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Ski resorts in Morzine

The Savoyard town of Morzine is situated deep in the Dranse River Valley, below the cliff upon which Avoriaz is situated, and is the largest of the 14 interconnected ski resorts that make up the famed French/Swiss Portes du Soleil region.

Originally a town before later becoming a ski destination, Morzine has more to do than your average purpose-built resort, and is an excellent holiday option for skiers and non-skiers alike. It has retained its heritage and authentic charm, and the village is permeated with shops selling traditional Savoyard pottery and other handicrafts. Morzine possesses a laid-back atmosphere and holiday spirit which perfectly matches the gentle pace of village life.

Morzine is linked by a single lift pass to all other ski resorts in the Portes du Soleil circuit, giving visitors the choice of an astounding 650kms of potential pistes in total. In the Morzine area alone, over half the ski slopes are designed for beginners and intermediates, attracting many families to the resort.

However, advanced and expert skiers are also catered for, with 33 per cent and 13 per cent of runs, respectively, designed for these levels. The longest run at Morzine is an impressive knee-shaker, at 11kms. The Portes du Soleil area has over 200 lifts, with 42 in the immediate Morzine area.

For skiers wanting a bit of variety, it’s hard to do better than Les Portes du Soleil. A single ski pass allows access to two countries, 650kms of pistes and a vast array of breathtaking scenery. Avoriaz, just above Morzine, is a haven for snowboarders and a good alternative to the lower-altitude ski resort when snow conditions are less than perfect.

The winter season at Morzine runs from December to April. The resort is accessible by plane, train, or car, with the easiest means of transport being air travel to Geneva with a bus transfer to Morzine.

Skiing in Morzine

Morzine ski resort is located deep in the Dranse River Valley of France’s Haute Savoie region, in a breathtaking setting of fir-covered slopes and stunning mountain peaks. Morzine forms part of the expansive Portes du Soleil ski circuit, which links 14 resorts in France and Switzerland, and offers 650kms of pistes in total.

Morzine’s ski slopes span the entire range of levels, from beginner to expert, though over half are suited to beginners and intermediate skiers – a factor which makes the resort well-suited to families. Of the remaining 46 per cent of slopes, 33 per cent are advanced runs and 13 per cent are expert runs.

For the super-fit, the area boasts an 11-kilometre long piste and some excellent cross-country trails. In addition to groomed pistes, there are numerous off-piste opportunities. A single ski pass allows access to the entire system of lifts at Les Portes du Soleil; there are over 200 lifts in total, of which 42 are in Morzine.

Morzine has approximately 17,000 guest beds, distributed over a variety of accommodation. Shopping opportunities are extensive, and Morzine is the ultimate place to pick up typically Savoyard gifts and souvenirs.

The season for skiing at Morzine runs from December and April. The resort is situated only 65kms from Geneva, and can easily be accessed by catching a plane to Geneva-Cointrin Airport, and a bus from Geneva to Morzine.

Apres-ski in Morzine

Morzine resort is filled with options for off-slope activities as well as skiing. The local cheese dairy offers twice-weekly cheese-making sessions, and the town encompasses a decent selection of shops offering a variety of goods, including authentic Savoyard crafts.

The resort organizes folklore evenings, and offers mono-skiing, ice-skating, paragliding, bowling, ice-climbing, sleigh riding, curling, snowshoe walking and snowboarding. Additionally, it has a sports centre, and a fine selection of restaurants, bars and clubs. Accommodation options cover a range of prices and designs.

Morzine’s non-skiing activities are diverse and delightful. Alternative activities include: mono-skiing, ice-skating, paragliding, bowling, ice-climbing, sleigh riding, curling, snowshoe walking, snowboarding and a range of exercise options at the sports centre.

Fabulous restaurants are another appealing feature of the resort. Traditional Savoyard meals, accompanied by superb local wines and followed by Morzine cheeses, are one of Morzine’s great pleasures. If a hard day’s skiing coupled with sumptuous food and drink doesn’t send you straight to bed, Morzine has several bars and clubs to satiate the most social après-skiers.

Transportation to Morzine

Morzine can be easily reached by plane, train, or car. For those with limited time, the best means of transportation to the resort is air travel to Geneva, with a bus transfer the rest of the way.

If you opt for taking your own vehicle, Morzine can be reached from Paris via highway A6 to Macon, then the A40 to Cluses; take the exit to Cluses or Bonneville direction Morzine-Avoriaz, 35kms away. If you take a car ferry to Calais and drive from there, the journey is approximately 900kms and takes about nine hours. Follow the Geneva/Mont Blanc autoroute and take exit 18 to Morzine/Avoriaz.

If driving from the south, take the Swiss motorway A7 to Valence, then the A49 to Grenoble, and then the A41 to Cluses; follow signs for Morzine-Avoriaz. Morzine is situated 600kms from Paris, 807kms from Lille, 200kms from Lyon, 996kms from London, 848kms from Bruxelles and 1,042kms from Amsterdam.

Train travel is a convenient, comfortable and affordable means of reaching Morzine. From the UK, the Eurostar runs from Waterloo station, taking approximately four hours to reach Paris. From there, you can connect with a high-speed TGV train to take you to Cluses station. There are regular buses and taxis from the station to the resort.

The easiest way to arrive in Morzine is to fly to Geneva and take the scenic train ride up into the mountains where a short taxi trip will take you from the railway station directly to your hotel. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle bus from Geneva to Morzine.

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