Morzine Ski Holiday – Ski, Snowboard & Summer Holidays

Morzine has a good shuttle bus system so where you stay very much depends on personal preference.
Town centre: The Super Morzine and Pleney lifts are close by, and it's easy to stop off for a few apres-ski drinks on your way home.
Prodains: Just 4km from the centre and easily reached by bus. The Prodains Express is a high speed gondola which gets you up to Avoriaz in a few minutes, and is a great starting point for heading over to Chatel, Morgins and testing your skills on the infamous Swiss Wall.
Montriond: Just 3km out of town. It is a quieter village with a good choice of accommodation and restaurants. There is quick access to the Ardent lift which takes you to Avoriaz.
St Jean d'Aulps: Just 10 minutes from Morzine, offering easy access to the Portes du Soleil ski area while providing a quieter village atmosphere and often better-value accommodation.

Morzine is a great destination for family ski holidays. It has good beginner terrain for younger beginners on the Pleney side and passes for the under 5's are free. For more experienced family members the Portes du Soleil offers a vast ski area, including 12 different villages and cross-border skiing. In the Lindarets sector there is The Stash, a very popular all-natural terrain park, which is a great playground for young and old. There is a dedicated beginner-friendly version also called the Lil Stash, with easier boxes for younger riders. For non-ski activities there is ice-skating, sledging, snow shoe trails. The town is bustling and there will often be special events for families organised by the Tourist Office.

Yes. Morzine has excellent beginner-friendly slopes, particularly around the Pleney and Super Morzine areas. There are dedicated magic carpets too and some of the best ski schools to guide you.
The transition from the nursery slopes to the wider ski area can be a little more challenging and then it's a good idea to explore the gentle terrain of nearby Les Gets. Most beginners who take lessons find they are confidently exploring the mountain by the end of a week's holiday.
Morzine sits at 1,000m, which is lower than many purpose-built ski resorts. During cold winters this isn't an issue, but in warmer periods, particularly towards the end of the season, the snow on the lower slopes can become slushy or patchy. Beginners, who often spend much of their time on these lower nursery areas, can notice these conditions more than experienced skiers. The resort has extensive snowmaking on key runs and beginner areas, and there is easy access to higher-altitude skiing in the wider Portes du Soleil ski area when conditions allow.
As most French resorts, Morzine is at it's busiest during school holiday periods such as Christmas and New Year.

Yes. Morzine is an exceptional resort for intermediate skiers, with access to a massive choice of varied and interesting terrain. There are wide, cruisey reds and blue pistes to get you going, and certainly more challenging reds and blacks for when the time is right. As part of the massive Portes du Soleil region, it offers access to over 600km of pistes and is great for building confidence, featuring 130 blue runs and countless long, rolling red pistes.

Great area for intermediates:

Why Intermediates Love Morzine:

Morzine may not have the reputation of resorts such as Val d'Isère, Verbier or Chamonix for expert terrain, but advanced skiers shouldn't overlook it. With direct access to the vast Portes du Soleil ski area, you'll find over 600km of pistes, long cruising reds, challenging mogul runs, tree skiing and plenty of opportunities to clock up serious mileage.

Long, varied days

Off-piste opportunities

Yes, Morzine is an excellent destination for snowboarders of all abilities. As part of the vast Portes du Soleil ski area, it offers hundreds of kilometres of linked pistes, varied terrain and easy access to neighbouring resorts including Avoriaz, Les Gets and Châtel.
For beginners, Morzine has several gentle learning areas and wide, forgiving slopes where new snowboarders can build confidence. As your skills improve, you'll find plenty of long blue and red runs that are ideal for practising carving and exploring the mountain.
Intermediate and advanced riders are particularly well catered for. The nearby resort of Avoriaz is one of Europe's best-known snowboard destinations, with purpose-built terrain parks, boardercross courses and natural freestyle features. The Stash, an innovative eco-friendly snow park built through the forest using natural obstacles, is a favourite with experienced riders looking for something different.
One of the advantages of staying in Morzine is that you can enjoy its traditional Alpine village atmosphere while having quick access to Avoriaz's higher-altitude, snowboard-friendly terrain. Lifts from Morzine connect you into the wider ski area, making it easy to explore different sectors throughout your holiday.
Like many older Alpine resorts, a handful of flatter cat tracks and run-outs around the Portes du Soleil can require snowboarders to unstrap or carry a little speed, but these are the exception rather than the rule. Overall, the variety of terrain, reliable access to higher-altitude slopes and world-class freestyle facilities make Morzine a fantastic choice for snowboarders, whether you're learning your first turns or looking to spend the week exploring one of Europe's largest linked ski areas.

