France
Haute-Savoie, France
A car-free resort perched at 1,800m with direct ski-in ski-out access to the Portes du Soleil — 650km of pistes connecting France and Switzerland. The village itself is snowsure all season and genuinely relaxing: no traffic, no transfers, just ski out of your apartment door.
Blue runs (3) tap a name to zoom in on map
Arare chairlift
D'Arare is one of the main blue runs in the Avoriaz bowl, accessible from the Arare chairlift. It runs across a wide open plateau with views toward the Swiss border and the Dents du Midi peaks. One of the most popular intermediate cruisers in the resort.
Wide, smooth and consistently easy — a perfect confidence-builder at altitude. The views of the Dents du Midi from up here are extraordinary. Well-groomed early in the morning and a great warm-up run before exploring the wider Portes du Soleil area.
Mossettes chairlift
Mossettes sits near the Swiss border — at the top of this chairlift you can ski into Switzerland toward Champéry and the Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil. The Mossettes blue stays on the French side and is a rolling, scenic run through open alpine terrain.
A great run for appreciating how big the Portes du Soleil actually is — from the top you can see into Switzerland. The run itself is wide and well-maintained. A nice change of scenery from the main Avoriaz bowl.
Lindarets chairlifts (Avoriaz lower sector)
Alpages and Fornet are in the Lindarets valley — the lower, more sheltered part of the Avoriaz ski area that connects toward Châtel and Les Gets. The Lindarets valley (nicknamed the 'valley of the goats') is below the main Avoriaz plateau, with runs winding through forest and open meadows. A completely different feel from the high-altitude bowl above.
The best option on a stormy day when the upper mountain is in cloud — the Lindarets valley has tree cover and is protected from wind. Also one of the most charming parts of the ski area, with traditional mountain restaurants in the valley.
The destination
Avoriaz is a purpose-built resort, but one with genuine personality — the angular 1960s architecture is actually iconic, and the car-free policy (everything arrives by horse-drawn sleigh or snowmobile) makes it feel completely different from other French resorts. You literally ski in and out of your accommodation. No walking to lifts, no car parks, no transfers within resort.
Car-free · Ski-in ski-out · Iconic architecture · Young atmosphere
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