Resort focus: Les 7 Laux – The White Out podcast

DOM: welcome to this special edition of the white out podcast – I’m here with my co host Rob Stewart and we are here to talk about one of those ski resorts that even you might not have been to Rob.

ROB: well it’s possible, there’s plenty of places left on my list that’s for sure…so many resorts, so little, umm let’s say capacity to get to them all because I spend half my time in a studio recording podcasts. Ha ha

Right where are we talking about Dom, come on give it to me…

DOM: ye so this week our resort focus is all about a genuine French hidden gem called Les 7 Laux. (Les Sept Laux) that’s celebrating 50 years since it opened..

We’re going to talk about why Les 7 Laux should be on the top of your list for a ski trip.

ROB: ah Les Sept Laux. You’re right I haven’t been there but I’ve certainly heard of it and I quite like the sound of it too. Okay Dom well I’ll throw some questions your way – let’s find out who Les 7 Laux is good for, what the destination is best for and how to get there. I must admit I have been checking out the resort website sneakily when I saw the topic for this podcast, and it looks really interesting…

But firstly Dom, where exactly is Les 7 Laux?

DOM: Well it’s very close to the city of Grenoble, just up in the Belledonne mountain range in the Dauphiné Alps. You could drive into the city of Grenoble in around 30-40 minutes traffic permitting and the airport is just over a one hour’s drive away too. Chambery is also just 50 kms away, so another option for flying in and then driving from Calais would normally take about 8.5 hours.

ROB: okay and could you get a train there as it’s close to Grenoble?

DOM: Yes so I checked out a recent train map developed by our old mate Daniel Elkan from Snowcarbon (Rob: oh yes I know that in collaboration with France Montagnes)…DOM: yes right, and yes the train would be London-Paris-Lyon-Grenoble and then a taxi or a bus from there. Not too difficult because you get pretty close in Grenoble and whilst that might not be for everyone...could do a nice little stop over on the way too.

ROB: yes actually I like the idea of stopping over for the night in Lyon and then pottering down the next day.

ROB: Okay so we are there, let’s start with the skiing. What’s it like, how much is there and who would it suit?

DOM: It’s actually very impressive, especially for a place which let’s face it, not that many Brits know about. There’s 120 km’s of ski trails that link up three separate villages, there’s about 22 ski lifts, mostly chairs and some drag lifts plus a gondola too, and 90% of the lifts are 10 years old or newer. within that 120 km’s there’s 45 individual ski trails that include green, blue, red and black, so genuinely something for every level of skier and snowboarder. It is mostly blues and reds, but there’s 7 black runs so pretty significant and it has the largest freeride area in the region including the The Vallons du Pra trail which is basically a marked off-piste route.

ROB: yes I noticed on the website that the freeride sector was a big talking point and it mentions ski touring too.

DOM: there’s some well-known itineraries and even a special pass that allows you to take certain lifts back after a tour. It’s a very pretty area scenery wise – on one side you have views to the Les Bauges, a UNESCO Geopark the mountains of la Chartreuse, where the famous drink comes from and then on clear days you can even see Mont Blanc in the other direction.

ROB: oh wow right yes I know that area, it is absolutely incredible scenery around there. Okay so interesting freeride terrain, I’m liking the sound of this already and dedicated freeride zones so it sounds like a pretty serious ski area

DOM: yes it is, but it’s worth saying that the freeride terrain isn’t necessarily super challenging, would be a good place to learn some off piste skills, with the right instructor or guide of course. There’s several areas including The Combe de Bedina, the Combe de la Jasse, les faucons and le Pas du chien.

ROB: so they take it pretty seriously then.

DOM: yes on their website they also say this about freeride skiing:

“On the Pleynet side the Pra valley will make converts of freeride specialists. This space along the black hill is surely one of the most fabulous of the whole area offering a sumptuous view of Belledonne and the Haut Bréda valley.

“The practice of freeride is done in the Combe de Bédina and some couloirs that we owe to a renowned freerider Denis Rey, which are the favourite courses of freeriders”.

That’s a bit translated from the French, but you get the idea.

ROB: okay so I’m keen but what about everyone else!

DOM: yes, then on other side of the ski/snowboard spectrum if you like, is its snow park, one of France’s most highly rated apparently, and located up at 1900m with its own lift to allow quick returns to the top for the next lap. The park has four sectors for different abilities including a Boardercross course too.

And it’s worth mentioning the beginner’s terrain, because it is extensive and separate from the main ski area and then there’s a nice progression onto green runs after that. The majority of runs are blue and red so we are talking about all this freeride terrain but at the end of the day it’s beginners and intermediates that actually get the best deal here.

There’s a fairly new area called the Squirrels route for kids too – you know those sort of fun, obstacle laden courses through the forest…

ROB: oh yes, I still quite like those myself!

