Avoriaz Skiing Revealed

The Portes du Soleil piste map gives you a broad picture of how all the areas (Morzine, Avoriaz, Les Gets etc) are connected. For a more detailed map when you get on the mountain, pick up a paper copy of the piste maps from the lift company when you buy your pass.

Dents du Midi

This region vies for the title "largest ski area in Europe," with 212 interconnected lifts servicing a mind-boggling 650kms of runs sprawling across 12 areas, eight in France and four in Switzerland. There are 273 marked ski runs as well as 216 km of cross-country trails.  The Portes du Soleil region therefore offers a variety of skiing terrain to suit all abilities.

Circuits (taking approximately 2h30) organised according to ski levels have been designed to give skiers access to the various areas. Itineraries (blue runs, red or black) are marked by a specific mountain animal including a bear, white rabbit, jackdaw, ibex or reindeer!

As well as a vast ski area comprising extensive on and off-piste terrain, the Portes du Soleil is renowned for its fantastic boardparks, freeride zones and half-pipes.

One last thing .. always check the lift closing times if you're planning to ski the Portes du Soleil circuit as it may take longer than expected. When the passes are closed with snow, the road distances between some seemingly-close villages are huge and expensive by taxi if you miss the last lift back to resort!

Hauts Forts, Avoriaz

Avoriaz is a vast ski area perched 600 meters above Morzine on the cliffs above the valley Ardoisieres. Access from Morzine is easy enough, either directly from town via Super Morzine and the Express du Zore or from the Prodains Valley. The latter offers two mechanisms of uphill transport; Prodains telepherique and TS du Verare and TS Combe du Machon. The former can get busy in the peak season and the latter is exposed to the elements but does take you higher up the Hauts Forts avoiding the busy Avoriaz town area.

Intermediates and above will appreciate the vast range of Avoriaz which has nearly 250kms of reds and blues to choose from. The resort is more snow-sure than Morzine due to its elevation of 1800m and snow lasts at village level for much of the season. You may, however, experience some bottlenecks during peak season; although the uplift is good and fast and there will be less traffic once you leave the lower runs to resort. Avoriaz offers some tougher terrain with runs on the Hauts Forts and down to Les Prodains including the World Cup downhill course. ... see "Avoriaz Skiing Area" for more

Chamossiere

Morzine has an excellent central position in the Portes du Soleil with several possibilities to start your ski tour. The resort pistes of Pleney connect to the larger ski area of Les Gets, an area with mostly gentle blue and red runs. The alternative is to head up the other side of the valley towards the more challenging ski area of Avoriaz, which connects to the ski resorts of Champery/Les Crosets and Champoussin in Switzerland and the La Linga section of the Chatel ski area. First time skiers will not be disappointed with Morzine's nursery slopes and have the opportunity to explore further afield if they wish!

Morzine has many runs accessed via the Pleney telecabine and a number of teleseiges; TS de la Crusaz, TS des Mouilles, TS d’Atray and TS des Fys. The runs are an even mix between blues and reds, the latter spanning the intermediate ability levels whereby some would maybe constitute black status if they were not running directly into resort. ... see "Morzine Skiing Area" for more

Ranfoilly Express

Les Gets' runs on Mt Chery are sunny and offer a choice of reds to longer blacks. Working from Pleney up to La Ranfolly there is everything from wider moderate intermediate runs and gentle cruises, all well linked to suit groups of differing ability.

Les Gets’s immediate ski area offers two lifts, the Chavannes Express and the telecabine des Chavannes. The latter services the beginner area above the Chavannes offering the wide but not so gentle gradient of Bruyere and the Gentiane. ... see "Les Gets Skiing Area" for more

Le Linga

Chatel's wide range of skiing is best when it's quiet. The Linga sector is great with gondola access from resort level but it is over 1km from the village centre and needs a short free bus trip (on the 'navette'), and Super Chatel (1640m) offers something, including some slightly more snowsure beginners runs for everyone and a couple of black runs, whilke the skiing beyond her towards Morgin and Torgon offers some pleasing long runs.

The Châtel Linga section of the Portes du Soleil is accessed via the TS Chaux Fleurie out of Linderets. The Secteur is really two distinct geographies whereby Linga sits immediately the other side of the Col du Bassachaux ridge line. Châtel sits a little further down the Vallée Abondance and is the only broken section of the Portes du Soleil requiring a short bus ride to reach it. Linga offers some excellent terrain, a mixture of blues and reds but no blacks. However, some of the reds are extremely steep and are a challenge to more advanced skiers. Initially there is a choice of four reds dropping down to Plain Dranse. If you are heading onwards to Combe then take the red to skiers right, Les Voraches, which drops you to the bottom of the TS de la Chaux-Rosées lift. The other three reds run further down the hill converging into one red run - Les Rochassons. A green also runs in the same direction but the red is fairly tame, both lead to the TS Pierre Longue which will return you to Plaine Dranse ready for onward exploration.There is a red and two blues from the top of the TS de la Chaux-Rosées; La Perdrix Blanche, Les Blanchots and Les Blattins. The former is a fantastic canyon style run, with lots of little off piste excursions possible. All run, to a certain extent, under the lift line of the TS de Cornebois which will return you to the top for another go return you to Plaine Dranse for the trip home. Continue further afield towards Châtel using the TS des Combes lift. From here you can do a top to bottom super steep long drop all the way into Villapeyron down the red Le Linga which turns into the Stade du Slalom near the bottom. For those a little less inclined to super steep reds then there is a blue cat track to the edge of the steeper sections of red run and a full scale blue from the two thirds point – La Leiche.If you have been repeating any runs at this point then you will not have time to explore further into Super Châtel. To do this you will need to head straight there and it is only really an option for fast skiers who do not take breaks. Catch the bus at Villapeyron for the 10-20 minutes or so into Châtel itself. Walk across the square and briefly uphill to catch the TC Super Châtel; there are multiple blues, reds and blacks in the area. However even the fastest of skiers will not have time to hang around long if they are not to miss the lifts home and require a very expensive taxi back to Morzine. A couple of runs and you will need to be heading back to Linga. ... see "Chatel Linga Skiing Area" for more

