Portes du Soleil

A vast circuit across the French–Swiss border, about an hour from Geneva, with family villages from Les Gets to Champéry.

The mountain

Portes du Soleil on SkiDomain’s mountain criteria, each scored 1–9. The ski area is scored once; where you stay is the separate decision below.

Where to stay: 5 villages

The same lift pass, different weeks. Each village is scored on its own for the holiday around the skiing.

Morzine

Traditional/lively town · Local shuttle / short transfer to lifts

This village’s holiday scores are under review, so they are not shown here; it is still in the matcher.

• A real town.
• The Portes du Soleil.
• 1,000 m; the honest weakness.

Stay Hôtel Le Samoyède (4★, the family-run classic at the Pléney); Le Petit Dru (4★, chalet-hotel); Chalet Kalliste (for a group)

Eat L'Étale (the evening); La Chamade (the institution); Chez Nannon on the mountain at Nyon

Marc’s tip
A real French market town at 1,000 m with the Pléney gondola from the centre and Avoriaz's altitude on the other side of the road — 600 km of Portes du Soleil on one pass, a Geneva transfer of ninety minutes, and a town that works without skis. Low, so choose a snowy year or ski Avoriaz.

Avoriaz

High-altitude pedestrian · True ski-in/out / direct lift

This village’s holiday scores are under review, so they are not shown here; it is still in the matcher.

• The whole village.
• Car-free and the Aquariaz water park.
• The honest trade-off.

Stay Hôtel des Dromonts (4★, the 1966 icon, restored); Résidence Amara (Pierre & Vacances premium, ski-in/out); Les Crozats (the value)

Eat Les Dromonts' restaurant; La Cabane (the evening); La Crémaillère at Les Lindarets on the mountain (the village of goats)

Marc’s tip
Car-free, ski-in/out, sleighs on the streets, and the 1960s architecture that either delights or doesn't — the highest base in the Portes du Soleil at 1,800 m and the Swiss Wall next door. The family and snowboard choice; Morzine for the town.

Les Gets

Traditional family village · Direct lift / short walk

This village’s holiday scores are under review, so they are not shown here; it is still in the matcher.

• The village and the Chavannes nursery slopes.
• A chalet village.
• Low; the honest weakness.

Stay Hôtel La Marmotte (4★, spa, the family institution); Chalet-hôtel Crychar (4★, at the piste); Le Labrador (the value)

Eat La Marmotte's restaurant; L'Orée du Bois; La Fruitière des Perrières (the cheese evening)

Marc’s tip
Morzine's quieter, prettier neighbour — a chalet village with a real centre, Mont Chéry across the road for the empty side, and the Portes du Soleil from the Chavannes lifts. The family village of the Portes du Soleil; Geneva an hour and a half.

Châtel

Traditional village · Direct lift / short walk

This village’s holiday scores are under review, so they are not shown here; it is still in the matcher.

• Portes du Soleil at Châtel prices.
• A village.
• Quiet; the honest trade-off.

Stay Hôtel Macchi (4★, spa, the reference); Hôtel Le Fleur de Neige (4★, family-run); the Linga chalets

Eat The Macchi's dining room; Le Vieux Four (the evening); Chez Denis on the mountain at Plaine Dranse

Marc’s tip
The French side's quiet end — a real Savoyard village, the Linga and Super-Châtel sectors, Lake Geneva from the pistes, and Switzerland five minutes over the border. Cheaper and calmer than Morzine; the same 600 km.

Champéry

Traditional Swiss village · Direct lift / short walk

This village’s holiday scores are under review, so they are not shown here; it is still in the matcher.

• A village first.
• The Swiss Wall and the Grand Paradis.
• No ski-in/out: the cable car from the village is the way onto the mountain.

Stay Hôtel National Resort & Spa (4★S, on the village street, the address); Le Petit Baroudeur and the village chalets for a family or group

Eat Le Boulevard at the National; Le Vieux Chalet (fondue); Chez Coquoz at Planachaux on the mountain (lunch)

Marc’s tip
The Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil — a real Valais village with a wooden main street, the cable car up to Planachaux, and the Swiss Wall (the Chavanette) over the border in Avoriaz. Prices in francs, but quieter and prettier than the French side; Geneva is ninety minutes.

Getting there

Nearest main gateway in our data: Geneva (GVA), about 1 h door to door.

By road: Geneva 1 h 30, Lyon 2 h 30, Basel 3 h 40, Zurich 3 h 50 and Turin 3 h 50.

Passes

No Epic or Ikon access in our 2026/27 data.

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Researched by SkiDomain, the ski destination matcher of Expeditioner Travel. Scores are our researched judgement on a 1–9 scale, reviewed by the owner before publication; hotel and restaurant picks are Marc’s. Expeditioner earns commission on bookings and no resort pays for placement.