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Notre Dame de Bellecombe

notre-dame-de-bellecombe-village
Image: Office du Tourisme Val d'Arly
France | Región: French Pyrenees

Notre Dame de Bellecombe is a typical village resort in Savoie, located in the heart of the Espace Diamant, a vast ski area stretching between the departments of Savoie and Haute-Savoie in the Northern Alps. Nestled in the Val d’Arly, between the Mont Blanc region and the Beaufortain, the resort offers an authentic, warm and peaceful setting.

At an altitude of around 1,150 metres, Notre Dame de Bellecombe is ideal for families and mountain lovers looking for an unspoilt environment, far from the hustle and bustle of larger resorts. Its friendly village atmosphere makes it the perfect destination for enjoying the delights of the mountains in both winter and summer.

The Notre Dame de Bellecombe ski area

Located at an altitude of 1,100 metres in the heart of the Arly Valley in the Northern Alps, the village resort of Notre Dame de Bellecombe offers an authentic setting where nature and local hospitality are preserved by the inhabitants, the Bellecombais. The traditional architecture and natural environment remain intact, for a true mountain experience.

The resort is part of the Espace Diamant, a vast ski area comprising several resorts such as Crest-Voland Cohennoz, Flumet, Praz-sur-Arly, Les Saisies and Hauteluce. In total, there are 192 kilometres of marked slopes for skiers of all abilities.

Plan des pistes Espace Diamant
Espace Diamant piste map

Notre Dame de Bellecombe offers a ski area with a maximum altitude of 2,070 metres and a minimum altitude of 1,000 metres. Skiers can enjoy 85 kilometres of varied slopes: blue, red and black runs

All this is spread over 155 slopes accessible via a modern network of 80 ski lifts, including 30 chairlifts, 46 ski lifts and 4 cable cars, ensuring a smooth flow and short waiting times.

Ski slopes in Notre Dame de Bellecombe © Facebook

Activities in the resort of Notre Dame de Bellecombe

The ski resort of Notre Dame de Bellecombe offers a wide range of winter activities for all tastes and ages.

You can explore the snowshoe trails through the surrounding forests to the wide open spaces of Mont Rond for a peaceful immersion in nature. Thrill-seekers can try ski-joering, an activity that involves being pulled on skis by a horse.

Dog or horse-drawn sleigh rides will delight young and old alike, offering a fun and authentic experience.

For a change of pace, the resort also offers more unusual snow sports: snowscooting, a kind of snow scooter with handlebars and two skis, accessible to the whole family, and yooners, lightweight, manoeuvrable and comfortable machines that promise new sensations from the very first turns.

Yooner-Notre-Dame-De-Bellecombe © Facebook

The Notre Dame de Bellecombe ski resort is committed to sustainable development

Reconciling the preservation of the exceptional natural heritage with the maintenance of tourist activities is a major challenge for the resort, located in the heart of the Saisies-Beaufortain-Val d’Arly Regional Nature Park. To protect the fauna, flora and fragile species of the Alps, a set of organisational rules has been put in place. These rules are not intended to prohibit activities, but to regulate them in order to ensure a sustainable balance.

The resort’s commitments focus on several key areas:

environmental protection, the systematic carrying out of impact studies, and the reduction of CO2 emissions

through the use of modern, high-performance ski lifts. These actions help to limit the ecological impact while offering a high-quality service to visitors.

The development of the slopes is also managed with seriousness and professionalism. The aim is to draw up an accurate and up-to-date inventory of the area, with a thorough understanding of the local environment. This in-depth knowledge enables the resort to adopt appropriate measures to better protect biodiversity and preserve the fragile balance of the mountains.

Unforgettable experiences in Notre Dame de Bellecombe

Although departures are from nearby Praz-sur-Arly, hot air balloon flights offer exceptional panoramic views of the Mont Blanc Massif, the Aravis, the Beaufortain, the Bauges, as well as the Swiss and Italian Alps. These flights are available all year round, except in November, and are supervised by professional pilots. The flight lasts approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes, at an altitude of between 1,500 and 2,500 metres.

Hot air balloon © Official Facebook page

The mountain resort of Notre Dame de Bellecombe in summer

The Mountain Twister is a must-try attraction: a toboggan ride on rails nearly 800 metres long. On board, thrills are guaranteed with acceleration and sharp turns, all in an exceptional natural setting.

For nature lovers, the resort offers a network of trails for hiking and mountain biking, allowing you to explore the magnificent landscapes of the Savoie. From the mountain paths, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Aravis, Beaufortain and Mont Blanc mountain ranges.

Mountain biking © Facebook-officiel

There is no shortage of water activities: the radeau, a large inflatable boat, allows you to descend the torrents in teams, under the guidance of an experienced helmsman. You can also try your hand at kayak rafting, hydrospeed, via ferrata and rock climbing, for a varied sporting experience.

Webcams of the Notre Dame de Bellecombe ski resort

If you would like to see the current conditions at the ski resort and its natural surroundings, you will find real-time webcams of Notre Dame de Bellecombe below.

Hotels in the resort of Notre Dame de Bellecombe

Hôtel Résidence Labellemontagne ****

The Résidence Labellemontagne is located just 200 metres from the Notre Dame de Bellecombe ski resort, offering easy access to the slopes. It has a private balcony and reserved parking for guests for added comfort during your stay. All accommodation includes a fully equipped kitchen with fridge, a living room with sofa bed, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. Guests can relax in the indoor swimming pool, enjoy the hiking trails or go skiing in the surrounding area.

