Lead The High Life In Les Carroz

Briony Key lets loose as she takes to the ski slopes by day and hurtles down a sledge track by night in this vibrant resort in Haute-Savoie

- Briony Key

There’s many a thing I’ve done in the evening in a ski resort, but whizzing down a sledge track through a forest isn’t one of them. Still, was I going to miss out on my chance to be ‘Night Rider’? No way!

My new Les Carroz friends clearly had me down as a sensation seeker, and I was saddled up – well, safely strapped in – before I could say, Lewis Hamilton. Ratcheting steadily up the steep rails into the woodland was enchanting as I gazed at the darkly silhouetted pine trees just as it started snowing, which helped to distract me.

Reality soon struck though, and there I was, facing down the metal rails, trusting a new friend to release the brakes, and wondering if my life was about to go off track!

With a laugh, she nudged our little sledge forward. The setting made you feel really small against the majesty of the mountain. Then all thoughts were dashed as we whooshed down the 850m white-knuckle descent, taking in steeply banked turns, slipping through forest passes and dashing at full throttle over nature’s snowy white carpet.

Charming Les Carroz

So where was I having this mini-adventure? Les Carroz lies in the heart of Haute-Savoie. Sum it up in a word and it would be ‘charm’ as the resort village has kept its traditional authentic French feel, which works for me way more than purpose-built resorts do.

Les Carroz is linked to the Grand Massif ski area and is just a one-hour transfer from Geneva. This is one of the biggest ski areas in the Alps connecting five ski stations – Flaine, Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoëns and Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, covering 40,000 hectares.

An amble around Les Carroz is a discovery of fine things, from good quality food and boutiques to souvenirs, cafés, restaurants and gourmet dining.