The Portes du Soleil ski area is one of the largest ski areas in the world, spanning across two countries, France and Switzerland. With over 600 kilometers of slopes and close to 200 ski lifts, the area is a paradise for skiing enthusiasts from all around the globe. If you’re planning a skiing trip, the Portes du Soleil should definitely be on your radar.

One of the most appealing aspects of the Portes du Soleil is the sheer variety of slopes on offer. There’s something for every level of skier, from complete beginners to seasoned experts. Whether you’re looking for easy, gentle runs or steep, challenging black pistes, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for here. And with such a vast area to explore, you could spend weeks skiing in the Portes du Soleil and still not have tried every run.

For beginners and intermediate skiers, there are plenty of gentle slopes and well-maintained runs to enjoy. Morzine is a great choice for those who are new to skiing, as it has a number of wide, gentle runs and excellent ski schools. Les Gets is another popular choice for beginners, with plenty of nursery slopes and easy runs to build up confidence.

For more experienced skiers, there are a number of challenging black runs and off-piste areas to explore. Avoriaz is renowned for its challenging terrain, with some seriously steep and technical pistes that will put even the most skilled skiers to the test. The Swiss resort of Champery also has some impressive black runs, as well as some great off-piste skiing opportunities.

Some of the best choices

One of the standout resorts in Portes du Soleil is Avoriaz. With its high altitude, snow sureness and varied terrain, Avoriaz is a great choice for intermediate and advanced skiers. The resort is also known for its unique architecture, with buildings that blend seamlessly into the natural environment. The accommodation options in Avoriaz range from budget-friendly apartments to luxury chalets, making it a great choice for skiers on any budget.

Another top resort in Portes du Soleil is Les Gets. With its picturesque setting and family-friendly atmosphere, Les Gets is a great choice for beginners and families. The resort has a dedicated children’s area with gentle slopes and a ski school, ensuring that little ones can learn to ski in a safe and fun environment. Accommodation options in Les Gets range from cozy apartments to luxurious chalets, making it a great choice for families or couples.

If you’re looking for a challenge, then head to the resort of Morzine. Known for its steep slopes and off-piste opportunities, Morzine is a great choice for advanced skiers. The resort also has a vibrant nightlife scene, with plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from. Accommodation options in Morzine range from budget-friendly hotels to luxury chalets, ensuring

Challenging runs

The Portes du Soleil ski area offers a wide range of off-piste skiing opportunities for experienced skiers, with some of the most challenging runs in the region. Here are a few examples:

Swiss Wall, Avoriaz: This is one of the most notorious ski runs in the Portes du Soleil, and it’s not for the faint-hearted. The run is steep, narrow, and littered with moguls, making it a challenge even for experienced skiers. The views from the top are stunning, but you’ll need nerves of steel to tackle this run.

Hauts Forts, Morzine: This off-piste run is one of the longest and most challenging in the region, with over 1,000 meters of vertical descent. The run takes you through a variety of terrain, including steep couloirs and wide-open powder fields, and requires a high level of skill and experience.

La Chavanette, Avoriaz: Known as the “Swiss Wall’s little sister,” this run is a popular choice for experienced skiers looking for a challenge. The run is steep and bumpy, with a number of narrow sections that require precise turns and quick reactions.

Le Pas de Chavanette, Chatel: This off-piste run is often referred to as the “Mur Suisse,” or Swiss wall, due to its steepness and challenging terrain. The run takes you through a narrow, rocky chute before opening up into a wide powder field, making it a challenging but rewarding experience.

Family friendly

When it comes to skiing with young families, there are a number of resorts within the Portes du Soleil that are particularly well-suited to families with children. Here are a few of the best options:

Les Gets: This charming, family-friendly resort is perfect for families with children of all ages. It has a wide range of gentle slopes and beginner-friendly areas, as well as a fantastic ski school with English-speaking instructors. There’s also a great selection of family-friendly restaurants and activities, including an ice rink, a cinema, and a mini-snowmobile course.

Morzine: Another excellent choice for families, Morzine has a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a great selection of beginner-friendly slopes. The resort also offers a range of family-friendly activities, including a toboggan run and an indoor swimming pool.

Avoriaz: While Avoriaz is known for its challenging terrain, it’s also a great choice for families with older children who are more experienced skiers. The resort has a number of gentle slopes and easy runs, as well as a wide range of family-friendly activities, including an indoor water park and an ice skating rink.

Chatel: This picturesque resort is ideal for families with younger children, with plenty of gentle slopes and beginner-friendly areas. The resort also has a good selection of family-friendly restaurants and activities, including a children’s snow park and a toboggan run.

