Avoriaz Ski Holidays

Why choose Avoriaz

Avoriaz suits people who value convenience, and it works particularly well for families looking for everything on their doorstep, and easy ski-in/ski-out access. There are no cars in the centre and all streets are snow-covered and skiable. All accommodation are right on the slopes, which makes daily life much easier than most resorts. You won’t be carrying skis across roads and you’re not likely to see a shuttle bus all week.

There’s real character to the place too. The cedar-clad buildings, angular and weathered to the colour of the rock and trees around them, were set into the slope to catch the light and frame the mountains, so you’ll be treated to great views.

We often recommend Avoriaz to families, mixed-ability groups and skiers who want a large ski area without staying in a sprawling valley town. The Portes du Soleil delivers a huge cross-border playground linking France and Switzerland, one of the largest ski areas in the world at 600km, brilliant when conditions are good. Avoriaz is one of the most snow-sure bases in the Portes du Soleil, with better access to the higher slopes than lower resorts such as Morzine.

Nightlife in Avoriaz is fair enough, with bars, après and La Folie Douce, but it isn’t a full-on party resort in the way St Anton, Val d’Isère or Ischgl can be.

Skiing in Avoriaz

Avoriaz gives you access to the Portes du Soleil, one of the largest linked ski areas in Europe. The skiing is varied, with gentle beginner areas, long cruising blues and reds, and plenty of terrain for confident skiers who want to explore over into Switzerland.

For families and intermediates, the layout is the real win. It’s easy to get onto the slopes, meet up during the day and get back to your accommodation without complicated logistics. Beginners are especially well served. Avoriaz has one of the biggest beginners’ areas anywhere, with 12km of dedicated slopes across the Proclou and Super Morzine sectors and a discounted pass rate to match. Some blue runs in the wider Portes du Soleil can be narrower and busier than nervous skiers expect, which is why we pay close attention to lesson meeting points and accommodation location when recommending Avoriaz to first-timers.

Stronger skiers shouldn’t write it off as purely family-friendly, either. The terrain around Mossettes, Cuboré and the Lindarets bowl can be excellent, particularly after fresh snow, and for a real test the legendary Swiss Wall at the Swiss border is one of the most difficult runs in Europe. The main caveat is altitude across the wider area. Avoriaz itself is one of the higher, more snow-reliable bases in the Portes du Soleil, but some linked sectors sit lower and can soften quickly in warm weather. If you’re travelling later in the season, staying up in Avoriaz rather than down in Morzine can be a very sensible call.

Avoriaz is also one of the strongest snowboard and freestyle choices in France, with four snowparks in total. The Stash, its all-wooden park set through the trees at Lindarets, was even named the best snowpark in the world by CNN in 2019. Alongside it there’s the Lil’Stash for children and beginners, the very progressive Chapelle Snowpark that scales from small features up to large, and the Japan-inspired Nami Park for experts.

Ski passes and lessons in Avoriaz

Most visitors choose between a local Avoriaz pass and the full Portes du Soleil lift pass. For beginners or families staying mainly around resort, the local area may be plenty, especially in the first few days. For confident intermediates and adventurous skiers, the full Portes du Soleil pass usually earns its keep by opening up the wider French-Swiss area.

Avoriaz has a good choice of ski schools and is popular with families. The car-free layout again makes mornings simple. As with any resort, we’d look at where lessons start before recommending accommodation. In somewhere this convenient, it would be a shame to book the wrong side of the village and lose the advantage.

Ski accommodation in Avoriaz

At Ski Line we offer around 20 carefully selected properties in Avoriaz, and nearly all of them are ski-in/ski-out, which in a village where every street is a piste is exactly what you’d expect. In many places, ski-in/ski-out needs careful checking. In Avoriaz, it’s genuinely part of the experience.

Our programme covers self-catered apartments, hotels and catered chalets. Apartments offer the widest choice, particularly where several are available within the same building, and we also feature a small selection of hotels and catered chalets for anyone who prefers more service or a hosted holiday. You’ll find plenty of the features, including hot tubs and swimming pools. Childcare-included options are more limited, so families after that kind of package should speak to us early.

Avoriaz accommodation varies quite a lot. Some accommodation is quiet and brilliantly located, whilst that more centrally located can be noisier. Most visitors love Avoriaz’s convenience, but general reviews of apartment-style accommodation can mention dated interiors or noise. Rest assured that Ski Line works closely with our partners to offer the best accommodation options. If in doubt then please call us for the best recommendations.

Après ski in Avoriaz

Avoriaz has a lively enough après scene, though it isn’t a nightlife-first resort. La Folie Douce is the headline venue, bringing the familiar mix of music, dancing and high-energy après. It’s fun, loud and popular.

Beyond that, you’ll find a good spread of bars, pubs and relaxed evening spots rather than a big clubbing scene. For a more casual evening places such as Shooters, Le Tavaillon and the various village bars work well. For a lot of families and mixed groups, that balance is exactly the appeal.

Restaurants

Avoriaz has a better restaurant scene than people tend to expect from a purpose-built resort, though the best places are worth seeking out rather than just taking the nearest table.

Le Trainô, La Réserve and L’Alpage du Crot come up again and again from returning clients, while Le Yeti gets a regular mention for casual slope-side food and a sun-trap spot. Some love the atmosphere and live entertainment of La Cabane too, while others find it too pricey or too much like a party when they’d come for dinner.

Prices aren’t low. We’d estimate they’re around 20% more expensive than other large French ski areas, but worth it. It can be an expensive week, but most people accept the premium because of, you guessed it, Avoriaz’s amazing convenience.

Activities off the slopes in Avoriaz

Avoriaz works well for non-skiers and families because the resort itself is compact and easy to move around. The best-known non-ski attraction is Aquariaz, the indoor tropical-style water park, which is a lifesaver for families with children, and there are also sledging areas, snowshoeing, spas, shops, restaurants and scenic horse-drawn sleigh rides through the village.