Crest-Voland Cohennoz is a traditional village in the Val d’Arly that offers a quieter alternative to the large, purpose-built resorts of the Tarentaise. The village connects directly to the Espace Diamant, a 192-kilometre ski area that generally sees fewer crowds than the major domains further south. It suits skiers looking for tree-lined runs, wide beginner slopes, and a village that still functions as a working mountain community. While the local ski area is relatively compact, the immediate access to the wider domain makes it a strategic base for exploring the region. The architecture remains heavily influenced by its agricultural past, with wooden chalets and farmhouses dominating the skyline rather than high-rise apartment blocks. The atmosphere is decidedly low-key, focusing on family-friendly skiing and relaxed evenings rather than late-night après-ski. The recent infrastructure upgrades, including the new Logère gondola, have modernised the uplift without changing the fundamental character of the village. It remains a place where the pace of life is slow, the slopes are sheltered by pine forests, and the focus is squarely on accessible, enjoyable skiing.
Mountain culture & milestones
The history of Crest-Voland Cohennoz is deeply tied to the agricultural rhythms of the Val d’Arly. Long before the first ski lifts were installed, the local economy relied entirely on dairy farming and forestry. The transition to winter tourism happened gradually, driven by the local community rather than outside developers. The first rudimentary ski tows appeared in the mid-20th century, designed to provide winter income for farming families.
Unlike the purpose-built resorts that sprang up across the French Alps in the 1960s and 1970s, Crest-Voland and its neighbour Cohennoz grew organically. The villages expanded by converting existing farm buildings and constructing new chalets that adhered strictly to traditional Savoyard architectural styles. This slow, deliberate growth helped preserve the visual identity of the area.
A major milestone in the resort’s modern history was the creation of the Espace Diamant in 2005. By linking the local slopes with Flumet, Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe, Praz-sur-Arly, and Les Saisies, the village transformed from a small, isolated ski hill into a gateway for one of the larger linked domains in the region. Despite this expansion, the local culture remains grounded. Farming is still a visible part of summer life, and many of the families who run the ski schools and local businesses have lived in the valley for generations.
Valley bases: where to stay
The resort operates across two distinct but closely linked bases, both situated on the same sunny plateau overlooking the Val d’Arly. They share the same relaxed atmosphere but offer slightly different experiences depending on what you want from your stay.
Crest-Voland is the administrative and commercial heart of the resort. This is where you will find the main cluster of bakeries, ski hire shops, and the central ticket office. The snow front here is the primary meeting point for ski schools, making it the most practical base for families with young children who need to be dropped off for morning lessons. The recent installation of the Logère gondola has made accessing the upper slopes from the village centre significantly faster and more comfortable.
Le Cernix, technically part of the Cohennoz municipality, sits just a couple of kilometres away along the plateau. It is smaller and quieter than Crest-Voland, offering a more secluded environment. It has its own dedicated snow front, complete with a chairlift that takes skiers directly up into the local network. Accommodation here is almost exclusively in traditional chalets, and while the dining options are limited, the peaceful setting is a major draw for those who want to avoid even the modest bustle of the main village.
| Base | Altitude | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Crest-Voland | 1,230 m | The main village centre with the primary shops, ski schools, and the Logère gondola. |
| Le Cernix (Cohennoz) | 1,250 m | A quieter hamlet just down the road, featuring its own chairlift and a handful of local amenities. |
Ski sectors at a glance
The local skiing is concentrated on the slopes of Mont Lachat, which serves as the central hub for the Crest-Voland Cohennoz area and the jumping-off point for the Espace Diamant.
| Sector | Key features |
|---|---|
| Mont Lachat | The central hub reaching 1,650 m, offering wide, tree-lined blue and red runs back to the villages. |
| Logère | The immediate slopes above Crest-Voland, now served by a modern gondola, ideal for beginners. |
| Le Cernix | A quieter flank of the mountain with rolling pistes that hold their snow well into the afternoon. |
The mountain & skiing
The local Crest-Voland Cohennoz ski area covers 34 kilometres of pistes, heavily weighted towards beginners and intermediates. The terrain is served by 15 lifts, including a mix of chairlifts, drag lifts, and the new Logère gondola. The piste map shows 8 green, 12 blue, and 10 red runs, making it an ideal environment for those finding their ski legs or looking for relaxed cruising.
The defining characteristic of the local skiing is the tree cover. Almost the entire 34-kilometre network is carved through dense pine forests. This provides excellent visibility during heavy snowfalls, a significant advantage over higher, exposed resorts that often suffer from whiteouts when the weather closes in. The runs down to the village are generally wide, gentle, and well-groomed, allowing novice skiers to build confidence without feeling intimidated by steep drop-offs or narrow cat-tracks.
For more advanced skiers, the local slopes serve mainly as a warm-up or a starting point. The real draw is the connection to the Espace Diamant. From the top of Mont Lachat at 1,650 metres, you can drop down towards the rest of the domain, opening up 192 kilometres of skiing. The links allow you to travel across to the open, rolling terrain of Les Saisies, tackle the slightly steeper pitches above Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe, or cruise down into Praz-sur-Arly.
