It’s one of your most frequently asked questions on our social media channels – which resort is best for beginner skiers and families? As it happens, all four of our local resorts have created dedicated, well-managed and safe beginner zones with excellent value lift passes to suit.
Les Gets
So keen is Les Gets to host your first ski holiday, they’ve created two individual zones and two excellent value lift passes to help you fall in love with skiing.
Image: Les Gets ODT / Alba Santoro
Mappys: Resting half way up the Chavannes and easily accessible from the top of the telecabine, the Mappys ski area is a haven for beginner skiers of all ages. Les Gets has designed this zone beautifully; it’s a treelined area, tucked away from the wider ski area, making it safe for those first cautions turns on snow. You’ll find two magic carpets, one of which has just been extended and covered to protect you from the mountain elements. There’s also a rope tow and combined, you’ll begin your skiing or snowboarding on one of four gentle green slopes. Mappys is also easily accessible for pedestrians and is close to several restaurants and cafes for when break time comes.
Altitude: 1482m
Access: 1 telecabine from the centre of the village
Size: 2 magic carpets, 1 rope tow, 4 slopes in total
Snow coverage: Excellent, additional snow canons recently added
Price: €19 per person per day including one return journey on the Chavannes telecabine and unlimited use of the other lifts. Free for under fives.
P’tite Glisse: Consider this to be your Les Gets progression pass. You’ve mastered your first turns and you’re ready to explore a little more of the mountain. The P’tite Glisse zone also includes the Chavannes telecabine and from the top you can venture further afield on 12 different ski lifts giving access to 13 slopes. These include the beginners Mappys area, plus the Indians and Grand Cry zones, totalling seven green pistes, five blues and 1 red run to really push your progression.
Altitude: From resort level at 1170m to the top of the Chavannes chairlift at 1557m
Access: 1 telecabine from the centre of the village, you can also ski directly to the bottom
Size: 12 ski lifts, 13 slopes
Snow coverage: Excellent and well-served by snow canons
Price: €28 per adult per day, €21.50 per child per day. Free for under fives.
Morzine
Morzine is famous for its fantastic beginner facilities, which have been both extended and enhanced in recent years.
Pleney: The Pleney beginner area is easily accessible from the centre of the village and the recent addition of the Nabor magic carpet makes those early days on skis even easier. This is a gentle and secure place to learn, with wonderful views in all directions to inspire you. The beginner slope is wide and tree-lined, while the wider learning zone also includes the famous Penguin Park, complete with fun features to aid your progression. Perfect your skills during unlimited rides on the Nabor and Belvédére chairlifts then retreat to one of the excellent surrounding restaurants and cafes for a well deserved rest.
Altitude: 1550m
Access: 1 telecabine from the top of the village
Size: Four lifts giving access to a variety of different pistes across the beginner zone
Snow coverage: Excellent, and well maintained by snow canons
Price: €25.50 per person per day including one return jaunty on the Pleney telecabine and unlimited use of the other lifts. Free for under fives.
Nyon: This is a wonderful alternative to Pleney, accessible via the free bus service from the centre of Morzine to the bottom of the Nyon telepherique. At the top you’ll discover a beautiful plateau, complete with a covered magic carpet just next to the restaurant and stunning views across the valley. The Nyon beginner pass includes a return trip on the Nyon telepherique and unlimited access to the Aiglon magic carpet, the Raverettes chairlift and the two Poireaux drag lifts, giving you plenty of scope to progress with your skiing.
Altitude: 1500m
Access: Take a free bus from the village to Nyon, 1 telecabine to the plateau
Size: Four lifts giving access to a variety of slopes on the front face of Nyon
Snow coverage: Very good and served by snow canons
Price: €23.50 per person per day including one return journey on the Nyon telepherique and unlimited use of the other lifts. Free for under fives.
Avoriaz
It’s the gateway to the Portes du Soleil, known for its high altitude and reliable snow depths throughout the winter season. But did you know that Avoriaz is also home to three excellent beginner zones, all of which are accessible via one dedicated beginners ski pass? They’re Plateau, Super Morzine and Lindarets.
Plateau: Perfect for those of you staying in Avoriaz, this zone is great for complete beginners. It’s just a short walk from the centre of the village and is home to many of the ski schools. There’s an ESF-run snow garden for little ones and a collection of nice, slow drag lifts to help you advance your skills. The Plateau zone links to the Super Morzine beginner zone via the blue Proclou piste. You can also use the Prodains 3S telecabine to access the Plateau beginner zone.
Super Morzine: Progress on skis or a snowboard comes from travelling further afield and the Super Morzine is fantastic for this. All of the lifts in this sector are included in the Avoriaz beginner pass, but don’t forget to explore the Lil’Stash during your journey. The Avoriaz beginner pass also includes access to the Super Morzine telecabine, so it’s a great option if you’re staying in Morzine.
Lindarets: Also home to various ski school meeting points, Lindarets includes a dedicated beginner slope and drag lift, plus the fantastic Léchere chairlift and run. This is a green slope, it’s often quiet and for many, it’s their first experience skiing in the mountains. The Lindarets beginner zone is accessible via the Ardent Telecabine, which is also included in the beginner pass.
Altitude: Plateau – 1800m, Super Morzine – 1756m, Lindarets – 1476m
Access: Prodains 3S, Super Morzine and Lindarets telecabines are all included in the beginner pass
Size: 12 ski lifts are included in addition to the access telecabines
Snow coverage: Best on Plateau and Lindarets throughout the season, Super Morzine has excellent snow canon coverage also
Price: Five hour beginner pass is €29 per person, 1 day is €34 and 2 days €60. One pass covers all three areas. Free for under fives.
Roc d’Enfer
This is a unique, stand-alone ski resort with 51km of trails served by 16 different ski lifts, but it’s also part of the Portes du Soleil region too. There’s a fantastic beginner ski area at the Roc d’Enfer, promising calm, secure slopes throughout the season. There’s also a commitment to keeping costs low for beginner skiers, encouraging you to take your first turns in the shadow of the magnificent Roc d’Enfer mountain. Select your beginner ski area depending on your base.
Bellevaux – La Chévrerie: This is an evolving beginner ski area with both green and blue slopes to encourage progression and a collection of four of drag lifts. It’s very family-orientated in Bellevaux – La Chévrerie with an authentic Savoyarde village atmosphere.
Grande Terche: Elsewhere in the Roc d’Enfer ski area, and perhaps most convenient if you’re staying in Saint Jean d’Aulps, Montriond or Morzine you’ll discover a second beginner zone at the top of the Grande Terche telecabine. Use the ‘débutant’ lift pass and the Torchon chairlift to access the progression zones in La Chévrerie village.
Altitude: La Chévrerie – 1100m, Grande Terche – 1505m
Access: Use the free bus service to access Lac Grande Terche.
Size: The ‘Village’ pass includes four drag lifts, the ‘Debutant’ pass includes four drag lifts and the Torchon chairlift, plus a return trip in the telecabine.
Snow coverage: Good snow canon coverage and usually plentiful with natural snow during mid-season.
Price: The ‘Village’ pass is €16.50 per person per day, the ‘Debutant’ pass is €22.50 per person per day.