DOM: I can see that Rob. Anyway, it really is a fantastic area to learn to ski or snowboard and that’s where we get to the ski schools…

There’s the ESF of course, but also ESI: Pro 7 school that also offers freestyle and freeride lessons and a dedicated snowboard school called Slash too and another called Easy Riders. They all say they have English speaking instructors.

ROB: Okay great, sounds good. I must say my daughter learnt to ski mostly with the ESF in France and we only ever had good experiences. Back in the day I also worked with and alongside ESF instructors and they were super professional so for kids especially it’s great. Right, what about the snow record?

DOM: yes it’s good. It’s pretty high, the lowest village is 1350, and it goes up to 2400 metres, which might not seem huge but that’s more than a 1,000 metre vertical and with its location they get good snowfalls through the winter and well into spring here.

Also a lot of the slopes are north westerly facing so they hold the snow well.

ROB: so who is the skiing for? I mean it sounds like it could be for everyone…

DOM: I’d say it is – certainly families can get a lot from this area and especially families with skiing abilities at every sort of level. It genuinely caters for skiers and snowboarders from complete beginners right up to experts and everything in between. For a resort of this size, it seems to have everything packed in.

ROB: great so what about the villages then, what are they like?

DOM: the main village is Prapoutel and it’s where most of the accommodation and facilities are. It’s mostly self-catered accommodation and there’s a good choice of both value and higher end places to stay and it’s easy to walk around – it’s not tiny in any sense but it’s not like a massive town either. It does have that sort of purpose built feel, but in a nice way and the views across the valley are fantastic.

There’s also easy access to supermarkets and a selection of restaurants – this is not the kind of resort that you’ll see super highly inflated prices in. lots of locals come here and it’s good value compared to some of the more well-known resorts in France.

Off the slopes there’s an all year round mountain coaster, you know like a toboggan on tracks, a pedestrian chairlift for non-skiers, very useful and dog sled rides too. Lots of things for kids to try including an adventure park.

ROB: what about après Dom?

DOM: it’s not the big party town but certainly on the weekends when it’s busier – because I can tell you during the week it’s normally pretty quiet on the slopes, maybe with the exception of French holiday weeks, there’s a bit of après to be enjoyed, there’s a few little bars but it’s not renowned for it.

ROB: okay so sounds like a great family place, especially with older kids too – plus beginners with all those green runs and those looking for a bit of adventure on the freeride side too.

Okay a few more quick fire questions for you Dom, just to test your knowledge!

1. why is it called Les 7 (seven) Laux?

DOM: ah easy, although there’s a few local variations on the story, it was founded in the 1960’s / 70’s by a group formed of 7 communes in the area.

ROB: OK, 2. Where do I go for a pint?

DOM: ah that’s easy, try O’Bar BU.

ROB: O’Bar Bu…okay sounds like a fun place to hang out. And then 3… what about a bit of Tartiflette then?

DOM: yes there’s a few good spots Rob but Le Rocher Blanc is a good bet for all that traditional French Alpine fare.

ROB: right very Dom, you’ve done your homework, I like the sound of this place – I reckon it would be spot on for a great family ski holiday to start with. So how do I book up a week in Les 7 Laux?

DOM: good question Rob because like we said in the beginning this resort isn’t on the radar of most tour operators but France specialist Peak Retreats does feature it and they have a choice of self-catered apartments – Both are fully ski in ski out so super convenient, one is just has more facilities such as an indoor pool and a restaurant. Nice accommodation, not super flashy but smart and then there’s the choice of eating in or out and remember, here, we aren’t talking crazy prices.

ROB: so what about prices for the actual holiday then?

DOM: yes for a family of four you’re looking at a starting price of let’s say around £1500 for the whole apartment for a week and that includes a return Eurotunnel fare but that would go up on the peak season dates, possibly around double that amount.

ROB: right Dom, how do we book a holiday in Les Sept Laux then? 

DOM: that is easy actually - go to the peak retreats website, peakretreats.co.uk or call them on 023 9283 9310

Peak Retreats is the French Alps specialist and they have been organising holidays in the French Alps for over 20 years. They have multiple awards pretty much on a yearly basis and they are ABTA bonded. 

ROB: thanks Dom, yes we know them well - they happen to very nice people too!

DOM: they certainly are Rob. well that is it from us for this special edition of The White Out Podcast, hope that you all discover Les 7 Laux now, sorry for those out there that kept it as your little secret, but that has been destroyed completely by us today…

ROB: Ha yes absolutely - well tasked in life with visiting as many ski resorts as possible it’s now time for me to discover it too. Next time from the slopes of Les 7 Laux then?

DOM: sounds good Rob…

bye