The Espace Diamant is known for its “safari” style skiing. Rather than lapping the same high-altitude bowl, you spend the day travelling from village to village, navigating a mix of forest trails and open pastures. The recent addition of the Logère gondola has significantly improved the morning uplift from the main village of Crest-Voland, cutting down queues and providing a comfortable, weather-protected ride to the upper sectors, making the journey into the wider domain much smoother.
The village & après-ski
Crest-Voland Cohennoz is not a party town, and it makes no apologies for that. The après-ski scene is decidedly low-key, revolving around a few local bars, bakeries, and traditional restaurants rather than loud slope-side clubs or late-night DJ sets.
When the lifts close, the focus shifts to relaxed drinks and hearty local food. The restaurants in the village specialise in classic Savoyard cuisine, meaning tartiflette, fondue, and raclette feature heavily on most menus. The ingredients are often sourced locally, reflecting the area’s ongoing agricultural heritage. There are a few spots where you can grab a beer or a vin chaud as you come off the slopes, but the atmosphere is conversational rather than raucous.
Evenings are quiet, making it a reliable choice for families who want a peaceful night’s sleep. The village layout is compact, meaning most accommodation is within a short walk of the snow front and the central amenities. You rarely need to rely on shuttle buses to get around the main village, which removes a common source of stress for families travelling with small children and heavy equipment.
Snow & season
The resort sits at a relatively modest altitude of 1,230 metres, with local skiing peaking at Mont Lachat at 1,650 metres. The wider Espace Diamant reaches 2,069 metres. Despite the lower elevation compared to the mega-resorts, the area has a strong record for snow reliability, largely due to the nature of the terrain.
The underlying ground across much of the local area consists of grassy alpine pastures rather than rocky scree. This means the slopes require significantly less snow depth to open safely and provide good coverage. A base of just 20 to 30 centimetres is often enough to get the main pistes running, whereas higher, rocky resorts might need a metre of snow to cover the boulders.
The season typically runs from late December through to early April. The extensive tree cover on the Mont Lachat slopes helps protect the snowpack from wind scouring and direct sunlight, preserving the conditions for longer than you might expect at this altitude. However, late-season conditions on the lower slopes running back into the village can become heavy and slushy in the mid-afternoon spring sun.
Summer & year-round
When the snow melts, Crest-Voland Cohennoz does not shut down. The village transitions into a quiet, green base for exploring the Val d’Arly on foot or two wheels. The Logère gondola continues to run during the summer months, providing easy access to the Mont Lachat area for hikers and mountain bikers who want to skip the initial climb from the valley floor.
The resort has invested heavily in its summer infrastructure to attract families year-round. A major addition is the Lachat playground, located near Lac du Lachat at the top of the gondola. This area provides a safe, structured environment for children to explore the outdoors.
For older children and adults looking for more adrenaline, the Nant Rouge canyon offers a different kind of challenge. The resort has developed a via ferrata and adventure course in the canyon, featuring rope bridges, handrails, and impressive zip lines that stretch up to 160 metres long and sit 45 metres above the canyon floor. Beyond these specific attractions, the area offers hundreds of kilometres of marked hiking and mountain biking trails that wind through the forests and across the high pastures, often with uninterrupted views of the Mont Blanc massif.
Safety & mountain etiquette
The tree-lined nature of the local slopes means avalanches are rare on the marked pistes around Crest-Voland and Le Cernix. The grooming teams maintain the runs to a high standard, and the sheltered environment makes it a safe place to ski even when the weather is poor.
However, standard mountain safety rules apply if you venture off-piste, particularly if you explore the higher, more open sections of the Espace Diamant. The primary safety consideration for most visitors to this area is time management. The Espace Diamant is vast and spread out across multiple valleys. It is very easy to misjudge the time needed to return from the far edges of the domain before the lift network shuts down for the day.
Skiers should keep a close eye on the time and the lift status boards, especially when exploring the links towards Hauteluce or Praz-sur-Arly. Missing the last connection back to Mont Lachat means a long, expensive taxi ride back around the valley roads to Crest-Voland.
Who it suits best
Crest-Voland Cohennoz works best for families, beginners, and intermediate cruisers who want a traditional village atmosphere without the premium price tag or the crowds of the mega-resorts. The wide, tree-lined slopes are perfect for building confidence, and the direct link to the Espace Diamant provides more than enough mileage to keep intermediate skiers entertained for a week.
It is not the right choice for expert skiers looking for steep black runs, challenging couloirs, or extensive lift-served off-piste terrain. The local slopes are too gentle, and the wider domain focuses on cruising rather than extreme gradients. Similarly, it will not suit groups looking for a vibrant nightlife scene or high-end luxury shopping. It is a place for quiet evenings, hearty food, and relaxed skiing in a traditional setting.
Getting there
The resort is located 85 km from Chambéry Airport, 103 km from Geneva Airport, and 162 km from Lyon Airport. The nearest major rail hub is Albertville.
External links
- Official Crest-Voland Cohennoz Website
- Espace Diamant Official Site
- Savoie Mont Blanc – Crest-Voland / Cohennoz
- Val d’Arly Tourisme
This guide is published by Alps2Alps for general information only. It is not affiliated with Wikipedia or any resort, airport, or lift operator. Facts were accurate at the time of writing; always check official sources before travel.
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