Bessans, France

Bessans is one of the highest cross country ski areas in France and Europe at an altitude of 1727 metres. It is part of the Vanoise National Park in the Haute Savoie, just south of Val D'Isere, and is separated from it by the 1770 metre Col d’Iseran, which is crossed by the highest road in Europe. Bessans has 80K of cross country ski tracks with varying degrees of difficulty and the Nordic ski area is open from around 26 October to 10 April 10 (subject to snow conditions), and there is usually good snow surety from November to May.

Getting to Bessans by Air


  • Chambery (2 hours)
  • Annecy (2.5 hours)
  • Geneva, Genoa, Grenoble, Lyon Bron, Lyon St-Exupéry, Milan Linate (all 3 hours)
Bus Connections from airports


There are bus connections from Lyon Saint-Exupéry, Chambery and Geneva airports to Haute Maurienne.

Taxi timetable and online booking

Getting to Bessans by Train

SNCF offer regular connections to Modane which is less than 4 hours from Paris by TGV.  Then get a bus from the bus station on your left as you leave Modane train station. You can buy your bus ticket online.

Driving to Bessans from the UK

It is about a 13 hour drive from the UK, and nearer the destination you take the A43 Motorway towards Turin (Fréjus Tunnel, Italy), exit at Modane, Haute Maurienne, on the 1006 (ex-RN6). Then c ross Modane and take the direction of Val Cenis. Go through the villages of Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis then Lanslevillard. Continue on the D902 for a few kilometres in the direction of Bessans. Bessans is 35 km from Modane.

Ski bus information/timetable

There is a shuttle bus that runs from Val Cenis through to Bessans, and beyond to Bonneval sur Arc operated by Altibus. The timetables are here.

Cross Country Ski Map of Bessans
Cross Country Ski Tracks and Routes
Bessans has 133K of classic and skate tracks, at a height of 1,750M, with exceptional snow conditions supplemented with snow cannons at the start of the season. Track fees are €10.50 a day (€9.50 for concessions 65+). There is also a weekly pass covering the Haute Maurienne Vanoise area of Bessans, Barmans and Sardières for €95 (concessions €87).

The ski area opening hours are: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. with the Nordic centre shop for track passes also open at that time. There is also a rescue point, waxing room and lockers available.


This link will give you some Weather information and Wax of the day.

Apart from the trails mentioned below there is also the option of skiing down to Val Cenis (and back if you want to go uphill). However, there is a bus you can catch for the return journey (see above).  And another route would be to catch the same bus from Bessans to Bonneval sur Arc and ski.
Bessans Cross Country Ski Routes
Webcams


The Bessans webcams are on this link.

Bars and Restaurants
There is a good selection of cafes and restaurants in the village.
Cross Country Ski Rental/Retailers

There is a choice of 3 outlets for ski rental.

Cross Country Ski Races



The Marathon de Bessans  is held every year on the second week of January and is part of the Euroloppet race series.

Tour Companies who feature Bessans
Other things to Do

There are 15 kms of discovery trails that are marked for  walking. Other activities include snowshoeing, ice skating and ice climbing.

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