Avoriaz for Families & Kids

There is a wealth of activities to keep the whole family happy in Avoriaz – from things that you can do together to activities where the children can be left to play with their new ‘holiday friends’. Your only problem might be fitting in everyone’s top choice! ... see "Avoriaz Activities - Families & Kids" for more

Most ski teachers wouldn’t recommend starting skiing before the age of three or four at the earliest. The right age will vary from child to child, and depends upon the child’s strength, co-ordination and attitude. For little ones Avoriaz has an ESF snow garden near to the Tourist Office for beginners to learn to ski in safety. ... see "Avoriaz Skiing for Children" for more

For very little ones the snow nursery Les P'tits Loups (the little wolves) offers games and activities for babies from 3 months to 5 years old. Meals can be provided on request and we strongly recommend booking in advance. Enquire at the Avoriaz Tourist Office for details and registration forms.

ESF Morzine operates crèche service Le Club des Piou-Piou for children aged 3-15 years. Ski lessons go from first experiences in the snow garden for the little ones, right up to competition level for the older ones. Indoor and outdoor non-skiing activities are also arranged and meal times can be booked on request. ESF Avoriaz also has a Snow Garden for 4 to 6 year olds to learn the basics in a safe and fun environment.

Annie Famose's popular Village des Enfants runs throughout summer and winter and offers a wide range of sports and activities for children of all ages.

Providing quality childcare throughout the Portes du Soleil Jack Frost’s can take care of your children either in your chalet or at their crèche at the Palladium Sports Centre in Champery. A number of services are provided including skiing with the Explorers Ski Club or evening babysitting. They also run a variety of summer activities including mountain rambles and farm visits.

Please see our Childcare section for details of childcare services in Avoriaz, or contact the Tourist Office for contact details of local babysitters.

France divides its school holidays into a regional timetable to ensure that the entire country doesn't go on holiday at once - however this staggered system can mean that some months (particularly February) can be busy from beginning to end as one region after another arrives in resort! Planning ahead can help you avoid the crowds...

• Zone A - Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Rennes & Toulouse
• Zone B - Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Besançon, Dijon, Lille, Limoges, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Poitiers, Reims, Rouen & Strasbourg
• Zone C - Bordeaux, Créteil, Paris & Versailles

• When taking babies and toddlers on a ski holiday, you will need to take special precautions against the altitude, sun and cold.


• As you drive up to the resort, the rapid drop in air pressure may cause problems for a young child’s ears. Take a 15 minute break on the road up to the resort, and give young children a drink or something to suck to help them equalise the pressure in their ears.


• Paediatrician Nathalie Blot suggests not taking a child under one to above 1200m altitude. A baby may suffer acclimatisation problems due to the drop in air pressure and decrease in oxygen level. Avoriaz lies at 1800m, and a baby cannot always equalise the pressure in his or her ears as easily as an adult. The local doctor recommends taking the journey up the mountain to the resort slowly.


• She strongly advises against taking any child under three years on a gondola lift as they find the changes in altitude too sudden.


• The cold is another danger for very small children, whose temperature regulation systems are not yet fully developed. Waterproof boots, good quality mittens and ears protection are essential to protect from frostbite. Do not take a baby skiing with you on your back – immobilised, he will quickly lose heat, and the risk of collisions or falls on the piste is always present.


• Remember children lose heat faster than adults so dress according to the weather conditions and make provision for it changing - hats, waterproofs and gloves are essentials. Helmets are recommended for skiing and boarding too.


• Remember to protect your child's eyes and skin from the sun - not only are the infra-red and UV rays less filtered by the atmosphere at altitude, but 85% of the rays are reflected by the snow. Use category 3 or 4 UV sunglasses/goggles, and reapply SPF30 suncream at least every two hours.


• It's a good idea to have a contact phone number and address in your child's pocket in case you become separated on the mountain.