Les Gets - village

If you find Les Gets has a pleasingly retro feel, that could be because its foundations date back to the 11^th century. Several historic landmarks remain, and even throughout the town’s relatively recent development as a resort, traditional, chalet-style architecture remains the norm. Local regulations forbid any new building from standing taller than the bell tower of Notre Dame de la Nativité church.

A bypass main road and regular closed-to-traffic periods keep Les Gets’ compact town centre pedestrian-friendly. Alongside local pride, tangible in the small independent businesses whose storefronts line the main streets, this creates an atmosphere of welcoming authenticity. While the village’s growing popularity with visitors has caused it to sprawl across the mountain pass that cradles it, an efficient system of free shuttles makes it a breeze to navigate. Copious car parking, including designated spaces for people with disabilities in three central car parks, encourages visitors to give their cars a holiday too.

Les Gets is proud of its sustainability record. Its raft of eco-initiatives includes everything, from limiting food miles and geothermal heating systems to enrolling in UNESCO’s Global Geopark programme and educating interested visitors about the region’s unique geology. 

Accommodation

With some 17,500 guest beds, Les Gets has lodgings for every taste and budget, from simple bed and breakfasts to top-notch hotels, much of it ski-in, ski-out. The small luxury chalet hotel Ferme de Montagne (www.fermedemontagne.com) was a leader in what is now a growing five-star sector, but affordable family-run hotels remain the resort’s core offer. Rental chalets and apartments are abundant too: Ski Famille (www.skifamille.co.uk), Alpine Answers (www.alpineanswers.co.uk), and Peak Retreats (www.peakretreats.co.uk) are among the UK operators offering hotel- and chalet-based packages here, and many of the newer builds and most recent renovations showcase sleek new fusions of modern interior design with robust traditional materials and architectural styles. Chalet Les Gets’ (www.chalets-lesgets.com) local knowledge makes it a great resource for good-value, mid-range options.

Les Gets offers some niche lodging concepts too. The hamlet of La Sarre, uphill from Les Gets has two splendidly isolated geodesic ‘Chéry Domes’ (www.cherydome.com) offering spacious, comfortable accommodation and wholesome locally sourced catering. Three large, shared chalets host group holidays for solo travellers wanting some ski buddies on their trip, run by The Ski Gathering (www.theskigathering.com).

For help booking accommodation in Les Gets, visit Snowcarbon’s dedicated Les Gets Accommodation page.

Ski and snowboard equipment hire

25 equipment hire shops stand ready to kit you up around Les Gets’ village. Some have specialities, such as Loisibike (www.loisibike.fr), which hires out electric mountain bikes for snow. Others prioritise ethical spending such as the new Purexperience (www.purexperience.fr), which favours local brands and donates 1% of its turnover to environmental charities. We’ll admit to being suckers for the bon viveur vibes at Skilove, (www.skilove.fr) where you can pull up a furry stool at the bar for a cheeky post-boot-fitting snifter.

Non-ski activities

Even the staunchest of slope swervers will find plenty to do in Les Gets. Headline attractions include Alta Lumina (www.altalumina.com): a magical, interactive sound, light and video projection installation wrapped around a gentle evening walk in the woods; the first of its kind in a European resort. New for summer 2023, Les Gets’ alpine coaster is located close to the bottom of the Les Perrières chairlift. Suitable for (accompanied) kids as young as three, this 1.1km rail-mounted toboggan ride rises, falls, twists, and swerves at up to 40kmph. You can book tickets through www.lesgets.com.

Les Gets’ spa game is strong, and while several hotels such as the Alpina (www.hotelalpina.fr) and Le Labrador 1971 (www.labrador-hotel.com) have luxurious facilities for guests, the village’s three public spas serve wellness for all in high Savoyard style. Our standout is the gorgeous Spa Les Sources du Chéry (www.sourcesduchery.com), new in December 2023 and part of a boutique group, which includes a smart gym and a cute art gallery. Several other businesses in the village offer wellness and alternative medicine therapies, yoga, and fitness services.

A time-honoured classic in Les Gets is the central outdoor ice rink, beside which is an ornate wooden merry-go-round dating back to 1871 and believed to be the oldest working carousel in France. This is one of several heritage landmarks around the village. The resort’s three historic churches are open to visitors. With more than 900 exhibits, the Mechanical Music Museum (www.musicmecalesgets.org) is a true one-off. More living local traditions can be discovered on a visit to a working farm, an artisanal cheesemaker, or Poterie Artisanale des Gets (www.poterie-des-gets.fr), the studio of ceramicist sisters Anouk and Nathalie Bonhomme, which also offers hands-on practical workshops, and where you might meet the lambs that Anouk raises.

The village also has a bowling alley, a cinema, and three outdoor kids’ playgrounds, one of which is designed for nippers as young as two. 

Childcare

Childcare can be arranged as part of packages with tour operators like Alpine Answers (www.alpineanswers.co.uk) and Ski Famille (www.skifamille.co.uk); Les Gets has a range of services besides. ESF (www.ski-school-lesgets.co.uk) offers a flexible selection of indoor/outdoor, ski/non-ski activities for kids aged three to 12 through its Club the P'tits Montagnys programme. Meanwhile, the Familles Rurales Leisure Centre (00 33 4 50 92 92 73) lays on fun and games for children aged three to 12, and Les Fripouilles Nursery (00 33 4 50 79 84 84) is on hand to look after babies and toddlers between one and four years.