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Avoriaz -One of the popular resorts in the region of Portes du Soleil. Avoriaz lies at 1800 metres above sea level and great snow can be almost for certain. Snow boarders enjoy the slopes here and the resort draws the boarding crowd as there a park devoted to board sports.There are a huge number of slopes and most of them are suitable for the beginner to fair skier.The resort is well organised and has plenty off accommodation and après-ski activities.Avoriaz, situated at 1,800m, is the highest of 13 interconnected ski resorts that make up the Les Portes du Soleil region, situated between Lake Geneva in Switzerland and Mont Blanc in France.
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Due to its height, the conditions at Avoriaz are often favourable at times when skiing the lower resorts is less desirable.
Avoriaz is entirely purpose-built and set amid breathtaking scenery. Additionally, the ski resort’s policy of no cars ensures that the area stays free of pollution. Alternative transport around the village is provided by horse-drawn sleighs, adding to the delightful atmosphere.
If you feel like a change of scenery, try out one of the other resorts in the Les Portes du Soleil, all of which are accessible on a single ski pass. The quaint village and ski resort of Morzine is located only 14kms away from Avoriaz, and is known for its locally-produced cheese and handicrafts.
The ski season stretches from mid-December to late April (with peak season periods around Christmas and New Year’s Day) and from February to mid-April. The easiest way to reach Avoriaz is by flying to Geneva and arranging a transfer from the airport to the resort.
Skiing in Avoriaz
Avoriaz is located in the popular skiing region of the Portes du Soleil in the Alps, between Geneva in Switzerland and Mont Blanc in France. Les Portes du Soleil is made up of 13 different ski areas, all of which are accessible on a single pass, meaning that visitors to Avoriaz have the option of skiing the 150kms of runs within the resort, as well as the additional 500kms of pistes in the remaining Portes du Soleil area.
Avoriaz provides skiing for the entire range of levels, with 3 beginner runs, 24 intermediate runs, 17 expert runs, and 5 testing black runs for extremely advanced skiers. Le Plateau, just above the resort village, offers plenty of nursery slopes for beginners; while the most notorious ski run at Avoriaz can be found on both sides of the Swiss border, over an area dubbed ‘The Wall’.
There are 47kms of free cross-country skiing routes within Avoriaz. Off-piste skiing is provided by the Hauts Fort sector, the Crêtes, Le Fornet and La Suisse. Those wishing to try their abilities on these routes should be aware that there is a danger of avalanches in the area, and hiring a guide is advisable.
The Children's village is well organised and gives the little ones plenty to occupy them while you enjoy the slopes. A fantastic resort for the family type skiing holiday.Children are well catered for, including a very good kids'.
Most accommodation in Avoriaz comes in the form of apartments that can be rented, but there are also two hotels of a three-star standard. The village is well-equipped with essential amenities, including banks, shops, tourist information and childcare facilities.
The ski season at Avoriaz runs from mid-December to late April, and February to mid-April, with peak times over Christmas and New Year’s Day. The resort is accessible by car (though you will need to leave your vehicle in the parking area just outside the resort), train, or a flight to Geneva with a ground transfer to the resort.
Après-ski in Avoriaz
The resort is perched above a sheer granite cliff face, affording excellent views, and is known for its unique architecture and layout. Avoriaz is well-equipped with visitor facilities, and nightlife at the ski resort, though limited, is lively.
The après-ski activities at the resort are also renowned, with a range of restaurants and bars providing entertainment in the form of fine food, live music and dancing. Children are well cared for, with a nursery for the very young, and a children’s village for the slightly older set. Most people coming to Avoriaz stay in rented apartments, but the ski resort also has two three-star hotels.
You can also enjoy a wide range of facilities such as the sauna, cinema, fitness centre, Turkish bath and squash courts. The resort boasts a fine selection of restaurants offering local fare, and bars with live music, pool, table football and dancing.
Off-slope and après-ski opportunities abound in Avoriaz, with an excellent selection of facilities, restaurants and entertainment venues to choose from. Non-skiing activities include: sleigh rides, ice-skating, shows by local ski schools, paragliding, snowshoeing, dog sledding, night sledding, snowmobiling and bowling.
