Avoriaz is a ski resort located in the heart of the famous “Gate of the Sun” ski area, Porte du Soleil. It was built about half a century ago and, unlike its traditional French and Swiss neighbors, looks very modern. The architecture of Avoriaz is a beautiful example of modernism, inscribed in the countryside. The resort consists of five districts (De la Falaise, De Crozat, De Rouche, Des Dromonies, De Wid Fort, Du Festival).

Avoriaz is a ski resort in France, located between Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva, in the Chablais mountain range.

Avoriaz is not a geographical point, but a special philosophy. “The creators of the resort were in no hurry, they did not get involved in the race of concrete boxes,” says Anne-Sophie Hazar, press secretary of the tourism office. A person who did not interfere in these mountains, he asked and promised that he would not distort the magnificent landscapes.”

One of the 14 and the highest (1800 m above sea level) ski stations of the Porte du Soleil skiing area. The most unusual resort in the French Alps due to its architecture. Multi-storey buildings, covered from top to bottom with wood, sloping facades and roofs descending almost to the ground, as if repeating the surrounding landscape …

Car traffic is prohibited in the resort, all cars remain in the parking lot at the entrance to the village, and tourists with luggage are delivered to their places of residence by horse-drawn sleighs or snowmobiles. Instead of streets, there are trails, and each house can be approached on skis. All the principles underlying the organization of a modern ski resort are perfectly observed here. The resort was originally thought out, built and sharpened for skiing. Good conditions for children.

Characteristics of the slopes

Avoriaz is famous among skiers all over the world for a reason – the location of the resort guarantees the presence of snow throughout the skiing season; on average, the cover is eight meters.

Championships and stages of the World Cup are held here, as well as simple meetings and rallies. The resort is suitable for all types of skiing. “Carvers” are guaranteed access to any slopes without tows (though only on the French part). Freeriders are provided with jumps from rocky islands, a huge selection of off-piste skiing and races among the Christmas trees. You will not encounter queues here thanks to modern lifts with high capacity. Helicopters fly over the resort, trying to pass at a sufficient height. They pick up freeriders from “wild” routes (the service is budget for companies of several people), take them on excursions over Mont Blanc.

The most interesting skiing areas are Haut Forts and Pas Chavanette, from where you can descend the famous black “Wall” to the Swiss resort Champeri.

Another interesting track of the French ski resort Avoriaz, designed by the founder of the famous Burton company, deserves attention. The Stash track is the best track in all of Europe. Its location in the middle of the forest and the slope with this natural snow makes it possible for any extreme skier with different levels of training to ski, for this there are three slopes.

Let’s not forget about special devices for extreme tricks, there are about 90 of them here. And in the The Stash zone, another novelty awaits you, this year a slalom track was laid here.

The “First Exit” trail is a 1.2 km long trail, designed exclusively for training beginners, protected and fenced off from other skiers, with an entrance right in the center of the resort. The trail has specially added contours that allow you to organize training at different stages of getting to know skiing.

With a single ski pass, you get access to:

– 650 km of trails – 2 countries – 14 resorts

– 195 lifts.

– 266 marked trails: 36 green, 106 blue, 124 red and black.

– 214 km of cross – country.

– 10 snow parks, 3 halfpipes, 4 bordercross zones.

– 89 restaurants on the slope

The longest is the Chamoisier slope in Morzine – 11 km. There, the lower 500-meter slope is illuminated and open until 9 pm.

The location of the resort allows you to ski to any hotel.

Snowboard parks

Avoriaz is the first European resort where the Burton Stash park with natural obstacles and freestyle figures was built.

The track with a height difference of 450 meters and a length of 1800 meters will become a dream come true. It will allow you to completely reevaluate the concept of a freestyle park and unleash the full creative potential of riders. The Stash concept was developed by Jake Burton and members of the Burton professional team. The track is designed for the strongest riders. Stash consists of various natural obstacles – accumulations of snowdrifts, jumps, road gaps, wall rides, trees that act as jib figures, drops from rocks, descents between trees and a one-of-a-kind wooden house that is an obstacle. Only natural components were used in the production of the track – no metal or plastic, only wood, earth and stones.

