Aussois Ski Resort Review 2026
Aussois is a sunny, traditional family village in the Haute Maurienne that gives you a calm, good value week without the crowds or the prices of the big name stations. It is a small area of around 55 km set high above Modane, with gentle terrain, big southern views and a real Savoyard village rather than a concrete resort. Book it if you are a family or a relaxed intermediate group who wants quiet slopes, sunshine and an honest bill. Skip it if you need a huge linked ski area, serious steeps or lively nightlife, because Aussois is small and deliberately low key.
By the Ski Resorts for Kings editorial team · Last reviewed June 2026
Mountain stats at a glance
| Resort altitude | around 1,500 m at the village |
|---|---|
| Top lift | around 2,750 m |
| Vertical | roughly 1,250 m |
| Pistes | around 55 km |
| Run split | mostly green and blue with a good spread of reds and a few blacks higher up |
| Lifts | around 10 |
| Season | roughly mid December to mid April |
| Nearest airport | Chambery, roughly a 1 hour 45 minute transfer |
| Day pass | around $40 for the local Aussois area |
Photos via Google. Contributed by Francois, Thomas Chaignon, Pascal Lacroix, Frederic BARBIER.
Who it suits
Aussois suits families and relaxed intermediates who want a peaceful, sunny week at a fair price rather than mileage and buzz. The slopes are gentle and uncrowded, the village is small and walkable, and the southern aspect means plenty of blue sky days, which is exactly what a young family or a returning skier wants. It also suits anyone who likes a base with history, since the Esseillon forts and the old village give the place real character.
It suits two types of skier poorly. If you measure a holiday in kilometers and linked lifts, the local area of around 55 km will feel small and you should look to the bigger Maurienne and Tarentaise stations. If you want serious off piste, long steep descents or late nightlife, this is the wrong address, because Aussois is a quiet, family first village by design.
The skiing
The skiing at Aussois is compact and friendly, rising from the village at around 1,500 m to about 2,750 m, with a layout that keeps beginners and families together near the bottom and sends stronger skiers higher for the views. The bulk of the terrain is gentle green and blue runs, which is why the resort works so well for learners and mixed ability groups.
Intermediates get a satisfying spread of reds off the upper lifts and some genuinely scenic cruising with the Vanoise peaks all around. Experts will not find much to hold them for a week, though there are a couple of steeper pitches and easy access to off piste when conditions are right.
The honest read is that Aussois is a confidence building, scenery rich mountain rather than a challenge. It is a fine place to learn, to ski with children, or to potter in the sun, and a frustrating one if you want big vertical and variety every day.
The village
Aussois is a genuine Haute Maurienne village, a cluster of stone and timber houses around a church and a few squares, with the dramatic Esseillon forts standing guard below. It feels lived in and unhurried, the opposite of a purpose built station, and that authenticity is much of the appeal.
Evenings are quiet and centered on good, honest Savoyard food rather than late bars, so come for fondue and an early night, not a party. Non skiers do well here with cleared walks, the forts, snowshoeing and the wider Haute Maurienne to explore, though the village itself is small and you will want a car for variety.
Where to stay
Stay in or close to the old village for the best of the charm and easy walking to the lifts, choosing a chalet or apartment within a short stroll of the slopes. Lodging here is mostly comfortable apartments and small family run places rather than luxury, which keeps the overall bill modest and is a big part of why a week in Aussois is such good value.
If you want this matched to your dates and group, use the form below and we will route your brief to operators who know the Haute Maurienne.
Lift pass prices and how to save
The local Aussois day pass runs around $40, which is low by Alpine standards and one of the resort's strongest selling points. Multi day and family passes cut the daily rate further, and a wider Haute Maurienne pass is available if you want to ski neighboring areas on the same trip. Booking online ahead of arrival usually beats the resort window price in the French school holidays.
Compare current prices and buy ahead through our lift pass partner.
Lessons and ski hire
The ski school here is friendly and relaxed, well suited to children and nervous adults, with English speaking instructors available if you book ahead, especially outside the French holiday weeks. Group classes fill in February. Hire shops sit in the village near the lifts, and reserving gear in advance is cheaper and quicker than walking in on day one.
Arrange lessons through our lessons partner and gear through our ski hire partner.
Getting there
Chambery is the usual gateway at roughly 1 hour 45 minutes by road, with Lyon around 2 hours 30 minutes and Grenoble a similar run. Turin is also close through the Frejus tunnel at roughly 1 hour 30 minutes, which is worth knowing if the flights line up. The train to Modane followed by a short transfer up to the village is a practical car free option.
Book an airport transfer through our transfer partner, and sort cover through our travel insurance partner before you travel.
When to go
January and February are the reliable months, with cold snow and the sunshine that makes Aussois special. March brings longer, warmer afternoons that suit families well, though the southern aspect can soften the snow quickly later in the day. Because the village sits at a moderate 1,500 m, treat early December and mid April as a gamble for snow at village level and favor the heart of winter for the surest conditions.
The honest bottom line
Aussois is a quiet, sunny, good value family mountain in the Haute Maurienne, the sort of place where children learn happily and adults ski in the sun without spending a fortune. Families, beginners and relaxed intermediates will love it, and anyone who values a real village over a resort machine will feel at home. Mileage hunters, experts and party seekers should look elsewhere, and everyone else should book January to March with confidence.
If you want this trip priced by specialists, tell us your dates and budget below and we will route your brief to operators who know Aussois and the Haute Maurienne.
Nearby alternatives
In the same valley, consider Bonneval sur Arc for the prettiest village and the highest, most snow sure skiing in the Haute Maurienne, Valloire for a bigger linked area with more variety, and Valmeinier for sunny, family friendly slopes on the same lift network.
Common questions
Is Aussois good for beginners?
Yes, it is a strong beginner and family choice. The lower slopes are gentle and uncrowded, the ski school is relaxed and patient, and the sunny southern aspect makes for pleasant learning conditions. Progression onto easy blues is straightforward once confidence builds.
How big is the Aussois ski area?
Aussois has around 55 km of pistes served by roughly 10 lifts, rising from about 1,500 m to around 2,750 m. It is a compact, family sized area rather than a big linked circuit, with a wider Haute Maurienne pass available for those who want to ski neighboring resorts.
Is the snow reliable in Aussois?
It is reasonable in midwinter but not guaranteed, because the village sits at a moderate 1,500 m with a sunny southern aspect. January and February are the dependable months, with snowmaking backing the natural cover, so favor the heart of winter over early December or mid April.
How do I get to Aussois?
Fly to Chambery for roughly a 1 hour 45 minute transfer, or Lyon at around 2 hours 30 minutes. Turin through the Frejus tunnel is also close at about 1 hour 30 minutes. The train to Modane followed by a short road transfer is a practical car free option.
Is Aussois good value compared with the big French resorts?
Yes, it is one of the better value weeks in the French Alps. The day pass runs around $40, lodging is mostly modest apartments and family run places, and a comfortable week often lands under $2,000 per person, well below the Tarentaise giants.
How much does a week in Aussois cost?
A comfortable family week typically lands under $2,000 per person including lodging, passes and meals, which is a large part of the appeal. Adding private lessons or a smarter chalet can move a trip toward the $2,000 to $4,000 band.
Where should you stay and when should you go?
Plan your Aussois trip with specialists
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