Ski in Portes du Soleil

Why ski at the Portes du Soleil?

Located between Switzerland and France, the 12 Alpine resorts that make up Les Portes du Soleil welcome you for a unique and unforgettable stay. Les Portes du Soleil is one of the most popular and famous ski resorts in the world, offering everything you need to perfect your skiing skills or learn to ski for the first time.

The Portes du Soleil in facts and numbers:

• Europe's largest cross-border ski area.

• Two countries, two currencies and two cultures - France and Switzerland - in a single ski area

• Over 600 km of pistes and 400 km² of terrain.

• 8 French village resorts: Avoriaz, Morzine, Les Gets, Châtel, Abondance, La Chapelle d'Abondance, St Jean d'Aulps and Montriond.

• 4 Swiss resorts: Champéry, Val-d'Illiez (Les Crosets and Champoussin), Torgon and Morgins.

• 307 runs including:

  • 39 green runs for gentle learning

  • 130 blue runs for easy skiing

  • 105 red runs for more thrills

  • 33 black runs for thrills and spills

• 208 ski lifts.

• 30 ski areas (snowparks, boardercross, fun areas, ski-cross, etc.).

• 1335 snow cannons.

• One ski pass for endless possibilities in all the resorts.

Where to ski in Portes du Soleil?

The Portes du Soleil ski area has everything it takes to win over the hearts of thrill-seekers.

With over 300 runs as far as the eye can see, 400 km² and altitudes ranging from 900m to 2460m, the possibilities are endless! You'd need at least 15 full days to try out all the playgrounds in this area.

Situated between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc, Les Portes du Soleil offers incredible panoramic views and attracts many holidaymakers. Some of the most popular runs are

La Panoramique (blue run at Châtel), with views over the Aigle Valley and Lake Geneva

Le Linga (red run near Châtel) is one of the most famous runs in the Portes du Soleil

La Gazelle (black run at Les Gets), where you can ski down a World Cup slope.

And how can we talk about legendary runs without mentioning the Chamossière and the Pas de Chavanette in Avoriaz? This black run is considered to be one of the steepest in the world, which is why it's nicknamed the "Swiss Wall"!

With the kids

At Portes du Soleil, children can also have fun and learn to ski. The resorts have several areas specially designed for them, with pistes intended for the youngest children. They can also take advantage of special lessons offered by the on-site ski schools.

With 3 "Famille Plus Montagne" resorts, the Portes du Soleil is a top destination for skiers of all ages. These include Morzine, which welcomes children from 3 years old at the ESF Club Piou-Piou ski school. The Children's Village in Avoriaz is designed for young skiers aged 3 to 16 and offers fun and games for all ages. On the programme: private or group lessons, activities, freeride, boardercross and freestyle courses, etc.

In Châtel, snow sports activities are offered in safe areas. Children enrolled in the Piou-Piou Village des Marmottons club ski in small groups under the supervision of qualified instructors. The 3.7 km Belette green run is suitable for all ages and offers around twenty fun modules for leisurely skiing and learning about the history of Abondance cheese.

Other sports

Gone are the days when winter sports holidays were devoted solely to skiing! Today's holidaymakers want to discover the mountains differently, by trying out other activities for even greater pleasure. The Portes du Soleil has understood this perfectly. That's why it offers a selection of original experiences in its 12 resorts.

An introduction to dog sledging, heliskiing or freeride sessions, ski joëring with the Alpes'Huskies dogs, snowshoe hikes, an introduction to curling, tobogganing,the possibilities are endless in this vast area.

And if you're still not satisfied, you can always set off to conquer one of the snowparks or boardercrosses spread across all the resorts in the Portes du Soleil. In Avoriaz, for example, you'll find 5 snowparks for all levels, including the new Stach snowpark.

Freeride version

The 12 resorts in the Portes du Soleil area offer itineraries that feature extensive freeride trails. Les Gets, with its gentle slopes, offers spots more suited to beginners.

But if you're more experienced, some of the best off-piste skiing is to be found at an altitude of 2,000 metres in the Chamossière and Nyon areas. The Chamossière freeride route and the Combe d'Angolon are perfect for intermediate skiers. The Pointe de Nyon is reserved for the most advanced freeriders.

The latter can also head for Avoriaz, where some great untouched runs await them, particularly in the Marmotte, Brochaux, Frontalière and Crozats sectors. For a unique experience, head to Champéry to tackle the approaches to the Swiss Wall.

• In any case, if you want to enjoy freeriding in complete safety and get the most out of the best spots in the Portes du Soleil, hiring the services of a mountain guide is a wise choice. They will take you directly to unique and unknown places where the snow conditions are optimal.

Nordic version

In addition to alpine winter sports, the Portes du Soleil region has much to offer Nordic skiing enthusiasts. With no less than 250 km of cross-country ski trails catering to all levels of ability, reaching altitudes of over 1,000 metres, this destination offers pre-alpine itineraries ideal for Nordic skiing.

Most of the trails are in France and offer exceptional panoramic views of lakes, rivers and forests. In general, access to these trails is typically free of charge, but you will have to pay to use the lifts to reach the higher slopes.

Experienced cross-country skiers should try the Croix des Combes track, one of the longest and most demanding in the area. For beginners, the slopes at Châtel or Abondance are the perfect place to start. Nordic sports enthusiasts will also be delighted to discover the area around Morgins, Morzine and Avoriaz. Whether you prefer skating or classic style, whether you're an expert or a beginner, the cross-country trails of the Portes du Soleil are sure to please.