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• Resort Guide

Resort Height: 1000m/1800m

Avoriaz is one of the most iconic of the wave of purpose built ski resorts that emerged in the French Alps in the 1960s and ‘70s, both in terms of holiday concept and of design. Even though it recently turned 40, Avoriaz remains an attractive architectural style statement and the only French resort that is wholly car free, with pistes between buildings so that you walk over snow, or take a sleigh ride. The eye-catching architecture is entirely clad in wood for a natural effect, earning the resort the nickname ‘la Blanche de bois’ or ‘the white wooden lady’.

The resort’s spectacular setting is also a superb one for skiers, at a snow sure 1800m in the heart of one of the world’s largest ski domains – the Portes du Soleil, which links a dozen ski resorts on each side of the French –Swiss border. Although they are not fully lift-linked together, you can still ski hundreds of kilometres of runs without needing to get on a bus. Altogether there are 650km (407 miles) of piste.

Beginners

Avoriaz offers beginners doorstep ski school on wide, sunny nursery slopes right next to the resort. Thanks to the altitude the snow lasts at resort level all season long. Once you have mastered your turns and learnt how to stop, Avoriaz offers long green and blue runs so that you quickly start to explore the wider area. Then there are nice easy-to-ride high-speed chairlifts to get back on. There is a choice of ski schools, with the competition helping to keep standards up. Choose from the Ecole du Ski Français (ESF) and the International Ski School both operational in the resort.

Intermediates

The excellent Portes du Soleil area gives a vast choice of ski runs for intermediates who have hundreds of kilometres of blue and red runs to move around on. It’s fun to ski from resort to resort and perhaps pop over to Switzerland for lunch, returning home loaded with Swiss chocolate. Because the area is so fast the resort has identified recommended routes to help skiers make the best of their stay, a map is available from the tourist office and there is also signposting on the pistes.

Advanced

Avoriaz has half a dozen black runs, the steepest the 1.7km long La Combe du Machon as well as the infamous ‘Wall’ run to Switzerland. However it has also pioneered the creation of freeride terrain where ungroomed pistes are patrolled for safety but otherwise left natural. In 2004 the resort added the first canyon ski run using the natural lie of the land in Pschott Canyon in the Fornet sector. It includes banked corners, bumps and other terrain features. The ski schools offer race training and off piste skiing courses for advanced skiers.

Snowboarding

Being a cool resort, it’s unsurprising that Avoriaz remains a leading destination for boarders. The resort has three terrain parks and a superpipe, all of which host regular events and pro-rider camps. The resort hit the boarding world news in the winter of 07-08 when they opened the new ‘Stash’ park which sought to get to the pure roots of boarding by using only natural materials and manual labour to create terrain park features, just as in the early days of the sport before heavy machinery became involved to create pipes and parks.

Other Activities and Facilities

There is a lengthy list of activities to try besides skiing and boarding in Avoriaz, although most of them still involve being out on the snow or ice. The ski schools organise snow shoe hikes and paragliding trips. You can also try dog sledding, hot air ballooning, diving under ice in a frozen lake, mountain biking on snow or a sleigh ride. Helicopter tourist flights are organised over the area and nearby Mont Blanc.

Indoor options include bowling at le studio 9, a cinema, ice rink the Espace Thalgo Spa in the Hotel Des Dromont where a range of massages, beauty treatments and therapies are available.

Après Ski and Dining Out

There are about 20 places to eat around Avoriaz including basic pizzerias and creperies right up to gourmet food at the Dromonts hotel. The predominantly young international guests help to make the après ski lively at venues such as Le Place and the Wild Horse Saloon which often has live music and the night clubs stay open as late as 4am. Avant garde Avoriaz stages a number of fashionable festivals each winter including cinema and jazz events.

Families

Avoriaz, like many leading French ski areas, has been awarded the French Government’s ‘Family Plus’ certification for providing a quality experience. It has many natural advantages for families, not least the lack of traffic which means a safe and (if you are not sleeping above a noisy bar) peaceful holiday. For another the accommodation has been designed with families in mind and the slopeside convenience makes the process of getting on and off slopes with children as stressless as it can be. The famous Annie Famose kid’s village in the heart of the resort has taught thousands of young children to ski and to board too. The French ski school runs a snow garden for children to learn in too. For the younger children Les P'tits Loups nursery, also in the resort centre, accepts babies from three months up to five year bold children and is open daily except Saturdays in low season, and every day in high season. Here there are snow games, indoor activities, sleep rooms and meals provided.

Ski/Board Suitability Guide

Suitable for families:	[Yes]
Suitable for beginners:	[4]
Suitable for intermediate skiers:	[5]
Suitable for advanced skiers:	[4]
Suitable for boarders skiers:	[5]

Piste Map for Avoriaz

Accommodation in Avoriaz

• Alpages Cedrat - 3 star,
• Avoriaz Maeva - 3 star, self catering
• Avoriaz Maeva - 3 star, self catering
• Avoriaz P&V - 3 star, self catering
• Avoriaz P&v - 3 star, self catering
• Avoriaz P&v - 3 star, self catering
• Balc Du Soleil - 4 star, self catering
• Balc Du Soleil - 4 star, self catering
• Balc Du Soleil - 4 star, self catering
• Balcons Du Soleil - 3 star, self catering
• Balcons Du Soleil - 3 star, self catering
• Chalet Cyrano - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Cyrano - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Cyrano - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Dolores - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Dolores - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Perce Neige - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Perce Neige - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Violette - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Violette - 4 star, catered
• La Falaise Apartments - 2 star, self catering
• Les Lans - 3 star, half board
• Les Lans - 3 star, half board
• Portes Du Soleil - 2 star, self catering
• Residences Antares - 3 star, self catering
• Sepia Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Sepia Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Sepia Apartments - 3 star, self catering

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