Pralognan la Vanoise Ski Resort France

Pralognan la Vanoise ski resort sits snugly deep in the valley seemingly far away from the hustle & bustle of the nearby French mega ski resorts of Courchevel & La Plagne. Adjacent to the Vanoise National Park, the village & ski area are a haven prefect for powder hounds prepared to go that little bit further.

Pros & Cons for Pralognan-la-Vanoise Ski Resort

Pros

• Spectacular mountain surroundings.
• Comfortable & efficient lift system.
• No lift lines.
• Good range of on-piste trails for all levels, including sheltered tree-lined pistes into the village.
• Several top to bottom trails ensures maximum thigh-liquefaction potential!
• Interesting variety of off-piste terrain (but takes some scouting & good snow conditions to ride it.)
• Incredibly affordable lift pass price, & option to include Courchevel.
• Compact village centre with full services & fantastic ski-in ski-out ability.
• A selection of marvelous mountain huts & dining throughout the resort.
• Numerous non-ski activities.
• Authentic village feel & pleasing vibe.

Cons

• No snow-making on the advanced trails limits the resort’s broader appeal in poor snow years.
• Relatively small ski area, which may only hold an advanced rider’s interest for a few days (unless ski-touring into the National Park).
• Limited public transport access by bus & limited car parking for day trippers in the village near the lifts.

Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)

• The views of the glacier-topped Grande Casse & spire of the Aiguille de la Vanoise can be incredibly distracting when skiing the slopes or riding a chair - so much so you may forget to turn or lift the bar when exiting. Be wary, excessive gawking can have consequences!
• Village is at the bottom of a very cold, shaded valley so sees little sunshine for most of the day in winter.
• Several fabulous après ski options exist, but to call it lively would be an over-statement. Nightlife is minimal, but still available.
• No 5-star lodgings (if that is important to you, stay in Courchevel 1850).
• Local accommodation can book out quickly due to high numbers of non-skiing tourists. (Note the non-skiing bit!)

Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain

With only 27km (ish) of on-piste trails, Pralognan is the clear exception to the local rule of bigger is better. And that’s what we love about it. Add in another few kilometres of ungroomed advanced trails, a skiable vertical of nearly 1,000m, low skier numbers, plus plenty of top to bottom ski & snowboard options and it becomes a piece of paradise for the piffling cost of the lift pass.

Check out the ski trail map for Pralognan la Vanoise below.

Pralognan-la-Vanoise Ski Trail Map

Away from the small (& bloody cold) novice area near the village, beginners & intermediates have several wide-open choices on about 325m of vertical in a relatively sunny position above Mont Bocher & beautifully served by a 6-seater chair. Below this zone, fantastic tree-lined beginner-intermediate piste trails are in a sheltered valley mid-mountain, bookended by two great mountain huts. It is possible for all abilities to ski the full 945m vertical of the resort in one go through a combination of trails descending the mountain. The mountain’s advanced runs are steep (unlike some resorts!), but unlike other trails on the mountain, none are covered by snow-making. The short but steep Epena piste was the pick during our visit.

For off-piste, Pralognan la Vanoise was somewhat bony during our visit & hence it was difficult to judge. We imagine there would be good tree skiing between the Creux Noir tow & the Combe des Pariettes advanced valley trail. Also, skier’s right of the Epena run, a series of spurs & couloirs stream down & look the goods in deep snow but would be prone to getting sun-baked! Backcountry ski touring up to the Col de la Vanoise (2,517m) & beyond would be a fabulous way to expend some energy beyond the ski lifts.

Whilst only a petite ski area, it has a modern, well designed lift infrastructure. The Mont Bochor cable car leaves from the centre of town & represents the best access to the upper mountain terrain & the sun! From Mont Bochor, three chairlifts (Ancolie, Genepi & Gentiane) marvellously connect the best of the terrain.

Lift Passes

Lift pass pricing is undergoing a modernisation across the world & Pralognan la Vanoise is no exception. Heavily discounted lift passes can be pre-purchased online, even though the lift passes are already practically free! They are dynamically priced dependent on demand. A bonus for anyone purchasing a 6-day or longer ski pass at Pralognan (called a Grand Ski pass), is the one free day at Courchevel. Included is a reserved seat on a free return bus to Courchevel Le Praz base. Check here for information about Courchevel ski resort.

Where is Pralognan-la-Vanoise France?

The Pralognan la Vanoise ski resort is at the end of the 'remote' upper Vanoise valley, with lifts & slopes extending up from the centre of village of the same name. The closest major town is Bozel, 14km (20min) to the northwest. By road, the ski resort is 210km (2½hr) east of Lyon and 190km (2½hr) south of Geneva.

