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Geneva to Avoriaz Transfer

An airport transfer from Geneva to Avoriaz is unique, because the resort is a car-free snow paradise. Your journey time from Geneva to Avoriaz (and vice versa Avoriaz to Geneva) will be around two hours, depending on traffic and road conditions.

All transfer companies take you as far as the ‘Accueil Entree Station’ (Welcome Centre) in the Falaise sector of resort. Your holiday then starts in true pedestrianised resort style, with a horse-drawn sleigh ride, piste-basher bus trip, or a walk (luggage sledges available) on pisted snow paths to your accommodation. Surely the best way to kick off your ski holiday?

Mountain Drop-offs also offers private transfers from Geneva Airport to and from Avoriaz in the summer.

Avoriaz purpose built ski resort
Pic: RemiBertogliati@Unsplash


Please note:
Avoriaz is a snow-sure, high-altitude, purpose-built resort at 1800m, with a narrow, multi-hairpin access road, much of which is above 1660m. So if the snow/weather conditions are severe on your transfer day, Mountain Drop-offs may have to find safer solutions to get you to or back from resort; namely the Prodains cable car.

Please refer to the ‘Special Transfer Details’ section below for full info on transfers to and from Avoriaz and to work out where best to book your transfer to (that’s to say Avoriaz centre, or Morzine-Prodains for the cable car that whisks you up to Avoriaz in four minutes).

Guide section

Avoriaz Destination Guide

Avoriaz – Totally Unique!

Avoriaz is like no other ski resort we’ve encountered in France. The drive up the road from neighbouring Morzine gives you your first, very impressive, view of Avoriaz. It’s those jagged wood-clad buildings, that rise into the sky on the snow-filled plateau, all surrounded by steep cliffs (falaises in French).

You might think not having a car to get around in is an inconvenience, but everywhere is very easy to get to and there are literally pistes instead of roads throughout the resort.

Of course, all this isn’t by chance. Avoriaz was carefully designed to be totally functional. It was the vision of local lad Jean Vuarnet, who teamed up with Pierre et Vacances to open up the inaccessible and very snow-filled fields of ‘Avoreaz’.

Snow-sure skiing in Avoriaz

And what a resort it is. Renowned world-wide for being snow-sure (the average is eight metres of snowfall per winter). Access to all the areas of the Portes du Soleil is quick and easy with the modern and efficient lift system.

It might not have the ‘ye olde worlde’ charm of some mountain villages, but the facilities certainly make up for it – just look at the incredible ‘Aquariaz’ tropical water park, which is a watery paradise for all ages!

Avoriaz Aquaria water park
Pic:@AvoriazTO

Family facilities galore

No wonder Avoriaz is a favourite with families. For those with little ones who are keen skiers, the ‘Village des Enfants’ right in the centre of the resort is a expansive kids’ ski school from three to 16 years old. And if your little ones want to snowboard, Riglet Park is a snowboard teaching area specifically for three year olds upwards.

If you’re mad about freestyle, Avoriaz is an absolute mecca. There’s ‘The Stash’ snow park that takes in several pistes within the forests and the ‘Lil’ Stash’ for novices. Both offer a plethora of modules, half pipes, boarder crosses and more to keep the young shredders amused.

Avoriaz in the Summertime
Pic: EgorMyznik@Unsplash

Summer high altitude fun in Avoriaz

Although it’s a full-on winter resort, Avoriaz does have a summer season, albeit much more laid back and low-key.

The resort has been the finishing line for several Tour de France road race stages and mountain biking is also really popular here in the summer. The obvious highlight is the ‘Pass’Portes du Soleil’ mountain biking weekend in June.

Add to that golf, tennis, archery, trampolines, squash and hiking and there’s plenty to whet your appetite in Avoriaz during the summer months.

Activities section

Special transfer details for Avoriaz

How to get to Avoriaz – transfers are best

To get to Avoriaz, taking a transfer from the airport at Geneva is by far the easiest and most cost-effective option. Once in Avoriaz it’s totally geared up for pedestrians and skiers.

If you drive to resort, you’ll have to make sure you have snow chains and shovel in case of bad weather. And when you get up to the 1800m plateau where Avoriaz lies, you have to pay to leave the car in a car park for the duration of your holiday.

It’s upwards of 85€ for the undercover parking and a bit less for the outdoor, but be prepared to dig out your car from under a couple of metres of the white stuff if it’s snowed all week!

Avoriaz car free resort

The main transfer drop-off point in Avoriaz

Being car-free means that all transfer companies terminate their services at the ‘Accueil Entree Station’ (Welcome Centre) that is at the entrance to the Avoriaz. The main pick up and drop off point is the Welcome Centre.

(The one exception is the Amara residence just at the entrance to Avoriaz. If you’re staying here, you will be dropped off right next to the building).

From here you you have several options for getting you, your family and your luggage to your accommodation door. And there’s no need to worry about organising all this. Avoriaz’s welcome area is staffed 24hrs a day, seven days a week in the main winter season and will point you in the right direction with their organised transport services.

