Resort
Avoriaz
About Avoriaz
Avoriaz is one of the most visually distinctive Alpine ski resorts you will probably ever visit and falls within the Unesco Chablais region of the Haute-Savoie. Looking up from the bottom of the Prodain valley and from Morzine village you can gaze upon it perched proudly yet everso cleverly camouflaged in wooden shingles & cladding on its rocky promontory. In 1960 local Olympic and world downhill skier champion, Jean Vuarnet had a vision and from that vision, Avoriaz was born. Inventor of the so-called egg position which those of us today tend to use to speed up down the flatter slopes to avoid pushing along with our poles, he is remembered today by a statue in the centre of the village of Morzine and by his legacy of possibly the most modern resort in the Portes du Soleil. Based on the concept that in nature there are no right-angles and focusing on the skier, Avoriaz offers interesting architecture with fabulous ski pistes wrapped around the resort and it should be on everyone’s bucket list of ski resorts around the world to visit.
Avoriaz is accessible from Geneva which is the nearest airport serving the ski resorts of the northern Alps. There are many transfer companies that will get you and your little ones here safely from the airport and as the resort of Avoriaz 1800 has no road traffic apart from horse drawn sleighs and snow cats, you can decide to go on holiday and leave the car at home! Whilst preserving the environment and ensuring your well-being, holidaying in a pedestrian friendly resort adds to the ambiance and the luxury of not hearing traffic passing by which makes it a truly relaxing experience.
At an altitude of 1800 meters, the resort of Avoriaz enjoys excellent snow coverage throughout the season and some years you can see fresh snow on the higher peaks in the summer months! Being car free, it allows for a safe and comfortable family holiday experience. You can ski and walk wherever you need to go by using the pedestrian and ski lift system, navigating your way to the slopes and the local amenities. You can hire snow buggies around the resort to make getting from A to B with babies and toddlers a lot easier!
Avoriaz plays host to lots of snow parks. The Stash is a dedicated freeride and freestyle area for the more adventurous skier and snowboarder with plenty of options for the intermediate and expert levels. The LIL’Stash is home to Shreddie, the resident Yeti living in the forest of Proclou and you can have a selfie taken with him to add to your holiday scrapbook.
As well as skiing to the LIL’Stash, you can access from Avoriaz on foot which is a relatively easy hike for little ones. There are BBQ facilities, a treehouse, a banana swing, suspended walkways, a slide, ropes, sculptures and games, so truly a fun day out in the forest!
Avoriaz is host to some incredible hospitality venues, après ski events and non-ski activities. To name but a few, the Igloo village, open during the day is an ice bar within the igloo itself which is beautifully decorated with sculptures by local professional sculptors and the all famous Folie Douce with guest DJs performing every day and themed events making it the place to go for your Après experience.
Opened in 2012, Aquariaz is an impressive indoor aquatic centre with over 1500 tropical plants and its tropical waters of 30°C, it will feel as if you’ve swapped your snowy ski trip for a Caribbean holiday in an instant. There are slides, rivers, hot tubs and so much more and whilst it is open to all ages, children under the age of 12yrs must be accompanied by an adult. Sledging of course is enjoyed in the centre of the village and the traditional carousel for little ones can also be found nearby.
Cafes, bars and restaurants are plentiful and cater for every budget and every taste. Avoriaz comes alive in the evenings with breathtaking sunsets and twinkling stars waking up to illuminate the mountain night time skies. The sound of chatter on the terraces, the snow crunching beneath your feet and children enjoying the last of the light on the last sledge run of the day makes Avoriaz a wonderful family holiday experience.
Avoriaz is also a part of the Portes Du Soleil ski circuit and there is more than enough terrain to cater for every ability and itinerary.
Few fun facts…
- The Portes Du Soleil was established in 1965
- The Portes du Soleil area links 12 stations between France & Switzerland
- It has a whopping 600km of pistes!
- There are 307 runs…..39 green/130 blue /105 red/33 black & 208 lifts!
For more info on activities, places to visit, etc go to Avoriaz Tourist Office
Avoriaz is open throughout the summer months too, so for those of you returning…. Mountain biking and hiking is of course on offer to sample throughout the summer season. There are so many activities in Avoriaz to enjoy that you will need another holiday to recover from. There is crazy golf, paragliding, bowling, volley-ball, trampolines, cinema, bouncy castles, skate parks, horse riding, electric scooter touring, via ferrata and so many more that you will have to look online at the Avoriaz resort website to get the full picture.
So, that’s a wrap! Avoriaz in brief! Book your trip now!
Day Care
Evening Babysitting
Day Care
Evening Babysitting