Transportation to Avoriaz
Avoriaz is located about 80kms from Geneva, in the Portes du Soleil region. Visitors can get to Geneva by car, bus, train or plane, and then transfer to the resort by bus or car. The quickest and most convenient travel option is to fly to Geneva Airport and arrange other means of transport from there.
If you opt to drive your own vehicle to Avoriaz, it is advisable to take snow chains, as they may be required, depending on road conditions. If you take a car ferry from the UK, the journey from Calais is approximately 900kms and takes about nine hours. Follow the Geneva/Mont Blanc autoroute and take exit 18 to Morzine/Avoriaz. Remember that Avoriaz is a car-free resort, so you will need to leave your car in the parking area outside.
To reach Avoriaz by train, you will need to take the Eurostar from Waterloo Station, and connect with French Rail trains or Swiss trains to Thonon-les-Bains, Cluses or Geneva stations. Eurostar offers a direct service to Bourge St Maurice and Aime La Plange on Fridays and Saturdays (overnighter), taking about 10 hours. Transfers can be organised from the respective station to the resort.
Air travel is the quickest and most convenient means of getting to Avoriaz, although it is costly. If you opt for this form of transportation, you should arrange a flight to Geneve Cointrin Airport, and a transfer on to the resort from there.
RESORT INFORMATION
Nearest town: Cluses
Resort Altitude (metres): 1800m
Ski Season: December to May
Mountain Range: The Alps
Number of Lifts: 212
Highest Lift (metres): 2277m
Lowest Lift (metres): 1100m
Number of Slopes: 279
Beginner Slopes: 0.55
Intermediate Slopes: 0.35
Expert Slopes: 0.1
Snowboarding: The park has a half pipe and slalom course.
Cross Country (km): 45km
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Nearby Attractions: There are some lovely little villages in the 'Portes du Soleil' skiing area. Mountain bikers will enjoy the many trails and there is some stunning scenery for hiking.
Morzine is a nearby market town and is set in the River Dranse valley and the mountains that surround the town are spectacular. There is an open - air Olympic sized pool, tennis courts an indoor ice rink and toboggan run.
Pont du Diable Gorge, further on provides dramatic views.
Aprés-Ski: After a hard day of skiing up a storm, why not spend a great night on the town. There are 12 restaurants that range from Classic French cuisine to small and simple bistros.Le Tavillon and La Cabane are English style pubs and serves pub grub and the place for live music is ironically called "The Place" and the vibe there goes to the wee hours.
The locals are very friendly and accommodate the visitor. So you can have a quiet cosy night or hit the bars and disco.
Apres Ski
A lively resort with plenty to do • The Tavaillon for its great value "Happy Hour", Le Choucas and "The Place" for live music, while for nightclubbers, Midnight Express and Le Festival are chic and popular. "La Cabane" bar has a relaxed atmosphere and Globetrotters bar is fun and lively.
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Eating Out
A vast selection of restaurants from value-for-money bistros and pizzerias to top quality gourmet establishments’ • 3-course dinner from around 24 Euros, excluding wine • Pizza/pasta dishes from 9 Euros • Le Bistro for À la carte and Savoyard specialities, Les Fontaines Blanches for French cuisine and La Boule de Neige for great value pizzas.
Both are lively resorts with lots to do.
Avoriaz: The Tavaillon
Le Choucas
“The Place”
Midnight Express
Le Festival
“La Cabane”
Globetrotters
Activities
Sports Centre with sauna & solarium
Parapenting
Sleigh rides (Avoriaz)
Squash courts
Bowling alley
Ice skating
Helicopter rides
Snow shoe walking
Cinema with 2 screens
Christmas children's spectacular with fireworks
Santa Claus and his elves and other festivities (Avoriaz)
Fabulous winter walks
Avoriaz Ski Resort is:-
Good for Expert Skiers.
Fantastic for Intermediate Skiers.
Excellent for Beginners.
Fantastic for Snowboarding.
The French ski resort of Avoriaz is one of the larger Ski Resorts in France and has direct access to 650km of downhill piste with 279 individual pistes. Avoriaz is part of the Portes du Soleil Ski Area.
