Portes du Soleil

Portes du Soleil is a 12-village lift-linked ski area straddling the French-Swiss border in the Chablais Alps, between Lake Geneva and the Mont Blanc massif. The lift network covers 580 km of pistes from a base of 1,000 m at Morzine to 2,466 m at Pointe de Chavanette (the steep ungroomed run known as the Swiss Wall). Avoriaz at 1,800 m is the snow-sure high base; the lower French villages (Morzine, Les Gets, Châtel) and Swiss bases (Champéry, Morgins) are pretty but more weather-dependent.

Key Stats

Vertical Drop
1,466m (4,810ft)
The height difference between the top and bottom of the mountain
Summit Elevation
2,466m (8,091ft)
How high the highest lift or peak reaches
Base Elevation
1,000m (3,281ft)
Height of the main base village — higher means cooler, drier snow
Annual Snowfall
700cm (276in)
Average annual natural snowfall — higher is better for powder days
Trails
286
Total number of marked runs on the trail map
Lifts
196
Total number of lifts including chairlifts, gondolas, and t-bars

Terrain Breakdown

The percentage of marked trails in each difficulty level. A higher beginner percentage means more terrain suitable for novices and families; a higher advanced percentage means more challenge for experts.

Beginner
33%
Intermediate
47%
Advanced
20%

Best For

Where to stay

Portes du Soleil is accessed from 10 villages — pick a base.

Champoussin

Tiny ski-in/ski-out hamlet on the Swiss high ridge.

Base elevation1,580m (5,184ft)
Morgins

Quiet Swiss family village across the border from Châtel.

Base elevation1,350m (4,429ft)
Châtel

Working farming village with a foot in France and Switzerland.

Base elevation1,200m (3,937ft)
Les Gets

Pretty Savoyard village with sheltered tree-lined family terrain.

Base elevation1,172m (3,845ft)
Torgon

Smallest Swiss base in Portes du Soleil: quiet, lake-facing.

Base elevation1,100m (3,609ft)
Avoriaz

Car-free, ski-in/ski-out high base at 1,800m: snow-sure, modernist, family-strong.

Base elevation1,100m (3,609ft)
La Chapelle d'Abondance

Traditional Savoyard village with low-key cross-border lift access.

Base elevation1,010m (3,314ft)
Morzine

Working market town with old-Savoyard centre and a busy après scene.

Base elevation1,000m (3,281ft)
Abondance

Working farming village with abbey heritage; quiet Portes du Soleil base.

Base elevation930m (3,051ft)
Champéry / Portes du Soleil

Traditional Swiss valley village at the foot of the Dents du Midi.

Base elevation566m (1,857ft)

Location

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