Ski Holidays, Avoriaz, France

Avoriaz is all about convenience, it’s located in the centre of the Portes du Soleil ski area, it’s a car-free, ski in ski out resort and its only 90 minutes from Geneva airport. Modern, fast lifts operate around the Avoriaz ski area although beyond some slower lifts still run.

A horse and cart taxi service can deliver you from the coach park to your accommodation, an especially nice way to arrive for families with young children. Another benefit for families is the Centre Parc’s style swimming pool, complete with flumes and waves.

Many of our clients prefer to be up at Avoriaz, rather than staying in Morzine or Les Gets as it avoids the lengthy queues that can develop as visitors travel from these resorts to reach higher ground and better snow around Avoriaz. The snow on the higher levels is normally excellent from early December to late April.

Avoriaz is at a sensible height of 1800m with a ski range between 950m and 2275m and it’s normally where the best snow can be found. The whole ski area covers an impressive 650km of pistes, making it the largest international ski area in the world. Other resorts in the ski area include, on the French side, Chatel, Morzine,  St-Jean d’Aulps, Mondriond and Les Gets and on the Swiss side Champery, Torgon, Champoussin, Les Crosets and Morgins.

The architecture isn’t to everyone’s taste, although we confess we love it. The tall timber clad buildings are designed to look like mountain peaks and for us that really works. There are also a limited number of free standing chalets that are always very popular.

We offer a good choice of catered ski chalets and an even bigger choice of apartments. Apart from Club Med, which we strongly recommend, there are few other good hotels.

The skiing in Avoriaz won’t disappoint, it’s a huge area with loads of variety. Best suited to beginner and intermediate skiers but even advanced skiers will have fun on famous runs such as the Swiss Wall and some seriously steep blacks from Hauts Forts to Les Prodains.