Saint-Lary-Soulan is the stronger all-round pick here. It offers a larger, more varied mountain than Le Grand Bornand. That said, Le Grand Bornand is no slouch, and beginners may prefer what it offers. For most holiday skiers, Saint-Lary-Soulan delivers more mountain for your trip.
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger result for each metric. Numbers are measurements — compare them directly.
| Saint-Lary-Soulan | Le Grand Bornand | |
|---|---|---|
Vertical Drop Height from top to bottom — more is a longer, bigger mountain feeling | 850m (2,789ft) | 1,380m (4,528ft) |
Summit Elevation How high the mountain reaches — higher tends to mean colder, drier snow | 2,515m (8,251ft) | 2,100m (6,890ft) |
Base Elevation Height of the base village — affects snow quality at the bottom of the mountain | 1,700m (5,577ft) | 720m (2,362ft) |
Annual Snowfall Average natural snowfall per season — more means better powder odds | 600cm (236in) | 600cm (236in) |
Trail Count Total marked runs — more variety over a week-long trip | 100 | 84 |
Lift Count Total lifts — more lifts typically means shorter queues and better mountain access | 31 | 28 |
Skiable Area Total groomed and patrolled terrain in hectares | 100ha (247ac) | 220ha (544ac) |
Beginner Terrain Percentage of trails rated beginner — higher means more options for new skiers | 30% | 30% |
Intermediate Terrain Percentage of trails rated intermediate — the core terrain for most holiday skiers | 50% | 45% |
Advanced Terrain Percentage of trails rated advanced or expert — higher means more challenge | 20% | 25% |
Saint-Lary-Soulan edges ahead in more categories, though the gap is close. Both are excellent resorts.
Le Grand Bornand has significantly more vertical: a full run takes noticeably longer and the mountain feels much bigger.
Both resorts receive similar annual snowfall, so you can expect comparable snow conditions at either.
Both resorts offer a similar proportion of beginner terrain, so neither has a meaningful edge for first-timers.
Saint-Lary-Soulan is noticeably larger, with more trails to explore over a multi-day trip.
Saint-Lary-Soulan's higher base elevation helps snow stay cold and dry longer, giving better conditions through the day and into spring.
Saint-Lary-Soulan has a comparable amount of beginner-friendly terrain and is a lower-pressure environment for new skiers.
Saint-Lary-Soulan wins on the stats that matter most for experienced skiers: more mountain to explore over a full week.
Both resorts offer a similar amount of beginner terrain (Saint-Lary-Soulan: 30%, Le Grand Bornand: 30%), so neither has a clear edge for first-timers. Focus on which resort offers better ski school programs and convenience for your group.
Saint-Lary-Soulan (600 cm/year) and Le Grand Bornand (600 cm/year) receive similar annual snowfall. Neither has a meaningful snow advantage; other factors like aspect, elevation, and grooming matter more day-to-day.
Saint-Lary-Soulan is the larger mountain by trail count (Saint-Lary-Soulan: 100 trails, Le Grand Bornand: 84 trails). On a week-long trip, a bigger mountain means more variety and a lower chance of feeling like you've exhausted the terrain.
Le Grand Bornand has a higher percentage of expert terrain. If you're an advanced skier who will spend most of your day on black and double-black runs, that extra challenge is worth considering when choosing between these two.
Both Saint-Lary-Soulan and Le Grand Bornand are similarly suited to families. Look at ski school quality, on-mountain kids' facilities, and accommodation proximity to lifts when making your final decision; those practical factors matter more than raw stats for a family trip.
Other matchups featuring these resorts and their regional peers.