Flaine - Slope

The season runs from early December until late April.

Flaine sits at the heart of the Grand Massif, one of the world's biggest ski areas, with 265km (167 miles) of trails for all standards of skier and boarder. The 140km (87 miles) of runs local to Flaine are largely located within a vast, mostly treeless snow bowl with dozens of trails leading down in to it, most ultimately returning to the large nursery area at the base of the slopes. The north-facing slopes here normally ensure good snow.

A fast, queue-gobbling eight-seater chairlift whisks skiers and boarders over the back of the resort to link to some wonderful long ski runs down through the forest to neighbouring villages that also participate in the Grand Massif, including Morillon and Samoëns. The longest of these runs is Cascades, a famous 14km (9-mile) trail with spectacular panoramic views.

Most of the vast terrain is suited to intermediates but for advanced skiers there are numerous black trails, including one of the longest in the Alps down to Samoëns. The Combe de Gers powder bowl is also popular and off-piste courses are run by the ski schools.