Avoriaz
Avoriaz is a superb resort for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. A very distinctive resort with it's modern architecture and dramatic cliff top scenery. Its high altitude and north-facing slopes complement each other, resulting in consistently excellent snow records.
Enjoy the benefits of links to different resorts around the Portes du Soleil ski area, which holds over 650km of beautiful pisted runs to Morzine, Les Gets, Châtel and Champéry in Switzerland. You can also take your pick from over 60 mountain restaurants interlinked by over 200 lifts.
Nevertheless, Avoriaz boasts plenty of its own wonderful slopes, ranging from ‘The Swiss Wall’, a thrilling mogul-filled run for experts to the many peaceful, smooth runs for beginners.
Highlights
Activity
The “Avoriaz SnowZone” is home to a whole host of parks making it a freestyle mecca of sorts. With the Snowpark de la Chappelle, The Stash, L’il Stash and more, the Stash is our favourite, a 100% natural snow playground created by Burton through the trees to create flowing lines - great after fresh snow or even when the snow is falling.
Après Ski
La Folie Douce in Avoriaz is a game changer for the apres scene in the Portes du Soleil. An exquiste blend of fine dining and apres party, the Folie Douce brand has been entertaining revellers and feeding hungry skiers since 1981.
Best Piste
The best snow quality in Avoriaz is usually found at the top of the Arare and Les Hauts Forts sectors. Later in the season, avoid the sunnier aspects of the Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil (i.e. Les Crosets and Champoussin) if you don’t want to ski on slush by late morning!
History
Avoriaz
If you look at bustling ski resort of Avoriaz today, it’s hard to imagine that just over 50 years ago, the area was simply a meadow for summer grazing.
Perhaps the most avant-garde of all ski resorts, its unique architecture has helped Avoriaz stand out since it opened in 1966.
Originally, the plateau on which the resort was built once belonged to a wealthy Chablais family – the Earls of Rovorée. The land was given to the commune of Morzine, and the mountain pastures became known as ‘Rovorée’. As time passed, the pronunciation became ‘Avorée’, then ‘Avoréaz’ and finally ‘Avoriaz’.
Things to do
Activities
Authentic, sporty and innovative, AVoriaz offers you the unique experience of seeing the Alps another way, in any season. For winter sports enthusiasts, it is primarily a ski resort, intrinsically linked to Avoriaz and the Portes du Soleil. From December to April, experience the best snow and as dizzying a variety of slopes and sports as the resorts themselves.
Fans of powder snow should discover the 600 km of slides at the Portes du Soleil. Broad pistes with gentle curves, but also snow parks, boardercross, gliss’park and freeriding areas. Want to try out activities off the beaten path? Succumb to temptation on the ‘Yoga on Skis’ run, snowmobiles, freestyle, winter mountaineering, skating rinks, snowshoeing, paragliding and more!
Getting around
Transport
Avoriaz is a pedestrian resort with no cars. You can get around on skis, toboggans, bicycles, skateboards or on foot, but also by sled and sleigh!
Just 90 minutes from Geneva Airport, there are an array of travel options to the resort itself - from Train to car, however if you do decide to drive, you won't be able to use your car while you're here. You'll either need to park in Morzine and get the Prodains Express cable car to Avoriaz, or pay to park in one of the car parks at the entrance to Avoriaz.
Après ski
Activities
The fact Avoriaz has great terrain parks like Le Stash and reputation for freestyle riding means it can attract a younger crowd who love a bit of revelry and with over 40 bars it isn't hard to find a good apres ski spot. Since Avoriaz is all ski in/ski out accommodation, everyone skis straight into town after a day on the slopes to enjoy the après scene and all of the bars and restaurants on the hill close.
La Folie Douce has made its way to the slopes of Avoriaz to take the resort's après scene to a whole new level. The new venue includes two restaurants, bar and shop making sure they have something for everyone no matter what their ages is. The resort is also home to festivals like Rock the Pistes and the infamous Snowboxx normally in March both attracting huge global artists.
How do I get Lift Passes?
Ski Pass
Avoriaz is part of the Portes du Soleil, one of the largest linked ski areas in the world with more than 650km of pistes spread over two different countries: France and Switzerland. This ensures that buying an Avoriaz lift pass is money well spent.
There are two main types of lift pass to choose from:
-
Avoriaz pass - the cheaper, local area pass, offering access to 120km of pistes; suitable for beginners.
-
Portes du Soleil pass - whole area pass, offering access to a whopping 650km of pistes in 12 different ski villages, from Morzine all the way across to the Swiss resorts of Champéry and Morgins.
In our experience, most people visiting Avoriaz come for a week and buy a six day Portes du Soleil pass. For the 23/24 winter season this will cost 324€ (online)/342€ (in resort).
You can buy lift passes online here.
