The small French resort of Les Gets is located at the very edge of the Port du Soleil region and is only an hour’s drive from Geneva. In winter, there are traditionally many sunny days here, and in clear weather you can clearly see Mont Blanc.

Of the 14 resorts included in the Port du Soleil region, eight are located in France, the remaining six are in Switzerland. And each of them has its own advantages and its own face. If you are looking for seclusion, a calm, quiet vacation and less crowded trails, stop your choice at the cozy French village of Le Jeux. Here are excellent conditions for family vacations with children. The resort is marked with the sticker “Family + mountains”, which means its maximum suitability for recreation with children.

Le Ge is located on a small pass at an altitude of +1172 m with its “home” skiing area and 120 kilometers of tracks.

This natural alpine village began its history in the 11th century. Even new houses and hotels are being built here in the traditional Alpine style. Hotels in Le Jeux are mainly two- and three-star. Against the general background, the very homely and cozy La Marmotte chalet hotel, which has been assigned a solid 4*, stands out.

For the interior decoration of this chalet, wooden panels more than a hundred years old, collected from old houses, were used. A painting made on a tree by bark beetles is considered particularly chic, which confirms the age and naturalness of the tree. The rooms at La Marmotte are spacious and decorated with a lot of imagination and taste, and the excellent restaurant will satisfy the most demanding guest with its menu.

Hôtel Spa Crychar 4-star hotel

The country hotel Le Crychar Hôtels-Chalets de Tradition is conveniently located next to the ski slopes. The building has a garden with a terrace. It features a year-round spa with a sauna and an indoor heated pool. Free Wi-Fi is available on the territory.

Numerous ski tracks are laid next to forests and mountain pastures, offering a wonderful panoramic view of the Port du Soleil region.

After a day on the slopes of Le Jeux, guests can relax by the fireplace, where they serve homemade pastries, pies and a variety of teas. In the morning, the hotel serves a buffet breakfast.

In summer, guests can go hiking or mountain biking. The nearby Gets Golf Course offers beautiful views of Mont Blanc.

Hôtel Alpina 3-star hotel

The Alpina Hotel is conveniently located in the village of Les Jeux in the Port du Soleil ski region, 55 km from Geneva International Airport.

There are 3 chalets with a large selection of rooms and family suites. All of them are decorated in the traditional “Savoy” style and are equipped with a telephone and a TV with satellite channels. Guests can use a private bathroom and Wi-Fi.

In the pleasant atmosphere of the restaurant, dishes of local cuisine prepared from fresh products are served, and the bar offers guests drinks by the fireplace.

The hotel is located in the center of the valley, which is ideal for relaxing in the lap of nature. There is a quiet summer garden at the hotel; in winter, it turns into a platform from which the ski slopes start.

In addition, the Alpina Hotel has a spa center with a swimming pool, hot tub, hammam and shower with hydromassage, as well as outdoor and indoor parking.

On skis!

Le Ge is surrounded by 3 peaks: Mont Chery (1850 m), La Rosta (1665 m) and Le Ranfoily (1826 m), along the slopes of which “home” tracks are laid.

Altitudes here vary from one thousand one hundred and seventy-two to 2002 meters, so the slope of the 50 local tracks is small (however, even local residents often cannot separate the descents of Le Jeux from the tracks of Morzine), but the longest ” blue ” track from the top of Le Ranfolly has a length of 6 km (the total length of the slopes is 110 km). On the sunny southern slopes there are about two dozen easy tracks for beginners, a slalom stadium and the so-called Gliss’District for snowboarders and freestylers. But on the northern slope there are several “red” descents and pristine areas (it is recommended to ride here only with experienced guides – the area is avalanche-dangerous). And, of course, we should not forget about the easy accessibility of the slopes of Morzine and other nearby resorts.

Le Jeux is a recognized resort for intermediate level skiers and family vacations.

Part of the ski area and mountain restaurants are accessible without lifts. The ski season is from mid-December to the end of April.

