Avoriaz or Portes du Soleil Understanding It All
Portes du Soleil or Avoriaz?
Let us explain the difference to help you make the right choice!
When people talk about skiing in Avoriaz, they often mention the Portes du Soleil as well. However, the two are not the same! Avoriaz is a ski resort with its own ski area, while the Portes du Soleil is a vast Franco-Swiss ski area connecting twelve ski resorts. So, what’s the real difference between the Avoriaz ski area and the Portes du Soleil? Here’s everything you need to know to choose the right ski pass and get ready for your days on the slopes.
The Avoriaz Ski Area
Located at an altitude of 1,800 meters, the Avoriaz ski area covers around 75 km of slopes, spread across 54 runs (8 green, 27 blue, 14 red, and 6 black).
It’s the perfect playground for every level, featuring:
- Fun zones for families and beginners,
- Renowned snowparks,
- Breathtaking panoramic views,
- Challenging slopes for experts.
In short, the Avoriaz ski area is the very heart of skiing — directly accessible from the resort itself. In fact, all accommodations in Avoriaz are ski-in/ski-out, making your stay even more enjoyable.
The Portes du Soleil
The Portes du Soleil: one of the largest ski areas in the world! It brings together 12 interconnected resorts across France and Switzerland: Avoriaz, Morzine, Les Gets, Châtel, Montriond, Abondance, La Chapelle d’Abondance, Morgins, Champéry, Champoussin, Torgon, and Les Crosets.
Key facts:
- 600 km of ski runs
- 208 lifts
- One single ski pass for the entire area
- Cross-border skiing between France and Switzerland
This vast ski area allows you to glide for miles without ever taking off your skis, discovering a different atmosphere in every resort.
In short: the Portes du Soleil is the ultimate “great escape” experience, skiing freely across two countries!
Indeed, you’ve got it!
Avoriaz lies at the very heart of the Portes du Soleil ski area. You can think of it like a set of Russian dolls : within the vast international Portes du Soleil lies the Avoriaz 1800 ski area, one of its most iconic sectors!
Thanks to its central and strategic location, Avoriaz makes it easy to explore the entire Portes du Soleil. Reaching Switzerland, Châtel, or Morzine only takes a few ski lifts.
That’s what makes this resort so special: depending on the ski pass you choose, you can either enjoy the local slopes or set off on a true cross-border adventure!
Now it’s up to you to decide:
- Avoriaz Pass: access only to the Avoriaz ski area.
- Portes du Soleil Pass: access to the entire French and Swiss ski area.
Good to know: if you’re a beginner or plan to ski just a little, the Avoriaz pass is more than enough. But for the true slope explorers, the Portes du Soleil pass is unbeatable!
Lift passes ski/snow
Avoriaz 1800 proposes lift passes for the entire Portes du Soleil ski area, as well as passes for individual sectors of the resort. A whole host of solutions to satisfy the needs and wishes of every wintersports fan.
The Ski Area Map
Ski map of the Avoriaz ski area
Ski map of Portes du Soleil.
Learn More
Ski area and maps
Avoriaz 1800 is located in the heart of Portes du Soleil, one of the largest cross-border ski areas in the world, where 12 French and Swiss resorts are interconnected.
Webcams on the slopes
In winter, Avoriaz’s webcams take you right to the heart of the snowy ski area. From Le Fornet, Arare, Les Lindarets, or Grand Conche, watch live updates of the slope conditions, weather, and snow coverage. Plan your ski days with ease and make the most of your mountain experience!
Find the ski area maps
Find the ski area maps for Avoriaz as well as those for the Portes du Soleil ski area. Avoriaz is an integral part of two ski areas: The Avoriaz ski area: 35 ski lifts, 51 runs, 4 snowparks, 4 snowcross zones, The Portes du Soleil ski area: spanning 2 countries, 12 resorts, 196 ski lifts, 286 runs.
Opening Hours and Access
Find here the real-time schedules of the ski lifts and access to the slopes, as well as the opening dates of the Avoriaz ski area and the Portes du Soleil.
Snowparks
Discover our four fun areas with different levels of difficulty. The Avoriaz Snowzone experts put all their creativity into ensuring adults and children enjoy themselves.
Snowcross
The Avoriaz 1800 ski area offers a multitude of ungroomed slopes for skiers and snowboarders in search of powder sensations.
