Avoriaz
Here you'll learn the true meaning of ski-in/ski-out, with car free streets you can ski everywhere right to the door.
What to expect at Avoriaz
Avoriaz is the counterpoint to Morzine: a car-free, purpose-built village of dark wood-clad towers perched on a cliff at 1,800 m. Delivery is by horse-drawn sleigh, the roads are actually pistes, and you can ski to your apartment door from any point in the Portes du Soleil. Snow record is unusually good for a resort of its modest top height because the mountain sits on a snow trap where clouds pile up against the Dents du Midi. The freestyle scene is strong, the Stash park designed with Jake Burton was a global first, and cross-border laps into the Swiss side above Champéry stretch the day out.
Avoriaz on film
Skiing and staying in Avoriaz
Overview
Perched at 1,800m, Avoriaz is a distinctive, purpose-built ski resort nestled in the French Alps. This car-free village serves as a central hub within the vast Portes du Soleil ski area, granting direct access to over 600km of interconnected slopes spanning France and Switzerland.
Designed specifically for skiing, Avoriaz features wooden-clad buildings that harmonise with the mountainous surroundings. Its ski-in/ski-out layout allows direct access to accommodation from the pistes. Horse-drawn sleighs navigate the snowy streets, creating a charming, old-world ambience. Benefiting from its high altitude, Avoriaz enjoys a robust snow record, with slopes reaching 2,466m, ensuring reliable conditions throughout its season from December to late April.
Skiing and Snowboarding
Skiing and snowboarding from Avoriaz offers an expansive and accessible experience. Lifts are minutes from the village centre, providing access to diverse terrain, from gentle blue runs to challenging steeps, without extensive traverses. Consistent snow quality due to altitude and panoramic views of Mont Blanc enhance the experience.
The Portes du Soleil area unfolds before you, allowing seamless skiing between France and Switzerland. Beyond the extensive inter-resort connections, Avoriaz's local terrain is varied and engaging, featuring excellent snow parks, challenging runs for advanced skiers, and a modern, efficient lift network.
Beginner and Intermediate Skiing
Avoriaz prioritises beginner skiers and snowboarders. The dedicated P'tit Avoriaz area offers a safe, gentle space with magic carpets and easy drag lifts for initial lessons. The high-altitude snow is typically soft, cushioning falls. Once confident, wide blue runs towards Lindarets provide gentle progression through picturesque scenery.
For intermediates, the Portes du Soleil offers an almost endless network of blue and red runs, allowing for days of exploration without repetition. Popular choices include the tree-lined descents towards Châtel or venturing into Switzerland for a change of scenery. The red runs from Chavanette towards Avoriaz offer excellent cruising with stunning vistas, while the Arare sector provides satisfying intermediate terrain closer to home. A modern lift system minimises queues.
Advanced and Expert Skiing
The infamous Swiss Wall, Chavanette, is a steep mogul field on Avoriaz's doorstep, offering one of the Alps' most challenging marked runs when conditions permit. The Hauts Forts sector also provides demanding terrain, including several consistently pitched black runs.
Off-piste opportunities are abundant after fresh snowfall. The couloirs accessible from the Fornet chairlift are serious undertakings requiring a guide, while areas around Les Hauts Forts offer more accessible powder. Local guides can uncover untracked lines, particularly in the Arare and Fornet sectors or the north-facing slopes above Les Prodains, which retain powder well after a storm.
Avoriaz in winter
Avoriaz piste map
The official Avoriaz piste map showing every run, lift and sector. Zoom in for detail or open it full screen.
Scroll or pinch to zoom, drag to pan.
View and download Avoriaz ski map ↗Getting to Avoriaz
- Geneva Airport (GVA)1 h 30 min
- Chambery Airport (CMF)2 h
- Lyon Airport (LYS)2 h 45 min
- Grenoble Airport (GNB)2 h 45 min
Drive times are estimates based on typical winter road conditions. Book transfers in advance during peak Saturday changeovers.
Avoriaz FAQs
- Is Avoriaz really car-free?
- Yes, Avoriaz is genuinely car-free. Vehicles are parked in a covered garage at the village entrance. Access to accommodation is via horse-drawn sleigh or on foot. Snow-covered streets, free of traffic, characterise the village, creating a unique atmosphere where children can play safely and sleigh bells replace engine noise. Only emergency and service vehicles are permitted.
- How reliable is the snow in Avoriaz?
- Avoriaz is among the snowiest resorts in the French Alps, with the village at 1,800m and slopes reaching 2,466m. It typically receives around 8 metres of snowfall per season, and its north-facing aspect helps maintain snow quality. The season generally runs from mid-December to late April, with optimal conditions usually found from January onwards. Even in lighter snow years, Avoriaz's altitude ensures better conditions compared to lower resorts in the region.
- Is Avoriaz good for families?
- Avoriaz is considered one of the best family ski resorts in France. The pioneering Village des Enfants ski school remains excellent. Its car-free environment allows children to move safely, while the Aquariaz water park offers an alternative activity. The ski-in/ski-out design simplifies mornings, and the compact village keeps everything within easy reach, fostering a genuinely family-friendly atmosphere.
- What is the Swiss Wall like?
- The Swiss Wall (Chavanette) is a renowned, highly challenging marked run. It's a steep mogul field descending from France into Switzerland, requiring strong technique due to its consistent pitch. It is not always in skiable condition, and when it is, it presents a significant challenge. Intermediates should generally avoid it; confident advanced skiers will find it a memorable test. A viewing point is available to observe others attempting the descent.
- Can you ski to other resorts from Avoriaz?
- Yes, Avoriaz is at the heart of the Portes du Soleil, linking 12 resorts across France and Switzerland on a single ski pass. You can ski to Châtel, Les Gets, Morzine, and several Swiss villages like Champéry and Les Crosets. Some connections are more direct than others, and a few require walking through village streets. While the Swiss Wall descends into Switzerland, returning by ski is more circuitous, with a bus service available for convenience.
Resort figures are checked against official resort sources each season. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Skidorter i närheten
Morzine
Traditional Savoyard town at the hub of the cross border Portes du Soleil circuit.
Les Crosets
Les Crosets is a compact, sun-drenched micro-resort at 1,670m in the Swiss canton of Valais - and the most convenient ski-in, ski-out base on the Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil, one of the world's largest interconnected ski areas.
Champoussin
Perched on a sunny, south-east facing ridge at 1,580m in Switzerland's Val d'Illiez, Champoussin has the kind of unhurried charm that's increasingly hard to find.