Nestled in the heart of the Portes du Soleil, Avoriaz is a historic ski resort above the town of Morzine. It was established in the 1960s by the French Olympic skier Jean Vuarnet and the businessman Gerard Bremond, with its Mimetic architectural style designed to resemble the shape of the mountains.
In the winter months, you can take advantage of the downhill runs of the Lindaret and Fornet areas or test your skills on the famous La Chavanette, one of Europe’s steepest pistes. Beginners should head to Super Morzine while more experienced skiers and tackle the black runs of Haut-Forts.
Once the snow melts, Avoriaz becomes a popular base for hiking and mountain biking, with most of the trails concentrated in the Lindaret Valley. Families can enjoy the facilities of Aquariaz, a tropical-inspired water park, which boasts several pools, waterslides and an outdoor hot tub.
Getting there
Avoriaz is around an hour’s drive from Cluses and just over 1.5 hours from Geneva Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular buses connect to Avoriaz and the ski resort is compact enough to explore on foot. Cable cars ascend to the surrounding slopes.