Is the Portes the Soleil expensive?

Of course, price is always a consideration when planning a ski holiday, and the Portes du Soleil is no exception. While some of the more exclusive resorts can be expensive, there are plenty of affordable options to choose from. Morzine is a great choice for those on a budget, with a good selection of budget-friendly accommodation and affordable lift passes. Les Gets is also a good option, with a range of chalets and apartments that won’t break the bank.

All in all, the Portes du Soleil is an excellent choice for skiing enthusiasts looking for a varied, exciting, and snow-sure ski holiday. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert skier, there’s something here for everyone. So why not book your trip today and discover all that this incredible ski area has to offer?

Getting there

Portes du Soleil is a ski resort located in the French Alps, near the border with Switzerland. The nearest airport is Geneva International Airport (GVA) in Switzerland, and the nearest train station is in Thonon-les-Bains, France.

To get to Portes du Soleil by train, you would need to take a train to Thonon-les-Bains train station. From there, you can take a bus , transfer service or a taxi to reach the ski resort.

To get to Portes du Soleil by plane, you would need to book a flight to Geneva International Airport (GVA) in Switzerland. From the airport, you can take a bus, a shared shuttle, a private transfer, or a taxi to reach the ski resort. The journey time is around 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Serre Chevalier is one of the largest ski resorts in the French Alps, with 250km of pistes and an incredible off-piste skiing terrain. Located in the Hautes-Alpes region of France, it is a true haven for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. The resort is spread across four separate villages – Briançon, Chantemerle, Villeneuve and Le Monêtier-les-Bains. The skiing opportunities in Serre Chevalier are endless, and the snow conditions are exceptional. The resort is situated in a beautiful valley in the French Alps, surrounded by stunning snow-capped peaks and pine forests. As you ski down the slopes, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, including the Ecrins National Park.

Snow Sureness

Serre Chevalier is one of the most snow-sure resorts in the Alps. The ski resort has a reliable snow record, with snowfall throughout the winter months. Serre Chevalier has invested heavily in its snowmaking infrastructure, which guarantees snow coverage on the pistes throughout the season. In addition, Serre Chevalier receives an average of 300 days of sunshine each year, which makes it an ideal destination for those looking to escape the cold and enjoy the winter sun.

Skiing Opportunities

Serre Chevalier boasts a vast ski area, with over 250km of pistes. The pistes are well-groomed and varied, making them perfect for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. From beginner slopes to challenging black runs, there is something for everyone in Serre Chevalier.

For beginners, there are several gentle green runs in each of the resort’s four areas, making it easy for new skiers to get a feel for the slopes. The green runs are well-groomed and offer excellent progression opportunities for skiers learning to turn and control their speed.

For intermediate skiers, Serre Chevalier has plenty of blue and red runs, with varied terrain that offers a good mix of challenging and comfortable skiing. The blue runs are wide and well-groomed, with plenty of opportunities to develop your skills, while the red runs offer steeper pitches and more challenging terrain.

For advanced skiers, there are several black runs that offer some of the most challenging terrain in the resort, with steep pitches and narrow sections that require skill and confidence. Additionally, Serre Chevalier has excellent off-piste skiing opportunities, with varied terrain and fantastic powder conditions.

In addition to the wide variety of slopes, Serre Chevalier also has several terrain parks and freestyle areas that cater to snowboarders and freestyle skiers. These areas have a range of features, including jumps

Off-Piste Skiing

For those who are looking for a more adventurous skiing experience, Serre Chevalier offers some of the best off-piste skiing opportunities in the Alps. The resort has numerous off-piste routes that are easily accessible from the lifts. The off-piste terrain in Serre Chevalier ranges from easy, wide-open runs to more challenging couloirs and steep faces. The off-piste skiing in Serre Chevalier is not only varied but also stunningly beautiful, with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.

The Vallons du Bez area is a fantastic off-piste skiing destination with several wide, open slopes and tree-lined runs. The terrain is varied, and the powder is excellent, making it a popular destination for experienced off-piste skiers. The Rocher Blanc area is a great destination for off-piste skiing, with several steep and challenging runs. The area is not as popular as some of the other off-piste destinations in the resort, so you’re more likely to find untouched powder. The Grand Serre area is a vast off-piste destination with several tree-lined runs and steep couloirs. The terrain is varied, and the snow conditions are excellent. The Eychauda area is a remote off-piste skiing destination with some of the most challenging terrain in the resort. The area is only accessible by a long hike, but the powder is well worth the effort.

