Doucy
Why Doucy Ski Resort?
- Sunny south facing slopes
- Ideal destination for families
- Access to the Grand Domaine ski area
Doucy (Valmorel) Resort Information
With its typical wood-and-stone architecture, Doucy-Combelouvière combines traditional and modern elements. Combined with its sunny south-facing slopes, it is the perfect ski holiday destination for the whole family.
Doucy not only offers amazing views, it is set around its central square which offers a lively meeting spot.
Today, the opening of the Celliers gondola gives access for ski trekkers and snow-shoe walkers to the huge unchanged area of the Lauzière mountain range where nature has stayed in charge.
Road access is straightforward, too, and there are direct TGV high-speed rail services from Paris, plus Eurostar Ski Trains from London, into nearby Moûtiers (15km).
In terms of amenities, there is a Sherpa mini-market, three restaurants, two ski-hire shops, a local products shop, a souvenir shop, Tabac, a bakery and the ESF ski school.
Peak Retreats offers hand-picked apartments in Doucy. The 3* self-catered Residences de Combelouviere provide the ideal base for a Doucy ski holiday.
Doucy ski area
Doucy-Combelouvière is lift-linked to Celliers, Valmorel and (beyond the famous Col de la Madeleine) Saint François Longchamp. The resulting 165km of pistes are spread across an impressive 3600 hectares, whose combined terrain is known as le Grand Domaine.
Despite the altitude of 1,300-2,550m being relatively modest, the geographical location attracts dependable snowfalls, and by way of further assurance, snow cannons help maintain snow quality on key runs.
The Grand Domaine’s real strength is its suitability for families, early intermediates and beginners.
Doucy/Valmorel skiing info
Beginners
There are 4 special beginners’ areas for “gentle” ski learning. These are specially designed, reserved and made safe for learning and improving confidence:
Rocher-Blanchot area:
- Rocher lift,
- Blanchot lift (free)
Access by Valmobus shuttle from Valmorel resort, “le Pré” stop
Bois de la Croix – Cheval Blanc area:
- Tapis du Bois de la Croix,
- Cheval Blanc lift (free)
Access by Télébourg, Crève-cœur stop
Malatrai – Roches Blanches area:
- Pierrafort gondola,
- Tapis de Roches Blanches,
- Malatrai lift
Access by Pierrafort gondola
Echappeaux – Charmettes area:
- Combelouvière lift,
- Charmettes lift,
- Echappeaux lift,
- Celliers gondola
Access by Combelouvière lift from Doucy resort
Novices can also get a safe, sheltered foretaste of the blue runs on the green-graded Chantemerle, which drops through the trees into Doucy Combelouvière. Crossing over into Saint François Longchamp adds a sense of covering some distance (you’re now in the Maurienne Valley) and a different perspective on things, without the risk of getting out of your depth, ability-wise. The additional 57km of pistes on this side are even gentler, being mostly greens and blues.
Intermediates
The local runs are mostly blue-graded. The blues are well-linked, to offer some enjoyable cruising. There are some gentle blue runs in Saint François Longchamp too.
Advanced, off-piste & ski touring
At first glance, the flattering, mostly undemanding terrain might put off advanced skiers, but there’s worthwhile off-piste to explore and a handful of black-graded pistes includes some highly rated runs with dependable snow quality. They’re accessed above Valmorel via higher drag lifts like Mottet (2,394m), Riondet (2,262m) and Gollet (2,000m), or above Saint François Longchamp via Schuss (2,099m). More experienced skiers will enjoy the red-graded pistes which depart from beside the black runs mentioned above, plus the descents from either side of the Col de la Madeleine. There are also ‘virgin areas’, like the Lauzière mountain range, with its numerous off-piste gulleys.
The 4 Freeride areas (black or red level) are secure yet ungroomed areas for thrill seekers and powder snow lovers:
- Gollet freeride,
- Mottet freeride,
- Riondet freeride,
- Procureuse freeride
All these areas are outlined in yellow on the Valmorel piste map.
Doucy ski hire & lift passes
Please contact us.
Valmorel/Doucy beginner's lift pass grants access to the below ski lifts for AM, PM or full day sessions (payable in resort):
- Rocher drag lift
- Blanchot drag lift (free for all)
- Bois de la Croix carpet
- Pierrafort gondola
- For 1/2 day of ski => only 1 ascent allowed
- For 1 day of ski => 2
- Roches Blanches carpet
- Malatrai drag lift
Doucy group ski school
Please contact us.
