On the sunny Haute-Maurienne, Val Cenis is a big, friendly family domain crowned by L'Escargot, the longest green run in France at 10 km. Two unspoilt stone villages give it a warmth most large resorts have lost.
Val Cenis is a ski resort with genuine ski-in/ski-out hotels in France, in the French Alps. The village sits at 1400 m and the lifts top out at 2800 m, with 125 km of pistes and 22 lifts. Its BestSnowHotels snow score is 77/100, and the season usually runs Dec 14 → Apr 21.
How we score and classify resortsResearched by the BestSnowHotels team
Run counts and piste kilometres are indicative. Green runs only exist in France, Spain, Andorra, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Japan, the United States, Morocco, Algeria, Lesotho, South Africa, Egypt, Canada, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Chile; Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Germany start at blue. Indicative average snow depth near the top of the resort, in cm.
A handful of well-rated hotels in and around the resort. Pick one, then compare live prices across Booking, Expedia and Hotels.com.
Very good · 728 reviews
Strong value for Val Cenis, with a high guest rating that punches above its nightly price.
Guests rate this hotel as very good (4.4/5 from 728 reviews). A mid-range option for Val Cenis, with live nightly rates shown for your exact dates so you always see the best price.
Very good · 623 reviews
A long-standing favourite in Val Cenis, trusted by thousands of guests before you.
Very good · 343 reviews
Strong value for Val Cenis, with a high guest rating that punches above its nightly price.
Excellent · 138 reviews
Moments from the lifts in Val Cenis, so you can ski back to the door and skip the morning queues.
Ratings from Google, prices indicative per night. Live availability and rates via our booking partners.
Several residences along the snow-front at Lanslevillard and Val-Cenis Termignon are ski-in/ski-out; the two old villages themselves sit a short ski-bus hop from the lifts.
Val Cenis rises above the twin villages of Lanslebourg and Lanslevillard at the foot of the Mont-Cenis pass, with 125 km of varied piste climbing to 2800 m. It is famous for L'Escargot, a gentle 10 km green that lets a true beginner ski all the way from the top, yet stronger skiers find plenty on the Solert and Termignon sides. Snow holds well thanks to altitude and a north-leaning aspect, and prices stay refreshingly down to earth for the central Alps.
Hotels and apartments around the lifts. Compare prices on Booking, Expedia and Hotels.com.
Everything on our site connected to Val Cenis: its area, the lists it makes, head-to-heads and trip guides.
Val Cenis offers 125 km of pistes across 22 lifts, from 1400 m to 2800 m. Whether it suits beginners depends on the dedicated learner zones at the base of the slopes, so check the local ski-school options for green and blue run access.
The season runs from Dec 14 to Apr 21, with a snow score of 77/100. Snow is usually most reliable in the heart of that window, deep in winter, while the closing weeks bring longer days and softer afternoon snow.
Several residences along the snow-front at Lanslevillard and Val-Cenis Termignon are ski-in/ski-out; the two old villages themselves sit a short ski-bus hop from the lifts.
Val Cenis has 125 km of marked pistes served by 22 lifts, between 1400 m and 2800 m of altitude.
Val Cenis counts about 49 marked runs in total. The colour breakdown above shows how they split by difficulty, a good guide to whether the resort fits your level.
The closest alternatives, an easy switch if dates or hotels are tight.
French Alps
French Alps
French Alps
French Alps
Resorts with a similar feel, snow record and size.
French Alps
French Alps
French Pyrenees
Swiss Alps