A Summer Guide to Morzine France

Like most, I associated Ski Resorts like Morzine town (Also known as a village) France with skiing, I mean apart from Mountain Bike riding what else is there to do in Summer? I could not have been more wrong, I spent the most amazing two weeks in both the French and Swiss Alps, experiencing what they have to offer during Summer.

Summer in Morzine France

Morzine France forms part of the Portes Du Soleil area, interlinking 12 resorts across both France and Switzerland. With a wide range of activities on and off the mountains, a large selection of restaurants and pubs to cater for your needs there is something for everyone.

Not to mention Geneva airport is only around an hour and a half away, making it an accessible destination to get to. Because of this, Portes du Soleil it is fast becoming incredibly popular during the Summer period.

About Morzine Resort

Out of the 12 resorts that make up the Portes du Soleil, Morzine France is the largest and probably the most convenient in regards to resort hopping. It is one of the reasons why I have been here on several occasions during the ski season and now for summer. With a large range of activities and hiking tracks, Morzine France is ideal for families and friends looking for fun and adventure.

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For the more adventurous, you have a great selection of MTB downhill tracks and routes. If you decide that you want to mix it up, you can hike in Les Gets, go swimming in Morzine or catch the Super Morzine gondola and do some bike riding.

Summer Season in Morzine

The Summer season in Morzine starts early June to early September when the first cable car opens and the last one will close. There are different opening and ending dates for the various cable cars during Summer but they are roughly open at similar times. If you are going for a weekend or a couple of days, you can always check the tourism website to be on the safe side.

Whether you are hiking, bike riding, or enjoying one of the many other activities, cable cars can be used by everyone.

Lifts open during Summer

• Pléney cable car  
• Nyon cable car and Pointe de Nyon chairlift: (pedestrians only No Bikes) 
• Summer sledge 
• Super Morzine gondola
• Zore chairlifts, Serrausaix, Lindarets and Chaux Fleurie 
• Prodains 3S 

The Multi-Pass for Les Portes du Soleil

I used a Multi-Pass across the Portes du Soleil during summer and what a great idea they are to enjoy various activities available on one card. With unlimited access to more than 50 activities in the 12 resorts across France and Switzerland, you will never run out of things to do. Not to mention discounts as well on other services and businesses.

You can definitely understand why more and more families are going to this beautiful part of the world each year. 

There are different types of Multi-Pass and they are super flexible, you can get them for a day, weekly or even weekends. It really depends on your needs and budget. 

• The Multi-pass Séjour (visitor) for those who are staying at a Multi-Pass hotel
• A daily Multi-pass, for the occasional walker or hiker
• Season Multi-pass for those who live near the Portes du Soleil

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From only 2€ a day a Multi-Pass is ideal for those on a budget or families who want to make the most of the mountain. Some of the activities include access to Swimming pools (including the aqua park in Morzine), cable cars for walking and hiking, tennis courts, crazy golf the list goes on. The best place to get a multi-pass is at the ski lift ticket offices. 

What is included in your Multi Pass in Morzine

• Pléney gondola lift
• Nyon cable car
• Pointe de Nyon chairlift
• Super Morzine gondola lift
• Zore chairlift
• Séraussaix Chairlift
• Tennis Courts
• Indoor ice rink
• Mini Train
• Aqua Park

Activities that you will get a discount with a Multi Pass in Morzine

• Indinana’Ventures Mountain Activities,
• Aero Bi Parapente (Para-Gliding),
• Tennis,
• Summer Toboggan
• Rex Cinema
• Portes du Soleil Paragliding School

Tip

• Check to see if you are staying in a ‘Multi Pass’ accommodation and you can get a pass for as little as 2€ (or 2.5 CHF) a day.

E-MTB

Mountain Bike riding isn’t just a sport or hobby to many, it is a way of life and I completely understand why people love it. I tired E- Bike Mountain Bike Riding in Galicia Spain and I really enjoyed it. So when I was asked if I wanted to try in Morzine, I jumped at the chance. 

An E-Bike (known as Eco or Electric) has an integrated electric motor that works with the gears on your bike to assist and give you more power when pushing forward. It is like having an extra pair of legs that does all the hard work for you when pedalling, making your life easier especially when going up a hill.

The Portes du Soleil mountain biking area spreads across 12 resorts in both France and Switzerland. Just like skiing, tracks are marked via levels of difficulty by colours. There are all different types of MTB tracks and it really depends on your ability and confidence. If you haven’t ridden before, there are a large variety of different guides and MTB schools where you can learn.

Morzine town definitely has a biking buzz about it, especially with all the speciality shops, bike rentals and all the people walking around in the bike armor. You do forget for a second that it is a ski resort in the winter.

The weather was very cloudy the day that I went up the mountain, so it was not safe for me to do much. However, my lovely guide Baud Laurent took me up super Morzine and we biked through the goat village onto to Lac de Montriond. By that stage, we were down in the valley where it was a lot clearer.

Tip

• The tourist office provides a charging station for your e-bike.
• If you are a mountain bike fanatic, check out the MTB event held annually.

Overview of the Portes du Soleil(12 Resorts) for Mountain Biking

• 20 lifts
• 80 marked km (labelled FFC)
• 300 kms marked bike tracks
• 32 VTTAE circuits
• Bosch Recharge Area at the Tourist Office and all around the mountain for E-Bikes. 

Spartan

Have you ever wanted to roll around in the mud, climb over obstacles in the middle of the French Alps, while at the same time competing against other like minded men and women. Then you definitely can not miss out on competing in the annual Spartan Race that is held in early July. Minimum team size has to be at least 4 members and have some good level of fitness to be included in the team ranking, which goes off the last person to cross the finish line. 

