The ski resort of Abondance is characterised by its small size and authentic character. It is ideal for beginners or those who want to improve their skiing skills. You will discover remarkable natural landscapes typical of the Haute-Savoie.
The resort of Abondance
The village is made up of 6 hamlets with 1,400 inhabitants all year round. The pastoral activity is still very present, with cattle breeding and the production of Abondance PDO cheese. You can taste this cheese in the restaurants, either on a platter or as a hot dish with the Berthoud culinary speciality. A visit to the cheese house allows you to discover how the cheese is made. This resort is classified as a Pays d’Art et d’Histoire, a recognised cultural label. The Abbey of Abondance built in the XIIᵉ century is one of the visits not to be missed.
The Abondance ski area
The resort of Abondance offers a beginners’ area, a snowpark and a boardercross. The boardercross is a timed obstacle course, with banked turns, gates and numerous bumps. A friendly restaurant welcomes you at the foot of the slopes. The car parks in the village and at the Essert gondola are free.
The Abondance cross-country skiing area is linked with La Chapelle d’Abondance and Châtel. It is made up of 7 trails, including one for beginners.
A biathlon initiation stage is available with laser rifle shooting on electronic targets.
The best rated hotels
As Abondance is not a large resort, we recommend that you book your stay well in advance of your holiday. This will give you more choice in tourist accommodation.
Depending on your budget, we have selected five hotels near Abondance that offer excellent value for money. They have very good reviews from guests.
Hotel Le Mont Jorat
From €60 per night.
Hotel Macchi Restaurant & Spa
A beautiful establishment offering large and spacious rooms with a view of the Val d’Abondance. The hotel has a spa with jacuzzi, a sauna, a gym and a heated indoor pool. The restaurant “Le Cerf” serves fine cuisine.
From € 145 per night.
Hotel Mil8
This hotel is located at the bottom of the ski slopes in the resort of Avoriaz, not far from Abondance. The hotel offers great facilities such as family rooms, a playground, a gym, evening entertainment and a sauna. An address highly rated by guests.
From 220 € per night.
Résidence Pierre & Vacances Premium L’Amara
A beautiful hotel in Avoriaz with a heated indoor swimming pool. The flats with balcony offer a magnificent panorama on the massif. Private parking and hiking from the hotel.
From 110 € per night.
L’Edelweiss
From 87 € per night.
The most beautiful chalets
For an unforgettable holiday in the mountains, we offer three chalets near Abondance that have received excellent reviews from guests:
L’Étoile de Savoie
Chalet Fleur de Lys
La Case
Winter sports
Ice driving
The Yooner
The Yooner is an activity similar to sledging. Sitting on your sled, you can race down the 5 kilometres of marked out tracks designed for this purpose. A handlebar will help you to steer and the handling is simple. The activity is supervised by a professional.
The Vallée d’Abondance athlete: Violaine Grau
La Grande Odyssée
Ski passes
If you decide to stay in Abondance, you should know that several types of ski passes can be proposed to you. You will find in particular the classic day or three-day passes.
For those who are part of the Portes du Soleil club, a pass is offered to you from 200 accumulated suns. This is a way of building customer loyalty and encouraging them to return to Abondance.
Snowshoeing itineraries
Snowshoeing enthusiasts will be delighted in Abondance. 5 marked circuits for families allow you to discover magnificent winter landscapes on more than 100 km of itineraries:
The “Chapels and Oratories” hike
Duration: 2 h 30, open from 14/12 to 14/03.
The “Chalets d’Autigny” hike
Distance: 8 km, open from 14/12 to 14/03.
The “Fremoux” hike
The duration is 1 hour 45 minutes.
The “Versant forestier” hike
The distance is 7 km.
The “Plan des feux – Les Ravières” hike
Open from 01/12 to 30/04.
Ideas for activities in summer
Family walks
To enjoy nature, here are some walks to discover:
- The tour of the village: it allows you to take in the centre and the hamlets with a beautiful view of the abbey and the village. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes.
- The chapels and oratories: this walk allows you to understand the attachment of the inhabitants to the patron saints. The difference in altitude is 159 metres.
- The path along the banks of the Dranse: this walk follows the banks of the river to discover its heritage. The difference in altitude is 300 metres. A shuttle bus costs 1.50 € and allows you to avoid having to retrace your steps.
Good plans for children
The playground is located at the entrance to the village near the tennis courts. The tourist office offers themed walks, visits to the farm, educational workshops with the abbey and the cheese house. Fishing and archery lessons are also available during the summer. The Multi Pass of the Portes du Soleil domain gives access to over 60 activities. It is free for children under 5 years old.
The Abondance cheese house
Access and public transport
To reach the Abondance valley, you have the choice according to your means of transport:By car, you must follow the direction of Thonon-les-Bains, then the Bioge road towards the Abondance valley.By train, you must get off at the Thonon-les-Bains stop and then take the bus or taxi to the resort.By plane, from Geneva-Cointrin airport, take the Léman Express to reach Thonon-les-Bains.
There are several means of public transport to get around the resort and the valley:
- The Colombus shuttle runs between Châtel and Abondance in the valley, serving the villages of Chevenoz, Vacheresse, Bonnevaux, Abondance, La Chapelle d’Abondance and Châtel.
- The Trans’Abondance is a free shuttle for groups of children on holiday. It runs from the Christmas holidays until the end of March and serves the ice rink, the cable car, the Maison du Fromage d’Abondance and the abbey.
