Avoriaz Ski Resort offers something for everyone, from first-timers to seasoned pros. This fully ski-in, ski-out resort is known for its varied terrain, fantastic views, and lively après-ski scene. It also has safe off-piste zones, wide slopes, and some of the best freeride areas in the Portes du Soleil. Avoriaz is part of Morzine, a village with a population of 3,000 in the French department of Haute-Savoie.
The town is certified as a tourist destination and comprises two tourist resorts: Morzine, a resort village at an altitude of 1,000 metres, and Avoriaz, at 1,800 metres. Here is a winter guide for Avoriaz 1800 Ski Resort, France, covering everything from things to do and the skiing area to where to eat.
Cover Picture By: ©Oreli.b Avoriaz 1800
Riding the ski lift Avoriaz 1800 France Pow_@nikooo_r_40
Avoriaz Ski Resort, France
Standing at 1,800m (5,905 ft) in the French Alps, Avoriaz stands out as Europe’s only fully pedestrianised and skiable resort since its inception in 1966. The streets are ski runs, so how did we get around without a car? A horse-drawn carriage, of course, is an experience that adds to the resort’s winter-wonderland atmosphere. A sleigh ride through Avoriaz is priced between €15-35 / £12-29 for a group of up to four people.
Avoriaz is part of the expansive Portes du Soleil ski area, which offers over 600km of pistes connecting 12 resorts across France and Switzerland under one ski pass. The 24/25 winter season runs from 13 December 2024 to 21 April 2025.
The Avoriaz Skiing Area
Avoriaz has 51 slopes, served by 35 lifts that generally open around 8:45 a.m. The resort is particularly appealing to snowboarders, with 22% of visitors opting for a board compared to the average 7% in other resorts. Four snow parks, including Snowpark Arare and The Stash, attract freestyle enthusiasts, while families and beginners can enjoy Snowpark de La Chapelle, Lil’Stash, and the wide, gentle pistes like Proclou.
For advanced skiers, the Hauts Forts sector offers some of the most challenging terrain, including the infamous Swiss Wall, a mogul-laden black run that demands strong technique and confidence. Night skiing isn’t available in Avoriaz, but with the variety of terrain available during the day, you’ll be ready to wind down with some après-ski by sundown. If you’re looking for a great run back into Avoriaz, Chavenette (Red) is a fantastic option.
Skiing Avoriaz 1800 Ski Resort ©Oreli.b
Overview of the Avoriaz Ski Area
- 35 Ski lifts
- 53 Slopes
- 1 boardercross (France/Switzerland)
- 4 Snowparks
- 5 Freeride Areas
- 3 Playareas (coloured in Orange)
- Beginners are Écoles or Dromonts pistes in the centre of Avoriaz
✔ Enjoy substantial winter gear savings at the ski and snowboard online store.
Skiing to the Goat Village
It is relatively easy to ski to Goat Village ( le village des chèvres) in Les Lindarets for lunch or a drink, as the Avoriaz chairlifts directly connect it. Take the TSD Tour chairlift across the resort, then choose one of the blue trails down, such as the Combe à Floret or the Prolays. Take the Les Tammes red slope down if you prefer something more challenging.
On the way back, catch the Prolays or Les Lindarets chairlift, which will take you to the centre of the Avoriaz 1800 ski resort. If you want to head to Chatel to ski afterwards, take the TSD Chaux Fleurie lift on the opposite side.
The restaurants in the Goat Village Les Lindarets
How to get to the French-Swiss border
There are several ways to get to the French-Swiss border; however, I suggest taking the TSD Tour lift and skiing the blue slopes to the TSD Mossette chairlift. Follow the signs indicating Brochaux or Mossettes. Take the TSD Mossette chairlift to the top, where you will arrive at the Pointe de Mossette summit on the French-Swiss border.
There, you will find the Panorama Viewpoint, the start of the Swiss Wall, the Ski Patrol office, toilets and the high-altitude restaurant O’Padcha. You can see stunning views of Dents du Midi and the Alps from there. Afterwards, take the Abricotine blue or Vautna rel slope back to Avoriaz.
