The Resort
We first came across Les Saisies on a
summer tour when our driver enthused over
it! He wasn’t wrong and we think it’s a little
gem! Largely purpose built but without the
large apartment blocks, the village came to
prominence as the site for the cross country
and biathlon events for the Winter Olympics of
1992 based around Albertville. It has a wide
variety of shops, bars, restaurants and an
ambience that is very French!
The Course
The language school is located in the upper
part of the village and was established and
accredited in 1994. It’s a chalet style building
where the tutors create an atmosphere
for learning second to none. Classes are
small with a maximum of 10 students at any one time making this a perfect destination for small
groups. The lessons in the mornings follow the immersion method with emphasis on speaking and
understanding through role-play, discussions etc. The accommodation is in apartments for up to 6
persons, with meals taken at the language school. During the afternoons in the winter, skiing would
be the main activity, whilst in the summer a variety of activities such as golf, horse riding, mountain
biking, walking and visits to local places of interest such as Annecy, Chamonix, the medieval town
of Conflans, Albertville are all possible. For groups larger than 10 persons, accommodation will be at
Terres des Gosses at Crest Voland with the opportunity to ski in the same village or at Less Saisies
according to snow conditions. The same summer activities are accessible too.
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The Skiing
Situated close to Mont Blanc, Les Saisies has an
exceptional quantity and quality of snow during the
season. Located in a sunny bowl above the Val d’Arly
the village straddles a col that provides access to
both sides of the valley. The lifts are centred on the
village and radiate in all directions; an extension
to the system opened for winter 2006. Beginners
will find that they rapidly progress from the village
nursery slopes to the blues for a real sense of
achievement. For intermediate and advanced skiers
there are longer and more challenging on Mt.
Legette and the link to the resort of Notre Dame de
Bellecombe.
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