The ski resort itself is above 1500m, so skiing or boarding back to the resort is usually possible. With skiing above 2000 metres, snow cover is generally reliable.
There are two airports within two hours drive, so ski weekends, snowboard breaks and short ski holidays to Avoriaz are perfectly feasible.
Skiing in Avoriaz
All levels of skier ability, from Beginner to Expert, are well-catered for in Avoriaz.
Snowboarding in Avoriaz
Avoriaz is highly rated by Snowboarders and there is a Snow Park.
Ski Avoriaz - Facts
5 Black Runs
15 Red Runs
24 Blue Runs
3 Green Runs
650Km Downhill
45Km Cross Country
1180m Max Vertical
2280m Highest Lift
1100m Lowest Piste
1800m Resort
Airports near Avoriaz
Chambery (2 hours)
Geneva (1.5 hours)
Grenoble (2.5 hours)
Lyon (2.5 hours)
Avoriaz ski holidays - France
Avoriaz and Morzine are in the fabulous Portes du Soleil ski area, with an enormous 650kms of high altitude slopes in France and Switzerland. Avoriaz, characterised by its bold, modern architecture, is entirely traffic free and offers doorstep skiing and first class snow. Morzine is a picturesque old-style Savoyard town with an unspoilt centre with plenty of character, charm and excellent apres ski facilities.
Avoriaz Apres Ski:
Overall, the Portes du Soleil has the potential to be a fantastic destination, however two things stop it from fulfilling its potential.
Number one: the aforementioned altitude issue. The highest point of the area is directly above Avoriaz and stands at a meager 2,466 meters (8,091 feet) and the lowest point comes in at around 800 meters (2,625 feet). This is a real shame, because the terrain is sufficiently diverse to please nearly everyone except the hardcore extreme skiers and boarders.
Number two: getting around the area. On the face of it, the Portes du Soleil is one complete system that is easy to get around, allowing you to travel vast distances with ease. The reality of this, however, is an entirely different matter. It can be particularly difficult to get from one region to another, especially traveling across Morzine. You’ll quite often have to walk or catch a free bus to get yourself to the next lift, although this is not a particular problem unless you plan on doing a lot of touring. The best way to appreciate the area is to pick a region and spend all day there, so that you get the most out of it and than move onto another area the next day. If you’ve got a car this will be easier as it’s quicker to drive to certain parts of the Portes du Soleil than to use the lifts to travel. Don’t let either of these two factors put you off from visiting, though, just be aware of them, especially if you’re booking an early-season trip. I’d go back to Avoriaz in a second, but I’d never book a trip there in advance, simply because of the altitude. Having said that, the area does get a lot of snow on a regular basis and is hugely popular with a lot of people.
The lift system is quite good as long as you stop in one place for the whole day or don’t move too much. The whole of the Portes du Soleil comprises 212 lifts – 117 surface lifts, 81 chairlifts, 10 gondolas and 4 cable cars – providing a total uphill capacity of a staggering 235,828 people per hour. There are a lot of surface lifts, but it’s easy to get around without having to use them too often because most of them seem to be in the lesser-used areas. If the snow conditions are bad at lower elevations, the lift lines in and around Avoriaz can be huge, as everyone from the whole Portes du Soleil converges on the village. It’s really easy to get over to the Swiss side of the resort, and the management has devised several different touring itineraries to guide people of different abilities around the area. These are all reasonably well marked, but it can get slightly confusing in places as well as slightly surreal when you have to spend all day following gigantic rabbit symbols. The tours are a good idea, though, as they allow beginners and intermediates to see a lot more of the area without fear of getting lost, or ending up somewhere they shouldn’t. Aside from the lift map, a separate booklet is available with details of all the times needed to get from one place to another, which should hopefully get you back to the correct place by the time the lifts close.
The area is split into four major areas: Morzine/Avoriaz, Les Gets, Les Crosets and Chatel, as well as a number of smaller villages. There are accommodations available in most if not all of the villages, but most visitors choose Avoriaz and Morzine, and to a lesser extent, Les Gets. Ski schools and guiding companies are available; however, the number of guiding companies isn’t huge, presumable due to the close proximity of the resort to Chamonix. The tourist information office in the village was very helpful and can even arrange heliskiing trips.