How to get to Morzine from Avoriaz
Avoriaz, Morzine, and Les Gets are well connected, making exploring French ski resorts easy. The Prodains Express cable car is the quickest route, and it takes just four minutes to reach Les Prodains. Please note that it closes at 17:15, in accordance with slope closure times. Alternatively, you can ski down the Crót blue slope.
The Super-Morzine lift closes at 4:45 PM. Free shuttle buses are available from the base station for anyone with a valid Morzine-Avoriaz lift pass. To reach the Super-Morzine chairlift from Avoriaz, you can enjoy several green and blue slopes suitable for skiers and snowboarders of all levels.
Skiing in the Portes du Soleil Ski area.
Avoriaz Lift Pass & Ski Hire
Lift passes for Avoriaz 1800 and the larger Portes du Soleil area can be purchased online, at resort kiosks, or recharged through the Avoriaz Up&Down app. Avoriaz ski pass prices vary depending on the duration of the pass, with options available for daily, weekly, weekend, or seasonal passes. You will need a Portes du Soleil ski pass if you want to visit Chatél or any Swiss Resorts like Champéry.
Check prices and compare quotes for winter sports coverage with Explorer travel insurance.
Where to Get Your Avoriaz Lift Pass
- Sports stores: Absolu Sports, Mirfamose Skiset, Skimium Avoriaz Sports, and Ski Shop Avoriaz.
- Ski school: Évolution 2.
- Other locations: Tourist Office and ski lift ticket office.
Avoriaz Ski Hire
Antoine Ski Shop, an Independent Mountain store located on La Promenade du Festival, is the place to rent skis in Avoriaz. Equipment and ski hire start from €108 / £93 for a six-day rental. Antoine Ski also offers additional ski touring gear for those looking to explore further, with prices starting from €269 / £223.
✔ Enjoy substantial winter gear savings at the ski and snowboard online store.
Hire a Private ESF Avoriaz Ski Guide
A private ESF Avoriaz guide is the perfect way to enhance your skiing skills and receive tips from the best! Additionally, you’ll be shown where to ski to maximise your enjoyment during your ski holiday in the Portes du Soleil.
ESF Avoriaz provides a private guide for half a day or a full day. It accommodates groups of up to two people, with each additional member incurring a fee of €20 / £17 per lesson (for a maximum of 8 participants).
ESF Avoriaz 1800 private ski guide group
Skiing Activities in Avoriaz
Avoriaz Ski Resort provides a variety of unique skiing experiences, including the opportunity to ski alongside eagles. There is certainly no shortage of action on the slopes.
Here are some fantastic skiing activities that everyone can enjoy while in Avoriaz Resort.
Try out Ski Touring
Ski touring is a completely different experience from traditional piste skiing. It offers a chance to explore backcountry terrain away from the lifts. The gear is lighter, with dual-position bindings allowing for uphill and downhill movement and synthetic sealskins that grip the snow for climbing. ESF Avoriaz provides guided ski touring lessons for half-day or full-day sessions, accommodating up to five people.
We met with our ESF instructor, Lionel, who guided us through Lil’Stash before teaching us how to attach our skins by the Seraussaix Gondola. We then set off on a 4km ascent, climbing 198m in elevation, passing through Golf d’Avoriaz and the helipad. Keep an eye out for white mountain hares, foxes, and even wild chamois.
Go Skiing with the Eagles
One of the most unique experiences in Avoriaz is skiing alongside birds of prey. In winter, Les Aigles du Léman has established itself near the Pointe de Nyon restaurant to offer an exceptional encounter with its eagles, buzzards, vulture falcons, and owls.
We met Fletcher, a 15-year-old white-tailed eagle, and took the Raverette lift to the eagle park, where we skied downhill with him. Skiing with the eagles is offered every Wednesday and Sunday at 10.30 am. A 45-minute session costs €25 / £21 per person.
Birds of prey flying Aigles du Léman Morzine ©Christian_Pfahl
Non-Ski Activities in Avoriaz
Avoriaz offers a variety of activities beyond the slopes, from adventures like fat biking and snow karting to more leisurely activities such as horse-drawn sleigh rides and watching the torchlit descent. Here are some delightful non-ski activities everyone can enjoy while visiting the Avoriaz ski resort.
