Skiing Albiez from the Mollard sector: chairlifts, drag lifts and pistes

Albiez is a family ski resort in the Maurienne valley: 40 km of pistes, 13 lifts and 22 runs between 1,500 and 2,060 metres. It splits into three sectors — Montrond, the village centre and the Mollard — plus the neighbouring village of Albiez-le-Jeune. Our apartment is in the Mollard, the highest of the three.

The ski area in numbers

• 40 km of pistes across 22 runs
• 13 lifts
• Altitude: 1,500 m to 2,060 m
• 50 snow cannons topping up the natural cover

The Montrond plateau enjoys low rainfall and remarkable light, with continuous snow cover for close to six months a year. The runs are sunny and wide — this is an area where you learn to ski comfortably, not one where you come looking for walls.

Starting from the Mollard: the three lifts to know

The Échaux chairlift — the way in

250 to 300 m from the apartment, it climbs from 1,600 m to 1,800 m. It is the quickest way to reach the whole area: take it in the morning and everything opens up behind it.

The Aplanes drag lift — the high point

From the top of the Échaux, you pick up the Aplanes drag lift, which tops out at 2,100 m — the highest point reachable from this sector.

Coucou and Polytre — for beginners

The Coucou drag lift is the beginners' one. The Polytre is used in particular by the ski school: it offers several points at which to let go of the bar, with increasing difficulty. That is exactly what a child needs to progress without being thrown in at the deep end.

What order for a first day?

1. Complete beginner: Coucou in the morning, then Polytre in the afternoon for proper full descents.
2. Intermediate: Échaux from opening to get the measure of the sector, then move across to the village centre and Montrond during the day.
3. Strong skier: Échaux then Aplanes, and the area unrolls from 2,100 m.
4. Expert skier: from the top of the Aplanes lift, snow conditions permitting, several off-piste lines drop through the powder from 2,100 m down to 1,500 m, all the way to the Loup chairlift — 600 m of vertical in one run. Off-piste means outside the patrolled area: take the gear, check the avalanche bulletin, and hire a guide if in any doubt.

Why staying in the Mollard helps

The Mollard snow front brings together, within 250 m, the start of the pistes, the hire shops, the supermarket and the ski school meeting point. In practice: no shuttle bus, no carrying skis for hundreds of metres, and the option of going home for lunch. With children, that is the difference between a pleasant week and a week of logistics.

It is also where the Albiez C'Show, the Tuesday-night event during the school holidays, takes place.

Off the pistes

The Mollard sledging run is right next to the residence and catches plenty of sun (snow cover is not guaranteed — it is a natural run). Beyond that, the resort offers snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, husky sledding, snowmobiling and igloo evenings.

Distances, the ski locker and access to the snow front are detailed on the winter page.