Sainte Foy - village

The attractive main village of Ste Foy is tucked away off the road from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Tignes and Val d'Isère. Once a small cluster of rustic chalets, it has grown considerably since the 2000s but remains authentic in feel. Traditional-style apartment buildings and chalets now encircle the central nursery slope, most within easy walking (or skiing) distance of the Grand Plan chair. Several small chalet operators specialise in Ste Foy, and there are also plenty of apartments to rent self-catered, usually in modern residences with spa facilities and pools. The views from some of the accommodation across the valley to Mont Pourri and the Les Arcs ski area can be spectacular.

There are also more new chalet and apartment options a little further away from the lifts and facilities, within the neighbourhood of Battailette, which can now be accessed via the short Retour Batailletaz red. You’ll find further options in outlying villages such as Le Planay and La Masure. A regular ski bus serves these, along with Ste Foy Chef Lieu on the main road. However, if you can, it's always more convenient to use an operator that provides a shuttle service.

Ski/snowboard equipment hire

There are several ski and snowboard rental shops in Ste Foy: Zig Zag, Skiset, and Ski Republic. Zig Zag was the first ski shop in Ste Foy, and is the place to go for renting off-piste equipment.

Non-ski activities

Despite its size, there’s quite a bit to do in Ste Foy besides skiing and snowboarding. Thanks to its surrounding forests, Ste Foy has excellent snowshoeing routes, with some guides offering combined snowshoeing and tai-chi experiences. If you don’t fancy strapping on raquettes, here are winter walking paths through the pine woods to hamlets such as Le Planay and Le Monal. Alternatively, husky dog-sledging remains one of the resort’s biggest attractions, suitable for children and adults. For a life-changing adrenaline buzz, try paragliding, where you’ll overlook the entire Tarentaise range from thousands of feet up in the air.

Husky sledding in Ste FoyPhoto: David André

As an added, secret bonus, once Ste Foy’s lifts close, the base slopes remain floodlit for sledging. Keep in mind as well that several of Ste Foy’s residences have spa facilities and pools, some of which are also open to non-residents.

Childcare 

The ESF ski school runs a ski kindergarten for children aged four and up, and offers family afternoon ski lessons too. If you would like a private nanny and babysitting, English-run Jelly and Ice Cream can come to your chalet, hotel or apartment.

Les P'tits Trappeurs kids’ club (+33 4 79 06 97 92) looks after children aged 3 to 11, with activities including building snowmen, treasure hunts, arts and crafts, and indoor and outdoor games. The tour operator Premiere Neige also has a creche, which is open to families not staying with them (subject to availability). It also offers babysitting and private nannies.

Best of all, Ste Foy ski passes are free for children up to seven years old.