A Week in Morzine: Riding the Portes du Soleil

Six hundred kilometres of trails across twelve resorts, The Stash carved into the Avoriaz forest by a Slopestyle legend, and a French mountain town that does après like a reflex. Here is how to do it properly.

By the IMPT Travel desk · Published 2026-05-27

Morzine is the central node of the Portes du Soleil — the largest lift-linked MTB network in the world. Twelve resorts, France and Switzerland, 600 kilometres of marked trails, and a riding season that runs from late June to mid-September. The town itself is functional rather than beautiful in the way that purpose-built ski resorts rarely achieve: wooden-clad chalets, a main street with three bike shops, and evening restaurants that understand the caloric requirements of people who have ridden 40 kilometres with 2,500 metres of climbing.

The case for Morzine as a week-long base is simple: every morning you make a different choice. The Pleney lifts take you to the Morzine side trails; the Super Morzine gondola reaches the Avoriaz plateau; the bus to Les Gets is free and runs every 20 minutes; Châtel is a day trip worth making at least once. You will not run out of terrain in a week.

Les Gets vs Morzine — which base?

Morzine and Les Gets are 9 kilometres apart and connected by road, bus, and trail. Morzine is larger, has more nightlife, better restaurant variety, and the Avoriaz gondola access. Les Gets is quieter, has its own bike park (Le Chavannes), and is slightly easier to navigate for first-time visitors. For a week-long trip, Morzine gives more options; Les Gets is the better choice for families or riders who prefer a lower-key atmosphere.

The free shuttle bus between Morzine and Les Gets runs from early July through late August — the eco choice over hiring a car for every inter-resort transfer. Outside peak season, a car is effectively required for Châtel and the outer resorts of the Portes du Soleil.

The Stash at Avoriaz

The Stash is one of the most unusual trails in the Alps — a forest-integrated flow trail at Avoriaz built by snowboard and freeride legend Benoît Augé. Wooden features blend into the trees; rock formations are incorporated without excavation; the trail feels like it grew from the forest rather than being cut through it. It is uniquely beautiful and genuinely fun for all skill levels. The upper section is the signature: a ridgeline with views across the Franco-Swiss border that justify the gondola ascent alone.

Getting to Avoriaz from Morzine: Telecabine Prodains from the valley floor (8 minutes, runs from late June). The Stash is a 10-minute pedal from the top station.

Châtel day trip

Châtel is the Swiss-border outpost of the Portes du Soleil and worth a full day trip. The trails on the Châtel side — particularly the Swiss descent into Morgins and the Chapelle-d'Abondance valley trails — have a different character to the Morzine side: more natural, less groomed, with forest sections that feel genuinely remote despite being lift-accessed. Take the free Portes du Soleil bus from Morzine (45 minutes) and buy an all-area lift pass at the Châtel gondola base.

Lift passes — what you need

The Portes du Soleil all-area pass covers all 12 resorts including Morzine, Les Gets, Châtel, Morgins, Champoussin, Champéry, and Avoriaz. It is the best value option for a week-long visit (approximately €240–280 for a 6-day pass, prices vary by year). If you are staying in Morzine and Les Gets only, the Morzine-Les Gets pass is cheaper and covers the Pleney, Nyon, and Chavannes lifts — adequate for 3–4 days of local riding before you want to venture further.

Shoulder season — why June and September are better

Late June (when lifts first open) and September are the best months to visit Morzine. Trails are in excellent condition; temperatures are manageable (18–24°C rather than the 28°C+ peaks of July and August); accommodation is available at below-peak rates; and the gondola queues that form on August Saturday mornings simply do not exist. The trade-off: some shuttles and restaurants operate reduced schedules in early June and late September. Check the Portes du Soleil website for current season dates.

Avoid the Bastille Day weekend (14 July) — it is the single busiest weekend of the summer season and prices spike accordingly.

Getting to Morzine from the UK sustainably

Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord (2h15), then TGV to Geneva (3h). From Geneva, Autocars Martin operates a direct bus service to Morzine (1h15). Total journey: 6h30 from London. Carbon footprint: approximately 0.02 tonnes CO₂ per person — versus 0.18 tonnes for the equivalent Gatwick–Geneva flight. Book Eurostar well ahead; summer Friday afternoon departures sell out weeks in advance.