The nearest airport is Chambéry-Savoie, located 87 kilometres away, making this mountain residence easily accessible. It is undoubtedly an ideal place to spend a holiday in the snow, combining comfort, activities and nature.

Residence-Labellemontagne © www.odalys-vacances.com
Residence-Labellemontagne © www.odalys-vacances.com

La Ferme des Georgières ***

La Ferme des Georgières is a chalet offering several apartments in a warm setting with a garden and outdoor jacuzzi offering views of the mountains. Each independent apartment has a fully equipped kitchen, a living room, a dining area and a bathroom for a comfortable stay. Facilities include an oven, a stove, a microwave and a refrigerator for easy meal preparation. 400 metres away, a bar-restaurant invites you to relax and share an aperitif after your activities. The same distance takes you to a ski lift, providing direct access to the Notre-Dame-Bellecombe ski resort. A ski hire shop is also located nearby for your convenience.

La-Ferme-des-Georgieres © www.chaletsavoie.com

Hotel Le Tetras **

The Le Tetras hotel is located in the heart of the Espace Diamant ski area in the Alps and is open all year round. It has a sports shop and a south-facing terrace with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. The hotel offers a fitness centre with a jacuzzi, sauna and exercise bikes for relaxing after a day on the slopes. Guests also have access to a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, ideal for enjoying sunny days. The rooms have a private shower or bathtub, as well as a terrace or balcony to admire the scenery. Every morning, a self-service buffet breakfast is available to get your day off to a good start. The restaurant, with its bar and fireplace, serves traditional Savoyard dishes in a friendly atmosphere.

Hotel-Le-Tetras © Official Facebook page

Skiing in Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe: the resort’s strong points

Located in the heart of the Val d’Arly, Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe is part of the large Espace Diamant ski area, which brings together five resorts in the Beaufortain and Val d’Arly to offer up to 192 km of interconnected slopes. From the Notre-Dame resort, skiers can easily access neighboring areas such as Flumet, Crest-Voland/Cohennoz, and Praz-sur-Arly via ski lifts and connecting slopes.

Variety of slopes and technical profiles

The domain offers a balanced range: approximately 132 km of easy slopes, 49 km of intermediate slopes, and 11 km of more difficult slopes within the Espace Diamant territory. In Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe itself, there are slopes linked to the Domaine Val d’Arly, with some 90 km of wooded slopes that descend mountain slopes and cross wooded landscapes. The descents combine wide sections with gentle slopes at the beginning, becoming more technical as you ascend to higher altitudes. Among the most attractive descents is the Choucas – Liaison Crest Voland slope, approximately 7 km long with a vertical drop of more than 700 m, which crosses forests and meadows before a more open final section. There is also the “Ban Rouge” trail, 5.6 km long with a 971 m vertical drop, which is a spectacular route for those looking for long descents.

In addition, the resort has installed 472 snow cannons to reinforce the snow cover in key sections and ensure continuity in the event of low snowfall.

Altitude, elevation differences, and snow conditions

The base station starts at around 1,150 m and climbs to 2,069 m, providing an estimated vertical drop of 920 m. Thanks to this wide range of altitudes, many upper slopes remain in good condition even when the lower sectors experience snow melt. On average, the resort receives around 256 cm of snow annually, which is within a solid range for its geographical environment.

The upper slopes of the domain tend to offer more sustained runs: as the skier climbs towards the Mont Rond or Ban Rouge sectors, the slopes become more “serious,” mixing forest and alpine sections.

Connectivity, domain consistency, and local atmosphere

One of the great assets is that Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe is the “gateway” resort to the Espace Diamant domain, allowing skiers staying there to access a large network of slopes without having to change ski passes or make long transfers. Within the Domaine Val d’Arly, the area’s 90 km of slopes (including the Notre-Dame, Flumet, and Praz-sur-Arly areas) serve as a gateway to the vast 192 km Espace Diamant.

The topography works in its favor: oriented between the Aravis and Beaufortain ranges, the routes have a variety of exposures—some sectors are shadier, others sunnier—providing climatic diversity within the same day. In addition, the domain has several slopes that act as links between municipalities and wooded areas that offer visual refuge and quieter gliding.

Services, opening hours, and atmosphere

The resort operates during the winter season from approximately December 20 to April 12, with lifts running from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A standard season day pass costs around €41.80 for adults. There is a wide range of dining options: mountain restaurants, rustic chalets, and establishments in the village combine Savoyard cuisine with a warm atmosphere. In the evenings, although the après-ski is not extreme, activities such as snowshoeing, excursions, and even occasional night skiing are organized in the Les Saisies area (which is part of the same domain).

Tips for getting the most out of the resort

  • Start early in the higher areas, where the snow retains its properties better and the slopes are less tracked.
  • Use the links to the Crest-Voland / Praz-sur-Arly area to vary your route and explore other areas within the Espace Diamant.
  • Look for long descents from Ban Rouge or Choucas, ideal for those who want to cover miles without interruption.
  • Be sure to check which slopes are open at the beginning or end of the season, as some higher sections may depend on snow conditions and operational adjustments.
  • Book your accommodation in the village itself to benefit from the local atmosphere, close access to ski lifts, and the possibility of skiing “from the door.”
  • Alternate days with forest routes and alpine sections to rest when the “pride” of the vertical descent becomes too demanding.