Towns & Villages in Avoriaz — 7 of Our Favourites

Les Gets may be close to Morzine, but it’s very much a resort in its own right. This pretty, traditionally Savoyard village sits on the southern edge of the vast Portes du Soleil, with two ski areas on either side – Mont Chéry and Chavannes. At 100m higher than Morzine, it often enjoys a little more snow and has a distinctly Alpine feel.

The local Morzine–Les Gets ski area is great for beginners and intermediates, yet you can easily venture further into the wider Portes du Soleil if you fancy covering more ground. Les Gets is particularly popular with families and those who love the convenience of skiing straight back into the village.

Les Gets has earned an international reputation for mountain biking and frequently welcomes world cup competitions to its challenging trails.

You’ll find a great choice of accommodation here, from hotels to catered chalets and self-catering apartments, plus plenty of welcoming bars and restaurants. With everything close at hand and the lifts right on your doorstep, Les Gets is a charming and easy-going base for your ski holiday.

Perched high on the cliffs above Morzine, Avoriaz is a striking purpose-built resort that manages to blend in beautifully with its surroundings. Unlike many ski towns that sprang up in the 60s and 70s, you won’t find rows of grey concrete blocks here – instead, the resort is made up of wood-clad apartments and chalets that sit naturally against the backdrop of the mountains. Much of its creation is thanks to local Olympic gold medallist Jean Vaurnet, who was asked to help develop the ski area after his 1960 success in Squaw Valley.

Parking in Avoriaz

Avoriaz is completely car-free, so you’ll be getting around on foot, skis or even in a horse-drawn sleigh. If you’re arriving by car, you’ll need to park on the edge of the resort near the Welcome Centre, or at the top of the Prodains gondola, before making the final journey to your accommodation. Snow shuttles, baggage sledges and horse-drawn carriages can help with the luggage run, and if you want the easiest arrival, the Amara and Falaise areas are closest to the car parks, while Dromonts and Hauts-Forts are nearer the Prodains lift.

The heart of Avoriaz is a gently sloping plateau where you’ll find the nursery slopes, the tourist office, shops, restaurants, bars and a sports centre. Accommodation is divided into seven sectors – Amara, Falaise, Festival, Crozats, Dromonts, Hauts-Forts and Ruches – and no matter where you stay, you’ll be no more than a five-minute walk from anywhere. Staying in the centre means you’re steps from the main facilities, lifts and après spots, perfect if you want to be right in the middle of the action.

Les Prodains: Easy access to the Portes du Soleil

The small hamlet of Les Prodains lies at the bottom of the cliff upon which the village of Avoriaz is perched. Situated around 5km from the centre of Morzine, it serves as a gateway to Avoriaz as the 3S Prodains Express gondola departs from here.

Those looking to make the most of their Portes du Soleil ski pass. Les Prodains offers easy access to the high mountain slopes of Avoriaz and its world famous snowparks.

The gondola takes just under five minutes to reach the top, but it's also relatively close to Morzine – a bus connects Prodains and Pléney in just 10 minutes. Some chalets in Prodains offer ski-to-door access.

Rivalling Morzine in size and popularity, Châtel has a wealth of hotels, bars, restaurants and activities to choose from both during the winter season and the summer months.

Morzine sits in the heart of the vast Portes du Soleil ski area, which links twelve resorts across France and Switzerland. It’s a picturesque alpine town that feels authentically French rather than purpose-built, yet over the last few years it has seen new lifts, sports facilities and a growing choice of bars and restaurants, giving it the buzz of a top Alpine resort.

With its traditional charm, excellent facilities and unbeatable location just an hour from the airport, Morzine makes a brilliant base for a winter holiday. You’re perfectly placed to explore one of the largest ski areas in the world while enjoying the warm, welcoming atmosphere of the town itself.

If you stay in the centre of Morzine, you’ll have the resort’s main attractions right on your doorstep. The Super Morzine gondola, which takes you straight into the wider Portes du Soleil area, is right in the village centre alongside the Pléney lifts for the local Morzine and Les Gets slopes. The après ski here is some of the best in France, with most of the lively bars and great restaurants within walking distance.

This is the spot for you if you want to be first on the lifts in the morning and last to leave the bar at night. Just remember the town is spread along the valley, so if you’re not in the centre, you’ll want to make use of the free shuttle buses or the little tourist train to get around with ease.

Nyon and Les Nants

On the edge of Morzine, you’ll find the peaceful hamlets of Nyon and Les Nants, both offering spacious chalets with beautiful mountain views. These areas are perfect if you’re after a little more space and comfort while still being close to the action.

Les Nants sits just below the slopes of the Pléney, only a five to ten minute walk from the centre. Many chalets here are just a few metres from the pistes, making it easy to click into your skis and set off each morning.

Nyon is a little further out, about a ten minute drive from the heart of Morzine, and right next to the Nyon gondola. From here you can glide straight into the Morzine and Les Gets ski area without the queues you might find at busier lifts in town.

Montriond is a peaceful alpine village on the eastern side of the valley from Morzine. Although separated by the Dereches river, parts of the village are as close to the lifts, shops and bars as some areas of Morzine, with the added bonus of excellent access to the Ardent gondola for a quick route up to Avoriaz.

The village is quite spread out, with some areas along the Ardent bus route and others more rural. You’ll find all the essentials here, including a small grocery shop that’s open on Sundays, a ski hire shop, a pizzeria, bar and auberge and even its own doctor’s surgery. The atmosphere is calm and friendly, making it a great choice if you want a relaxing base away from the hustle and bustle of central Morzine.

Montriond has a good choice of large luxury chalets and stylish apartments, plus a few local bars and restaurants. Just five minutes drive from Morzine and with stunning mountain views and its beautiful lake nearby, it’s an ideal spot if you’re looking for a quieter stay without sacrificing easy access to the Portes du Soleil ski area.

The town and ski area are separated from each other by nearly 4km and the rest of the Portes du Soleil by quite a bit more. Although the St Jean d'Aulps ski area is included in the Portes du Soleil it isn't actually connected to it by any lifts. La Grande Terche ski area is a separate sector under the shadow of the Roc d'Enfer. It is always quiet here even during the busy high season and, although it is a 15-20 minute drive from Morzine to La Grande Terche, it is worth making a trip down here once in a while as there is free parking and open, empty slopes.

Few holiday tour operators work out of St Jean as it is quite dislocated from the rest of the Portes du Soleil but it is a popular destination for people who moved out to the mountains long term as property prices here are significantly lower than in Morzine.

In the winter, it forms part of the heart of the Portes du Soleil region and is a popular stop-off point for skiers and snowboarders. It isn’t accessible by car during the winter but nevertheless, its wealth of restaurants and bars are always buzzing with people making their way down the slopes.

In the summer the village is almost unrecognisable! It transforms from popular skiing resort to alpine farming village with hundreds of goats roaming the streets and pathways. It’s an incredible sight! It’s quite chaotic to pass through on a bike, by car or by foot with the animals clearly ruling the roads, so be prepared to brake suddenly and drive very slowly through it during the summer months. The sound from the bells is also quite spectacular and is well worth a visit just to see this.