Closest major airports are Geneva (GVA) & Lyon (LYS), with Chambery (CMF) providing limited weekend access as well.

Pralognan la Vanoise can be easily reached by rental car via Bozel. Two route options are available between Bozel & the resort. The shortest route (on the D915 road) has a steep zig-zag section of road that can be difficult in icy or deep snow conditions. An alternative route, only 2½km longer (the D91B) runs almost parallel but gathers elevation more gradually as it heads via Champagny-en-Vanoise. It meets the D915 road at the top of the steep section, avoiding the worst of the slippery road issues. Numerous car parks are located around the village for day trippers, with most of the free parking a reasonable walk from the lifts.

If without a car, Pralognan la Vanoise is a mere 28km southwest of the nearest train station at Moûtiers. Moutiers receives direct fast trains from as far afield as London (one day a week on Saturdays) & Paris via Eurostar, plus has loads of connections from other airports & major cities, so is the recommended mode of travel to the area. The route T6 bus runs from Moutiers train station to Pralognan five times a day via Bozel. Alternatively, a private transfer from Moutiers station is way more comfortable & efficient but comes at a cost.

Search & book here for train tickets to Moutiers. Purchase bus tickets from the station or driver.

Once in the village, two free ski buses operate all-day long Sunday through Friday (from around 0800 to 1800hr) throughout the village and the surrounding hamlets. On a Saturday, apparently one should walk! See the ski bus route map for more detail of the bus route.

For more information on the best ways to get to, & around, France in winter, see our Travel in France page.

Pralognan la Vanoise Accommodation

A small village of around 750 people, Pralognan-la-Vanoise offers a handful of good hotels, plus numerous chalets & apartments. In mid-winter, the village's location in a valley hemmed in by precipitous peaks ensures it is cold & dark for much of the day. The centre of town can seem quite lively & even busy through the day, mainly due to high quantities of day-trippers. After hours, it is utterly divine. If seeking serenity when skiing here, try for a few nights in the Pralognan-la-Vanoise village.

Search & book here for all Pralognan la Vanoise ski accommodation.

Amongst the villages many apartments for rent, there are a few hotels & guesthouses worth checking out. We love the Hotel Pepe Gust for a fun all-round lodging option in the heart of town. The ultimate central location with ski-in ski-out access is the Les Jardins de la Vanoise apartments. A little further out in wonderfully quiet spots a short walk from the ski lifts & slopes, alternatives include Chalet Rum Doodle guesthouse/B&B & the Epicéa Lodge.

Options to stay down the valley are possible at Bozel, Champagny-en-Vanoise (linked into La Plagne ski resort) & beyond that, the various villages of Courchevel. Bozel is a large, full-service town, central to all three local ski resorts (Pralognan, Courchevel & La Plagne).

Search & book here for all Bozel accommodation.

Ski Rentals & Equipment

Ski rentals are available via our local partners in the Pralognan la Vanoise village close to the lifts. Receive a discount when you search & book Pralognan la Vanoise Ski & Snowboard Rental page.

If you need a new outfit for your ski trip comprising modern jacket, pants, gloves & goggles, Pralognan is one of the French ski resorts served by our local partner ski clothing rental company, Ski Chic. Order online & your ski outfit is delivered direct to your accommodation at the resort.

Mountain Dining & Après Ski

A series of fabulous mountain huts & restaurants are located on the slopes at Pralognan. The highest, Isba/Pachu 2000 is near Mont Bochor & has a good selection of lunchtime options, plus is the place to start an après ski run! The next, & arguably the best, is Refuge les Barmettes at the top of Genepi. At the bottom of Genepi chair, Auberge les Fontanettes is a fantastic final spot before plunging at speed into the village. Head to La Grange & then Pepe Gust for the finale.

Activities

Pralognan scenic valley location is perfect for the 30km of Nordic ski trails that lead up the valley deep into the National Park. A host of indoor activities are available in the local Le Cristal sports centre & include bowling, swimming, curling, climbing, gym & skating. Plus, there are the usual alpine pursuits like tandem paragliding, dog-sledding, winter walking trails, pony rides & of all things, ski-joëring. Let’s face it, who doesn't like getting towed around on skis by a horse?

Nearby Ski Resorts

Pralognan-la-Vanoise is close to the industrial ski resorts of La Plagne (via Champery) & Courchevel. In fact you have to drive right past them to the get up the valley to Pralognan.

Reviews

The Powderhounds visited Pralognan la Vanoise in 2020 & found it to be fascinating - a peaceful outpost set deep amongst incredible French Alps peaks. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all the reviews.

See how Pralognan-la-Vanoise compares to the other French ski resorts on the France ski resort ratings page, and the rest of the European ski resorts on the Europe ski resort ratings page.

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