Aussois vs Les Karellis: which should you book?
Book Les Karellis if you want snow sure, ski in ski out family value with everything in one place. Book Aussois if you want a real traditional village with character, a sunnier setting and somewhere to wander after skiing. Both are quiet, affordable Maurienne resorts the crowds miss.
By the Ski Resorts for Kings editorial team · Last reviewed June 2026
The short answer
Les Karellis wins on snow, ski in ski out convenience and pure family value. Aussois wins on village character, scenery and a slightly nicer evening. Both are quiet and inexpensive.
Aussois and Les Karellis are two small Maurienne resorts that prove you do not need a famous name to ski well on a budget. Aussois is a genuine old village in the Haute Maurienne, sunny and scenic above the Arc valley. Les Karellis is a purpose built, traffic light family resort higher up, designed so children can ski from the door.
On the evening, neither is lively, but Aussois has the edge because it is a real village. You can wander its streets, find a proper restaurant and feel you are somewhere with a history. Les Karellis is a self contained family station where the day ends quietly around the apartments and a couple of bars, which suits parents of small children just fine.
The numbers side by side
| Aussois | Les Karellis | |
|---|---|---|
| Resort altitude | around 1,500 m | around 1,600 m |
| Top lift | around 2,750 m | around 2,500 m |
| Ski area | around 55 km of pistes | around 60 km of pistes |
| Terrain character | Sunny, varied for its size, scenic | Snow sure, gentle, made for families |
| Village style | Traditional old village with character | Purpose built, car light, self contained |
| Evening scene | Quiet but a real village to wander | Very quiet, family focused |
| Day pass | Around $30 to $45 per day | |
| Nearest airport | Chambery, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes | Chambery, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes |
The skiing
This is close, with a slight edge to Les Karellis on snow and Aussois on views. Both offer around 55 to 60 km, enough for a relaxed family week rather than a serious mileage trip. Les Karellis sits in a snow sure bowl that holds conditions well, while Aussois is sunnier and more scenic but can soften in spring. For dependable snow choose Les Karellis, for the prettier setting choose Aussois. Winner: Les Karellis, narrowly, on snow.
The village
Aussois wins this clearly. It is a real old Maurienne village of stone and timber with a church, a few shops and genuine character, somewhere that exists beyond the ski season. Les Karellis is a tidy purpose built family station with no village to speak of, built for function rather than charm. For a base with soul, Aussois is the nicer address. Winner: Aussois.
Cost
This is a tie, and both are among the cheapest skiing in the Alps. Day passes sit around $30 to $45, and a week in either comfortably fits the under $2,000 per person band for many families. Les Karellis often bundles family friendly packages that stretch the budget further, Aussois keeps costs low with its modest scale. Winner: tie.
Families
Les Karellis wins this, and it is one of the best value family resorts in France. Everything sits within a short, traffic light walk, the slopes are gentle and snow sure, and the whole place is built around children learning to ski. Aussois is family friendly too, but Les Karellis is purpose made for the job. Winner: Les Karellis.
Apres and evenings
Our category, and Aussois takes it, modestly. Being a real village, it gives you a proper restaurant and a street to stroll, which feels like an evening rather than a pause. Les Karellis is very quiet, with a couple of bars and an early family rhythm. Neither is lively, but Aussois has more to offer after skiing. Winner: Aussois.
Access
This is a tie. Both sit roughly an hour and three quarters from Chambery, with Lyon and Geneva as alternatives, and both finish with a climb off the Maurienne valley floor. Neither has a meaningful advantage on the journey. Winner: tie.
The verdict
Book Les Karellis if you want snow sure, ski in ski out family value with everything in one easy place, especially with young children. Book Aussois if you want a real traditional village, a sunnier and more scenic setting and a slightly nicer evening, and you do not need the absolute best snow. Both are quiet, affordable Maurienne gems. See the wider region in our France guide.
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Common questions
Which is better for apres ski, Aussois or Les Karellis?
Aussois has the better evening because it is a real village, with a proper restaurant and a street to wander. Les Karellis is very quiet, with a couple of bars and an early family rhythm. Neither is lively, so both suit travelers who want calm nights.
Is Aussois or Les Karellis better for families?
Les Karellis is one of the best value family resorts in France, purpose built so children can ski from the door on gentle, snow sure slopes. Aussois is family friendly too but is a traditional village rather than a self contained family station.
Which has more reliable snow, Aussois or Les Karellis?
Les Karellis has the edge, sitting in a snow sure bowl that holds conditions well. Aussois is sunnier and more scenic but can soften in spring, which suits relaxed family skiing more than a snow chase.
How much does a lift pass cost at Aussois or Les Karellis?
Day passes at both sit around $30 to $45, among the cheapest in the Alps. Many families can keep a week within the under $2,000 per person band, especially at Les Karellis with its family packages.
Which resort is closer to the airport?
Both are roughly an hour and three quarters from Chambery, with Lyon and Geneva as alternatives. Neither has a meaningful advantage on transfer time, as both finish with a climb off the Maurienne valley.
Which has more skiing, Aussois or Les Karellis?
They are very similar, with around 55 to 60 km each, enough for a relaxed family week rather than a high mileage trip. Aussois is more scenic, Les Karellis more snow sure, but neither is a large area.