A Hidden Gem

The antidote to the hassle and hustle of the megaplexes, Sainte Foy is a place where you don’t have to rush to the lifts each morning if you want to catch some decent snow. You can tackle it at your own pace – and if that means kicking back for a couple of hours on a sunny terrace, then all the better. After all, aren’t you supposed to be on holiday?

While Sainte Foy will never offer the big-resort-buzz and busy nightlife that its mighty neighbours do, there is a small but lively après-ski scene every night of the week for those who wish to party.

Four Reasons to Visit Sainte Foy

The off-piste terrain is epic

It’s no wonder the guides from Val bring their clients over to Sainte Foy! The upper slopes are north-facing and have a lovely, steep, even pitch. This is the kind of place where any confident intermediate should lay aside his or her dreams of high-speed carving for a day or two and buy themselves a couple of lessons on powder. With so little traffic on the mountain, this is the perfect place to make your breakthrough into off-piste skiing or snowboarding.

The traditional Alpine charm

Sainte Foy maintains an Alpine village atmosphere, with chalets built in wood and stone, preserving the local Savoyard architecture. Many of the ski chalets are ski-in-ski-out with balcony hot tubs, saunas, and obligatory real wood fires. There are both self-catered apartments and high-end catered chalets available throughout the resort to suit various budgets.

Location 

The proximity of the big resorts Val d’Isere, Tignes, and Villaroger (which connects with Les Arcs) are all within 30 minutes’ drive, which means this charming, away-from-it-all destination comes with built-in-big-skiing insurance. Although (in high season at least), most people will try the big resorts once and then beat a hasty retreat to the serenity of Sainte Foy.

Easy ski holiday booking with Premiere Neige

Premiere Neige has been working in Sainte Foy for over 20 years offering a wide selection of accommodation ranging from luxury catered chalets to cozy apartments. The experienced and friendly team offer a concierge service for all their accommodation, assisting with everything from booking transfers, ski hire, and lift passes, to childcare, ski lessons, restaurant bookings, and taxis to other resorts. For families, bigger groups, or just those who prefer to make the booking process as easy as possible, Premiere Neige are a great option.

Skiing in Sainte Foy

Sainte Foy sits beneath the northwest faces of two peaks – Rocher d’Arbine (the 2,645m) and the Pointe de la Foglietta (2,930m). Thanks to their northerly orientation, these mountain faces hold their snow well, and because so few people stay in Sainte Foy (especially outside the school holidays), you can often find easy lines through fresh powder a day or two after a dump.

There are only 35km of pistes here, but because they’re so quiet they’re worth so much more. After blasting around them for a couple of days you can really getting to know the terrain and that’s the real strength of small, uncrowded resorts like this – Sainte Foy is a great resort to develop your skills. Ultimately, you’re going to have to concentrate on your technique because there aren’t hundreds of miles of mountain to distract you, but this also makes it perfect for larger groups who are moving at different paces – you can go off and explore in smaller packs without getting totally separated (or lost).

For more advanced skiers the off-piste terrain and backcountry touring access is limitless, plus there’s some awesome tree skiing for snowy days, as well as three ungroomed zones for testing your off-piste skills in relative safety.

Sainte Foy Slopes in Numbers

• 35km of slopee
• 26 pistes including 2 green, 7 blue, 11 red and 4 black
• 4 chairlifts
• 2 magic carpets
• 3 ungroomed areas
• 1 boarder cross
• 1 freestyle zone

Beginners

Sainte Foy is a great resort for beginner skiers and snowboarders, particularly outside the school holidays. The two magic carpets are completely free to use for kids and adults, so you can give snowsports a try before you splash out on the lift pass. The beginner’s area is well organised with the ski schools providing great lessons there and two “kids gardens” for young children to learn in.

At the quieter times of the season, the unhurried, uncrowded, and unthreatening atmosphere (did we mention the empty pistes?) provides the perfect environment in which to make your first turns. Plus, the progression is fantastic, with an easy green run from the top of the first chairlift and some gentle blues higher up that all lead back to the snow front – so there’s no chance of getting lost. Chances are, you’ll be skiing the latter with confidence by the end of your first week.

Intermediate

For intermediates, the appeal of Sainte Foy lies in its quiet slopes. The long, cruisy blue runs and fast, swooping reds are perfect for gaining confidence. To really feel the burn, take the lifts up to the very top and ski all the way down to the resort – not only is it great exercise but it also offers some stunning views of the valley below.

Our best advice? Don’t spend your whole trip to Sainte Foy trying to clock up the mileage. Spend some money on tuition and use all those empty slopes to work on your technique or even try some of the off-piste.

Advanced

There are all kinds of options for advanced and expert skiers in Sainte Foy looking for adventure. There are four solid black runs and three secure, ungroomed zones that are monitored for avalanches (similar to the inbounds off-piste in New Zealand and North America). These runs are great for perfecting your skills in variable snow conditions and beyond this, the backcountry skiing and ski touring possibilities are endless.

Head off the main ridgeline frontside – back down towards the resort – or backside, into the sun, towards Val d’Isere. There are chutes, cliffs, couloirs, and trees, plus wide-open bowls on offer too, and they’re all right there in front of you to scope from the chairlift. More terrain is to be found if you hike the ridge, skier’s right, from the top of the lift system, and then drop into the northwest-facing bowl above the village.

In fact, the frontside terrain reminds us of the kind of freeriding you’ll find in North America – it’s not hidden away from view. So, hire a guide if you’re not properly equipped and if you are staying with an accommodation provider such as Premiere Neige, their team can recommend guides to suit all experience levels.

