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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 1000m
Families:		[Yes]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[4]
Intermediates:		[4]
Advanced:		[4]
Snowboarding:		[3]

Morzine is a large winter resort with a long history, sitting midway between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc. Unlike most of the best known French ski areas, which have been built virtually from scratch in the past 50 years, Morzine has a long history dating back long before skiing. Whilst many of the purpose built resorts are regarded as soulless by many and are sometimes dominated by ugly concrete apartment buildings, Morzine has maintained its centuries old ambience and traditional Alpine chalet style architecture. The resort’s accommodation is mainly provided by hotels (there are more than 50) and chalets, rather than apartments and residences.

The only down side for this old resort in the modern era is that it is much lower than the purpose built areas at 1000m. However it does share one of the attractions of most French ski resorts, of whatever age; a vast ski area surrounds it. In the case of Morzine, the area is the Portes du Soleil, a mostly-lift-linked giant of 650km encompassing more than a dozen ski resorts on both side of the French – Swiss border.

Beginners

Morzine has a good ski school and gentle beginner slopes at the le Pleney area. We can also offer learn-to-ski packages here which include tuition, lift ticket and equipment rental at a better price and with less hassle than buying these elements separately in resort.

Intermediates

With the vast Portes du Soleil region to explore, other giant areas may equal Morzine but few, if any, can better it. With almost one easy or intermediate run for every day of the year (or four for every day of winter!) the choice is vast, and it’s a great feeling to travel across the area from one resort to the next, crossing the border in to Switzerland for lunch then skiing back. Special trail maps with routes around the region are provided to help you make sense of the scale of it all.

Advanced

In this vast terrain there is plenty for advanced skiers to find and enjoy. Most will make a pilgrimage to the infamous Wall mogul field on the route over to Switzerland from Avoriaz above. The mountain guides office leads off piste touring groups and trips over to Chamonix to descend the famous 25km (16 mile) long Vallee Blanche off piste route. They can also offer ski mountaineering and organise heliskiing trips over to Italy (heliskiing is illegal in France) with descents from 3600m to 3700m peaks.

Snowboarding

Morzine has wide cruising pistes and plenty of natural hits at the tree-lined edges of the piste, but many boarding visitors will be drawn up the mountain to sister-resort Avoriaz, which is one of Europe’s boarding meccas, especially for freestylers. Here there’s a world class terrain park, a new ‘eco terrain park’ that’s hand made using natural materials rather than snowmaking and heavy machinery, and a super pipe.

Other Activities and Facilities

Spa culture is thriving in Morzine, book a session with Qi Gong Balls or a massage from around the world (Californian, Swedish, Thai…) at Cocon au Pays des Flocons or similar treatments at the Baraty Centre or Espace Tonique.

Out on the snow cross country skiing is also popular with 125km of tracks for all ability levels and the ski school organizes guided snowshoe walks. The mountain guides office will be delighted to take you ice climbing up a frozen waterfall. Up in the air you can try paragliding or take a hot air balloon ride. You can dive beneath the frozen waters of local Lake Montriond.

Morzine has a major ice stadium where exciting ice hockey matches are staged regularly. There’s also a good selection of shops, bowling, a cinema and a snowmobiling operation.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Morzine is definitely one of the best resorts in France for lively nightlife. The Dixie Bar and Bowling Bar are both usually busy. There are dozens of great restaurants in Morzine and even up on the mountains you can tour more than 30 establishments participating in the ‘Pass Gourmet’ which guides you to the best places to eat. Popular choices in Morzine include Bonbonniere which has a reputation for its superb deserts.

Families

Morzine accepts children aged from three months to five years in the Outa nursery for half days or full days with indoor and outdoor play. Children aged three and older can join the ski school’s Piou-Piou club where they can get used to snow sports through a gentle introduction process mixed with games and play. The snow garden has different programmes for children aged three to five, six to eight and eight to 12. Children from age four for ski and age eight for snowboard can also progress on the French national certification scheme through regular ski school classes. Children aged 12 and over who are competent skiers or boarders can join in competition courses which include tuition in the snowpark, off piste, on the boarder cross course and really in all probable on-mountain scenarios they are ever likely to come across.

Piste Map for Morzine

Accommodation in Morzine

• Beau Regard - 2 star,
• Chalet Coralie - 3 star,
• Chalet Coralie - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Coralie - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Coralie - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Coralie - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Helene - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Helene - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Helene - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Helene - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Hotel Bel'alpe - 2 star, half board
• Chalet La Cordee - 4 star, half board
• Chalet La Cordee - 4 star, catered
• Chalet La Cordee - 4 star, catered
• Chalet La Cordee - 4 star, catered
• Chalet La Cordee - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Matine Apts - 4 star, self catering
• Chalet Perrier - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Perrier - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Perrier - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Perrier - 3 star, catered
• Hotel Le Petit Dru - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Le Sporting - 2 star, half board
• Hotel Les Airelles - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Les Champs Fleuris - 3 star, half board
• Igloo - 2 star, bed & breakfast
• Igloo - 2 star, bed & breakfast
• La Dahu - 4 star, bed & breakfast
• Le Petit Cheval Blanc - 2 star, bed & breakfast
• Le Petit Cheval Blanc - 2 star, bed & breakfast
• Le Tremplin - 3 star, half board
• Le Tremplin - 3 star, half board
• Le Viking - 3 star, catered
• Le Viking - 3 star, catered
• Le Viking - 3 star, catered
• Le Viking - 3 star, catered
• Le Viking - 3 star, catered
• Le Viking - 3 star, catered
• Les Airelles - 4 star, half board
• Les Airelles - 4 star, half board
• Sporting - 3 star, half board
• The Lodge - 4 star, self catering
• The Lodge - 4 star, self catering
• The Lodge - 4 star, self catering
• The Lodge - 4 star, self catering

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