Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, once listed among the “Most Beautiful Villages of France”, is a haven of peace tucked away at the head of the Giffre valley in Haute-Savoie. This authentic village, made up of numerous hamlets, is above all famous for its exceptional natural setting, at the heart of the largest nature reserve in Haute-Savoie. Summer and winter alike, Sixt is a favoured destination for lovers of grand scenery, hiking and tranquillity. Its Nordic site, particularly at the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval, offers a sumptuous backdrop for cross-country skiing. Although its alpine ski area is modest, it provides access to the vast Grand Massif domain, combining preserved charm with big-mountain skiing. The run back down to Sixt is one of the finest in the whole area!
Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
Overview
Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
📅 Open 19 December 2026 to 11 April 2027
Overview of Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
The architecture of Sixt-Fer-a-Cheval is typical of high-Savoyard mountain villages, with traditional wood-and-stone chalets, granaries and the 12th-century Abbatiale Sainte-Madeleine church. The village is a collection of eight scattered hamlets, each retaining its own character and authenticity. The site is dominated by spectacular natural features: the Cirque du Fer-a-Cheval, an immense limestone amphitheatre from which numerous waterfalls cascade, and the Cascade du Rouget, nicknamed the Queen of the Alps.
Our review — Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
Ski area — key figures — Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
- 🌟 Village resort (Haute-Savoie)
- 📏 800 m Village altitude (2480 m Top altitude)
- 🏨 4.026 tourist beds
- 🎿 152 runs
🚠 5 ski lifts
Average lift age: 44 years
When to visit
Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval in summer
In summer, Sixt-Fer-a-Cheval is paradise for walkers and nature lovers. The Sixt-Passy Nature Reserve offers countless routes, from family paths to challenging alpine hikes, through the Cirque du Fer-a-Cheval, the Cirque du Bout du Monde and the Cascade du Rouget. Mountain biking, rock climbing, via ferrata and caving are also available. Rafting down the Giffre from Sixt to Samoens offers a thrilling experience. Fishing in mountain streams and discovering Alpine flora and fauna round off a stay centred on gentle adventure.
🎯 Things to do in summer:
✅ Road cycling • ✅ Enduro MTB • ✅ Hiking • ✅ Rock climbing • ✅ Via Ferrata • ✅ Rafting • ✅ Tree climbing • ✅ Canyoning • ✅ Paragliding
Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval in winter
In winter, Sixt-Fer-a-Cheval takes on a magical atmosphere with activities focused on the snowy natural environment. It is a top destination for cross-country skiing, with trails in the majestic Cirque du Fer-a-Cheval setting. Snowshoe walks allow you to explore immaculate landscapes and observe winter wildlife. The local alpine ski area is ideal for beginners and families. For more experienced skiers, the Piste des Cascades — a 14 km blue run from Flaine to Sixt — offers a memorable descent.
🎯 Things to do in winter:
✅ Alpine skiing • ✅ Cross-country skiing • ✅ Ski touring • ✅ Snow MTB • ✅ Snowshoeing • ✅ Winter walks • ✅ Paragliding
Skiing
Below are the 3 ski areas accessible from Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval: Le Grand Massif (alpin), Sixt Fer à Cheval (alpin), Villages du Grand-Massif (Vill4ges) (alpin).
Ski area — Le Grand Massif
⛰️ Altitudes: 680 m – 2480 m
🎿 Alpine skiing: 265 km
💰 Day pass: 63 €
The Grand Massif is one of the largest linked ski areas in France, offering an immense 265 km of runs served by over 60 ski lifts. It connects five resorts with distinct characters: the modern and high-altitude Flaine, the family villages of Les Carroz d’Araches and Morillon, the authentic Samoens and the preserved Sixt-Fer-a-Cheval. Extending from 700 to 2,500 metres altitude, the ski area benefits from excellent snowfall, favoured by a predominantly north-facing aspect (80% of runs). It is also renowned for its exceptional panoramas, particularly the unbeatable view of Mont Blanc from the Flaine summits. The strength of the Grand Massif lies in the diversity of its sectors: Flaine is the highest point, offering wide blue runs, technical sectors and well-regarded freeride zones such as Corbalanche. Morillon and Les Carroz particularly appeal to families and progressing skiers, with forest runs like the long green Marvel run at Morillon and numerous fun areas. Samoens, linked via the Saix plateau (1,600 m) which serves as a hub, offers quick access to the entire ski area from a traditional village. The ski area’s iconic experience is the Cascades run — a 14 km blue run allowing a memorable descent from the summit of Flaine to the village of Sixt-Fer-a-Cheval through a magnificent nature reserve setting. Note that while this descent is ski-in ski-out, the return from Sixt to the rest of the Grand Massif is by shuttle.
Ski area — Sixt Fer à Cheval
⛰️ Altitudes: 680 m – 2480 m
🎿 Alpine skiing: 15 km
💰 Day pass: 15.7 €
For beginner skiers or small ski area enthusiasts, Sixt offers 3 km of runs with 2 green, 4 blue and 4 drag lifts on the Salvagny sector — a west-facing sector between 780 and 950 m altitude. The resort also has a Nordic ski area with trails in an exceptional setting, particularly in the heart of the Cirque du Fer-a-Cheval, offering grandiose panoramas over cliffs and frozen waterfalls. Several dozen kilometres of groomed trails for both classic and skating technique wind along the Giffre river and through snow-covered hamlets. The site is suited to all levels, from initiation loops to longer and more technical routes, in a peaceful atmosphere totally immersed in preserved nature.
Ski area — Villages du Grand-Massif (Vill4ges)
⛰️ Altitudes: 680 m – 2480 m
🎿 Alpine skiing: 145 km
💰 Day pass: 58.5 €
If you wish to ski locally at a lower lift pass price, you can also choose the Villages pass — a pass allowing skiing in the lower sectors of the ski area, excluding Flaine: Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoens and Sixt.
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Ski pass prices — Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
Current lift pass prices for ski areas accessible from Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval.
| Ski area | Day pass | 6-day pass | Season pass | Season (prices) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Grand Massif (alpin skiing) | 63 € | 378 € | 1316 € | 2026-2027 |
| Sixt Fer à Cheval (alpin skiing) | 15.7 € | N/A | N/A | 2025-2026 |
| Villages du Grand-Massif (Vill4ges) (alpin skiing) | 58.5 € | 351 € | N/A | 2026-2027 |
Additional information
- Le Grand Massif:
Au printemps le tarif des forfaits baisse.
Where to stay
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