Forecast today: Mainly fair
The ski area is ideal for beginners, despite there being a lack of dedicated nursery slope in the village. This lies up the hill at Le Bettex but is very good and gentle, and has seen a number of updates for the 2024/25 season. Long greens then run down either side of Mont d’Arbois to St Gervais itself or over to Megève, offering fantastic progression. Intermediates can explore the entire area using the network of blues and reds to reach the far ends of the linked area and the villages of St Nicholas and La Giettaz.
More advanced skiers and boarders should head into the woods to find great tree-skiing across the resort, or on sunny days should venture up into the upper bowls – these can hold good powder. A trip to Les Contamines is also recommended and experts of course have Chamonix just around the corner – purchase the full lift pass to access the world’s finest steep terrain.
A new series of gondolas are opening prior to the 2024/25 season; a new gondola will provide direct access from Saint Gervais-La Fayet railway station to the heart of the village and offer seamless connection to L’Alpin Gondola – replacing the original Bettex cable car – providing uplift of 2,800 skiers per hour. This makes Saint Gervais the only ski resort in Europe to offer direct gondola access between major European railway routes and the slopes – pop your boots on in Paris, fall asleep on the train, and wake up on the snow in Saint Gervais (not quite, but you get the idea!)
St Gervais is a pretty, 19th-century spa village set along a narrow gorge at the foot of Mont Blanc. It’s an urban but pleasant resort and is a cheaper alternative to nearby Megève and makes for a good base for exploring nearby resorts. There is a good choice of hotels, restaurants, shops, cosy bars and of course the thermal baths around which the town grew up.
The town is France’s only Alpine spa town, so the thermal baths are not to be missed!
Restaurants are good and in comparison to across the hill in Megève, prices are much more reasonable. Après focuses on La Folie Douce, where the table dancing and live music kicks off as skiers begin to make their way back down the mountain. A selection of new restaurants are appearing for 2024/25, including Casa Nostra in the village centre, Mari Paradis bar in Hotel Saint Gervais, and Le Boitet on the mountain by 3-star Michelin chef Emmanuel Renaut.
The resort has put a lot of focus on sustainability efforts in recent years. The opening of the new gondola will reduce road traffic by around 25% – equivalent to 15,000 cars taken off the road – annually, and reduce CO2 emissions by 15%. Alongside direct connections to the railway station, a third new gondola – after a second gondola replacing the Bettex Gondola – will provide seamless access to the thermal baths.
The Ski Club uses third part independenty assessments and accreditation of ski resorts to determine a resort “environmentally sustainable” – more information can be found here.
As part of the French Flocon Vert (tr. Green Snowflake) scheme, St Gervais has been awarded two snowflakes out of a possible three, representing significant investment in resources to reduce its environmental impact. Flocon Vert is an independent scheme operated by Mountain Riders, which accredits resorts in France who have met twenty criteria based on environmental, social and economic sustainability; only a quarter of Flocon Vert recipients have been awarded two snowflakes – no area has been awarded three.
Sat 21 Dec | Sun 22 Dec | Mon 23 Dec | Tue 24 Dec | Wed 25 Dec | Thu 26 Dec | Fri 27 Dec | Sat 28 Dec | Sun 29 Dec | Mon 30 Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||
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AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Mainly fair |
Mainly fair |
Light snow | Snow |
Snow |
Snow | Light snow |
Light snow |
Light snow | Snow grains |
Generally clear |
Generally clear | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Generally clear |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Wind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 3.7 cm | 22.9 cm | 24 cm | 16.6 cm | 10.1 cm | 9.1 cm | 7.5 cm | 0.5 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | -7.9°c | -7.6°c | -4.7°c | -3°c | -5.7°c | -9.5°c | -11.6°c | -10.8°c | -10.3°c | -10.9°c | -10.2°c | -8.9°c | -3.3°c | -3.3°c | -5.5°c | -2°c | -2°c | -6.3°c | -2.9°c | -2.9°c | -6.4°c | -3.1°c | -3.1°c | -6.8°c | -2.9°c | -2.9°c | -7.3°c | -3.7°c | -3.7°c | -8°c |
