Beginner Skiing in La Clusaz
La Clusaz provides some excellent accessible skiing for first-timers. There are a couple of beginner lifts at resort level but the best area is undoubtedly at Beauregard which boasts a sunny plateau with gentle blue and green slopes.Here's our pick of the most snow-sure ski resorts within 90 minutes of Geneva
- Chamonix. Resort height: 1035m. Slopes: 1035-3275m (3840m Aiguille du Midi)
- Flaine. Resort height: 1600m. Slopes: 700-2480m.
- Avoriaz. Resort height: 1800m. Slopes:
- Les Contamines. Resort height: 1160m. Slopes:
- La Clusaz. Resort height: 1100m. Slopes:
The 10 highest Ski Resorts in France
| Name | Elevation |
|---|
| 1. | La Grave | 3,600 m |
| 2. | Les 2 Alpes | 3,560 m |
| 3. | Val d'Isère - Tignes (Espace Killy) | 3,450 m |
| 4. | Alpe d'Huez | 3,330 m |
Geneva Skiing. Placed in the middle of Europe's most well-known skiing region, the Alps, Geneva Airport is an excellent transport point and offers plenty of great ski areas near the airport. Most ski resorts in the Northern Alps of France are less than 2 hours from Geneva Airport.
From Tignes Val Claret you can take a funicular railway through the mountain up to the Grande Motte glacier, which also opens for summer skiing. In April, this gave us superb conditions; crisp, hard, perfectly groomed slopes, as well as views that literally stopped us in our tracks (we did get a bit snap happy!).
For current
snow depths and skiing conditions, see our Current
Snow Report for
Morzine.
When is Morzine going to get fresh snow?
| Next Snow Expected | 9 May |
|---|
| Next Snow Amount | 1cm |
| Next 48 Hours | - |
| Next 7 Days | 6cm |
| Save Money on Ski Hire | Save up to 50% |
Snow reliability is good in the Avoriaz sector because of its height and the fact that many of its slopes don't get the full force of the afternoon sun. Most of the Portes du Soleil area is lower but has invested heavily in snowmaking, which keeps the pistes covered.
Morzine has also maintained an average snow depth of more than 50cms and enjoyed more than 30 snowy days last year. Over 450 snow cannons across Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets help to maintain conditions throughout the season. The Portes du Soleil has invested millions into snow production technology.
Flaine's skiing is good for all standards
The skiing is in a big snowy bowl. It's great for beginners, families with young children, and lower intermediates, and there's also plenty of scope for excursions beyond Flaine itself and into the other resorts of the Grand Massif area.The distance between Geneva and La Clusaz is 39 km. The road distance is 55.4 km.
Getting to La Clusaz
- Located to the east of Lake Annecy, La Clusaz and neighbouring Le Grand Bornand are easy to reach from Geneva airport, which is just 69km away.
- Each year Ski-Lifts helps more than 100,000 skiers and boarders get to their accommodation in ski resorts, including La Clusaz.
TRAIN: The train journey from Geneva Airport to Chamonix can take between three and four hours, depending on which route you take (that's to say via Annemasse in France, or via Martigny in Switzerland and then Vallorcine).
how high is Morzine? Morzine village itself is at an altitude of 1,000m and as with most resorts, this normally reflects the altitude of the village centre rather than the altitude of the pistes which run up to 2,300m high.
Are French ski resorts still open? No. Most ski seasons end in April or early May, when the snow starts to melt.
Open Ski Resorts
- 49 Degrees North (Washington) Currently closed but Reopen TBA.
- Alpine Meadows (California) Currently closed but Reopen TBA.
- Alta Ski Area (Utah)
- Arapahoe Basin (Colorado)
- Arizona Snowbowl (Arizona)
- Boreal Mountain Resort (California)
- Brighton Ski Resort (Utah)
- Cherry Peak (Utah)
Things to do in Morzine if you don't ski or snowboard
- Swimming. The sports centre in Morzine is a world class facility that includes indoor and outdoor (summer only for outdoor) pools for both serious and leisure swimmers.
- Winter hiking.
- Ice Skating and Ice Hockey.
- Parapenting.
- Husky Sledging.
- Learning to speak French.
- Ice Diving.
Cost of Living in Morzine
| Restaurants | [ Edit ] |
|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | 12.00 € |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | 50.00 € |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | 8.35 € |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) | 6.00 € |
Morzine is a great place for beginner skiers! The Morzine-Les Gets ski area consists largely of wide gentle pistes which are perfect for people learning to ski. These green nursery slopes even have a magic carpet so you don't have to worry about ski-lifts until you find your feet.
| Avoriaz |
|---|
| Top elevation | 2466 m |
| Base elevation | 1100 m |
| Skiable area | 130 km (Avoriaz) 650 km (Portes du Soleil) |
| Runs | 51 (Avoriaz) 283 (Portes du Soleil) |
Flying to Morzine: Nearest Airports
- Geneva Airport to Morzine: 80 km; about 1 hour, 15 minutes drive.
- Chambery Airport to Morzine: 135km; about 1 hour, 40 mins drive.
- Grenoble-Isere Airport to Morzine: 215 km; about 2 hours 15 mins drive.
- Lyon St Exupery Airport to Morzine: 210km; about 2 hours, 15 minutes drive.
Popular Morzine (Haute Savoie region) is one of the closest major French resorts to the gateway city of Geneva. It is in the middle of one of the most extensive ski regions in the Alps: Les Portes du Soleil. This is a ski circus that connects 15 resorts in France and Switzerland.
