4 Vallées comes out ahead overall. It offers more vertical than Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise. Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise still has plenty to offer, especially for intermediate skiers who don't need the biggest mountain. But if you want the fuller experience, 4 Vallées is the stronger pick.
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger result for each metric. Numbers are measurements — compare them directly.
| Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise | 4 Vallées | |
|---|---|---|
Vertical Drop Height from top to bottom — more is a longer, bigger mountain feeling | 1,300m (4,265ft) | 1,830m (6,004ft) |
Summit Elevation How high the mountain reaches — higher tends to mean colder, drier snow | 2,620m (8,596ft) | 3,330m (10,925ft) |
Base Elevation Height of the base village — affects snow quality at the bottom of the mountain | 1,320m (4,331ft) | 1,500m (4,921ft) |
Annual Snowfall Average natural snowfall per season — more means better powder odds | 700cm (276in) | 600cm (236in) |
Trail Count Total marked runs — more variety over a week-long trip | 18 | 412 |
Lift Count Total lifts — more lifts typically means shorter queues and better mountain access | 5 | 92 |
Skiable Area Total groomed and patrolled terrain in hectares | 220ha (544ac) | — |
Beginner Terrain Percentage of trails rated beginner — higher means more options for new skiers | 20% | 17% |
Intermediate Terrain Percentage of trails rated intermediate — the core terrain for most holiday skiers | 50% | 50% |
Advanced Terrain Percentage of trails rated advanced or expert — higher means more challenge | 30% | 33% |
4 Vallées edges ahead in more categories, though the gap is close. Both are excellent resorts.
4 Vallées has significantly more vertical: a full run takes noticeably longer and the mountain feels much bigger.
Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise gets a bit more snow on average, giving it a slight edge for powder days.
Both resorts offer a similar proportion of beginner terrain, so neither has a meaningful edge for first-timers.
4 Vallées is much larger: significantly more trails means more variety and far less chance of skiing the same run twice in a week.
Both resorts sit at similar base elevations, so snow quality and preservation are comparable.
4 Vallées wins on the stats that matter most for experienced skiers: more mountain to explore over a full week.
Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise gets more snow annually, giving better odds of fresh powder and better conditions into late season.
Both resorts offer a similar amount of beginner terrain (Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise: 20%, 4 Vallées: 17%), so neither has a clear edge for first-timers. Focus on which resort offers better ski school programs and convenience for your group.
Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise gets more snow on average. That translates to better powder days, longer seasons, and more reliable conditions throughout January and February.
4 Vallées is the larger mountain by trail count (Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise: 18 trails, 4 Vallées: 412 trails). On a week-long trip, a bigger mountain means more variety and a lower chance of feeling like you've exhausted the terrain.
Both resorts offer a similar proportion of advanced terrain (Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise: 30%, 4 Vallées: 33%). Expert skiers should look beyond percentages at the quality of the black runs, off-piste access, and whether there's lift-accessed backcountry terrain.
Both Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise and 4 Vallées 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.