There are 3 different distances and obstacles courses, depending on abilities. There is even a separate course for children if they want to compete. The obstacles are set up throughout the forest and in various parts of the village, I had a giant climbing rope wall that was direct across from my balcony and it was really cool watching the competitors.  

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What a great way to start your summer, getting fit and being outdoors with your friends in a gorgeous environment. 

Where to eat in summer Morzine

La Dez ‘Alp  

Centrally located in the Morzine town, La Dez ‘Alp is one of my favourite cheese restaurants that I go at least once when I am in the village. As it is not directly on the slopes, you can visit during summer and winter for either Lunch or Dinner. 

Decorated in a traditional yet modern Savoyard style, this restaurant has all your favourite cheese dishes and a large selection of wines. It also has some beautiful views overlooking Morzine town that you can enjoy while having your meal.

Tip

• I suggest asking the restaurant when you arrive or when you book if you can have a table near the window, to appreciate the views.

Le Bec Jaune

Le Bec Jaune is a local brewery and restaurant that is located around 10 minutes walk from the tourist office, where you can go for both lunch and dinner. They serve fresh homemade food like burgers, chips and scotch eggs which you can enjoy with their house brewed beer. My understanding is that they also have a nice selection of vegetarian meals as well. 

Their menu changes via season and what is currently available locally, as the restaurant prides itself on using as much as possible from local producers. I had soft shell taco’s with chips and they were really good. Unfortunately, I don’t like beer but I heard good reviews from the locals.

What more do you want after a hard day hiking or bike riding than good food, a cold drink and beautiful views of the mountains.

Tip

• You are best to make a reservation for dinner as they have only two sittings, which are either 19:00 or 21:00 depending on availability

Accommodation in Morzine

As Morzine is inhabited all year around and not just for the winter season and it is the largest of the 12 resorts in the Portes Du Soleil, you definitely have your share of options when it comes to accommodation during summer. From luxury 5 star chalets to hotels and apartments, there is definitely something for everyone with any type of budget. 

You can even go glamping in a bubble, which will allow you to enjoy the sky and stars while you sleep.

Booking.com

Le Samoyede Hotel

Le Samoyède is located in the center of Morzine town across the road from the tourist office. It is a charming hotel and Spa Chalet that is within walking distance to most amenities in both Summer and Winter. The hotel had a really nice bar and restaurant downstairs and the staff were very friendly. I would sit at the bar in the afternoon and just relax, taking in the surrounds around me.

I had a very spacious corner room with a huge balcony with views over the Morzine and ski fields. The bed was super comfy and the internet worked really well in the room, which is something I always look for in a hotel.

Tip

• If you are Mountain Bike riding there is a Bike Room available downstairs.
• You will need to let Reception know if you would like to use the Spa 30mins before you go, to allow everything to warm up.

Le Cottage

Another option is Le Cottage where I stayed during one of my winter trips. It is also centrally located and only 2 minutes away from the main gondola TC DU Pleney. It was a comfortable hotel with a bar and outdoor area. The staff were really lovely and I found the atmosphere to be relaxing, especially in the main area. 

The Lodge – Champéry by Mrs Miggins, A luxury Ski Chalet Switzerland – Portes du Soleil

I had a cosy room on the 2nd floor that could have done with a bit of a facelift but I had a lovely view of the mountain, good FREE WIFI in my room and the 3-course dinner was really yummy.

How to get to Morzine in the summer

Airport

The closest international airport isGenevawhich is roughly an hour and a half away from Morzine.Making it super easy to get to and great if you want to go for a weekend trip. Due to this there are numerous ways of getting to Morzine like buses, trains, private transfer, shared transfer or hire a car

Alternatively, you can catch a train to Cluses or Thonon-Les-Bains and then catch a bus. Both of these are around 30 minutes (30 km) and there is a regular service from the stations.

Transfers to Morzine

I have been to Morzine on numerous occasions and the best way is to go in a transfer. There are not as many transfer companies in the summer as during the winter season, however, there are still good ones available. Try companies like Ski-Lifts who run through both winter and summer seasons.  

Top Tips for Morzine in Summer

• We all need WIFI and if you can’t find any, you can go to the tourism office and use the wireless access for FREE.
• If you have time, hike or bike up to the Goat village and have lunch. It has some amazing restaurants and the kids (or adults) can feed the local goats as they pass through the village.
• If you want to use the Internet in the mountains but don’t want to be charged a fortune, you can rent a ‘Pocket Wifi’ from the Tourist Office. Then you can always stay connected.
• Pop into The Tremplin and have a drink on their terrace that is at the bottom of the slope.
• If you get a chance, bike or hike up to Lac de Montriond which is a stunning Lake in Montriond, where you can do various activities.

Other Resorts in the Portes du Soleil Summer

If you are interested in discovering more of the Portes Du Soleil in either Summer or Winter, you can check out the following articles. All are great options for a ski weekend trip with friends or with family.

• Sunrise Hike and Breakfast on an Alpine Farm – Morgins, Switzerland
• More to offer than Skiing, A Beautiful French village  – Les Gets, France
• Champéry Ski Resort (Also known as part of the new Région Dents du Midi ) – Champery, Switzerland
• Ski Chatel Ski Resorts – Chatel, France

Thank you for reading this article ‘A Summer Guide to Morzine France ’, I hope it helped you to decide where to go for your next action-packed Summer Holiday. Morzine is definitely a great all year round resort in the Portes Du Soleil 

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Have you been to Morzine during the summer season before? I would love to hear your experiences in the comments below.

Remember that you need to get some good Hiking Boots before your next adventure.

Disclaimer: Even though I was invited by the Morzine Tourism Office and Portes Du Soleil  All views are my own and based on my own experience.

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