The Skiers' Guide to Peisey Vallandry

Peisey Vallandry sits at the edge of the Les Arcs circuit, forming a key part of the expansive Paradiski area in the French Alps. This boutique satellite village offers direct access to both Les Arcs and La Plagne via high-speed lifts, including the impressive Vanoise Express 200-person cable car.

Situated at an altitude of 1650m with slopes reaching up to 3250m, this resort provides a perfect blend of traditional charm and modern convenience. One Snomad community member liked how it "represents some of the best value skiing in Hautes Savoie region" while maintaining a quieter atmosphere than its larger neighbours.

With an overall rating of 4.35/5 from our users, Peisey Vallandry particularly impresses with its family friendliness (4.67/5) and groomed runs (4.65/5). The resort offers excellent ski school quality (4.69/5) and is highly rated for intermediate skiers (4.67/5).

Peisey Vallandry boasts 69 runs across its domain, including 3 beginner, 29 intermediate, and 28 advanced runs. The area is served by an efficient lift system comprising 6 gondolas/cable cars, 21 chairlifts, and 29 drag lifts.

The resort's lift efficiency (4.43/5) allows quick access to the extensive terrain. Mark, an advanced skier, notes that "the well groomed runs are long and tree lined" with options for all ability levels. These tree-lined runs are particularly valuable during poor visibility, as Matt points out: "a lot being within the trees, making it a good option during poor visibility."

For beginners, Daniel mentions there is "unfortunately no beginner piste at resort level," so novices "have to take the Vallandry gondola to the beginner slope higher up, or take the short bus to Arc 1800." However, Joanne, a beginner skier, had a fantastic experience: "The instruction was all second to none... we all left with an enormous sense of achievement."

Intermediates will find plenty to enjoy with the resort scoring 4.67/5 for intermediates. Michelle confirms this, describing "a great range of slopes to suit all levels of skier."

Advanced and expert skiers can explore challenging terrain with the resort receiving strong ratings for advanced skiers (4.27/5). Daniel mentions "some VERY steep mogul fields to test yourself on," while the off-piste areas (3.84/5) are described by Mark as "bountiful and on a powder day you have a diverse and challenging choice of natural ski areas to play with."

Snowboarders will appreciate the 4.50/5 rating for snowboarding, with Mark adding "there are several well kept Snow Parks to play in."

The dining scene in Peisey Vallandry scores 3.50/5 for eating out. While this might seem modest, Mark points out that "there is not one but TWO Michelin starred restaurants in the villages that surround Piesey, restaurants and bars to satisfy every ones tastes and pocket."

Mountain dining options receive praise, with Mark noting that "eating & drinking up on the mountain is good value and a wide choice available." Annabel specifically mentions "fantastic mountain restaurants" as one of the resort's pros.

In the village itself, Michelle describes "plenty choice of good restaurants and bars but not too busy or noisy," creating a pleasant atmosphere for evening dining. Eleri confirms this, calling it "a quieter family friendly resort with lots of restaurants to choose from."

Some visitors did note limitations, with Jim mentioning "hardly any entertainment\restaurants in resort," suggesting that the options, while good quality, might be somewhat limited in number compared to larger resorts.

Peisey Vallandry scores 3.45/5 for après-ski, reflecting its more laid-back vibe compared to some French mega-resorts. As Alice puts it, "There's not a big apres scene so it's more family friendly than some other resorts."

The mountainside après options get special mention, with Mark describing them as "fantastic with the famous Folie Douce and Arpette Club Bars open late into the night, the moonlit ski back is amazing.... keep a good eye out for the piste groomers on the way back to the resort!!" Annabel specifically highlights "good apres especially at Arpette."

In the village, Chloe describes the nightlife as "low key but a great atmosphere. Bar Mont Blanc has great live music and other live performances, great food and reasonably priced drinks." Naomi mentions "some excellent food and good smaller bars with brilliant atmospheres."

For those seeking more vibrant nightlife, Eleri notes the "easy access to Les Arcs 1800 and the two bars hosting dj and band nights" meaning "there's still plenty of après ski" available with a short journey.

Peisey Vallandry shines brightest as a family destination, scoring an impressive 4.67/5 for family friendliness. Agathe, an advanced skier from Canada, calls it "Very family friendly and accessible, I do recommend it for beginners and advanced skiers."

The resort's layout receives particular praise from Agathe, who says "The layout is easy to understand as well, you cannot get lost!" Naomi adds that "There is a large amount of interconnecting pistes allowing families to choose their run and link up whilst taking in their skill level."

Ski instruction for children is exceptional, with the resort earning 4.69/5 for ski school quality. Finn, who grew up visiting the resort, shares that "the ecole de ski there is where I learnt to ski all the way through the classes and they have great instructors." Tom concurs, noting "The ESF ski school is the one I have used and is excellent with kind instructors with an expert knowledge of the domain."

Joanne, whose family had their first skiing experience here, enthusiastically reports: "My families first experience of skiing and it is safe to say I have created a monster. All have caught the bug and are desperate to return. This is all down to the fabulous holiday created for us at Paisey."

Accommodation in Peisey Vallandry scores well at 4.41/5 for accommodation options. The resort offers various lodging choices, though Annabel notes that "accom options are limited if you want somewhere self catered."

Matthew highlights the convenient location of accommodations: "Fantastic location at the base of a couple of red and a nice smooth blue run. Lift options at both ends of the village with well maintained slopes." This proximity to the slopes is a significant advantage for families and groups.

Zak, an advanced snowboarder, appreciates the village character of the accommodations, describing Peisey Vallandry as a "quality ski village" that's "perfect location if you're not looking for high rise apartment blocks with a traditional feel but access to a very large ski area."

Matt confirms this assessment, noting "plenty of accommodation close to the slopes" along with "a good choice of restaurants." For value-conscious travellers, Mark suggests the resort "represents some of the best value skiing in Hautes Savoie region," which extends to its accommodation options.

Peisey Vallandry benefits from excellent public transport connections, with Lindsay noting that "Free buses between resorts and to Nordic cite is a bonus." This reduces the need for private vehicles, lowering the overall carbon footprint of visitors.

The resort's location within the Vanoise National Park means it operates under stricter environmental regulations than some other French ski areas. The presence of extensive tree-lined runs indicates a commitment to maintaining forest cover, which helps prevent erosion and supports biodiversity.

The connection to the larger Paradiski area means resources can be shared efficiently across multiple resorts, potentially reducing environmental impact through economies of scale in operations like snowmaking and grooming.