For an unforgettable vacation, winter or summer, the Morzine-Avoriaz resort has many advantages. Its natural setting, in the heart of Haute-Savoie, invites you to discover the Alps.
Morzine, resort at the heart of the Portes du Soleil
This magnificent alpine territory is located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in the Haute-Savoie department. It is part of the ski area of the Portes du Soleil, which also includes the following nearby resorts: Châtel, Abondance, Les Gets, and Samoëns. Historically, this farming village primarily relied on agriculture. In the early 20th century, mountain tourism began to develop, particularly in Chamonix. The village of Morzine then transformed into a winter sports resort, which further expanded with the opening of the ski area of Avoriaz. It is located 10 minutes from the village center, which is entirely pedestrian, with its large buildings featuring wooden walls.
The ski area of Morzine-Avoriaz
Skiers can enjoy two quality ski areas that are connected to the Portes du Soleil. The municipality of Morzine has remained a traditional village in Haute-Savoie, attracting many families who come to practice alpine skiing.
During the winter, snow sports enthusiasts benefit from 75 km of slopes, which include:
- 6 black runs
- 14 red runs
- 26 blue runs
- 3 green runs.
A large area for cross-country skiing allows for 45 km of groomed trails. In addition to classic skiing, vacationers can try telemark skiing, snow scooters, and snowshoeing on marked trails.
The best-rated hotels
The Morzine ski resort has many tourist accommodations, from hotels to apartments and chalets. Each type of accommodation has its own advantages.
Depending on your budget, we have selected several hotels in Morzine. They offer excellent value for money and receive very good customer reviews.
Résidence Pierre & Vacances Saskia Falaise
This quality establishment offers apartments with a stunning view of the Morzine valley and private balconies. You have a kitchenette and a microwave.
French cuisine is on the menu. Children can attend the highly regarded club.
From €90 per night.
Hôtel & Spa Le Dahu
The Hôtel & Spa Le Dahu is located in Morzine, 400 meters from the ski lifts and the heart of the village. Many activities are organized within the establishment. Electric charging stations are available.
From €184 per night.
Hôtel Névé
The Hôtel Névé is located 400 meters from the Morzine cable car. You can enjoy the restaurant to taste culinary specialties. A shuttle serves the slopes in winter.
From €210 per night.
Hôtel Le Nant
The Hôtel Le Nant is located 1 kilometer from the ski lifts and the ski school. Some rooms offer a nice view of the mountains.
From €74 per night.
Winter sports
Skis with eagles
In winter in Morzine, it is not uncommon to encounter some birds of prey on the slopes. And for good reason, the Eagles of Léman are present during the winter season. Mini-courses are also offered to vacationers, who can take a snowshoe walk with the birds.
Ski-joëring
Ski-joëring is an activity that combines skiing and horseback riding. The principle is simple: being pulled by a horse while enjoying the pleasures of skiing. It is generally required to know how to keep your skis parallel to try the activity. The more experienced can attempt some jumps and slaloms.
Snow karting
To vary the sliding activities, we suggest you head not far from Morzine to the ski area of Roc D’Enfer in Saint-Jean-d’Aulps. Snow karting is a non-motorized, non-polluting device that safely descends the slopes thanks to its large spiked wheels.
To reach the starting point, a groomer takes you up, and then the descent is made on a dedicated and secure track. 30 karts are available for those over 12 years old, reservation and registration at the ESF of Saint-Jean-d’Aulps.
The resort’s athletes
The Morzine resort has several ambassadors. We invite you to discover three of them, all specialized in winter sports.
Antonin Guigonnat
Antonin Guigonnat is a member of the French biathlon team. He made his international debut at the Junior World Championships in 2010. He joined the World Cup circuit in 2017 and stood on the podium for the first time at the Grand-Bornand stage.
Anthony Chalençon
Anthony Chalençon is a member of the French para-biathlon team. Blind due to retinal degeneration, he is accompanied by his guide Lucas Duperrex. At the 2015 World Championships in Cable, they stood on the top step of the podium. Then, at the Beijing Olympics, he won silver in a duo with Benjamin Daviet.