Stash is the result of two years of collaboration between Burton and Avoriaz. Burton chose Avoriaz for its commitment to freestyle and the strong team of park staff that has created one of the best resorts in Europe. Avoriaz park staff and Burton riders jointly designed the course and placed the obstacles so that riders could easily connect tricks on different obstacles throughout the descent. This park has an ideal location. When clouds gather over the mountains, the park can be used for a photo shoot without any problems for visibility.

Where to stay in Avoriaz?

Almost all hotels in Avoriaz are 3-star. In the very center of Avoriaz is the famous hotel Les Balcons du Soleil, next to which there are many bars, restaurants and shops. The windows of this hotel offer a magical view.

The hotel mainly consists of apartments designed for 4-8 people. At your disposal will be a bathroom, a telephone and even a vacuum cleaner with a microwave. The nearest lift is 150 meters away. There are many sports shops near the hotel, for those who arrived without equipment or forgot to buy something.

Also, 20 meters from the ski school, there is the hotel Rsd Cedrat, which belongs to the 3-star hotels. The hotel is 40 km from the train station and 95 km from the airport. You can start skiing right from the residence’s door.

In your apartments you will find: telephone, TV, equipped kitchens and bathrooms. The rooms are designed for two to seven people. Guests staying at the hotel can use: ski storage, luggage room, bar, disco, Turkish bath, restaurant and sauna. There are numerous entertainment programs for children. You can go to school and take skiing lessons or take forest walks in the picturesque area of Avoriaz.

Other accommodation options:

Résidence Pierre & Vacances Saskia Falaise 3 star hotel

The Résidence Saskia Falaise is located in the ski resort of Avoriaz 1800 and offers direct access to the slopes. The apartments offer panoramic views of the Morzine Valley and a private balcony.

The apartments at Saskia Falaise have a fully equipped kitchen with a microwave and dishwasher. The living room has a flat-screen TV with satellite channels.

La Falaise restaurant serves traditional French cuisine and there is a bar. The hotel has a kids’ club and a 24-hour reception during winter.

In winter, a grocery delivery service is available for an additional fee, and bread and pastries can be ordered at reception. If you book in advance and depending on the dates of your stay, you can enjoy discounted rates on ski passes and equipment rental.

Saskia Falaise is located near the Swiss border in the French Haute-Savoie region. Lake Geneva is approximately 40 km away.

Next to the complex is the L’Aquariaz Mountain Spa, which covers over 2,000 m² and features swimming pools and water slides. There is also a climbing wall, an outdoor hot tub overlooking the valley and a lazy river in the pool.

Maeva Particuliers Résidence Les Ruches

Maeva Particuliers Résidence Les Ruches is located in Avoriaz, 600 metres from the Ecole and Tours ski lifts.

All apartments have a living area with a sofa, a dining area and a fully equipped kitchenette with a microwave, a fridge and a stovetop.

The apartments have ski-to-door access and ski storage. Guests can enjoy skiing in the surrounding area.

The Sainte-Chapelle, Thrashers and Dromont ski lifts are located in the vicinity of Résidence Les Ruches. Meythet Airport is 98 km away.

The most popular accommodation among tourists is the apartments, the best of which you will find at the entrance to the resort, in the Fali area. The most significant difference from other resorts, all hotels and apartments, is their architecture. All buildings are finished in wood and fit perfectly into the local landscape. Some buildings are sixteen stories high. Accommodation prices range from 500 euros per week and above.

Restaurants and entertainment

Bars:

After skiing – Bar “Le Fantastic”: its name comes from the festival held in this resort for 20 years. A legendary meeting place for resort regulars. Located in the heart of Avoriaz.

“Le Bowling”: a bar with bowling alleys, billiards, karaoke, lots of video games and slot machines.

“Le Hyac”: A modern nightclub with a DJ podium in the center of the dance floor (free admission)

“La Cabane”: a mountain pub, a place with a chic interior, modern and cozy, with a restaurant, billiards tables, a lounge bar, a huge bar and a dance floor with a stage for a DJ or a live concert. A variety of programs: starting at 5 p.m., a cozy atmosphere for those returning from skiing, with light snacks and music, after dinner – an evening with DJs or live concerts (free admission).

«Le Shooter»: a huge bar with a central dance floor surrounded by sofas and tables, a stage for a DJ. Very popular with foreign youth (free admission). A variety of other bars with a very different atmosphere allow holidaymakers to choose a different style for each evening. Many bars are concentrated around the show area, so during the evening you can easily move from one bar to another!

