Morgins

Morgins sits at 1,350m in the upper Val de Morgins in Switzerland, a traditional village of wooden chalets surrounded by forests and alpine meadows right on the Franco-Swiss border. It's a quiet, compact place where most accommodation is ski-in, ski-out, the local shops and restaurants are within a short walk of each other, and the village has held onto its Swiss character. The Eau Rouge mineral springs have drawn visitors here for over a century, and that heritage of mountain hospitality runs through everything from the family-run hotels to the restaurants.

The local Swiss terrain across Morgins, Champoussin, Les Crosets, and Champéry covers around 100km of pistes, with Morgins' own slopes reaching 2,250m from the Foilleuse sector. The skiing is predominantly suited to beginners and intermediates, with wide, sun-drenched runs and gentle forest terrain making up most of the area, though the north-facing Corbeau sector holds powder well and offers some of the best snow on the Swiss side. An Audi Skicross Park built to FIS standards and a Rando-Parc with three marked ski touring routes add variety beyond the groomed runs. As part of the Portes du Soleil, one of the world's largest linked ski areas, Morgins also gives access to over 600km of cross-border terrain when conditions allow, and the magic of stepping off a chairlift with signs pointing to France one way and Switzerland the other never quite wears off.

Away from the slopes, Morgins has a warm evening scene centred around a handful of cosy bars and restaurants serving Valais specialities like raclette, fondue, and local wines. Husky walks through the forest, horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowshoeing, a natural ice rink, and 20km of cross-country trails winding between forest and river give rest days their own appeal. The thermal baths at Val d'Illiez are a short drive down the valley, and the cross-border position means you can ski in Switzerland and have lunch in France on the same day, which never quite loses its novelty.