Doucy private lessons (not pre-bookable)
Private lessons with an instructor can only be arranged directly with the ESF ski school. Peak Retreats cannot pre-book these. Private lessons are usually around €40-60 per hour (depending on resort, time of day and period) and becomes cheaper the more hours you take and the more people you have to share the hours with i.e with family members or friends. Some resorts insist on a minimum of 3 sessions to be booked at once.
Contact ESF Doucy for private lessons - 0033 4 79 22 24 38
Doucy childcare (not pre-bookable)
Doucy and Valmorel resorts does not have a creche for childcare. The only option is by taking ski lessons with the ESF ski kindergarten from 3 years old. This is pre-bookable with Peak Retreats. There is no option for childcare without skiing at any age.
Babysitters (not pre-bookable)
A list of babysitters is available from the tourist office.
Top snow activities to experience in Valmorel/Doucy
Please note Peak Retreats do not book any activities and most activities are payable therefore the below is just for information. More detailed information and how to book can be found on the tourist office website
The mission of the ski patrol
Access to the slopes before anyone else, it's possible! Valmorel invites you to board the first gondolas before the opening of the slopes, in the company of the first aid patrollers. It is an opportunity to exchange with mountain professionals, to discover the backstage of their profession, and thus leave your first traces on the freshly groomed slopes!
Free (provided you have a valid skipass).
Access from 12 years old (RED slope level required).
The snow factory
Get behind the scenes of the Valmorel Ski Area by exploring an exciting and unknown aspect of a ski resort: the CULTURE SNOW! Discover the secrets of snowmaking, its usefulness, snowmaking technology, the impact on the environment... in the company of mountain and slope professionals, all this... on skis!Free (provided you have a valid skipass).
Access from 12 years old (blue slope level required ).
Snowshoeing
An easy walk to discover the joys of snowshoeing and an opportunity to taste some local Savoyard food.
Airboarding
Descend the mountain on a high-tech inflatable sled/snowboard, monitored by a member of the ESF.
Quad outings
Discover the pleasure of driving on snow in superb surroundings, all around Valmorel.
Top activities to experience in Valmorel/Doucy
Please note Peak Retreats do not book any activities and most activities are payable therefore the below is just for information. More detailed information and how to book can be found on the tourist office website
Ice climbing
Climb the natural ice cascade in Valmorel.
Spa
Well-being and relaxation in the heart of Valmorel's pedestrian street.
Doucy news
What's new for the 23/24 season:
- New gondola - this winter, Valmorel will inaugurate its brand-new 10-seater Planchamp gondola, departing from the resort centre (replacing Altispace chairlifts). Families with young children will now have easy access to the Pirates Village, as well as to the zip line and the pedestrian and snowshoe itineraries. The lift will be 50% faster than its predecessor, taking just under 5 minutes. Public toilets are also available at the top of the new gondola lift.
Getting to Doucy, France
By road
Driving Distance from Calais to Valmorel is approx. 570 miles (917km) or 8hrs20. Go to Albertville on the A43 from Chambéry or the N 212 from Annecy. Take the dual carriageway RN90 in the direction of Moûtiers. Take exit 37 for Doucy.
By rail & air
Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras. See our train services page for more information as we can pre-book the trains for you. The nearest train station to Doucy is roughly 15km away in Moutiers.
4 international airports are nearby, see our flying page for information on airlines. We don't book flights, we invite you to do your own research.
Chambery Savoie Mont Blanc Airport to Doucy is roughly 55 miles (90km), approx. 1hr
Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport to Doucy is roughly 111 miles (180km), approx. 2hrs
Geneva Airport to Doucy is roughly 77 miles (125km), approx.1hr 45 mins
Grenoble Alpes Isere Airport to Doucy is roughly 103 miles (167km), approx. 2hrs
Private taxi transfers
Private taxi transfers from airports and train stations are pre-bookable with Peak Retreats. See our airport & station transfers page for more information.
Bus transfers
Altibus/Bens Bus/Snow bus (and the likes of) offer shared bus transfers from some French/Swiss airports and SNCF train stations to ski resorts. We don't book these (or have any affiliation with them), we invite you to do your own research.
