January in Avoriaz: What's on and weather

Quiet slopes, great atmosphere and some special events

Imprint: By Tracy Wise, Updated 25 April 2026

It’s a new year and the town and the slopes are quieter, it’s one of the best times to visit.

After the Christmas holidays are over, January is the quietest part of the main winter season in Avoriaz. This means you have the slopes to yourselves, rarely have to queue for a lift and can enjoy pistes in great condition.

The quiet conditions on the mountain don’t translate to quiet nights in the town. There are fewer families and more adult visitors, meaning it can be easier to get a table at a restaurant and the bars are buzzing with plenty of live music and party nights to keep you entertained whilst you warm your hands on a glass of vin chaud.

Read on for a look at what we like to do in resort throughout January.

What are the weather and snow conditions like

There is regular snowfall - on average six days - and subzero temperatures keep it nice and fresh. In January the average daytime temperatures generally fall between a high of 3°C and a low of -3ºC, getting around five hours of sunshine. Definitely pack those thermals!

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Skiing

With all those empty pistes, no lift queues and perfect conditions, we like to get out into the mountains on our skis and snowboards as much as possible.

If you visit the resort in January you can buy a lift pass and join one of the local ski schools' many ski or snowboard lessons taking place around the resort.

See all Ski Hire in Avoriaz See our Ski Areas, Pistes & Parks

Nightlife in Avoriaz

At this time of the season we are looking forward to some live music sessions, whether from local bands or even one of the open mike nights and jam sessions that the local bars often hold. So, whether you fancy yourself an Adele, Bob Dylan or a Satriani, there's definitely somewhere you can 'entertain' the crowds.

Of course, that's if we've made it home from one of the many après-ski events taking place every evening across town.

See our Nightlife Guide

Le Strike Roc Bowling Bar

Location
Avoriaz

Le Strike Roc Bowling Bar in Avoriaz is a year-round destination for fun, food, and friendly competition.
Le Lounge Roc Bar

Location
Avoriaz

Le Lounge Roc Bar in Avoriaz is a must-visit destination for those seeking a refined dining and drinking experience in the heart of the Alps. Nestled within the iconic resort, the bar combines creative bistronomy, exceptional ingredients, and a welcoming atmosphere to create unforgettable moments.
Traiteur Tasting Bar

Location
Avoriaz

Traiteur tasting baris the perfect spot for wine and food lovers in the heart of Avoriaz. Located on Place des Dromonts, above the bowling alley, the bar welcomes you into a relaxed and playful atmosphere. Choose a cosy yellow Chesterfield armchair or swing gently on one of the suspended swings while savouring your favourite flavours.
The Place Bar and Nightclub

Location
Avoriaz

Established in the 1990s, The Place in Avoriaz quickly became a favourite among skiers and visitors, offering live music, lively après-ski, and a buzzing nightlife in the French Alps. Today, it remains “the place to be” for anyone seeking a memorable party, combining great entertainment with a welcoming and energetic atmosphere.
Le R Concept Store & Tasting Bar

Location
Avoriaz

Le R Concept Store & Tasting Bar in Avoriaz is a haven for food and wine lovers, offering an exquisite selection of fine delicacies to enjoy on the spot or to take away.
La Folie Douce Bar

Location
Avoriaz

La Folie Douce in Avoriaz is the ultimate destination for combining great food, music, and fun in a spectacular alpine setting. Every afternoon, this legendary après-ski venue brings together locals and visitors alike for open-access clubbing, spectacular shows, and unforgettable moments with family or friends.

Winter Things To Do in Avoriaz

It doesn't just have to be piste based adventures you take part in. Ski-touring and split-boarding have become extremely popular in recent years, and there's nothing that gets the heart pumping like gaining altitude under your own steam. When it's a 'white out' you'll find us changing tack entirely, pulling on some raquettes (snowshoes) and venturing forth into the wilderness on one of the many snowshoeing routes around the valley, all the while dreaming of tomorrow's bluebird powder day.

See our Activity Guide

Outdoor ice rink

Location
Avoriaz

Located in the centre of Avoriaz is the outdoor 'patinoire' or ice rink.
Heliskiing/boarding

For backcountry adventures, this independent company operates in and around the following three heliski destinations: Valgrisenche, The Courmayeur Valley and the Col de Petit St Bernard Pass. They have pioneered 32 drop zones within these three broad valley regions giving you a huge choice of terrain, snow conditions and mountain orientation to ensure you have a day best suited to your ability and preferences.
Evening snowshoe and dinner adventure

Location
Morzine

Discover the wintry mountains on foot and enjoy an evening meal in a mountain refuge or igloo.
Avoscoot snowmobiling

Location
Avoriaz

Snowmobiling can be a fun, fast, snowy activity. Starting from Avoriaz resort, outings start from 17.30 to midnight, giving you free range of the snow and the Alps.
Helicopter tours

Location
Bourg-Saint-Maurice

A fantastic way to see the resort with your friends and family and a great way to entertain any non-skiers in your group.
Snowmobiling

Location
Avoriaz

When the pistes and lifts are closed in Avoriaz, you can still hit the slopes after dark on a snowmobile.

January events in Avoriaz

Whilst it may not feel like a date for your diary, the Morzine weekly market dates back over 1,000 years and anyone wanting to try some local produce, in particular the cheeses that the French Alps specialise in, should pay it a visit. For something a little more exciting be sure to head along to the ice rink and support the local ice hockey team. Keep an eye on the events calendar for what else is on around the resort.

Ultra Trail

Next event date
20 June 2026
Location
Morzine

Get your mountain running legs on, discover a range of trail running challenges to suit many levels.
Fête de la Musique

Next event date
21 June 2026
Location
Chamonix

The Fête de la Musique is a celebration that takes place every summer solstice on 21 June in cities, towns and villages across France.
Pass'Portes du Soleil

Next event date
26 June 2026
Location
Chatel

The Pass'Portes du Soleil event marks the beginning of the summer season. Three days of mountain biking across the Portes du Soleil, the classic circuit is 80km long, and includes 7,000m of downhill and 1,000m of uphill. Fifteen lifts give you access to eight different resorts, with some great riding along the way.
Spartan Trifecta weekend

Next event date
3 July 2026
Location
Morzine

The world's leading obstacle race company brings it's competition to Morzine over one weekend, with races over 5km, 10km, 21km and 50km and a childrens race with obstacles of 1 to 3km.
Harley Days in Morzine

Next event date
11 July 2026
Location
Morzine

Morzine Harley Days is back in Morzine as the Harley Davidson Owners Group (HOG) descends on the resort for a long weekend.
Bastille Day

Next event date
14 July 2026

Bastille Day is celebrated across the whole of France with a bang...well, several in fact, fireworks always feature heavily.

More inspiration...

This is only a small selection of the events taking place in Avoriaz during the first month of the year. Take a look at our events calendar for a full rundown and to find some accommodation for your stay.

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