Geneva airport is the closest and transfer time is around 1hr 15mins. There are many transfer companies which will pick you up and drop you off at the door of your accommodation. Your accommodation provider will also be able to advise you on the easiest way to get to resort and will often have preferred partners they use to pick up their guests. Action Transfers is based in Morzine and provides private or premium transfers. Another transfer option is www.alpytransfers.com.
Due to it's close proximity to Geneva airport, and a great choice of airlines, Morzine is also a great destination for a short ski break from the UK. It's not inconceivable to leave your house in the morning and be on the slopes by the afternoon.
You can also fly to Chambery and Lyon, around 2 and 3 hours respectively. Again, it's best to ask your accommodation provider for the easiest options from these airports.

You have a great choice of ski schools in Morzine and most have an international personnel. English is very widely spoken. Your accommodation provider can often recommend the specific schools and instructors who they know well, and have great reputations. Worth mentioning here are:
BASS - the British Alpine Ski School
Mint Snowboarding School - the first snowboard-only school in France
New Generation
Ski Beyond
Supreme Ski School

Morzine isn't one of the Alps' most snow-sure resorts, but that doesn't mean it's a poor choice for a ski holiday.
At 1,000m, Morzine sits lower than many purpose-built high-altitude resorts, so snow conditions in the village can vary, particularly at the very beginning and end of the season. During colder winters, skiing back into the village is often possible throughout the season, while in milder periods some lower runs may close.
The good news is that Morzine is part of the vast Portes du Soleil ski area, giving you easy access to higher-altitude slopes in Avoriaz, which sits at 1,800m and offers skiing up to around 2,460m. Avoriaz has an excellent snow record and extensive snowmaking, so even when conditions are limited lower down, there is usually plenty of good skiing available higher up.
If snow reliability is your top priority, January through March generally offers the best conditions. Christmas can be excellent, but snowfall is naturally more variable, while late-season skiing depends on spring temperatures. Many visitors choose Morzine because they can enjoy its lively Alpine village atmosphere while still having quick access to the higher, more snow-reliable terrain of Avoriaz.
Overall, while Morzine isn't as snow-sure as some of the highest resorts in the Alps, it remains a popular choice thanks to its charming village, huge linked ski area and easy access to extensive higher-altitude skiing.

For most ski holidays, you won't need a car in Morzine. The resort is compact enough to explore on foot, and there are regular free ski buses connecting the town centre with the main lift stations and nearby areas, including Montriond and the Ardent gondola.
Many visitors fly into Geneva and book an airport transfer, which is often the easiest and most cost-effective option. Once you're in Morzine, you'll find that accommodation, restaurants, bars, shops and ski lifts are all within easy reach, especially if you're staying close to the centre.
A car can be useful if you're staying in a more secluded chalet outside the main resort, want the flexibility to explore nearby villages such as Montriond, Saint-Jean-d'Aulps or Les Gets, or are visiting during the summer when you may want to discover more of the surrounding Haute-Savoie region.
If you do drive, parking is available in and around Morzine, although spaces close to the lifts can be busy during peak holiday weeks. Check with your accommodation provider to see if parking is available at your chalet, hotel or apartment or close by. Many will have parking available and will have dedicated minibuses to get you to the lifts, or will be able to tell you where to get the regular ski bus.
If you're staying a little further outside the town, in Seytroux, for example, you may prefer to have a car to give you flexibility. This will also open up your options each day as to which lifts to head to and where to explore first.
Overall, unless you're planning to explore beyond the resort or your accommodation is outside the main village, a car isn't essential. Most visitors find that Morzine's free shuttle buses, walkable centre and excellent lift network make getting around straightforward throughout their stay.
If driving from the UK or the Netherlands, Morzine is one of the closest resorts - check with your accommodation provider on parking options. On Chalets Direct you will find parking options listed in the accommodation facilities.

Yes. One of Morzine's biggest attractions is that it's part of the vast Portes du Soleil ski area, allowing you to ski directly to several neighbouring resorts without taking your skis off.
From Morzine, it's easy to reach Avoriaz, Les Gets and Montriond on skis and lifts, while more experienced skiers can continue on to resorts such as Châtel, Morgins, Champéry and Les Crosets, crossing between France and Switzerland along the way.
If you're a confident intermediate or advanced skier, it's perfectly possible to spend an entire day exploring different villages and returning to Morzine in the afternoon. Many visitors make a day of skiing the famous Portes du Soleil circuit, enjoying a variety of landscapes, restaurants and pistes across two countries.
Do bear in mind that the Portes du Soleil is enormous, so reaching the furthest resorts can take several hours. Always keep an eye on lift closing times and leave plenty of time to make your way back, particularly if you're skiing into Switzerland.
If you're new to skiing or prefer shorter days, there's still plenty to explore close to Morzine. The links to Avoriaz and Les Gets alone provide access to a huge variety of terrain, meaning you can enjoy a different part of the ski area each day without venturing too far from your accommodation.

Yes it is feasible. The nearest train stations are at Thonon and Cluses, both served by the fast TGV trains from Paris. There are local buses which operate from these stations to Morzine. Co-ordinating timetables may be tricky however. A private transfer or taxi is another option if arriving by train. Check with your accommodation provider as they may be able to give you good local insights for getting the train to Morzine.