Min temp | -11.3°c | -8.3°c | -7.6°c | -5.7°c | -9.5°c | -12°c | -12.2°c | -11.6°c | -11°c | -12.2°c | -10.9°c | -10.6°c | -7.7°c | -5.6°c | -6°c | -6°c | -6.3°c | -7.6°c | -7.3°c | -6.5°c | -7.2°c | -7.3°c | -7°c | -7.6°c | -7.8°c | -7.5°c | -8.1°c | -8.5°c | -8.2°c | -8.5°c |
Feels like temp | -11.2°c | -7.9°c | -12°c | -7.2°c | -12.2°c | -16.6°c | -19.1°c | -19.1°c | -17.9°c | -19°c | -18°c | -16.1°c | -11.6°c | -3.3°c | -5.6°c | -6°c | -2°c | -6.3°c | -7.3°c | -2.9°c | -6.5°c | -7.3°c | -3.1°c | -7°c | -7.8°c | -2.9°c | -7.5°c | -8.5°c | -3.7°c | -8.2°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Mainly fair |
Mainly fair |
Light snow |
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 3.7 cm |
Max temp | -7.9°c | -7.6°c | -4.7°c |
Min temp | -11.3°c | -8.3°c | -7.6°c |
Feels like temp | -11.2°c | -7.9°c | -12°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Snow |
Snow |
Snow |
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 22.9 cm | 24 cm | 16.6 cm |
Max temp | -3°c | -5.7°c | -9.5°c |
Min temp | -5.7°c | -9.5°c | -12°c |
Feels like temp | -7.2°c | -12.2°c | -16.6°c |
Sat 21 Dec | Sun 22 Dec | Mon 23 Dec | Tue 24 Dec | Wed 25 Dec | Thu 26 Dec | Fri 27 Dec | Sat 28 Dec | Sun 29 Dec | Mon 30 Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||
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AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
Light snow | Rain |
Rain and snow |
Snow | Snow |
Snow |
Snow | Snow grains |
Mainly fair |
Generally clear | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Generally clear |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Generally clear |
Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Wind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 1.8 cm | 0 cm | 7.1 cm | 10.4 cm | 9.5 cm | 6.8 cm | 6.2 cm | 0.4 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | 2.6°c | 3°c | 0.3°c | 4.1°c | 4°c | -0.2°c | -1.2°c | -0.5°c | -2°c | -0.6°c | 0.1°c | -4.6°c | 5.6°c | 6°c | 0.6°c | 7.5°c | 7.5°c | 1°c | 6.9°c | 7°c | 1.2°c | 6.7°c | 6.7°c | 0.8°c | 6.5°c | 6.5°c | 0.2°c | 5.4°c | 5.6°c | -0.6°c |
Min temp | -4.9°c | -2°c | -2°c | 1.6°c | -0.2°c | -3.2°c | -4.6°c | -2°c | -2.9°c | -5.4°c | -4.6°c | -5.4°c | -4.2°c | 0.6°c | -0.4°c | -1°c | 1°c | -1°c | -1.6°c | 1.2°c | -1°c | -1.8°c | 0.8°c | -1.2°c | -2.3°c | 0.2°c | -2.2°c | -3.4°c | -0.6°c | -2.5°c |
Feels like temp | -4.9°c | 2.3°c | -2°c | 2°c | 1.2°c | -3.5°c | -3.6°c | -4°c | -2°c | -4.2°c | -0.6°c | -4.6°c | -4.2°c | 5°c | 0.5°c | -1°c | 6.8°c | 0.9°c | -1.6°c | 6.3°c | 1.1°c | -1.8°c | 6.1°c | 0.7°c | -2.3°c | 5.8°c | 0.2°c | -3.4°c | 4.8°c | -0.6°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | |||
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 1.8 cm |
Max temp | 2.6°c | 3°c | 0.3°c |
Min temp | -4.9°c | -2°c | -2°c |
Feels like temp | -4.9°c | 2.3°c | -2°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | |||
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 7.1 cm | 10.4 cm |
Max temp | 4.1°c | 4°c | -0.2°c |
Min temp | 1.6°c | -0.2°c | -3.2°c |
Feels like temp | 2°c | 1.2°c | -3.5°c |
Snowfall | Last Snowfall | 20/12/2024 |
---|---|---|
Next 3 days | 118.8 cm | |
Depths | Upper piste depth | 75 cm |
Lower piste depth | 10 cm | |
Snow conditions | Snow quality | Powder snow |
Lifts | Lifts open | 10 out of 81 |
Resort opening date | Sat 14 Dec 2024 | |
Resort closing date | Sun 06 Apr 2025 |
Updated 20/12
The timeline for Christmas week snow is accelerated massively as a huge, dense area of low pressure gets swept in on the Jetstream to cover much of central and northern Europe as the weekend continues. Temperatures will remain cold through this weekend, with a freezing line dropping to 500m on Sunday and, as a result temperatures of -10°C being the norm.
Snow will first arrive in flurries on Saturday, but it is Sunday where things really shift through the gears. At least half-a-metre of snow is expected down, across all elevations as the freezing line falls away, continuing on into Monday when an additional 15cm can be expected. The avalanche risk is already expected to tick up in many areas across France, with a Level 4 – High danger expected from Sunday onwards, with notes for persistent weak layer and wind loading problems. Care should be taken when skiing in the backcountry and careful route planning should be undertaken.
Things are expected to settle down as the Christmas week continues, with Christmas Day itself expected to be fine, dry and bright, albeit remaining fairly cold and fresh. Some beautiful riding conditions are perhaps in store over the Christmas and New Year’s period.
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