650 Km (linked to Les Gets, Avoriaz, Chatel, Champery and others in Portes du Soleil region)
1,000 M
1,300 M – 3,230 M
2,466 M
Green 10%, Blue 43%, Red 35%, Black 12%.
Geneva 1 hr
Chambery 1 hr 25 mins
Lyon 2hrs 15 mins
Morzine is one of the best choices for mixed ability groups, families, corporate groups and ski weekends.
From New Year to mid-March.
The main nursery slopes and ski schools are in the Pleney area, a snowsure location above the village, accessed by an easy to use gondola lift. Steady wide slopes wind down amongst the trees to Morzine town below.
The local nursery accepts children from three months and up and their is a fantastic selection of nanny companies. Ski school is available from age three and older at Piou Piou (part of ESF) at the foot of the Pleney slopes, right in town.
Morzine may have become one of the greatest ski resorts in the Alps over the past century but its history dates back at least 800 years before that when records point to it being owned by a local monastery. This history underlines its pre-ski-era growth as a market town which today translates into a village with a rich heritage and hundreds of great cafes, bars, shops and restaurants to enjoy. Most of these are built to a traditional style, using local slate, and many are indeed reinventions of ancient buildings, brought into the 21st century but still oozing age-old charm and ambience. Busy year-round, in summer it’s a top mountain and road biking destination and a frequent stop on the Tour de France.
Morzine has a timeless feel and even though it’s busiest in the ski season, it remains a bustling mountain market town throughout the year. Along with the many dining and nightlife choices and a good selection of shops, there are some excellent public amenities including the ice centres where you can skate or watch a hockey match and the recently built indoor leisure complex (2012) with a 50-metre pool and spa facilities and a 50m swimming pool.
One of the easiest resorts to reach from Geneva (or indeed if you wish to self-drive from the UK) it’s a sizable resort with excellent facilities and many, many chalets to choose from.
Morzine is a classic, traditional French ski village that is linked to the huge Portes du Soleil ski area, a vast region that straddles the French-Swiss border, inter-connecting the skiing above a dozen villages in north countries with 650km of runs. So it’s perfectly possible to ski over to Switzerland for a spot of lunch then back to France for dinner.
The village’s nearest neighbours in the Portes du Soleil are the futuristic, car-free Avoriaz, directly above the village, which offers the highest skiing in the whole region up to at 2,466m, and Les Gets, another traditional resort with which Morzine shares a rather private sector of the vast ski area. The whole area benefits from a snowy microclimate thanks to its proximity to both Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva which means that on average snowfall is greater than usual for its altitude.
As you’d expect for such a large resort with a high proportion of British guests, there are wide-ranging facilities for children. This includes private babysitting and nanny services with a large number of agencies active in the resort. Some individual chalets also offer their own in-house provision. The resort itself has a village nursery complete with a playroom, feeding changing room and beds, based in the purpose-designed L’Outa chalet in the centre of the village, which accepts babies from three months old up to children aged five years. Ski school is available from age three and older at Piou Piou (part of ESF) at the foot of the Pleney slopes, right in town. Another option is private tutoring in British school subjects available for children aged seven and up.
In terms of ski school for older children and adults, the various schools offer private and group lessons, usually from age three. The village nursery slopes are accessed via the Pleney gondola at a location that’s high enough to normally ensure the snow quality throughout the season. The gentle beginner slopes here are ideally located for progression on to slightly more challenging but still easy runs as you or your child progresses.
Morzine is definitely one of the livelier resorts in the French Alps. There are dozens of bars that are buzzing as soon as the lifts close, although given its size there are plenty of quieter venues too if you’d like a more sophisticated night out.
For après-ski Tremplin or Crepuscule are both options for dancing to loud music whilst still wearing your ski or (more comfortable) board boots and The cavern is very popular too.
Dixies claims to be the biggest venue in the resort with the widest drinks selection and a changing menu of apres ski entertainment including DJs, live music and comedy acts. It’s one of several open from 4pm to 2am.
There’s a huge choice of bars of all shapes and sizes through the evening and if you’re still going past midnight that’s when the Opera nightclub opens – with dancing through to 5am weekend, 4.30 midweek.