The Swiss Border

Of the 14 resorts in the Portes du Soleil, seven of them are located in Switzerland: Les Crosets, Morgins, Champoussin, Planachaux, Champery, Val-d'Illiez and Torgon. You can ski to them from Chatel or from Avoriaz. Although alot smaller than their French counter-parts, it is well worth making a trip over to them, as long as you ensure you leave enough time to get home - taxis are expensive! ... see "Swiss Side Ski Areas of the Portes du Soleil" for more

Although not linked to the Portes du Soleil in that you cannot ski to it, the St Jean D’Aulps ski area is well worth a look particularly as a full Portes du Soleil area pass is valid here. The resort is a little under used and you should find it a relatively quiet destination particularly in contrast to the busy sections of the Portes du Soleil. The skiing is suitable for a mix of abilities mainly constituting blue and red runs with one black. However some of the reds are pretty demanding and as usually there is plenty of scope for getting away from the piste. The high points of the area are the Col de Graydon and Grande Terche at 1800 meters apiece. Both offer long reds, for example, the Le Grande Souvroz stretches to five kilometers and has the alternative of doing a shorter black section half way down if required - Les Vous.

Zore Blue Piste

Morzine is ideal for absolute beginners and advancing beginners alike with a multitude of blues for all tastes.

Ski school is directly out the front of the exit of the Pleney telecabine so you’ll quickly learn the surrounding area during your lessons. The TS du Belvedere takes you from the Pleney to the top of the green run enabling you to work on that snow plow after school. For those graduating to easier blues then there are lots of options; Piste B, Piste C, Piste D all head down to the bottom of the Pleney telecabine but Piste B takes the most leisurely and longest route down the mountain meaning you’ll not encounter any steep sections as you build your confidence. Piste C and Piste G are serviced by the lifts TS des Fys and TS d’Atray respectively and have steeper gradients for advancing beginners to work on their technique.

The Super Morzine telecabine and the adjoining Express Zore service two excellent blue runs; Tetras and Zore. The former has a steadier gradient than the latter; both are long runs perfect for honing that technique.

Over in Les Gets the ski school meets near the foot of the Chavannes telecabine outside the ESF offices adjoining the Maries office. For absolute beginners your lessons will begin here graduating to the little drag lift to take you a little further up the hill once you have cracked that snow plow. Once you have a little more experience then you may meet ski school or practice your homework on the long wide blues from the top of the Chavannes Express. For those building confidence then stick to the Gentiane it is super wide and possible to find a quiet section away from the worry of other riders. Return to the top using the TS de la Croix. If you’re gaining in confidence continue on the Gentiane to the foot of the Chavannes Express for a quick ride back to the top, emerging next to the TS de la Croix to meet up with your less experienced friends. The Bruyere also departing from the top of the Chavannes is for the improving beginner and takes a slightly different trip back to the bottom of the Chavannes Express.

As with Morzine and Les Gets, Avoriaz is ideal for beginners with a range of blues from absolute to improving beginner;Proclou, Seraussaix, Qu’mont, Gernes. It also has more demanding blues so don’t get caught out on these if you are still building confidence and skill; Stade d’Arare, Bleue du Lac and Bleue d’Arare.

For those with the full Portes du Soleil lift pass the ski areas of Chatel & Champery are ideal for beginners. In Chatel, a new lift is being installed at Pre La Joux which gives easy access to a high altitude beginners slope. In Champery, access is via the cable car from the centre of the village.

Avoriaz and the wider Portes du Soleil has such a wide variety of terrain it is ideal for both skiers and boarders spanning the ability range from absolute beginner to advanced off-piste hero.

Avoriaz was one of the first resorts to welcome snowboarders with open arms and a legacy of this is that the scene is still strong to this day. There are two freestyle parks in Avoriaz; Snowpark de la Chappelle and Snowpark Arare plus, as the name suggests, a rather large half pipe opposite the Prodains telepherique known as the Superpipe. ... see "Avoriaz - Snowparks" for more

With such a big ski area to explore, it's sometimes good to have a little bit of inside information… For your pleasure, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite runs throughout the Portes du Soleil and suggested some itineries for you to try. There are also sections on where to find the best off piste, where you're most likely to find the quietest pistes, and where to find the nicest mountain restaurants for lunch. Happy exploring! ... see "Where to go in the Portes du Soleil for..." for more