Le Corbier is a Savoyard ski resort in the Maurienne Valley area of the French Alps. Le Corbier was built as a “third generation” resort optimised for child, pedestrian and skier's safety. The safety concern in ski resorts has led to the idea that the construction of buildings right at the foot of the ski lifts which separate as much as possible cars, pedestrians and skiers. It's for this reason the architects in charge of the construction of Le Corbier constructed the now somewhat famous timber buildings of Cosmos, Soyuz and the Baikonur which have become emblematic of Le Corbier.
Today, Le Corbier has a great warm, family atmosphere. The resort has around eleven thousand beds and likes to boast about its great facilities: it's a 100% genuine ski resort developed and built for one purpose – skiing. The vast majority of the buildings in Le Corbier include a shopping arcade on the ground floor, connecting them to each other.
The Le Corbier ski resort is right at the heart of the Sybelles, the fourth largest ski area in France with 310 kilometres of ski runs. It's on the Mont Ouillon (2431 m), the highest pasture in Europe which links Le Corbier with neighbouring ski villages (Saint Sorlin d'Arves Saint Jean d'Arves, La Toussuire, Les Bottières and St Colomban des Villards). For those who just love exceptional views the Sybelles ski area offers a range of ski runs for all abilities which go up to 2620 metres above sea level and look over; The Aiguilles d'Arves, the Etendard glacier on the Meije and the Belledonne mountains!
In the Ouillon area of the resort, next to the Torret ski lifts, the snow park is open to all skiers and snowboarders, from beginners to advanced (border cross, freestyle area ...).
It's worth a note that there is a “mini snow-park” which serves as a beginners practice area, located on the bottom of the Combe ski run.
For amateur cross country skiers, the towns of Villarebert, Le Corbier, Fontcouverte and La Toussuire have 25 km of cross country skiing tracks (groomed and maintained regularly). The tracks are not monitored and access is free.
Le Corbier offers a comprehensive range of activities "off-ski”; snowmobiling, paragliding, tobogganing, speed-riding, dog sledding, movies, relaxation centre, a spa “Galaxie Spa”, a swimming pool and a fitness centre. There is something for both athletes and amateurs who are in need of a place to let their hair down.
For children from 3 to 5 years old, the snow garden is an ideal location to teach them how to make their first turns on skis; the atmosphere is fun and is supervised by specialised instructors.
Meanwhile, the nursery welcomes children from 6 months to 5 years; they offer either full day or half day programs which include a range of games, crafts... (And possibly a nap!)
Take a true ski resort; add an outstanding ski area, easily accessible for all abilities, build it at the heart of the massive Sybelles ski area, add a healthy dose of convenience and easy accessibility with a covered shopping mall connecting all the buildings in town. Then sprinkle in a great atmosphere, with entertainment for all ages. Finally, mix in a family for a week of holidays and you get Le Corbier.
Plan Your Trip
Projected opening date
Dec 14, 2024
Projected closing date
Apr 11, 2025
Terrain
22nd Feb 2009. No snow all week but an abundance of sunshine. Awesome ski weather overall, but the lack of snow meant that the runs into Corbier were terrible. Luckily most slopes in the Seybelles region run easily onto off-piste, meaning that you can have a run which is the same steepness as the piste but with better snow back into the resort - this definitely deteriorated later in the week though. All in all the skiing was great; lot's to explore with really fun long runs. Expert skiiers may find it less interesting, although the off-piste skiing was fantastic - really wide runs, often with moguls to give you a challenge. Lots of blue runs, a long blue into one of the villages, and Toussuire has a variety of runs to keep you busy for a day - check out "Snack Bar" whilst you're there - great food. Great long blue run from top of Corbier (turn left) but beware of lunching at the village at the bottom - service is shocking and slow.
Hotel Mont Corbier was great - def better than a 2*. Staff friendly and food great. Ski equipment was questionable however - they appeared to run out of skis - a number of our party had skis which were too short / long! Plus they only have Salomon boots which makes it difficult if that make of boots do not fit your foot shape. Rooms were spacious and perfectly fine. Bar was cosy - lucky as that's where we spent most evenings - the apres-ski in Corbier is practically non-existant. If you want some kind of apres-ski then check out gotcha bar - very cheesy... you have been warned...
They have schoolchildren in the hotel, but the staff manage them very well - meal times for the children are earlier and apart from passing them in the corridor and a couple of time where they had Karaoke in the bar, you hardly see them.
Summary - good skiing, loved the off-piste, skiing in Corbier itself was terrible (dreaded the journey back everyday) but the other villages have much better snow and loads of sunshine, hotel was great and fantastic value. Great for a one-off visit and a cheap / reasonable priced holiday.
Fingers crossed for more snow if you are visiting the resort in the near future.