In Avoriaz there are many restaurants (25 in the resort itself and 21 on the ski slopes) with different types of cuisine. Here are some examples:

“La Cabane”: a restaurant with a special atmosphere, open until 2 am, offers French and Asian cuisine. Dinner in the form of a cocktail or at individual tables.

“Les Entres”: a traditional restaurant with a variety of cuisine.

“Le Bistro”: Inventive and refined mountain cuisine, French gastronomy, Savoyard cuisine, wine bar – all this in a new modern “mountain” decor. Cozy atmosphere, bright fabrics, carpet on the floor, specially designed for this restaurant. Lunch: sushi, roast. Prices: from €20. 3 rooms on two floors. Large outdoor terrace with a beautiful view of the valley.

“La Table du Marché” by Christophe Leroy (restaurant of the Dromont Hotel): the famous chef from Saint-Tropez welcomes you to this snowy paradise in the shape of a pine cone… A legendary place where movie stars such as Robert de Niro, Steven Spielberg, Isabelle Adjani have been. Gastronomic cuisine that goes beyond the usual. Set lunch – €45

Le Chalet d’Avoriaz – In Lanvin. Located in the upper part of the resort. Traditional Savoyard cuisine. The resort’s oldest restaurant, housed in an old shepherd’s chalet. It has been run by the same family for generations. It serves the only triple fondue in France: divided into three parts of pots, in which you can choose from three different fondue recipes: natural, with pepper, with chanterelles, with herbs, with wrinkled mushrooms and with porcini mushrooms. You can enjoy it either in a “rustic” setting or on one of the two terraces overlooking the slopes. This restaurant specializes in mountain cuisine and uses high-quality products. All specialties are prepared with cheese from a nearby Swiss farm.

“155 Steakhouse”: a wine bar with a large selection of sandwiches. Signature meat dishes: beef steak tartare, Italian-style beef fillet, beef ribs, risotto with wrinkles. Signature desserts. Everything is prepared on site from fresh products, the kitchen opens into the hall, the terrace faces south.

“Le-66”: Gastronomic restaurant in the new quarter of Amar. The terrace offers a magnificent view of the valley. Direct access on skis. New in Avoriaz.

On the slopes (daytime):

Restaurant “La Cremayer”: right on the ski slope, specialties with mountain chanterelles: omelette, veal ribs, spaghetti. In the heart of the small mountain village of Le Lenard, Access only on skis.

“U Coco” (in Champery, Switzerland): mountain gastronomic restaurant on the ski slope. Mountain cuisine in a new form (hay soup, leg of lamb with alpine herbs …); impressive wine cellar. Two lifts from Avoriaz. A gastronomic opening to your holiday. Reservations recommended.

Entertainment and sports

In addition to skiing and snowboarding, in Avoriaz you can go snowmobiling, ice skating, snowmobiling, work out in the gym of the sports center, go snowshoeing, try your hand at winter scuba diving; There are 3 snow parks and a superpipe.

For those who want to learn to ski, 5 sports schools are open, where 270 certified instructors teach.

For children from 3 to 5 years old, the club “Les p’tits loups” (“Little Wolf”) was created.

In December 2012, Aquariaz was opened in Avoriaz – the largest water entertainment center in the mountain region, built according to the Center Parcs project.

Aquariaz is designed as a water paradise in the mountains, where you can relax amidst luxurious vegetation and stones: a water stream, a slide, an underwater tree, a paddling pool, a large pool with climbing walls, hydromassage benches and an outdoor spa with a temperature of 34 °, which requires a visit!

This sweet word is Shopping

There are about 40 shops in Avoriaz where you can buy everything from basic necessities to exclusive clothing. 5 supermarkets: Shopi and Sherpa, Internet cafe

Nightlife

About 30 restaurants

Pubs, such as Pub le Choucas

Nightclub – La Yak

Discotheque le Festival

Cinema

For fans of active recreation, there is: an ice rink, bowling, billiards, a sports center with a gym, sauna, jacuzzi, Turkish bath and a squash room; sleigh rides, helicopter tours over the mountains, scooter tours, mountain biking, ice diving, and so on.

Finance

2 banks

4 EC – ATMs in the center (Euro/Mastercard/Visa)

1 Post Office is located next to the information office in the center

Telephone booths are installed everywhere (cards are sold in tobacconists)