[Closed] Alpine Holiday advice - Les Gets/Morzine

Earlier in the season seems to be better for both the weather and the condition of the trails

Being based in Morzine gives easier access to a wider variety of trails as, if you miss the last lift, you can still ride downhill on the road to Morzine.

Sorry kid, you missed Bar Robinson.

It will take a few visits before you fully know the place - it’s huge. To be honest, I’m not sure I’d bother with a guide, though. Just explore.

Rachel

For family I would say Les Gets.

For solo traveller I would say Morzine.

The trails are well marked, lots of folk around, good maps and friendly lift attendees. Just follow your nose! So much to do as Rachel says, you can't go that wrong picking a trail or place to visit amd connecting lifts and trails.

Morzine coz it’s in the middle (it’ll make sense when you’re there). Also it’s downhill to Morzine from the neighbouring resorts which is handy if you miss the last lift... Morzine to Les Gets is a SLOG on a big bike after a big day.

The season is quite short, some lifts do run in the weeks leading up to it and sometimes if the snow doesn’t come after it, but I wouldn’t risk it.

Opening weekend is usually the Passportes event, it’s a good weekend, I don’t like the actual event but the stuff that goes with it is good, can make for busy queues at the lifts though.

If you’re going solo stay in one of the half-board places, sometimes they come with guiding groups which will make it more social.

if you’re going as a group there’s loads of places to stay, I’ve never seen a ‘dump’ anywhere as the place is for skiers really and they seem to like, nay demand posh digs. We found a place for £650 for a week, 4 bedroom apartment with secure underground carpark - found it via AirBnB but booksed direct as it was much cheaper.

Just to echo the above. Morzine is the better place to stay as it's easy to ride to other areas and at the end of the day it's a roll home even from a very long way away so you can ride until the last lift. It's a nice town too with a pool, ice rink, sports centre, plus nice bars and restaurants (although they are good in other resorts too)

As for timing earlier is marginally better but not that much in it. Having good weather makes the biggest difference and that is pretty unpredictable.

For riding it depends what you like there is everything there. A few play days in the bike parks. A couple of bigger loops. Start early for the big loops to give yourself time to some extra runs if you find something fun and time to get the last lift if you get lost (unlikely, it's an easy palace to navigate)

Ace, thanks guys! For the record thinking of going solo yeah!

So... a Portes du Soleil MTB Lift Pass will get me access to all lifts it sounds like..?

So… a Portes du Soleil MTB Lift Pass will get me access to all lifts it sounds like..?

Yes, well all the bike ones anyway, there are designated walkers lifts and there’s one for the luge you need a different pass for, but for all intents and purposes, yes.

I stayed with Custom Break at Chalet Alice in Morzine for skiing in January.  I'd recommend them for a one stop package including transfers - great chalet with secure storage and a short stroll into town.

I'd also recommend Le Boomerang in Les Gets who I've stayed with biking in the summer.

Hi All,

So I've found a place in Avoriaz which claims to be quite close to mountain bike lifts... Am I in the right place here?

Thanks in advance.

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/help-please-morzine-for-the-non-downhiller/

Avoriaz = top of a mountain toy town resort, either bus/drive out of town or a big cable car jaunt. Pic below sums it up.

Bang in middle of trails and lifts. Not quite so close to lots of choice of bars etc, especially if you do not have a car.

We didn't stay there, wanting to be near shops/cafe/etc

Edit: we walked and cycled through:

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4324/35653468030_6f43001fc5_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4324/35653468030_6f43001fc5_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/WjzkU3 ]Les Gets, Geneva and Paris 2017[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

So I’ve found a place in Avoriaz which claims to be quite close to mountain bike lifts… Am I in the right place here?

I wouldn't stay in Avoriaz personally.

I stand by to be corrected, but IMHO:

1) It's a ghost town in Summer, I've driven up to it with the kids and ridden through it with my mates pretty much every year since 2007 and it always looks closed to me, or at least 80% closed, for the same reason I never really warmed to Les Arcs.

2) Admittedly, it's not a major concern, but it's pretty bloody ugly without a coating of snow. The above pics look nice enough, but it's all concrete and looked like one of the massive old Eastern Bloc high rises I visited in the Czech Republic, only with pointy roofs.

3) If you miss the last lift, or the lifts close because of bad weather (happens now and again) you are DOOMED. There are trails FROM Avoriaz to Lindret, Chatel and Morzine, but apart from the ridge from the top of the Super Morzine lift to Avoriaz there aren't any TO Avoriaz because it's right at the top of the Mountain. I once had to pedal from Morzine to Les Gets after a day out and it made me weep, that's nothing compared what trying to get up to Avoriaz would be like.

Honestly, if you're going to PDS, Morzine is the default choice, good night life, near the middle of the French side of the resort, lots of places to stay and it's got a decent super market.

It took me just over an hour* to cycle up to Avoriaz from Morzine. On a road bike. It’s a long way up if the lifts close!!

* to be fair, it was a (very nice) borrowed bike and ridiculously large size 11 borrowed shoes so I was never going to be that fast!!

rachel

Good feedback, just booked a week in Morzine! Thanks for all the help! 🙂

When do summer lift passes come out usually? Can't seem to buy them on the site yet.

You don't buy them in advance. Just go to the ticket office at the lift stations.

Sorry kid, you missed Bar Robinson.

I'm out of the loop having not been for 6 years - what's happened? It's surely not closed?!?!

Bar Robinson is fine.

The old matriarch carked it a few years back. World turned, beer is served again.

Morzine is the best location to base yourself as most have already said.

Ive put this sheet together of lift opening dates if its any use

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1o4dwlPzpCV8gVBaFFV-K8ZxmrRQo00JBUo2NITpDYkU/edit?usp=sharing

I think folk are confusing Bar Robinson with Le Cottage which has finally closed down and is being demolished.

Robbo's is in fine form under Julien's watch.

if your going solo, and for the first time you should enter the PPDS. It will give you a good base knowledge of the area then you can return to your favourite bits later. You might make some fwiends too...

PPDS?

Passportes du Soleil

http://en.passportesdusoleil.com/

Wait... the event! Figured it out! 🙂

Thanks for the spreadsheet, will stick it on my Google document.

Cool.... think I'm all set. Just need to buy airport transfer and get my lift pass when I arrive it sounds like.

Thanks again!

Good work, you’ll have a blast - don’t be afraid to post your dates up, a lot of us are their over the summer if you want some company on the trails.