How to transfer you and your luggage to your door in Avoriaz

If you’re walking to your accommodation, luggage sledges are available. They work just like a supermarket shopping trolley, with a 1 euro coin and there are drop off points all around resort.

There are also horse-drawn sleighs and piste basher shuttles, with a journey costing between 5 and 14 euros per seat (baggage 3 euros), depending on the distance.

Prodains cable car to access Avoriaz
Pic: @MoBO Sera

The Prodains cable car transfer option for getting to Avoriaz

Mountain Drop-offs transfers can also drop you at the Prodains Express cable car, which is before the 20 hairpin road up to resort. This option offers swift and easy access for the accommodation in the lower parts of the resort such as Hauts-Forts, Dromonts and Ruches areas. This is also the cheapest way to transfer from Geneva Airport to Avoriaz.

Please note, the Prodains cable car lift is also where Mountain Drop-offs transfers to the Avoriaz Welcome Centre are diverted to on the rare occasion that it is deemed safer than travelling by road to resort.

You should check your expected arrival time with the Prodain Express Cable Car lift running times. In general, the lift runs for residents and pedestrians Mon-Thur 07:00-21:00, Fri & Sat 07:00-24:00 and Sun 07:00-22:00.

If you already have a valid Avoriaz or Portes de Soleil lift pass you can use this,  or buy your pass for the week at the bottom of the lift. There’s also to option to buy a single (8,60€) or return ticket (13,80€) from the lift ticket office.

The Prodains lift gets you into the Hauts Forts sector of resort and again there are luggage sledges and horse or piste basher shuttles available. So check whereabouts in resort you are and see whether you should book Prodains, rather than the Welcome Centre for your Mountain Drop-offs transfer.

Events section

Upcoming Events around Avoriaz

With so many festivals and events, leave the car behind and get Mountain Drop-offs to take you to and from Avoriaz in winter or summer. That way, you can all enjoy the seriously good parties on and off the mountain, letting your friendly, professional transfer company take the strain, leaving you to let your hair down.

It’s all going off in high-altitude Avoriaz!

Morzine-Avoriaz Penguins Ice Hockey Match

Morzine ice hockey teamCheer on the Morzine-Avoriaz Penguins ice hockey team when they play their home matches at the Skoda Ice Arena in Morzine. The team is currently playing in D1 division and they’re currently fighting to stay up, so go and support them!
Matches are mostly on Wednesdays with puck-off at 20:45. Tickets are usually 10€ for adults, 6€ for 6-16yrs and free for under 5s. Don’t forget to join in with the chant : ‘Allez Les Pingouins’! Pic@HCMA 

Volcom Spot to Spot in Avoriaz

Avoriaz spot to spot 2024

The massive Volcom pro-am winter meet up in Avoriaz is the 7th and 8th April 2024. Snowboarders of all ages and skills gather to do some snowboarding and quite a lot of partying.

Inscriptions for Spot to Spot 2024 open on the 6th Feb online and, as usual, you’ll be in with a chance of winning goodies from Volcom, Electric, Capita, Union and Woodbrass brands. And what’s more, it’s all free to enter! Pic@SpottoSpot Youtube

La Folie Douce Apres-Ski Avoriaz

Avoriaz Folie DouceLa Folie Douce is THE place to party in Avoriaz! Open 9am-6pm every day, it’s all about lunch on the pistes, followed by live music, DJs and performers to get you literally dancing on the tables.
This winter the main apres-ski events from around midday to close are:
Tuesdays – Retro Ski Party (get that Campri one piece out!)
Thursdays – Folie Douce Unlimited – world class DJs playing the tunes!

If you want a table, it’s best to reserve in advance. All the info on what’s on and menus etc can be found on the Folie Douce Avoriaz website. Pic@FolieDouceAvoriaz

Avoriaz Closing Week 2024

Celebrate the end of the Avoriaz ski season and look forward to the next one! This year there’s a crazy soapbox race for you to take part in! There are also BBQs, DJs, ski touring outings, avalanche awareness classes and lots more, all under the Avoriaz spring sunshine. A great way to end the season!

Pass’Portes du Soleil Mountain Bike Festival 2024

Pass portes du soleil MTB 2023The 2024 edition of this world-renowned, multi-country mountain bike festival week is from the 28th to the 30th June and it is going to be epic. If you’ve never done it, it’s a must. On bike or on foot, you follow a specially curated range of rides and hikes around the whole Portes du Soleil area ranging from the full 80km to special sessions for kids with a guide. This year the Bike Village (where the trade stands and shows are) is in Chatel.

Things like roadbooks, food at special stops and the lift passes are all included in the day packages. You’ll need to reserve your place in advance (and the 80km sells out very quickly). Registration on the Pass’Portes du Soleil official website from the 17th January 2024.

If you’re looking for a winter ski or summer mountain resort that’s practical, purpose-built and with everything you need right on your doorstep, Avoriaz pretty much matches your needs 100% – and all without having any cars in resort.

Let Mountain Drop-offs do the driving for you, taking you direct from Geneva Airport to Avoriaz for winter and summer high-altitude fun for all.

Book your transfer here