Scenic slopes

Serre Chevalier has plenty of scenic slopes that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Some scenic slopes are worth mentioning:

Cucumelle: The Cucumelle run is a long red run that starts at the top of the resort and offers stunning views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. The run is fairly challenging, with steep pitches and narrow sections, but the views are worth the effort.

Casse du Boeuf: The Casse du Boeuf run is a wide, open blue run that offers panoramic views of the Ecrins National Park. The run is perfect for intermediate skiers and snowboarders and offers a great opportunity to take in the scenery.

L’Yret: The L’Yret run is a long and winding red run that takes you through the forested slopes of the resort. The run offers stunning views of the pine trees and snow-capped mountains and is one of the most scenic runs in the resort.

Luc Alphand: The Luc Alphand run is a famous black run that is named after the former French ski champion. The run offers challenging terrain and stunning views of the valley and surrounding mountains.

Le Prorel: The Le Prorel run is a scenic blue run that offers panoramic views of the Briançon valley. The run is perfect for intermediate skiers and snowboarders and is one of the most popular runs in the resort.

What makes Serre Chevalier different?

Serre Chevalier is a fantastic ski resort that offers a wide range of skiing and snowboarding opportunities, as well as stunning scenery and excellent snow conditions. While it may not be the most well-known resort in France, there are several reasons why Serre Chevalier stands out from other French ski resorts.

Pros:

Vast ski area: Serre Chevalier has over 250km of pistes, making it one of the largest ski areas in France. The variety of slopes and off-piste terrain is vast, catering to skiers and snowboarders of all levels.

Snow conditions: The resort is located at a high altitude, and it has a reliable snow record. Additionally, the resort has invested heavily in its snowmaking infrastructure, ensuring that the pistes are always in top condition.

Off-piste skiing: Serre Chevalier offers some of the best off-piste skiing opportunities in the French Alps. The terrain is varied and easily accessible from the lifts, and there are several guides and ski schools in the resort that offer off-piste skiing tours.

Scenery: The resort is located in a beautiful valley surrounded by stunning snow-capped peaks and pine forests. The scenery is truly breathtaking, and skiing down the slopes offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains.

Family-friendly: Serre Chevalier is an excellent destination for families, with several ski schools and childcare services available. The resort also has a range of beginner slopes and gentle terrain that is perfect for kids and beginners.

Cons:

Lifts: Some of the lifts in the resort are old and slow, which can result in long wait times during peak season.

Crowds: While the resort is not as crowded as some of the larger ski resorts in France, it can still get busy during peak season.

Nightlife: The nightlife in Serre Chevalier is not as lively as some of the other French ski resorts. While there are several bars and restaurants in the resort, it’s not a party destination.

Limited après-ski activities: While the skiing and snowboarding in Serre Chevalier are fantastic, there are limited activities outside of skiing and snowboarding. For those looking for more après-ski activities, other resorts may offer more options.

Conclusion

Serre Chevalier is an excellent destination for skiers and snowboarders who are looking for a vast ski area with exceptional snow conditions. The off-piste skiing opportunities in Serre Chevalier are world-class, and the terrain is varied and beautiful. If you’re an experienced skier looking for an adventure, then Serre Chevalier is the perfect destination. However, it’s essential to take the necessary precautions and hire a guide if you’re new to off-piste skiing. With its reliable snow record, beautiful scenery, and challenging terrain, Serre Chevalier is a winter sports paradise.

Getting there

Serre Chevalier is easily accessible by both train and airplane, making it a convenient destination for skiers and snowboarders from around the world.

By Airplane: The nearest airport to Serre Chevalier is the Turin-Caselle Airport, which is located approximately 110 kilometers away. Many major airlines, including Air France and EasyJet, offer flights to Turin-Caselle from cities across Europe. From the airport, you can take a shuttle or taxi to Serre Chevalier, which takes approximately 2 hours.

Alternatively, you can also fly into Grenoble-Isère Airport, which is located approximately 150 kilometers away. This airport is served by a number of budget airlines, including Ryanair and EasyJet. From Grenoble, you can take a shuttle or taxi to Serre Chevalier, which takes approximately 2.5 hours.

By Train: The nearest train station to Serre Chevalier is the Briançon train station, which is served by several trains per day from major cities in France, including Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. From the train station, you can take a shuttle or taxi to Serre Chevalier, which takes approximately 20 minutes.

Alternatively, you can take a high-speed TGV train to Oulx train station, which is located approximately 40 kilometers away from Serre Chevalier. From there, you can take a shuttle or taxi to Serre Chevalier, which takes approximately 45 minutes.

Overall, Serre Chevalier is easily accessible by both train and airplane, making it a convenient destination for skiers and snowboarders from across Europe and beyond.