Finding good off-piste skiing and riding can be confusing, as the trail map isn’t terribly functional. The TS Chamossiere lift around Morzine/Les Gets has some good terrain as does the Mont Cherry back bowl above Les Gets. If you’re around Avoriaz, check out The Wall, the steepest run in Europe and the black runs around TS Combe du Machon as well as the runs around Fornet and the three lifts out the back of Avoriaz. The TSD Mossettes and TS Chauz Fleurie will also provide you with some decent terrain if you hike a bit above the lifts. In the Chatel area, the best off-piste places are Lingo, the Super Chatel area and the runs around Le Cret and Cret Benl. In Les Crosets, the small hike off TK Ripaille is worth the effort as is the bowl between TS Grand Conche and TS des Mosettes. The hike off the top of the TS Pointe de l’Au is good as well – stay high and left in the bowl for some good terrain and trees.
The village is separated into two parts, which are about a four- or five-minute walk apart. It really makes no difference which one you stay in, as everything is fairly close to everything else. If you suffer from vertigo, make sure you don’t get one of the buildings that overlook the cliff, because there’ll be a very large vertical drop below your window. The apartments are also notoriously small. The best thing to do is exaggerate the size you’ll need when you book, as a general rule of thumb I’d add at least two people to your real total, unless you are all very friendly.
If you’re looking to visit the Portes do Soleil on a slightly cheaper budget, you’ll be able to find cheap accommodation in one of the other villages, especially in Morzine. If the snowpack is good, this is a sensible option, but if decent skiing and riding is limited to the higher stuff round Avoriaz you’ll need to allow an extra half hour to get to the decent snow in the morning. Getting around the village is easy; you can walk from one end of it to the other in 10 or 15 minutes.
Getting all your belongings to your apartment can be an entirely different experience, however, especially if you are right at the far end of town. Because the village is car-free, when you arrive you have to check in at a central unloading point, unload all of your bags, and then park your car in the lot (or further down the road if you don’t want to pay for parking). If your apartment is a long way away you can pay for a horse drawn sled to take you and your luggage there. This would be a wise option, because although the village is not huge, it would seem an awful lot bigger with all your gear in tow after a long trip. You can also hire little sleds to pull along yourself, which is what we did as our apartment was quite close to the village entrance.
All apartments come with kitchen facilities, and there are three or four supermarkets in the village if you want to cook for yourself. There are quite a few restaurants and bars, mostly the usual savoyard and pizza places. Most of the bars are all reasonably similar in price and choice. An honorable mention goes to the superb ski repair shop under the Douchion apartments near the entrance to the village, without a doubt the best repair shop I’ve ever had the pleasure of dealing with. As far as non-skiing activities go, I’d definitely consider going somewhere else if you’ve a non-skier with you. The village is a great place, but you’d go stir crazy or turn into an alcoholic in a couple of days.
Mountain restaurants are plentiful, and some are better then others depending on your tastes and budget, although some of the best on-mountain restaurants that I’ve ever dined in are in the Portes du Soleil. There are some fine après-ski drinking bars close to town as well. Grooming, if that’s your thing, is comprehensive and takes place in the middle of the night in the village, which can be a bit disconcerting if you’re staggering home from the pub and see a snowcat coming toward you.
Avoriaz is a cool place with bizarre buildings, some good terrain and a good feel. There a decent mix of different nationalities, lending to the village a very laid back European feel. Yes, I think it’s fair to say I’ve developed a bit of a soft spot for Avoriaz.
Reviews
1 May 29, 2006 - 12:05 PM
Richard Jones from UNITED KINGDOM
I went skiing for the first time this April. I had an amazing time and enjoyed every minute of it. Avoriaz is an odd place and not really what I had imagined a ski resort to look like. The snow was excellent, about 2m of it and there is so much skiing you would have to go for about 3 weeks to get it all covered, as you can ski down to the Swiss ski resorts and also the pass will cover Les Gets on the other side of the valley as well. We had 24 hours of constant snowfall when we were there and the next day the skiing was excellent. Really good snow. The only thing I would criticise Avoriaz for, it that it says it is a beginners resort, but there are only 3 green runs in Avoriaz, one down the main street. I would, personally, have said it was a blue, as it was narrow, with a drop on the right hand side. All in all, great holiday though, great people, great scenery, great snow and had a great time.
