Val Cenis, France

* Unspoilt, authentic French villages...

* Scenic, varied slopes for all levels...

* Some of the best beginner terrain in the Alps...

Val Cenis is the collective name for three charming, authentic French villages, which offer a sizeable ski area with scenic and varied slopes in the remote Maurienne valley, close to the Italian border.

Val Cenis is not far (as the crow flies) from the mega-resorts of the Tarentaise (like Val d'Isère, Les Arcs and Val Thorens), but offers a much more laid back and family-friendly atmosphere, not to mention lower prices, and attracts a loyal and steadily increasing British following.

Val Cenis at a glance...

Resort height:	1300-1460m
Slopes:	1300-2800m
Pistes:	125km
Snow rating:	☆☆☆☆☆

Suitability		Skiing
Beginners	☆☆☆☆☆	Green runs	●	16%
Intermediate	☆☆☆☆☆	Blue runs	●	32%
Advanced	☆☆☆☆☆	Red runs	●	43%
		Black runs	●	9%

Resort		Transfer time
Charm	☆☆☆☆☆	Chambéry	1hr30
Convenience	☆☆☆☆☆	Turin	2hr
Après-ski	☆☆☆☆☆	Lyon	2hr30
Family	☆☆☆☆☆	Geneva	2hr30
Non-skiers	☆☆☆☆☆

Snow reliability

General snow cover	4/5
Snow quality – upper	4/5
Snow quality – lower	3.5/5
Resort level snow	3.5/5
Powder potential	3.5/5

The skiing

Val Cenis has 130km of varied terrain suitable for all levels of skier and boarder. Families are particularly well catered for with some excellent beginner and early intermediate terrain, including the longest green run in the Alps (10km).

The mainly northfacing slopes also offer plenty for more experienced skiers, with a good mix of trees and open bowls, a top height of 2800m, and an impressive vertical of 1500m top to bottom.

The resort

Val Cenis is comprised of three separate, solidly traditional villages - Termignon, Lanslebourg (home to our accommodation) and Lanslevillard, each of which have direct access to the ski area.

Although relatively quiet, visitors to the area appreciate the lack of crowds and authentic French feel. Prices are also considerably lower than in the better known French ski resorts.