From the beginner friendly slopes of Avoriaz and Les Gets to the technical moguls of the Swiss Wall, the Portes du Soleil’s 600 kilometres of slopes provide a wide variety of incredible skiing opportunities. There is so much to enjoy about skiing and snowboarding in the Portes du Soleil area. The area is one of the most popular in the Alps for good reason. It has snow parks such as the world-famous Stash Park, beautiful Alpine scenery, a perfect mix of green to black pistes and a mixture of French and Swiss charm. Get to know the ski area a little better through our blog; a guide to skiing in the Portes du Soleil.

Avoriaz: 

The ski area of Avoriaz is a brilliant one for children and beginners. This is because the resort sits on a flat plateau which is equipped with drag lifts through much of the centre and nursery slopes. Beginners have some of the best starter slopes on the doorstep of where they are staying with the nursery area separated from the main ski area for safety. There is also easy access to Les Lindarets and Switzerland. Avoriaz is linked to Morzine by the Super Morzine Gondola which takes skiers down into Morzine (as you can not ski back) as well as a few other lifts and pistes. The areas between Avoriaz and the Super Morzine Gondola are fantastic for beginners.  

The Grande Combes area above Avoriaz is fantastic for more advanced skiers with a number of blue pistes as well as red and black runs coming off from the peak. Meanwhile The Stash Park is one of the best known snow parks in the world, with hundreds of natural features it is a park that skiers and boarders dream of and has really been established as one of Europe’s best snow parks.

For really accomplished and confident skiers and snowboarders then The Swiss Wall or the Pas de Chavanette is a great challenge. It is a very difficult piste with sizeable moguls and one of the most difficult pistes that there is; one not to be attempted unless the ability to match is there.

Châtel:

Châtel is located on the far side of the French ski area in the Portes du Soleil. However within just a few ski lifts and runs this interlinks with some of the other smaller resorts such as La Chapelle d’Abondance and Morgins. It is quite some distance to ski to Avoriaz and on to Morzine.  

As a standalone resort the number of runs are limited but there are plenty of good blue and red pistes within easy reach of Châtel, making it an intermediate’s playground. The resort height is fairly low at 1,200 metres meaning snow can be shy at some points during the ski season. If there is good snow and skiing off-piste is your preference, then Châtel is the place to head to. With some excellent tree runs below the Tête de Linga and in the Plaine Dranse area, it is the place to be on a powder day, especially if the visibility is poor.

Morzine:

Skiers are faced with a choice of different lifts to start their day’s skiing from Morzine; the Super Morzine, the Pleney or the Prodains lift. Each of these goes in a slightly different direction. 

The Super Morzine lift is popular and takes guests up towards the Avoriaz side of the Portes du Soleil. Here there are a handful of easy green and blue pistes and access to the further ski areas of the Portes du Soleil from here. At the end of the day skiers will need to take the Super Morzine Gondola back to Morzine, or alternatively finish the day in Ardent and take the free ski bus back as skiers are not able to ski into Morzine from this side of the mountain. 

The Prodains lift also takes guests up to Avoriaz. However this time directly to the tail end of Avoriaz, it is a quick route to Switzerland and the wider ski area. The Prodains area is a couple of kilometres from the centre of Morzine and more a satellite village, accessible by bus or car.

The Pleney lift is where the majority of the skiing into Morzine and Les Get is. As predominantly the other aforementioned lifts give access to the Avoriaz side of the ski area and its interlinking resorts. The Pleney lift takes skiers and snowboarders to the area of skiing that is shared between Morzine and Les Gets. It is nearly all positioned between 1,000 – 2,000 metres in altitude and tree lined narnia-esque forest runs. It makes it a great choice for when it is windy or visibility is poor. From the Pleney lift a variety of blue and red pistes are within reach which make it an ideal option for improvers and intermediates as well as those looking for an easier ski day.  Above Les Gets it is also excellent for beginners and intermediates with many options for coffee stops and restaurants.

Les Gets: 

Linked from the Pleney side and ski area of Morzine there are a good variety of pistes. For example in the Les Chavannes area of the Les Gets ski area there is a boarder cross and mini-boarder cross as well as the Grand Cry children’s beginner slopes with a number of green and blue pistes. It is ideal territory for children or beginner skiers looking to take it easy in a safe area. As skiers confidence and ability grows the area connects on to the peaks of La Rosta and Le Ranfoilly which both offer a number of blue, red and black pistes and the perfect spot to progress to. 

On the opposite side of Les Gets is Mont Chéry, Les Get’s hidden gem. As it is some distance away from Morzine and far from Avoriaz and Switzerland it can be exceptionally quiet and uncrowded meaning that it affords some stunning mountain views and beautiful skiing. Whilst there are just a handful of red pistes, a handful of black pistes and one blue piste, because it is so quiet it gives skiers time to negotiate runs which they might otherwise shy away from. The red runs are typically wide, excluding Les Marmottes off the back of Mont Chéry, and a great jump up from a blue run. There are also a couple of fantastic rustic mountain restaurants including the Grande Ourse which is one of the best spots in the Portes du Soleil for a hot chocolate with a view.

Switzerland: 

The Swiss resorts are accessible either if staying in one of them, or to ski to from Avoriaz or Châtel. The Swiss Wall as previously mentioned is one route into Switzerland, those who don’t wish to attempt it can take the chairlift down or ski another route with blue and red runs. The Swiss resorts are Champery, Champoussin (linked with Val d’Illiez), Les Crosets and Morgins. Many skiers stay in the more well-known French resorts of Avoriaz, Les Gets and Morzine and so will only ski into Switzerland sporadically due to the distance. However for those that do venture to the Swiss resorts or choose to stay in one of them, there is an excellent mix of blue, red and the occasional black piste to enjoy; it’s excellent mixed ability terrain.

Hopefully this closer look at the different areas of the Portes du Soleil has conjured up an interest in this wonderful ski area. If you would like to learn more about the Portes du Soleil then take a look at our blog; an in-depth guide to the Portes du Soleil. Alternatively if you are ready to start looking at a holiday in Avoriaz, Les Gets or Morzine then do get in touch, our specialists would love to help.