Chez Nannon run by the Baud family up at Nyon is a small traditional French mountain restaurant that’s almost universally loved by Morzine regulars, primarily as it gets the basics spot-on: good food, good service and fair pricing.
Les Lhottys Restaurant (+33 4 50 34 92 09) (Better known to regulars as ‘Lhotty’s Hut’) is located at the top of the Nauchets chair lift, 1670m up. It’s a great choice for regional specialities including tartiflette or onion soup and has a good vegetarian range too. There’s a great sheltered terrace if the weather is good.
Le Vaffieu (+33 4 50 79 09 43) is an eternally popular (booking a table for lunch highly recommended) choice. Located at the top of the Folliets chair there’s a great atmosphere and of course, very good food.
Le Clin D’Oeil (63 route du Plan; restaurant-leclin.com) has risen to the hallowed TripAdvisor top spot of the 150 or so choices in Morzine. It offers superb food including vegetarian and vegan options, reasonable prices, great service – simple.
Le Samaoyede (hotel-lesamoyede.com) restaurant in the large four-star hotel of the same name has long been regarded as one of Morzine’s best with a wide-ranging menu of French and international cuisine.
If you’re after a French fromage feast, or indeed any other traditional French meal in a convivial atmosphere and location you can’t go far wrong at La Grange (lagrangemorzine.com), one of the best in town.
British run New Generation (www.skinewgen.com) have more than 20 years experience operating the full range of ski instruction options including private lessons and off piste guiding.
Progression Ski and Snowboard school (progressionski.com) have built a reputation as one of the best in the French Alps over the past decade or so. Great for private lessons, off piste guiding and everything else.
Ski Beyond (skibeyond.co.uk) is a British run ski school with more than 10 years’ experience in the region and lots of local knowledge. They take a holistic approach to teaching mind and body.
A group of independent British instructors work together as The Snow Institute (TSI) (thesnowinstitute.com), they offer all types of private and group lessons subject to your requirements.
PDS Ski School (https://pds-academy.co.uk) have been booking lessons for our clients since our conception. Their friendly can do approach means nothing is too much trouble and they will always fit lessons and children’s ski groups around your needs. All of their instructors hold their BASI ISTD level 4 qualification and French equivalent which helps clients reach their goals.
As a respected and trusted agency with over 16 years of experience, you are in good hands. We have travelled the Alps to put together our comprehensive portfolio and know all of our chalets and owners personally.
What’s more, we will always offer an honest, unbiased opinion to help you book the chalet holiday that’s right for you, at the best price. With free pre-arrival concierge thrown in.
Plus if you can’t find what you’re looking for on our site, simply get in touch. We have access to a whole host of stunning chalets and family-friendly properties not yet featured on our site.
All of our chalets have been hand-picked with exceptional service and experience in mind. Our comprehensive portfolio offers you access to all of the finest luxury ski chalets in Europe’s leading ski resorts.
Our ski specialist offer friendly impartial advice and have unrivalled resort and chalet knowledge. They have also visited the properties so we have first hand experience of what will be the best fit for you and your group.
Our pre-arrival concierge team work around the clock to ensure you have everything organised to perfection. From expert advice on the liveliest après ski stops to husky sledging, heli-skiing or a private jet, no request is too tricky.
Our prices are never undercut. We are competitive in the market and do the research to secure the best deal on your behalf. So you can rest assured you will never find the chalet at a better rate elsewhere.
Highly recommend the Chalet Edit and the service they offer. Anna in particular is amazing, nothing is too much trouble. Definitely the company to use if you need help arranging your ski holiday.
I would thoroughly recommend The Chalet Edit. I felt Anna Sampson gave me a very personal service in her search to find our family a ski chalet. Her communication with us was faultless. A rare quality these days. Thank you
The Chalet Edit helped organise a last minute skiing trip to Meribel for 11 of us over Easter 2019. We stayed at Chalet Iamato and I think it was probably one of the best holidays I have been lucky to have taken. Anna at The Chalet Edit provided fist class service – helping with Ski Hire and Ski Passes. Ensured we got responses to out myriad of question prior to leaving. Can’t praise this company and her enough.