subject: Enjoying The Winter Playground Of Morzine [print this page] When it gets a little chilly and the nights begin to close in early, you may start thinking about making the most of the winter months. Spending a few days in the Morzine area of France is a great way to enjoy a winter ski break.
Flying into Switzerland and making the short trip from Geneva to Morzine will be a welcome retreat into one of the largest skiing regions in Europe. This resort is a commune in the Rhone-Alps region of eastern France and is just a short hop from Switzerland. Travelling from Geneva to Morzine will put you right the heart of the Portes du Soleil ski area; it is one of the highest altitude ski resorts in France and provides access to over 650 kilometres of pistes of all levels. From the summit of Chamossire you can see both Mont Blanc to the south and Lake Geneva to the north. The town has been a haven for skiers and tourists since the Grand Hotel was built there in the 1920s. But high on every visitor's agenda is the skiing available here and there's plenty of it!
Ski opportunities
As you arrive on your transfer from Geneva to Morzine, you may be able to see the gondola on the edge of the centre of the village that takes you up to Le Plney. If you are a beginner who is just getting to grips with the slopes, then there are a few good, wide runs that you can learn on and then ease your way onto harder slopes as you progress.
For those who are a bit more sure of themselves, there is a plethora of intermediate pistes that will challenge you but still be enjoyable. For these, try the slopes down from Chamossire or, if you want a range, then Le Plney provides just that.
But, for those who are expert skiers and know what they are doing, then you may want to base in yourself in the town and head over to the other bowls and off-piste locations nearby. Likewise, though the local terrain parks are good, there are better ones a very short gondola and lift ride away in Alvoriaz that may be more to your liking.
Other winter sports
If you have "been there, done that" with the skiing and want to try something a bit different, then here's another reason to make the short trip from Geneva to Morzine. The area has over 95 kilometres of cross-country trails (and a great variety) to try out. They are not all at the valley level and some are broken into gentle loops, which are pretty snow-sure.
Another opportunity to see the terrain without skiing is the wonderful sport of snowshoeing. Book a guide and spend some quality time immersed in the stunning scenery snowshoeing around the area. With full or half day outings, there are few better ways to make an easy-going journey up into the mountains - you can go at your own pace and stop as much as you like to soak it all in.