Alexis Page
A member of the French telemark team, Alexis Page is an ambassador for the Morzine resort. In January 2022, he achieved a top 10 finish at the World Cup stage in Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc. Following the Junior World Championships, he also finished first overall.
Must-see events in Morzine
Throughout the year, events take place in the Morzine resort. We invite you to discover two of the most important ones.
Pass’Portes du Soleil
The Pass’Portes du Soleil is a mountain biking event that takes place in the Portes du Soleil area and passes through Morzine. The route takes about fifteen ski lifts and the hike lasts for one day.
The loop is 80 kilometers long with about 1,000 meters of positive elevation gain and 6,000 meters of negative elevation gain.
A hike is also organized specifically for younger participants.
Rock the Pistes
Rock the Pistes is a pop-rock music festival that takes place on the slopes of the Portes du Soleil, between France and Switzerland. More than 28,000 festival-goers gather every year.
A unique opportunity to end the season beautifully while enjoying a nice program. Among the artists who have already performed at Rock the Pistes are Skip the Use, Ofenbach, and IAM.
The festival takes place at the end of March and closes the ski season in a festive atmosphere.
Ski passes
Ski passes for Morzine can be purchased both online and on-site. Some good deals are worth knowing. For example, it is possible to enjoy a 15% discount on stay passes of 5 to 12 days. But be careful, the offer is not valid throughout the season.
The group pass is also advantageous for families. The offer is available from 4 people and for passes of similar duration. But be careful, a child under 5 years old cannot be considered as the fourth person.
Snowshoe trails
Since the health crisis, with the closure of ski lifts, the public has turned to sports that are closer to nature, which do not require significant means to practice. Naturally, snowshoeing has seen a powerful rise. It allows you to discover nature at your own pace while benefiting from the Nordic ski areas. We offer you three trails that are worth a detour in Morzine.
- Following the river: by following the watercourse from Morzine from the Nyon parking lot, you can cover 10 kilometers, discovering a magnificent panorama of the valley.
- The col de la Joue Verte walk: by moving away from the parking lot, follow the ridge to discover a unique view of Lake Montriod and the beautiful Abondance valley. The walk ends at the Zore chairlift. To return, you must take the same route.
- The Crois des Combes circuit: in addition to the previous outing, you must follow the black ski slope for 12 km until the parking lot. At the intersection, at the bottom of the woods, take a left.
Cultural outing at the Abbey of Aulps
The ruins of this former abbey are a testament to medieval architectural wealth. It was built in the 11th century by the Cistercian monastic order. Over more than 3 hectares, the site included gardens, cellars, an abbey church, and an old farm. As was often the case at that time, the gardens consisted of a botanical space and a vegetable garden.
During the visit, you can benefit from the interpretation center, built in 2007, which provides a pedagogical approach to the life of monks in the medieval era. The permanent exhibition allows you to understand the evolution of the site over time, the role of noble families.
Address: take the D 32 from Morzine, for 7 km.
Activity ideas for summer
The Morzine resort offers a varied and rich tourist offer during the summer period. Moreover, the price of accommodations is more attractive than during the winter period. We suggest some original activities.
- Disc Golf: by replacing the golf ball with a frisbee, you must achieve the minimum number of throws for each hole.
- Laser Game: by shooting at your opponents outdoors, you must score points, the game can be played individually or in teams.
- TTT: all-terrain scooters allow you to descend forest trails accompanied by a guide.
Access and public transport
By train, you can get off at the station of Cluses or Thonon-les-Bains, and it will take you 40 minutes by road. The TGV station of Bellegarde-sur-Valserine is 75 minutes by car from Morzine. Once there, to go up to Avoriaz, you need to take the Prodains Express cable car (parking nearby) to reach Avoriaz in four minutes.
Presentation video of Morzine-Avoriaz
Nearby resorts to Morzine
Morzine, located in the heart of the Portes du Soleil, is close to other resorts. We will think in particular of Avoriaz, but also Châtel, Les Gets, or even Abondance. Spending a vacation in Morzine allows you to enjoy vast areas for skiing, but also for hiking.
