In the heart of the Beaufortain, Arêches-Beaufort is an authentic land where the famous “prince of gruyère” cheeses is produced: Beaufort. Its fine mountain chalets give way in the valley to two beautiful villages (Beaufort and Arêches) with houses grouped around the region’s typical church with its fine bulb-shaped bell tower. On the skiing side, Arêches-Beaufort offers a 50km alpine ski area and 15km of cross-country trails.
Arêches Beaufort
Overview
Arêches Beaufort
📏 Altitude: 1200 m
🎿 Alpine skiing: 50 km
⛷️ Cross-country skiing: 30 km
🌟 Resort style: Village resort
💰 From 41 €/day (2026-2027)
📅 Open 19 December 2026 to 4 April 2027
Overview of Arêches Beaufort
Set between 800 and 1,100 metres altitude, the villages of Beaufort (the capital) and Areches (the resort) are two typical and still authentic villages in this agricultural region. Here, farms pool their twice-daily milk yields to produce the emblematic Beaufort cheese. The resort’s 50 km of runs across 30 pistes offer a fine ski area on two massifs facing the Mont Blanc range. A land of sport, Areches-Beaufort hosts the Pierra Menta ski mountaineering race each year. It is one of the best places to take up or improve trail running and ski touring. Snowshoe walks, farm visits and the cheese dairy — those who prefer to contemplate rather than compete will not be short of things to do in this territory spared from the excessive urbanisation of the large resorts. Although the villages sit at low altitude, the Beaufortain is renowned for its heavy snowfall in season.
The traditional landscapes of the Beaufortain consist of valley hamlets, intermediate farmsteads and scattered farms. Beaufortain farms are sturdy structures, longer than wide, built in timber on a stone base. They are set into the slope so that each level of the building is naturally accessible: on the uphill side, openings are used to pass hay up for storage; on the downhill side, openings serve the living quarters and cattle sheds.
Our review — Arêches Beaufort
3.8/5
Ski area — key figures — Arêches Beaufort
- 🌟 Village resort (Savoie)
- 📏 1200 m Village altitude (2300 m Top altitude)
- 🏨 10.219 tourist beds
- 🎿 30 runs
🚠 15 ski lifts
Average lift age: 27 years
When to visit
Arêches Beaufort in summer
In summer, Areches-Beaufort is a land of walking, trail running and cycling — with the cols des Saisies, du Joly and the Cormet de Roselend — as well as simply unwinding. In short, a well-rounded destination with renowned scenery, from the splendid Lac de Roselend to various views of Mont Blanc and the Pierra Menta. The charm of the villages and the Beaufort cooperative cheese dairy add a touch of character (and flavour) to the destination.
🎯 Things to do in summer:
✅ Road cycling • ✅ Enduro MTB • ✅ Hiking • ✅ Via Ferrata
Arêches Beaufort in winter
In winter, skiing at Areches-Beaufort means 50 km of runs between 1,000 and 2,400 metres. The alpine ski area faces north and is generally well-supplied with snow. At equivalent altitudes, the Beaufortain is often regarded as a snow store. Skiing takes you through varied atmospheres, from forest runs to open high pastures with fine views of the Mont Blanc massif. But the speciality of Areches-Beaufort is also ski touring — a technical discipline used in alpinism to climb ungroomed slopes. The resort offers one of the most extensive initiation programmes in France: 4 marked, secured and patrolled itineraries on the ski area (but outside the pisted runs), totalling 1,900 metres of vertical descent. Various ski touring initiation courses are also offered, such as the Areches Dynafit Experiences: a nocturnal introduction available for 40 euros per person, including equipment and guiding.
🎯 Things to do in winter:
✅ Alpine skiing • ✅ Cross-country skiing • ✅ Ski touring
Skiing
Below are the 2 ski areas accessible from Arêches Beaufort: Arêches Beaufort (alpin), Arêches-Beaufort (nordique).
Ski area — Arêches Beaufort
⛰️ Altitudes: 1050 m – 2300 m
🎿 Alpine skiing: 50 km
💰 Day pass: 41 €
The Areches-Beaufort alpine ski area extends from 1,080 metres at Areches to 2,320 metres at the summit of the Col de la Forclaz. Its 50 km ski area will not suit complete beginners, as it is primarily made up of blue and red runs. Two beginner areas help familiarise you with skiing, at 1,710 m at Le Cuvy and at 1,200 m at Le Planay. The ski area has 30 runs: 3 green, 11 blue, 12 red and 4 black. The resort has 13 ski lifts, mainly drag lifts (8 drag lifts), as well as 4 chairlifts.
Cross-country ski area — Arêches-Beaufort
⛰️ Altitudes: 690 m – 730 m
🌲 Cross-country skiing: 30 km
💰 Day pass: 6 €
The Areches-Beaufort Nordic ski area offers a dual cross-country skiing experience across two distinct sites: a valley-floor area at Marcot, ideal for initiation, and an exceptional high-altitude route on the Cuvy plateau, with a panorama over Mont Blanc. The Marcot site (730 m), departing from Beaufort, offers 15 km of groomed trails for both classic and skating technique. This valley-floor area at 730 metres altitude follows the Doron river and includes 4 runs at all levels (1 green, 1 blue, 1 red, 1 black), making it perfect for learning. Areches-Beaufort shares the Beaufortain massif with the well-regarded Les Saisies Nordic ski area, around 30 minutes’ drive away. This Olympic site (Albertville 1992 Winter Games) offers 120 km of marked routes between 1,650 and 1,720 metres altitude, renowned for their quality and snow cover.
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Ski pass prices — Arêches Beaufort
Current lift pass prices for ski areas accessible from Arêches Beaufort.
| Ski area | Day pass | 6-day pass | Season pass | Season (prices) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arêches Beaufort (alpin skiing) | 41 € | 214 € | 570 € | 2026-2027 |
| Arêches-Beaufort (nordique skiing) | 6 € | N/A | 82 € | 2025-2026 |
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