• Altitude difference – 1000-2350 m
• The number of lifts in Port du Soleil is 211: gondola lifts – 14, chairlifts – 83, cable cars – 114
• The number of lifts in Le Jeux and Morzine is 52: funiculars – 2, cable cars – 3, chairlifts – 22, cable cars – 25
• Ski slopes – 68 (le Mont-Chéry, les Chavannes, Nyon, Le Pleney)
• The total length of the Morzine and Les Gêt tracks is 260 km: for beginners – 10%, medium difficulty – 44%, for experienced skiers – 36%, difficult – 10%
• The total length of the Port du Soleil tracks is 650 km
• Snowpark

There are adult and children’s ski and snowboard schools.

Skiing with children

The Le Grand Cry play track (Grand Cry, the territory of the Cree Indian chief) is ideal for children from 5 to 12 years old. It includes sections of mini slalom, skiing with music, a trapper’s hut and wigwams. Indian animators pretending to be beginner skiers play treasure hunts with children. Those who perform the ritual dance in front of the totem will be recorded on video, which can be published on social networks.

Mappy zone – allows you to learn skiing in complete safety and absolutely free of charge. The gentle slope is equipped with two moving tracks and two rope lifts.

The La Piste Mauve Milka educational track, which introduces skiers to the alpine terrain, is decorated with life-size animal figures and explanatory panels with images of flora and fauna typical for these places.

The fastest and most modern lift – the gondola Chavannes Express with a capacity of 3,000 people per hour, takes skiers and boarders to the upper skiing area. Parallel to it, a new six-chair lift and another bugle, unique, almost museum exhibit, were installed. This is the Boule de Gomme lift, first installed in Le Ge in 1936 and, moreover, one of the first lifts produced by the world-famous Poma company. What is interesting: it still works properly and lifts skiers up. To the left of the upper station of Chavannes is a children’s skating area decorated in the style of the Wild West and North American Indians. There is also a small zoo on the slope where you can pet and feed pets.

You can climb the slopes of Le Ranfoily right from the center of the village. La Rosta can be reached either by climbing Ranfoily first, or by driving a few kilometers to the lower station of the PerrieresExpress lift. La Rosta has some interesting black runs, one of which is called Yeti.

The third very interesting and isolated area of ​​Mont Chery is served by the lift of the same name. Actually, these are the slopes of Mont Cheri, 1,850 meters high, which have both a north and south orientation.

The most interesting here are the northern and northwestern slopes with good frosty snow and a decent slope. In addition to the black tracks, there are nice sections for freeride. And on the southern slopes, dappled by the sun, there is a slalom stadium and a freestyle arena. After running through this zone, you will have to go back to the first two – it has no continuation.

But from the top station of Chavannes Express, you can go down to Morzine and from there start a journey around the entire Port du Soleil area. But this is already after running all the tracks in Le Jeux.

What can you change skis to

In Les Gês you can try a new fun in the snow called Sled Dogs. It was invented not so long ago by two Norwegian brothers, and their invention went far beyond the borders of the northern country. It quickly spread in alpine countries as well.

In a literal translation from English, Sled Dogs translates as “sled dogs” and does not reveal much about the meaning of the activity itself. The second name – Snow Skates, more accurately characterizes this projectile. Yes, exactly, these are snow skates.

All the necessary equipment is actually the boots themselves and no sticks. Plastic boots for Sled Dogs are not much different from ski boots and are tightly fixed on the leg with the help of fasteners, but instead of the usual sole, they have a small ski with metal edging and a bent toe as long as the boot itself. It is better to climb up on a regular buggy – you simply won’t be allowed on the chair lift in traildogs – it’s dangerous. And the track itself should not be difficult – it is best to go down green or blue.

Traildogs are the best way to go down a smoothly groomed ski track, making smooth turns. In some sections, you can switch to a ridge course. But you need to pay special attention to the position of the center of gravity, since, unlike skis, nothing prevents you from falling. It is worth leaning forward a little more – the socks immediately dig into the snow and you fly with your nose forward.

However, if you know how to skate well, it will not be difficult to learn this type of descent. Having only ski training, it will be a little more difficult. But you can always turn to a special instructor for help. Overall it’s pretty fun and not difficult at all, so after a few descents and a few falls you’ll get used to it and start to enjoy it. In March 2017, Snowfest was held in Les Ges, which attracted Sled Dog lovers from all over Europe.

The owner of the Sled Dogs Hotel opened a sled dog rental in Le Jé. Adjacent to it is the La Turche ski lift, which takes you up to the start of the blue Vorosse track. It just meets all the requirements for riding sled dogs.

