Guide to : Morzine, Avoriaz & Les Gets
A total of 12 different resorts including Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets make up the Portes du Soleil area, all linked by lifts. Just an hour away from Geneva airport, the Portes du Soleil boasts everything from purpose-built resorts, to small family resorts encompassing both France and Switzerland.
Bordering on to Lac Leman (or Lake Geneva as we all seem to know it by!) the area offers a rich diversity of activities in both winter and summer, making it an area ripe for exploring as a couple, in a group or with the family.
Each resort has it's own personality and appeals to different types of people whatever time of year you choose to visit.
Morzine has long been a favourite destination for British holidaymakers who'll feel at home in the many English-owned bars and restaurants in town. There's even Berits and Brown, a very posh deli and cafe which has opened its doors in Morzine. If, of course, you'd prefer to be immerse yourself in local life, there are lots of restaurants and bars offering Savoyard fare - think a raclette with local reblochon cheese followed by a quick Genepy digestif!
Morzine village is spread out along two sides of a valley, with a mix of modern areas and the old village centre. Lifts run from both sides of the valley for skiing in winter and for mountain biking and walkers in the summer.
In fact, Morzine is one of the best renowned areas for mountain biking in France. The resort is totally geared up for bikers in the summer months, with easy to use lifts to take your bike up, good value lift passes and even jet washers to hose down your bike at the end of the a good day of riding. With over 650km of mountain bike trails plus freestyle and dirt parks, you won't be bored on your bike in Portes du Soleil.
The skiing is Morzine is excellent for getting your 'ski legs' and once you've found them, head over to sister resort Avoriaz, where you can find more challenging skiing.
Avoriaz stands impressively at 1800m and is a completely purpose-built resort, with large wood-clad apartment buildings standing quite literally amongst the pistes. Everywhere in Avoriaz is ski in, ski out and the roads around the resort are pistes in winter. And being a car-free resort you can even hire little sledges to glide your luggage along to your accommodation!
Even in summer Avoriaz has its attractions, with high-altitude golf, nordic walking, swimming pool, kids' village and mountain biking.
Somewhere a bit more down to earth (quite literally) is Les Gets. The first resort you get to when you arrive on your Mountain Drop-offs airport transfer from Geneva, Les Gets is a friendly resort at 900m. Perfect for families, Les Gets offers easily accessible beginner slopes right in the centre of the pretty village and lots of activities for non-skiers too.
In summer Les Gets is very relaxed, boasting a superb 18 hole golf course, confidence-building mountain bike trails and walking routes, as well as the events and animations for all the family - all around the nose tinglingly good pine forests.
Things to do in the Portes du Soleil area
* Visit the Ferme de Caroline in Les Gets and see the goats and cows at milking time before buying the butter and cheese they helped to make
* Celebrate the start of the summer season with the Pass'Portes du Soleil mountain bike weekend with hundreds of two wheelers enjoying the specially selected mountain itineraries covering Morzine, Avoriaz, Les Gets and beyond. Held every year over the last weekend in June.
* Visit the very curious Museum of Mechanical Music in Les Gets, where you'll find barrel organs and even the organ grinders to go with them. Monkeys optional.
* Enjoy stunning panoramas of Mont Blanc as you play golf in Les Gets on the 18 hole, par 70 course in the Chavannes area
* Check out 'The Stash' the eco-friendly Avoriaz snowpark designed by none other than Jake Burton, hidden away in the forest areas of Lindarets
* Head out on a thrilling night time snowmobile trek, leaving from a mountain restaurant in Morzine and heading along the moonlit trails and pistes for a 20km adventure
* Go ice skating on the open air ice rink in the centre of Les Gets - Mums and Dads can watch their little one skate whilst they enjoy a vin chaud!
* Be brave and try a tandem paraglide with local experts Air Libre taking off from the Mt Chery area of Les Gets for exceptional aerial views in winter and summer
* Try and recreate THAT scene from the film 'Ghost' as you enjoy a demonstration of turning and enamelling at Ferme de la Sarre, the local pottery in Les Gets
Les Gets, Morzine & Avoriaz websites
* ESF Les Gets - is the main ski school in Les Gets with their booking office right at the foot of the beginner pistes. Ideal for beginners wanting easy to access ski areas to learn on
* ESF Morzine - has over 150 instructors just waiting to take you for alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, telemark or snow-shoeing lessons
* ESF Avoriaz - as well as all the usual lessons, Avoriaz boasts a special three day Adult beginners course 'Premiere Neige' which will have you skiing in just three days using a 3.5km piste reserved exclusively for adult learners
* Les Gets Tourist Office - the official website for Les Gets has all the info you need on accommodation and events in summer and winter
* Avoriaz Tourist Office - split into a summer and a winter website in both English and French, the sites included virtual tours and a diary of seasonal events
* Morzine Tourist Office - this all encompassing site in a myriad of languages covers all you need to know for you winter ski or summer holiday in Morzine-Avoriaz
* Morzine.co.uk - a website with a forum, handy hints and info for British property owners in Morzine
