Les Gets

Les Gets offers a charming, family-oriented atmosphere within the vast Portes du Soleil ski area. This attractive French village, nestled at a comfortable elevation, provides access to 117km of local slopes, with 71 runs meandering through sheltered, tree-lined terrain from 1,172m up to 2,002m at Mont Chéry. The resort excels in catering to families, offering not only excellent ski schools and childcare but a comprehensive, enjoyable holiday experience.

The skiing here caters to all abilities. Beginners benefit from gentle gradients, while intermediates can build confidence on picturesque forest runs. More advanced skiers can find steeper challenges by linking into Morzine and the extensive 600km of pistes spanning the Franco-Swiss Portes du Soleil. Modern, high-speed lifts minimise queueing, and the resort's convenient proximity to Geneva ensures straightforward transfers.

The Les Gets ski area is divided into two primary sectors: Mont Chéry, on one side of the village, and the main Les Gets/Morzine area, which extends to the full Portes du Soleil circuit. The terrain is well-designed, meticulously groomed, and offers sheltered slopes for protection during adverse weather.

The longest run stretches to 8km, providing satisfying descents. With 47 lifts, many of which are high-speed chairs, skiers spend more time on the slopes and less time waiting.

Les Gets is an excellent choice for beginners, featuring dedicated zones with magic carpets and easy-to-use chairs, particularly beneficial for nervous first-timers. The Chavannes area offers spacious nursery slopes with gentle gradients, allowing ample room to practise away from faster skiers. As confidence grows, progressive runs seamlessly lead to easy blue pistes, ensuring a smooth learning curve. Most accommodation provides convenient access to the nursery slopes on foot.

Intermediate skiers will find an abundance of blue and red runs throughout the main ski area. Well-groomed pistes allow for refined technique, with varied terrain to enhance skills. The Ranfolly sector is particularly popular for its enjoyable red runs, known for sustained pitches, reliable snow, and impressive views towards Mont Blanc on clear days. The connection to Morzine offers even more intermediate terrain, while Mont Chéry, quieter and often sun-drenched in the afternoons, provides further options on its south-facing slopes.

While Les Gets is not primarily an expert destination, strong skiers will find enough variety for a week, especially if travelling with family who prefer gentler slopes. The black runs on Mont Chéry offer a challenge, often featuring steep, mogulled terrain. The Yeti Park area also includes some of the steeper marked runs, and when conditions permit, there are accessible off-piste opportunities from the lift system.

For serious experts, the real draw is the extensive Portes du Soleil connection, which provides challenging terrain across Avoriaz, Châtel, and the Swiss resorts. It is possible to complete the full circuit in a day for early risers with good stamina. The notorious Swiss Wall, located above Les Crosets, is one of the Alps' most famous steep descents.