Whether you’re a fan of Avoriaz’s architectural style or not, there’s no denying that the resort is a pleasure to walk (or ski) around. Cars are left in huge underground car parks at the entrance to the resort and luggage is pulled on sledges or even on horse drawn sleighs to your accommodation.
The majority of resort facilities, including the Aquariaz swimming pool, shops, restaurants and bars are concentrated along one boulevard that runs adjacent to the very useful and very popular Village des Enfants ski school. It’s also here that you’ll find many resort organised events and ‘animations’ during the course of your Avoriaz winter ski holiday.
Avoriaz sits high and proud above the nearby resort of Morzine and you’ll get a cracking view of the neighboring village from various peaks around Avoriaz. Ski connections to Morzine and onwards in the direction of Les Gets include taking the Crot piste down to Les Prodains, and then the free ski bus into Morzine, or skiing across the sunny plateau of the Super Morzine and taking the bubble lift down into the centre of Morzine. Most skiers head in the opposite direction however!
Avoriaz has five dedicated ‘snowcross’ ski areas. Sometimes named ‘legal off-piste’, these non-groomed slopes offer skiers and snowboarders a freeride experience in securely patrolled areas. Ski patrol monitor the risk of avalanches and mark any dangerous areas. Avoriaz’s five ‘snowcross’ areas are as follows:
The Frontaliere – From the top of the Mossettes chairlift – 1,150 metres long
Brochaux – A mogul field from the top of the Brochaux chairlift – 1,340 metres long
Combes des Marmottes – From the top of the Fornet chairlift – 2,080 metres long
Crozats Run – From the top of the Hauts Forts into a powdery bowl that joins the world cup run and descends into Les Prodains – 3,122 metres long
Pschott – From the top of the Marmotte chair
And into the wider Portes du Soleil ski network we go. With over 650km of connected Piste, Morzine sits in the heart of the biggest ski area in Europe. The resort is the perfect base from which to explore 12 different ski resorts over two countries and it’s easy to avoid skiing the same ski run in a winter season, never mind during a weeks holiday. With that in mind, it’s worth remembering to stuff a piste map in your pocket too!
