MORZINE

Morzine is situated at one end of the giant Portes du Soleil (“doors to the sun”) ski circuit. The Morzine-Les Gets area sits to the eastern side of Morzine village while Avoriaz and the larger Portes Du Soleil area extends from the western side.

With Morzine village at 1000m and the highest slopes of the Morzine-Les Gets area poking just above 2000m, most of the slopes are tree lined which is unusual for a European ski resort. The result is prettier, more defined ski runs where in bad weather the visibility can be significantly better than those above the tree-line. There are some first-timer slopes right in the main village and easy beginner and decent intermediate runs throughout the resort. The Ponte De Nyon area has some challenging advanced runs and a dedicated off-piste free-ride area.

If you are here for more than a day or two you will definitely want to explore the greater Portes du Soleil circuit by heading up the Super Morzine gondola on the other side of the village. A series of lifts takes you to the ski-in ski-out village of Avoriaz whose architecture is either hideously ugly or spectacularly magnificent depending on which way you look at it. As we prefer more charming villages, Morzine is our pick for where to stay even though it’s not as centrally located as Avoriaz whose higher altitude slopes benefit from better snow conditions. From Avoriaz you can ski in all directions and with just one lift you can be skiing in Switzerland. During bad weather the upper slopes are often above the clouds, making them warmer and sunnier and much more pleasant to ski. The views from the top of the lifts are breathtaking and it’s even possible to see Mont Blanc on a sunny day. The Swiss section has a series of villages including Champery and Les Crosets and plenty of great intermediate runs, mostly above the treeline. On the Avoriaz side you constantly switch between Switzerland and France and there is endless exploring to be done. If your day finishes at one end you can always catch a return bus to Morzine. Othwerise you can ski back via Avoriaz, downloading on the Super Morzine gondola (you can’t ski all the way back to the village).

There are some excellent terrain parks in the Avoriaz part of the resort.

It is possible to purchase a ski pass that covers the entire Portes du Soleil ski area, or a cheaper one that just covers Morzine-Les Gets.

Further afield it is always an option to take day trips to explore the nearby ski areas of Flaine, Samoens and Chamonix.

Morzine makes a great choice for families looking for a good value, happening village with extensive skiing for beginners and intermediates, while still having a few challenges for more advanced skiers. The tree-lined slopes are gentle and sheltered from the elements which makes them very appealing. Morzine has several good ski schools and ESF has good facilities right at the main Pleney gondola base. They take children from 3 years old. Morzine village has plenty for kids to do after skiing and lots of family friendly hotels and restaurants.

Apart from 5-star luxury hotels, there is pretty much every other type of accommodation in Morzine. From 2-4 star hotels, apartments and private chalets ranging from simple to over-the-top there is something for (almost) everyone. We recommend choosing a hotel within easy walking distance of the Pleney gondola base area if you want to avoid having to catch busy shuttles around the village. There is a good selection of hotels within a few blocks of the base, though only a few that are ski-in ski-out.

There is plenty to do in Morzine other than skiing. The village has a very good indoor ice-rink which hosts local ice-hockey games, a smaller outdoor rink, two cinemas, a sports center with indoor pool, 70km of Nordic ski trails, walks and of course shopping – there are lots of great shops that aren’t super pricey. The tourist office is worth a visit and the friendly staff can make suggestions for excursions such as a visit to local cheese makers, tobogganing and more. It is possible to do day excursions to nearby towns such as Montreux, Geneva, Annecy or Chamonix, though some would be difficult without your own car.

Morzine is one of the closest of the large ski resorts in France to a major airport. It’s just 75-90 minutes’ drive from Geneva airport. Chambery, Grenoble and Lyon are all around 2 hours. The easiest way to get to Morzine is on a transfer bus – either private or shared – for which several companies run services. If you prefer public transport the closest train stations are at Thonon Les Baines and Cluses – each approximately 40 minutes away by taxi or private transfer, or slower on the scheduled public bus. Scout can help with transfers as part of a Morzine ski package.

Given the lower altitude of the village, it is best to avoid early or very late season visits to Morzine. Christmas and New Year can be busy. January is a great time to visit – the slopes are less crowded and snow falls are common though it can be quite cold. February is very busy during the British and French half-term school holidays. March is excellent – when sunny weather lets you enjoy one of the many on-mountain restaurant sun decks.