Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise
Why Sainte Foy Tarentaise Ski Resort?
- No crowds in a pretty blend of old and new and in a superb mountain setting
- It’s within a short drive to the renowned resorts of Val d’Isère, Tignes and Les Arcs (but you need a car)
- There’s outstanding off-piste skiing for intermediates and experts with great snow conditions
- The resort has beautiful tree-lined slopes
Sainte Foy Information
Sainte Foy Tarentaise became a ski resort in 1990 and is only a few miles from such big names as Val d’Isère, Tignes and Les Arcs. There are no high-rise buildings in Sainte Foy, just chalet-style buildings that nestle amongst the trees and incorporate local Savoyard features such as round stone columns and stone-lab roofs.
Sainte Foy is a seamless blend of old and new created to offer guests comfort, space and refined luxury - a refreshing change from the concrete jungles found in some of the larger Alpine resorts nearby.
Sainte Foy Tarentaise has some very good eating places. From Alpine chalets preparing dishes “like grandma used to make” to haute-cuisine restaurants there’s something for all tastes. There is a small selection of bars and shops and Sainte Foy apartments are not far from the lifts or nursery slope.
Non-skiers in Ste Foy can indulge in dog sledging, superb guided snowshoe walks to many local hamlets, snow biking, heli-skiing (in Italy, just across the border) and paragliding.
There’s a bus service in Sainte-Foy ski resort to the surrounding Sainte Foy Tarentaise villages, but from a practical point of view, a car is recommended if you want to travel outside the main Sainte Foy resort.
Sainte-Foy was recently rated by SKi Collection’ clients amongst the top 10 resorts they would recommend to a friend. And it has been voted one of the top resorts for families too.
Interested in buying an apartment in Sainte Foy? See our Buying in the Alps section.
Sainte Foy ski area
Although at first sight the Sainte Foy ski area (1,550m-2,620m) might not appear to add up to that much, it’s the place ski instructors from the nearby larger resorts come to on their days off. That should tell you something about the quality of the skiing!
The resort benefits from around 25 slopes in total formed of green, blue, red and black gradients.
Perhaps its biggest appeal for more accomplished skiers and boarders is the vast areas of easy (and not quite so easy) highly rated off-piste, with over 1,000 metres of vertical drop. Sainte-Foy has an excellent snow record throughout the winter thanks to the north-west exposure.
An exhilarating heli-drop can take you to even wilder, more awe-inspiring landscapes across the Italian border (heli-skiing is not allowed in France).
The Natural Zone – Natur’ Grand Bois - take a trail through the heart of the forest – skiing in truly natural surroundings and accessible to all! In association with the National Forestry Office (O.N.F.), discover the locality and its history and understand the preservation of these ancient forests better. Silence prevails during this trek through bygone years, in which “returning to the source” and “serenity” are the keywords. It offers a sheltered trail of 1km.
The pleasant and uncrowded easy green and blue pistes run through the treeline and are perfect for those starting out, young or old!
Sainte Foy is 100% equipped with snow cannons on slopes under 2100m.
Sainte Foy skiing info
SAINTE FOY BEGINNERS
Skiing is free for all beginners on the village ski slopes (for both adults and children) at the bottom of the piste (opposite Les Fermes de Ste Foy) but the choice in terms of green pistes is fairly limited.
Marmots and Gallopins: 2 magic carpets offering free access. To learn skiing free and safe on the two green slopes of Marmots and Galopins.
There’s a long green run to progress to, plus a blue resort run - then gentle blue runs higher up. The ski area offers 7 blue slopes accessible to beginners on the first two sectors (Plan Bois slopes, Chapel, Combes, Charmettes, Grand Solliet, Natur’Renard (not groomed) Crêt Serru du Bas. Ski pass required.
A short distance away, kids can discover sleeping marmots in an old milk cellar, symbolizing a burrow, which hosts a wooden sculpture of 4 sleeping marmots.
The entrance of the cellar is protected by a grid for safety reasons.
We count on you to leave the site clean!
It’s a great ski area for beginners/families as it’s usually less crowded than many mainstream ski resorts.
The chairlifts are all equipped with kid stopper fittings, fixed onto the restraining bar in front of each seat cushion, to ensure greater comfort and safety for young kids.
SAINTE FOY INTERMEDIATES
The red runs are well suited to intermediates looking to sharpen their technique. The run from the Col de l’Aiguille is one of the best.
The latest is a red south-west-facing slope in the La Marquise sector built, served by the Les Marquises chairlift. At the starting point, there is a Chamois sign that gives children and adults instructions for off-piste skiing, and advice about precautions to take.
Ski between the fir trees on the Natur’Renard trail, (piste n°25), an ungroomed blue piste where kids can discover the joys of natural skiing and learn all about the lives of foxes.
SAINTE FOY EXPERTS & OFF-PISTE
The more daring should take a guide to explore and ski Sainte-Foy on one of the renowned off-piste routes to the deserted farming hamlet of Le Monal, or the infamous 1700m vertical descent on the north face of Foglietta. Ste-Foy Tarentaise’s proximity to the Italian border makes it easy to arrange a day’s heli-skiing above La Thuile and La Rosière.
The classified hamlet of Le Monal is the valley’s best-kept secret. From the top of the resort, ski down through virgin powder amid awe-inspiring landscapes. You can enjoy sublime views of Le Monal, the symbol of an eternal Savoie, set against the backdrop of the glaciers of Mont Pourri.
Patrolled but unpisted routes:
- Natur’Shaper Paradise (n○20 on the ski map)
Skiing down from Marquises, with a nice and smooth start, Sharper’s paradise is a great choice to test your skills
- Natur’Morion (n○1 on the ski map)
Skiing down from the Aiguille, enjoy the atmosphere of famous couloirs above you and improve in the steep section
- Natur’Crystal Dark (n○2 on the ski map)
Skiing down from the Aiguille, traverse and discover the beauty of Sainte Foy surroundings
SAINTE FOY SKI TOURING
You can discover an exceptional ski touring area among the peaks and valleys of Mercuel, Le Clou and Le Monal. These are accessible via the ski lifts. There are multiple routes for an energizing experience, always accompanied by a mountain professional.
Ski touring is also a great alternative in poorer weather. Starting from the resort, you can climb at your own pace through the forest along one of the three marked taster routes with a gradual ascent of 150 to 700 meters, then ski back down in safety along the marked ski slopes.
You can also link up with the Italian valleys of Valgrisenche and Val d’Aosta just over the summit ridge that forms the border between France and Italy.
SAINTE FOY RESORT RUNS
Resort runs are green, blue and red, so that makes it easy for all levels to return to the resort by ski.
OTHER EASILY ACCESSIBLE SKI AREAS
Villaroger, Les Arcs, Paradiski – this is the closest from Sainte Foy being only about 15 mins drive away. It is the backdoor to Paradiski’s huge 425km of slopes.
Tignes Les Brevieres – this is just under 20 mins drive away. It is the backdoor to Tignes Val d'Isere’s vast slopes (Val d’Isere village is about 30 mins drive away).
La Rosière – this is about 30 mins drive away.