Fatbiking
Cycling is not just a summer activity. Fatbiking lets you explore the mountains on two wheels, even in winter. These specially designed bikes have extra-wide tyres that provide a grip on snowy trails. The trails are designated for biking, ski joering, cross-country skiing, skate skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking.
Evolution 2 school offers guided fatbike tours through the forests from €75 / £62.50 per person, including bike hire. Remember to bring your GoPro for all those action shots while fat biking.
Torchlit Descent
Every Tuesday at 6 pm in Morzine, ESF hosts a free torchlit descent with vin chaud (mulled wine) on offer (bring your own cup or purchase one for €1). Après-skiers can enjoy this wonderful experience, with fireworks at the end with a great view of the Le Pleney piste from Le Tremplin. Afterwards, you can take the shuttle bus back to Avoriaz. This is a fantastic evening activity for everyone.
Be sure to wear your thermal underwear to stay warm while watching the torchlit descent and fireworks.
Avokarting
Think real-life Mario Kart, but on snow. Avokarting involves navigating a three-wheel racing kart with hydraulic brakes, designed with a low centre of gravity for road handling. With a descent of 3.2km and a 600 m altitude difference, a lot of fun is in store. This activity costs €35 / £30 per person and is open to those aged 18 and over.
Wear good gloves to stay warm while Avokarting. I use Leki women’s ski gloves, which are a little pricey but excellent for keeping the cold at bay.
Having fun doing the Avokarting in Avoriaz Ski Resort, France
Rock the Pistes Festival
Rock the Pistes is an annual, weekly music festival in the Portes du Soleil region in mid-March. Each ski resort hosts various events and activities, but the main attraction is the concerts held on the slopes, such as those in Châtel and Les Gets. The festival combines skiing or snowboarding with live performances from international artists.
Concerts are included with your Portes du Soleil ski pass, and concerts begin in the afternoon; ski racks are available at the venues for your skis and snowboards before you enter. During the music festival week, the ski lifts will operate for an additional half-hour, giving you enough time to enjoy the music and the slopes. Here’s my detailed guide to Rock the Pistes.
Avoriaz après-ski scene
One of the best things to do, especially with friends, is to relish Avoriaz’s après-ski atmosphere. Drinking, singing along to music, and dancing are delightful activities for both skiers and non-skiers. Make sure you have your colourful sunglasses for the Avoriaz Apres ski scene.
La Folie Douce: We enjoyed après-ski at La Folie Douce, Avoriaz. The party starts with DJ sets, live saxophone players, and dancers, creating an open-air festival vibe on the slopes. We even saw rope dancers performing high above the crowd.
Le Tremplin in Morzine is another great location for a lively après scene. Le Tremplin bar offers a heated terrace atmosphere at the foot of the Pleney slopes, with live music and an extensive drinks menu.
Highlights of the Apres ski at La Folie Douce Avoriaz Ski Resort
Eating out in Avoriaz Ski Resort
Avoriaz offers an excellent array of restaurants, whether you are dining in a catered chalet or in the village. As a car-free ski resort, most eateries are conveniently accessible on foot, by sledge, or by horse-drawn carriage. Here are our recommendations for the best places to eat in the Avoriaz ski resort.
Folie Douce
Folie Douce is well-known as an après-ski hotspot, but it also offers hearty mountain cuisine. Situated in an old farmhouse in the Plateau sector of Avoriaz, I enjoyed a goat cheese salad with sourdough and plenty of breadsticks. Val Thorens and Les Arc are other Folie Douce Restaurants in the French Alps.
La Cabane
La Cabane is a must-visit for fondue and live music lovers. Located in the centre of Avoriaz, it is a favourite among locals. La Cabane serves up a generous Fondue for two, with bread, potatoes, and salad. However, it is not just traditional mountain food; a large section of the menu includes sushi, thanks to its Master sushi chef.
Pointe de Nyon
Pointe de Nyon is located at the foot of the Pointe de Nyone cable car in the Morzine Les Gets ski area. This slope-side restaurant offers front-row seats to the 20-minute Falcon and Eagle show, which happens twice daily from Saturday to Thursday. It also offers a great selection of tartiflette, burgers, and spritzes topped with local sparkling wine.
The cosy atmosphere of La Cabane Restaurant in the centre of Avoriaz 1800.
