Haute Savoie / France
Situated in the heart of the Aravis mountains, Le Grand Bornand and the neighbouring resorts of La Clusaz and Le Croix Fry offer more than 220km of pistes, accessible to all skiers of all abilities.
This charming traditional village has managed to preserve its charm and character while developing all the facilities you’d expect from a world-class ski resort. The station is in two parts - the original mountain village of Le Grand Bornand and just 6km away, the village of Chinaillon - both of which have their own lifts, shops and restaurants and are linked by bus.
From December to April, the Aravis mountains enjoy good snow conditions thanks to their proximity to Mont Blanc. With a maximum altitude of 2100m and 149 snow cannons, Le Grand Bornand is a safe bet for many skiers.
Le Grand-Bornand offers the “Magic Pass”. This pass, which is valid all year round, provides unlimited access to the ski lifts of nearly 100 resorts across France, Switzerland, and Italy – including over 2,000 km of ski slopes and 1,000 km of mountain biking trails.
Another advantage is that the slopes are much quieter than those in the bigger, more well-known resorts. The Aravis area is very popular with local people, but outside the weeks of Christmas, New Year and February, the slopes are quiet, with few queues at the lifts.
The ESF ski school offers individual and group lessons in skiing and snowboarding for all levels, from age 3 upwards. The youngest skiers are given special attention at Le Grand Bornand, where there is a dedicated area just for them.
Guests also find that their budget goes further in Le Grand Bornand, with prices of ski passes, equipment hire, restaurants and shopping more reasonable than in most of the big resorts.
Le Grand Bornand has plenty to offer non-skiers too, with Ice-skating, sledging, snowshoeing, ski-joering (skiing while pulled by a horse), dog-sledding, hot-air ballooning, a cinema, paragliding ... something to suit all tastes! And if you’d like to explore a bit further afield, take a trip to the medieval, lakeside town of Annecy, just 30 minutes away by car.
Le Grand Bornand is full of good restaurants. From takeaway pizzas to local specialities, family restaurants and gourmet dinners, there's something to suit all tastes and pockets.
Whether you're staying in the centre of Le Grand Bornand or a little further up in the village of Le Chinaillon, you'll be able to choose from a wide range of quality establishments with great reviews. For a traditional meal made with fresh produce, try La Ferme de Lormay. If you fancy a good pizza, head for La Bohème - but don't forget to book! At an altitude of 1800m, the delicious food at Restaurant Terres Rouges comes with breathtaking mountain views. For a gourmet break on the slopes, Le Chalet du Maroly is a must.
Gourmets will appreciate the creativity of Confins des Sens. But If you’d rather enjoy a relaxing dinner at your chalet, why not hire a chef to come and cook for you!
There's a small nightclub in Le Grand Bornand, as well as a number of friendly bars for your après-ski sessions!
Le Grand Bornand is renowned for the quality and diversity of its shops, which range from the latest ski equipment to local delicacies. There’s also a weekly market where you can pick up crafts, regional specialities and fresh produce.
For your daily shopping needs, there are three mini-markets in the village of Le Grand Bornand, another in Le Chinaillon and a larger supermarket in Les Villards.
Whether you choose Le Grand Bornand or the nearby village of Chinaillon, or perhaps one of our other destinations such as Sixt-Fer-a-Cheval, you're sure to find the perfect chalet with OVO Network.
Combining the slopes of Le Grand Bornand with those of nearby Chinaillon, a charming village at a higher altitude, the resort is suitable for all levels of skier.
Beginners will immediately feel at ease in Le Grand Bornand, which has several areas specially designed for those learning to ski. There are extensive nursery slopes on the Rosay plateau, served by the Alpage Express - the longest magic carpet ski lift in Europe. There are also welcoming gentle green slopes in Joyère and Chinaillon, with plenty of blues for those looking to increase their confidence.
More experienced skiers will also find something to suit them on the red and black runs, or at Mont Lachat (2100m), renowned for its dedicated freeride area. There’s a large snowpark in the Vallée du Maroly, rated as one of the top five snowparks in France.
Ranked among the best in France, the Grand-Bornand snowpark is accessible to all ages and abilities. Cross-country skiers will love the Nordic ski area in the Vallée du Bouchet, with 68km of trails and a link to Les Confins in La Clusaz.