Ski Lessons in Sainte Foy

In Sainte Foy there are a great selection of ski schools, mountain guides, and childcare on offer.

PDS Snowsports and Supreme are British ski schools who offer private lessons and group lessons for all ages and abilities, as well as off piste clinics and training camps. Snocool and Evolution 2 both offer tailor-made instruction, off-piste sessions, and children’s and teen group lessons. Tarentaise Tours provide ski safaris throughout the Tarentaise valley and heli-skiing adventures, and Alex’treme is an independent instructor who offers tuition and guiding.

The ESF run children’s group lessons or private lessons for ages three to 16. Young children can attend Club Piou Piou where children aged three to five have access to a play area when their little legs get all skied out. There are also classes for teens who want to try freestyle, racing, and off-piste.

Les P’tits Trappeurs (+33 479 06 97 92) runs activities such as tobogganing, snowman-making, arts and crafts, indoor and outdoor games for children from three to 11 years.

If you’re skiing with young children, always keep an eye out for Foxy and Nutsy. Sainte Foy’s friendly mascots who can often be found skiing or walking around the children’s areas. If you need childcare, there are several different nanny companies located in the area, contact your accommodation provider for recommendations and contact details. There is also a creche run by the resort.

Ski Hire Discount In Sainte Foy
 Book your skis with Intersport and save on your ski hire by using CODE: WELOVE2SKI

Where to Stay

Sainte Foy Tarentaise Accommodation

Sainte Foy has done an admirable job maintaining its charm and character amidst new developments, steering clear of the bulky apartment blocks typical in Val d’Isère, Tignes, or Les Arcs. Accommodations are conveniently located near the pistes and main lift stations, ensuring easy access to skiing.

Quality Accommodation for Less

One of Sainte Foy’s highlights is its selection of recently built chalets. While they may not match the extravagant properties of Val d’Isère, Courchevel, or Méribel, they provide excellent options for snow sports enthusiasts at more affordable prices.

Luxury Chalets

• Ormelune: The newest addition to the Premiere Neige portfolio, this beautifully furnished luxury chalet is perfect for larger groups. Situated on the piste, it offers breathtaking views and spacious, opulent suites designed for comfort.
• The Peak: A ski-in-ski-out luxury chalet in the heart of Sainte Foy, The Peak boasts spectacular valley views from large balconies across four floors. Relax in the top-floor hot tub or enjoy the wellness centre featuring a sauna, steam room, and fitness studio.
• Chalet La Tillette: Family-owned and located in the charming hamlet of La Mazure, this chalet offers four spacious, comfortable ensuite bedrooms filled with natural light.

Self-Catered Accommodation

For those seeking a more budget-friendly option, Sainte Foy’s self-catered accommodations surpass the cramped options found in other French resorts:

• Residence Les Fermes de Sainte Foy: This luxury apartment complex features a chalet-style design with warm decor, an indoor swimming pool, and a spa.
• MMV L’Etoile des Cimes: Another comfortable option, this apartment complex also includes an indoor pool.
• Les Hauts du Monal Chalets: A collection of luxurious self-catered chalets with ski-in-ski-out access, located right above the nursery slope.
• Premiere Neige: Offers a range of high-end self-catered accommodations from one-bedroom apartments to eight-bedroom chalets.

Other Mountain Activities

Sainte Foy provides plenty of off-slope activities for evenings or non-skiers. Enjoy dog-sledding, guided snowshoe walks, and mountain kart rides. For a unique experience, book a “day in the life” of a ski patroller and discover the behind-the-scenes action of the resort.

Where To Eat in Sainte Foy

In and around Sainte Foy there are some great places to eat. Les Brevettes by the Arpettaz chairlift is a lovely place for lunch, but it is very popular so get there early if you want to sit on the sunny terrace. Les Marquises, situated next to the Marquise chairlift up on the mountain, has two terraces with views over the Arbine, Mont Pourri, and the Thuria Glacier. It is run by a local family and often has live music. Dishes are made of fresh produce and local meat cooked on a plancha. 

Down in the resort, La Maison à Colonnes is another good lunch spot right by the slopes. Inside a 16th-century former farmhouse, it’s a cozy and atmospheric spot for dinner too serving up classic mountain fair like cheese fondue and tartiflette. For a quick grab lunch, try Llama Llama next to ESF for dirty fries, burgers, soup, nachos or just a hot chocolate (or sneaky Aperol).

Restaurant 1580 has a smoke house, brewery and coffee shop – don’t miss their in-house-brewed beer! They also have options for those looking for gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan dishes. Reservations are recommended to make sure you get a table. 

Traditional food

We also love the St Germain Wine Bar situated near the tourist office in resort. It has a great atmosphere and serves up charcuterie platters and cheese fondues. They also offer a takeaway raclette kit complete with all the goodies to enjoy in the comfort of your chalet. It is also well worth skiing across to the lovely hamlet of Le Miroir, where Chez Merie (+33 479 06 90 16) is located. The fabulous regional cuisine is fused with a touch of Provence and the setting is gorgeous… A roaring log fire, sheepskin rugs, and lots of gnarled wood. It is also possible to drive here in the evening but make sure you check ahead that they are open.

Nightlife in Sainte Foy

If you are looking for bouncing nightclubs then you’ve come to the wrong resort, however, there is apres-ski every afternoon out in the sun. Check out the bar at restaurant Les Moulinettes or Llama Llama, the go-to for seasonnaires, which offers a fun atmosphere, live music and weekly pub quiz. White Lounge Bar has a DJ and live music twice a week too, but if you’re desperate to party for a night, simply jump in a cab and head up to Val d’Isere.