Family vacation

Spot’les Gets is an interactive game, the territory of which is the entire resort of Le Jeux. By answering questions and riddles hidden on the tracks, players earn crystals. Game spots are located on three ski tracks and two hiking trails. Participants will have fun, statuses in social networks, ratings and, of course, prizes.

During the season, every Wednesday after 5:00 p.m., families with children are waiting at the Museum of Mechanical Music. In the educational corner, a session of familiarization with special musical instruments is held. Guests will learn how the accordion and mechanical piano work, how music is extracted from pipes, furs, perforated discs and reeds. The cost of the visit is 3 euros.

In the pottery workshop, children aged 6 to 12 will be allowed to tinker with clay and mold a figure, and older visitors will be able to mold a mug or a pot on the potter’s wheel. Each guest will be given his product as a souvenir. The cost of the visit is 20 euros per hour, prior reservation is required.

In the “Forest Kids” carpentry workshop, an experienced craftsman conducts classes with children.

Sapaba is a pottery painting workshop. Visiting is possible every day after lunch. Prices range from 6 to 60 euros, depending on the product chosen for painting.

You can also spend time with children in chocolate confectionery.

Apresque

At the end of a busy day, there is excitement at the entrance to the establishment under the Irlandais sign, and there is a jostle inside. The owner of the bar is American Colin Bishop from Connecticut. He once came to Les Jês to relax a bit, but that’s how he stayed here. He married a local French woman. Then he started his business – opened a pub, then started his own production.

Colin proudly points to the utility room behind the door labeled Brewery, which houses a small brewery. Five types of our own beer are brewed in copper vats: from light light to strong dark and ale.

After skiing, you can go ice skating, visit a recreation center with an indoor swimming pool or numerous sports clubs. There are many shops, restaurants, bars, discotheques and night clubs in Le Jeux itself. But in general, this is a calm and quite quiet resort, so lovers of nightlife should focus on the nearby Morzine. But accommodation in the numerous hotels and chalets of the resort is a little cheaper than in Morzine, and there is also a whole system of various discounts.

In March, the resort hosts the Rock the Pistes music festival.

For traditional Savoyard cuisine, you can and should go to the Fruitiere les Perrieres restaurant on the outskirts of Le Jeux. It is located in a chalet over a hundred years old. Wooden tables are installed in its vaulted halls, and characteristic household items hang on the walls. This restaurant is purely a family enterprise and people working in it are connected by family ties. The restaurant menu offers a real Savoy dinner, consisting of a variety of homemade sausages and hams, as well as traditional raclette and fondue. Homemade cheese complements the overall picture, and all this is washed down with homemade punch.

Musical mechanics

The Museum of Mechanical Musical Instruments is a subject of particular pride for the residents of Le Jeux. This is the largest museum of its kind in Europe, with a collection of 550 exhibits, including active ones. In the museum, located next to the old church, on three floors, the most diverse in size and sound are presented jukeboxes, which produce sound only thanks to a mechanical drive. Among them are quite simple devices, such as accordion, more complex mechanical pianos and whole orchestras, which include up to six musical instruments. The funny accordionist not only masterfully extracts sounds from his instrument, but also winks playfully.

Entertainment and active recreation

Surprisingly, in many sources about Le Jête, the cuisine is mentioned as part of the local culture. The fact is that each local restaurant is a small museum in itself, with old photos on the walls and amazing interior items. In addition to spiritual food, guests are also offered excellent dishes of Savoyard cuisine. The most interesting of them are tartiflette made of potato crackers with reblochon cheese, local cheeses and meat dishes. Another gastronomic attraction is the génépi tincture, which can be tried only in Le Gêt and about the healing properties of which there are legends in the village.

How to get there

You can reach Les Gêtes in less than an hour by car or train from Geneva Airport. It can also be reached by train from Paris or London (about three hours).

Reasons why you should go to Le Jête

A fairly large and diverse own skating area;

On most tracks, it is quite free, there is no column formation of skiers and boarders;

If you suddenly get tired of 120 km of “home” tracks, you can easily go to explore the entire region;

An almost ideal place for beginners and families, and for children it is simply a heavenly place;

The compact, quiet and cozy alpine village lends itself to a measured and relatively calm apresque; Relatively low prices for hotels and apartments.