Note that on Tuesdays, you can ski at night on the Cyclamens and Abondance pistes at Chinaillon. Take a look at the Grand Bornand piste map for more information. And if you want to check the weather before you head out, take a look at our Grand Bornand weather forecast.
Ski passes can be bought just for the Grand Bornand area but if you want to explore further, the resort is part of the Magic Pass scheme, an annual pass which covers 100 resorts across the whole of Europe.
Le Grand Bornand is an ideal destination for guests looking for activities, adventure and outdoor pursuits, whatever time of year.
Cyclists will appreciate the notorious mountain passes which feature regularly in the Tour de France. There are plenty of trails for mountain bikers too, with a host of downhill routes in wonderful mountain scenery.
Families looking for a more leisurely way of discovering the region on two wheels will find a good choice of more gentle routes - you can pick up more information from the tourist office. Why not pack a picnic and make a day of it!
Visitors looking for excitement can try tree-top assault courses, rock climbing, via ferrata or paragliding - beginners can book a tandem flight with an instructor. Other leisure activities rating highly with guests include hiking, horse-riding, volleyball, swimming, archery, hot-air ballooning, tennis, Segway outings... In short, there's something for everyone in your group!
As you have read, there’s no shortage of things to do in this beautiful corner of the Alps, but don't forget to take time to relax and recharge your batteries.
Le Grand Bornand offers a range of more leisurely activities, including golf, fishing, nature trails, horse-riding and pétanque. In the heart of the village, the aquatic centre offers a number of pools, a snack bar with terrace and green areas for relaxing or sunbathing between dips. You could also pamper yourself in a spa, treating yourself to a massage, facial or body treatment.
Many of OVO Network’s luxury chalets have their own relaxation facilities, such as a hot tub and sauna, steam room, swimming pool or Nordic bath. There are also sunny balconies and terraces where you can enjoy a glass of wine while watching the sun set behind the mountains. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of shooting stars!
This part of the Alps is renowned for its authentic, unspoilt environment. Magnificent landscapes, exceptional flora and fauna, mountain lakes and waterfalls - it’s a holiday on a grand scale.
Come and breathe in the pure Alpine air and enjoy the region's temperate climate - hot but never scorching in summer, mild in spring and autumn. Enjoy a hike on the many signposted trails in the Aravis mountains or take a ski lift to get some height, admire the wonderful views and discover unusual wild flowers. You may be lucky enough to spot deer, ibex, chamois, marmots and eagles... to name but a few! Keep your eyes peeled and don't forget your camera!
You can also hike with a guide or visit a mountain farm: watch the cows being milked and learn how the local Reblochon cheese is made. You can also buy some to enjoy back at your chalet or even on the walk back!
And after a wonderful day in the Alpine air, you can be sure of a good night’s sleep at your comfortable chalet.
You can book chalets or apartments for two nights or more, with several bedrooms and bathrooms. We also have many self-catered rentals with hot tubs, saunas and swimming pools. Chalets can be rented by the week or short stays for part of a week at a price to suit your budget. Why not check out our reviews?
Our luxury rental chalets and apartments generally sleep between 6 and 16 people, with several bedrooms and bathrooms, a large living room often with a fireplace, and a garage or parking for your cars. Some of our chalets also come with saunas, hot tubs and pools.
Most of our accommodation is designed with families in mind. Look for our “Cool for Kids” label to book a child-friendly chalet or apartment with play equipment, cots, and other child-friendly facilities. These rentals are very popular so it’s a good idea to make your booking early to ensure good availability.
As well as the usual ski resort activities, you can go cross-country skiing, ice-skating, horse-riding, snowshoeing, etc.
Summer activities in Le Grand Bornand include mountain biking, climbing, tree-top assault courses, canyoning, rafting, via ferrata, golf, etc.
The resort location is very easy to get to. Geneva airport is 65km from Le Grand Bornand, or an hour by car.
Yes, we do! Use our search filters to check availability for a chalet rental with a sauna, private swimming pool, hot tub or other facilities.
Yes, some of our partner chalets are pet-friendly. This information is given at the beginning of each property description.
Most of the properties have garages or private parking at their location, either covered or outside.
We're always looking for gorgeous new properties to join OVO Network! If you'd like your chalet to feature on our site, get in touch to find out more.