By Lucy Connors
Skiing has received a lot of press recently, and not much of it has been good. It’s not exactly been a vintage year in terms of snowfall, and with France’s ski season currently averaging 36 days shorter than in the past, many people are questioning how much longer we’ve got on the ski slopes of Europe. If that’s a call to action, we’re suggesting next year you book your next ski trip to Morzine-Avoriaz in the Portes du Soleil region of the French Alps - here is our guide to the area.
Starting Off the Ski Guide in Morzine
Morzine is a traditional Savoyarde mountain village and has maintained its character and charm, drawing in those of us who want to feel as though we’re getting a true Alpine experience. Staying in this village gives you access to numerous options for après ski, dinner, and shopping; and it’s easily accessible by transfer from Geneva Airport. Here are a few of our local favourites:
If you want a true taste of the mountains; we love La Grange for food. The restaurant is charming and inviting, and they are self-described as ‘generous and traditional’. Their menu has a whole section dedicated to fondue… need we say more?
Morzine’s most iconic après spot is Le Tremplin Hotel. It’s situated right in the heart of the village, and just at the bottom of the run home – meaning it’s hard to say no to its DJs, dancing, and Aperol after a hard day’s skiing. It has just become part of the Timpson’s Family. Improvement work started in summer 2023, but the Hotel is open as usual while undergoing renovations, and just last week we can confirm the dance floor was as busy as ever.
Venture Further Up to Avoriaz
Nestled in the mountains 600m above Morzine is Avoriaz. The highest resort in the Portes du Soleil region last year took the crown for the most snow of any skiable domain in France, so it’s a safe spot no matter how the snow is looking elsewhere. The resort is entirely ski-in and ski-out and is perfectly placed for easy access to the Swiss side of the resort, where some of the tricker skiing resides. Including the infamous Swiss Wall. It’s one of the steepest and most difficult runs in the world, with a unique orange classification, and not something we can recommend, but you can take the chairlift down over it to understand its power without having to face it down.
One of the newer additions to Avoriaz is La Folie Douce. Anyone who knows après knows the Folie, and whether you want to enjoy the atmosphere over some food, or if you want to dance on the tables with a beer pèche, it’s a must-visit.
If you’re looking for somewhere for lunch during your ski session, head to Les Lindarets – or The Goat Village during the summer months. It’s accessible directly from the piste, or by the Gondola up from Ardent so it’s a good option for all members of the party. There are numerous fantastic restaurants to choose from, but our long-time favourite is La Ferme des Lindarets. This space is authentic, cosy, and will serve you the best Tartiflette you will ever have. Their pizzas are also something special.
Another fantastic midday spot is the Les Brochaux Bowl, ski into this valley for great piste access, but also great food.
Exploring Les Gets and Final Thoughts
Les Gets is directly connected with Morzine, but the skiing on the Les Gets side is a much more family-oriented part of the resort, and very beginner-friendly. From Mont Chery, you get a direct view across to the stunning vista of Mont Blanc.
The Portes du Soleil ski pass allows you to access 650km of piste, twelve separate ski resorts, and two countries. One of our favourite ways to make the most out of this ski area is by taking a day to complete the Tour de Portes du Soleil. This will take the full day, so start early because you don’t want to get caught out missing the last lift back into Avoriaz from Switzerland – it’s a very long way around in a taxi. The best part of this tour is the stunning views it offers, from so many different locations, so if you find yourself with a spare Bluebird Day, you now know what to do. The tour takes you from Morzine to Avoriaz, Les Lindarets, Chatel, Linga, Super Chatel, Morgin, Champoussin, Les Crosets, and back via Avoriaz. There are quite a few different ways of completing the tour, and many different lifts to choose from – half the fun is in planning your route, so good luck!