2 April 25, 2006 - 03:51 PM
Andrew Talkes from UNITED KINGDOM
Been to Avoriaz three times now and the place never ceases to amaze me. It has by far the best snow in the Alpes (don't belive all the travel guides as this place gets loads of powder)and some great terrain.
Great for a short break or a weeks skiing holiday plenty for all abilities and lots of fun to be found off piste. You must visit Avoriaz and the Portes Du Soleil. For those that like it steep and deep check out the Swiss Wall, a great run in anyone's book!
3 April 16, 2006 - 12:06 PM
rob newnes from UNITED KINGDOM
Just got back from Avoriaz and had over 2m of snow at the bottom in the last week of the season. My ESF instructor was great, it was my first time boarding and he found the best runs all the time; he even found some off-piste stuff that we could do. It also snowed for over 24 hours straight so the snow was amazing. The resort is also great as there are loads of great places in the evening and with no traffic, apart from horse drawn sleighs, it is great. The resort is perfect for adults and families and looks amazing with skiing from the door.
4 March 25, 2006 - 10:30 AM
Daz and Kat from UNITED KINGDOM
Weather was lovely and lots of fresh snow. Good slopes for beginners and intermediates. Morzine looked a good night out.
5 February 27, 2006 - 07:18 PM
Andrew McConnochie from UNITED KINGDOM
Awesome snow last week...fresh dumps.
6 February 11, 2006 - 06:46 AM
ian McKellar from UNITED KINGDOM
10/2/06 Amazing weather, cold, blue sky and 20cm of fresh snow.
Avoriaz continues to have some of the best snow in the French Alps, so looking good for the busy half-term weeks.
Ian McKellar - Director of the Avoriaz Alpine Ski School
7 November 26, 2005 - 01:35 PM
ian McKellar from UNITED KINGDOM
Sat 25th Nov and Avoriaz opened its first lifts and pistes. Amazing snow mostly artifical with 20cm of recent snow on top. About 50 skiers and borders on the slopes. Blue sky and sun but cold. Length of desecnt 1800 down to 1100m, perfect all the way. This descent is open every day with the main resort opening 10th Dec. Watch this space for more info.
Ian McKellar - Director Avoriaz Alpine Ski School check out our web site for recent pictures.
8 June 08, 2005 - 03:19 AM
Francisco Villagran from CHILE
(in spanish) bueno. fui el 2004 para avoriaz con unos amigos daneses y estuvo buenisimo, la semana que estuve alla la nieve estuvo powder los primeros dias y despues polvo pisada que igual es buena , el centro es gigante, hay muchas cosas para hacer (especialmente en la noche ).
tambien hay unos snowparks y un pipe buenisimos para los que aman el snowboard.
en resumen recomiendo mucho ir para este centro de ski en francia (buenisimo).
9 January 25, 2005 - 10:54 PM
Andy from UNITED KINGDOM
Just come back from Avoriaz...what a week. It dumped with snow from the Monday night and was still snowing when we left on Saturday. So if you are going get off piste and find some powder! I suggest hiring an ESF instructor as a guide, we did and found some unbelievable terrain. Can't wait to go back.
10 December 29, 2004 - 04:29 PM
Steff Robinson from UNITED KINGDOM
Avoriaz is a great resort to ski through as a gateway to the vast Portes Du Soleil domain. Situated on the French/Swiss border, it is traffic-free (except for horse-drawn carriages and the small luggage tranporters) and consists largely of purpose built apartments/hotels. Some very good quality mountain restaurants outside of the resort itself, particularly on the Swiss side (remember to take Swiss Francs to avoid being victim of unfavourable exchange rates). Skiing for all abilities and media! Try a tandem parapente from the top of the Chaux Fleuris into the Lindarets Valley.
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