Avoriaz Catered Chalets
Luxury catered chalets from VIP SKI provide a fully inclusive experience, featuring breakfast, afternoon tea, three-course dinners, and complimentary wines. VIP SKI boasts seven catered chalets in Avoriaz, some accommodating up to 14 guests. We arrived at our VIP SKI chalets via Snowcat, and what an entrance it was! Chalet Ipaka and Chalet Kipnuk are a seven-minute stroll from the centre of Avoriaz.
Feel free to explore all the VIP SKI catered chalets and check the availability of accommodation in Avoriaz, France.
Chalet Ipaka
Chalet Ipaka is just 50 metres from the ski slopes and directly above the bars, restaurants, and ice rink. This luxurious chalet spans three levels and offers stunning panoramic views of the village and the mountains of Avoriaz. Key features include an impressive spa room with an indoor pool and a combination sauna-hammam.
A seven-night stay from 11 January 2026 costs from £1,435 per person based on two sharing, including a coach transfer from Geneva and a £100 saver week discount.
The bedroom view from the luxury Kipnuk Chalet, Avoriaz France
Chalet Kipnuk
Chalet Ipaka is next door to Chalet Kipnuk, which sleeps eight guests. Like Ipaka, this luxury chalet is split across three levels, sleeps six guests, and offers panoramic views. It also has a private indoor hot tub and a log fire that takes in the views. A seven-night stay from 11 January 2026 costs £1,435 per person based on two sharing, including coach transfer from Geneva and a £100 saver week discount.
Geneva to Avoriaz
Avoriaz is easily accessible from Geneva Airport. EasyJet offers flights from London Gatwick to Geneva Airport for £62pp each way. British Airways, which operates flights from Heathrow, is another good option. Transfer time from Geneva to Avoriaz is approximately one hour and 15 minutes.
With a Priority Pass, you can enhance your travel experience by accessing exclusive airport lounges at Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
Geneva Avoriaz transfers
Various companies provide transfers to Avoriaz, but we recommend Skiidy Gonzales, who offers private and shared transfers. A private round-trip transfer with Skiidy Gonzales starts at €115.50 / £97 per person.
Upon your arrival at the Avoriaz ski resort, you will be dropped off at the Welcome Centre. From there, you have the option to take a delightful snowmobile or a charming horse-drawn sleigh to reach your accommodation.
Avoriaz 1800 Ski Resort at night by: ©Loïc Bouchet
Avoriaz Ski Resort Info
- The Currency used in Avoriaz is the Euro, which can also be used on the Swiss side of the Portes du Soliel in Champéry and Morgins.
- eSIM: Consider using an eSIM, such as Airalo, for affordable mobile coverage while skiing in Portes du Soleil.
- Car-Free: Avoriaz is a car-free ski resort, so I suggest avoiding large luggage that you can’t drag through the snow or fit into the horse carriage.
- Parking: Avoriaz offers both indoor and outdoor car parks for a fee. Indoor parking is slightly more expensive than outdoor parking.
- Avoriaz ski map: You can download a map for skiing in Avoriaz or Portes du Soleil here.
Portes du Soleil Ski Resorts
Here are some additional winter guides for ski resorts in Portes du Soleil that may interest you. Some resorts are in the French Alps, while others are in Switzerland.
- Skiing in Chatel Ski Resort, France
- The Ultimate Winter Skiing Guide, Champéry, Switzerland
- Non-Ski activities across the Portes du Soleil
⇒ Explore travel insurance options by checking prices and comparing quotes for winter sports coverage.
Have you been skiing at Avoriaz Ski Resort or any other of the French Alps resorts? I would love to hear about your skiing experiences in the comments below.
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Disclaimer: This post was written by Rachel Johnston, a guest of Avoriaz & Morzine Tourism, during a press trip. All views expressed are based on her experiences.
This post may contain affiliates; please see our disclosure policy for more information.
Avoriaz Booking Links & Resources
- Check the prices and availability for VIP Ski chalets in Avoriaz.
- Additional information is available at the Morzine Avoriaz Tourism office here.
- Look at airlines and flight prices from the UK to Geneva using Travelsupermarket.
- Check prices and availability for car hire from Geneva Airport to Avoriaz Ski Resort on Trip.com.
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