La Toussuire

The principal attraction of skiing here is that the lift pass gives you access to the combined lift-linked terrain of six linked ski villages known collectively as Les Sybelles – La Toussuire (1750m), Saint Sorlin d’Arves (1600m), Saint Jean d’Arves (1550m), Le Corbier (1550m), Les Bottières (1300m) and St Colomban de Villards (1100m).

The scale of the resulting ski area is hard to grasp until you set out to explore it, at which point you’ll discover that connecting it all is some superb intermediate cruising terrain, mostly served by modern high-speed chairlifts. However, as you’d expect, shorter non-connecting runs above the villages (Les Bottières and Le Corbier) tend to employ simple drag-lifts. If you’re planning to develop your free-style skills then La Toussuire is the best base in the domain, since it has the most direct access to two snow-park areas (one an ‘easy-park’) and a boarder-cross run just below L’Ouillon (2431m).

While there’s a noticeable dearth of black runs, the off-piste potential is fairly obvious, and a qualified local guide will help you find the best of it. At the opposite end of the technical scale, the novice area just above the village is safe, reassuring and accessible, and beginners can progress to a selection of reassuring blues nearby. But whatever your technical level, you’ll long remember the truly jaw-dropping scenery.

There’s a lot of accommodation here, much of it modestly sized and straggling along the higher side of the approach road, making the most of the impressive views. As you approach the heart of things, however, the skyline changes to much larger apartment blocks with restaurants, boutiques and services at ground level. It’s classic, hard-edged, high-altitude ski village style, and a model of functional efficiency.

That said, there’s more of a Savoyard influence among the bars and restaurants lining the foot of the front-de-neige, where large sun terraces are predictably popular at lunchtimes and at the end of the day. As regards restaurants, we have to say that we were impressed by the range of options, and by the quality and presentation of our dining experiences here. There really does seem to be something for everyone (and if snacking on the go is your style then again you won’t be disappointed).

Despite being primarily a mid-range destination for value-conscious families, La Toussuire nevertheless has some real quality touches here and there, including some premium accommodation and services. If you prefer to stay close to the pistes (and we reckon you should if it’s within your price-range) then ski-in/ski-out accommodation is available.

Since most intermediate recreational skiers just love well-signed, well-groomed cruising terrain you have to say that Les Sybelles are currently hugely underrated – if you want quality, linked-domain skiing but without prohibitively-pricey lift passes then you really should get to know this place. You can rack up some serious mileage here, and enjoy your lunchtime meals in a different village each day, if you wish.

Families and mixed-interest groups will appreciate affordable pricing, ultra-accessible ski-school teaching areas, some very manageable blue pistes (there are few greens) plus a snow-park and boarder-cross area.

Finally, anyone who appreciates spectacular mountain scenery, with a few back-to-nature experiences along the way will be more than happy here.

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