850m
Slopes:	1175-2800m
Pistes:	180km
Snow rating:	☆☆☆☆☆

Suitability		Skiing
Beginners	☆☆☆☆☆	Green runs	●	9%
Intermediate	☆☆☆☆☆	Blue runs	●	32%
Advanced	☆☆☆☆☆	Red runs	●	39%
		Black runs	●	20%

Resort		Transfer time
Charm	☆☆☆☆☆	Chambéry	2hr
Convenience	☆☆☆☆☆	Geneva	2hr45
Après-ski	☆☆☆☆☆	Lyon	2hr45
Family	☆☆☆☆☆	Grenoble	2hr45
Non-skiers	☆☆☆☆☆

Snow reliability

General snow cover	4/5
Snow quality – upper	4/5
Snow quality – lower	3/5
Resort level snow	4/5
Powder potential	4/5

The skiing

Most of La Rosière’s skiing sits above the tree-line, with lots of wide open slopes, ideal for gentle intermediate cruising. There are also some woodland trails available below the village.

The resort has recently invested €15 million in the expansion of its ski area, with the addition of two new chairlifts and five new red pistes from December 2018.

From the top of the new Mont Valaisan chair (at 2800m - now the highest point of the whole area) there is a long fast red run back to the mid-station, and then a choice of four new runs linking back to the main ski area. Skiers can alternatively access a wide, open off-piste bowl which leads into several relatively straightforward (with a guide) off-piste routes back to the bottom of the Moulins chair.

Keen skiers will want to explore the connected resort of La Thuile in Italy, whose extensive slopes have a reputation for being quiet, even during peak periods.

The resort

La Rosière is very much a family orientated ski resort, with friendly locals and a relaxed, low-key atmosphere.

The resort is split into two distinct parts. The main village is mostly made up of traditional chalet-style buildings, where you will find most of the shops and services. Around a kilometre to the east is the newer, but still attractive, low-rise satellite resort of Les Eucherts. This is home to most of La Rosière’s more upmarket accommodation, including the luxury four-star superior hotel Hyatt Centric La Rosière.