In the Haute Maurienne Vanoise, Bessans will be the first French resort to open this winter, on Saturday 31 October. It will offer around three kilometres of cross-country trails, groomed on snow stored since April 2026. Still in Savoie, the Stade Nordique des Saisies will take over from Wednesday 11 November.
Key points: Bessans: cross-country opening on Saturday 31 October, over three kilometres of trails. · Sunday 1 November: free launch party in Bessans, with introductory sessions. · Les Saisies: the Stade Nordique opens from Wednesday 11 November, with a day lift pass at 8 €. · The other Nordic ski areas in Savoie open between Saturday 12 and Saturday 19 December.
Why can Bessans open as early as October?
Bessans sits at around 1,750 metres above sea level, in the Haute-Maurienne. The resort is kicking off its Nordic season on Saturday 31 October thanks to snowfarming. This technique involves keeping snow sheltered from summer heat. Here, snow has been stored since April 2026, then spread out to form the loop. Bessans has used this method since 2018.
The opening concerns cross-country skiing and biathlon, not alpine skiing. Three kilometres of trails will open, in both skating and classic styles, for recreational skiers and elite athletes alike. This first loop does not mean the whole Nordic zone is open. The opening also remains subject to operating conditions.
What is planned for the Sunday 1 November celebration?
The day after the opening, on Sunday 1 November, the fourth edition of the Ski Nordic Opening Winter (S.N.O.W.) will officially launch the season in Bessans. The event is free and open to all. The programme includes free cross-country skiing in the afternoon and free introductory sessions, alongside the planned activities.
Les Saisies: when and at what price?
At Les Saisies, the Stade Nordique is also being prepared with snowfarming. It will open from Wednesday 11 November, weather permitting. The rest of the Nordic area will then open depending on snow cover. It has 17 runs covering 120 km and remains accessible until mid-April if conditions allow.
A day on the snowfarming trail costs 8 €, at a single rate. The adult Nordic season pass costs 135 € until Sunday 15 November 2026, then 156 € from Monday 16 November 2026.
And the other Nordic areas in Savoie?
The opening dates for the 13 Nordic ski areas in Savoie for 2026-2027 have been published. Apart from Bessans and Les Saisies, the areas launch their season between Saturday 12 and Saturday 19 December. Savoie Grand Revard, for its part, is waiting for snowfall abundant enough to be groomed. These dates may change depending on the weather.
Our tips
- Check with the resort that the trail is open before you set off, as opening depends on conditions.
- If you plan to ski often at the Les Saisies Nordic area, find out about the season pass early: its price rises during autumn.
- If you are new to cross-country skiing, Bessans' free launch day lets you take an introductory session.
- These first loops only cover a small part of the Nordic ski areas, not all of them.
- To follow the snowpack: check our Snow conditions page, which brings together conditions resort by resort.
Resorts to note
green run: very easy · blue: easy · red: difficult · black: very difficult
Bessans
1,740 – 1,900 m · 3 km of runs · 3 lifts · day lift pass 18 €
Bessans is a Nordic village in Haute-Maurienne at 1,750 m, known for its immense cross-country ski area (133 km of marked trails) and its traditional carved wooden sculptures. Alpine skiing here is modest (3 km), but the wild setting and rich local culture make it a distinctive destination.
Les Saisies
1,650 – 2,070 m · 83 km of runs · 31 lifts · day lift pass 46 €
Les Saisies is an unusual resort at 1,650 m on a panoramic plateau in the Beaufortain. Known for its 150 km of alpine skiing and its vast Nordic ski area, it hosted the cross-country skiing and biathlon events of the 1992 Albertville Olympic Games. The view of Mont Blanc from the runs is spectacular.
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Sources: Sports Infos (ski-nordique.net) (18 October 2026), Guide-ski.fr (20 October 2026), Journal de la Météo de l'Ain (21 October 2026), Les Saisies (official ticket office), Sports Infos (ski-nordique.net) (14 October 2026).
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