Morzine Avoriaz-The French Alps -Haute Savoie

 

This year we haven't planned much for summer vacation, due to pandemic. We took last minute decisions that happened to be quite inspired.

For a long time I was dreaming of  summer vacation on the mountains, with fresh air, hikes and lake swimming -well, Morzine is the perfect destination for this!

Only around 6 hours driving from Paris, Morizine is the entry gate for the largest ski domaine in Europe- Portes du Soleil. The area counts 13 ski resorts between Mont Blanc and Geneva Lake, being shared between France and Switzerland.Approximately 650 km of slopes.

In summer, this area is a paradise for mountain bikers, with a large variety of trails, biking schools, lifts and dedicated hotels for bikers.Morzine is also part of the Tour de France since 1975.

If you prefer walking and hiking, there are plenty trails starting under the main ski lift, in the Parc des Dérêches, going through the forest. Also, in the park there are playgrounds for kids, horse riding, an open swimming pool, accrobrance, picnic areas.

Lake Mondriol near Morzine worth a visit by car for the astonishing views of the mountain lake, but it's crowded, not very clean ( you swim at your own risk) and the walking route from Morzine to the lake is on the main road, packed with speedy cars, I woukd not recommend if you have small kids and/ or dogs.

But the best is yet to come: Morzine is practically an English speaking enclave in Alps! English pubs with ale and fish&chips, English speaking waiters (the only place in France where I was asked at the restaurant: "Anglais ou Francais?") , Enghish chocolate in shops, etc... And plenty of dogs, all over the resort, more welcomed in the restaurants😀.

Many chalets here are owned and managed by the English, offering a wide range of  accomodation from 4 to more than 15 people per chalet, self catered or half board , luxury or basic, very good value for money.A good alternative for traditional hotels or Airbnb.

Here is a list of some of chalets:

www.upthealps.co.uk

www.moremountains.com

www.puremorzine.com

www.chillypowder.com

www.skiology.co.uk

www.mountainhighs.co.uk

www.alptitude.com

Avoriaz, the high altitude sister resort of Morzine, stands out at 1800m. The resort is car free, there is a car parking just at the entrance and from there you get help with the luggages.

I didn't like it much, because of the crammed wodden hotels that remind me of Mordor from Game of Thrones.

There are multiple trail paths from Avoriaz, we took the downhill trail to La Ferme Seraussaix and back- 1h 45' with stops for picture and 

refreshing, 6 km, 220 elevation gain.

Main street in Morzine is full of restaurants serving Savoyard specialities( fondue,tartiflette,pierre) along with more commercial dishes: pizza,burger,frites. We served dinner at Rotonde( beautiful terrace), L'etal, Chaudanne( a bit expensive) and La Grange, and we enjoyed thrm all.

Les Gets is the second resort where we stayed,not far from Morzine.

Les Gets is more quiet than Morzine and more suitable for families, while Morzine is preferred by young people who practise mountain bike.

We stayed in center , at Loc Alpen Hotel. One room for three, dogs accepted, very friendly personnel and very good breakfast, with home made confiture and gateaux.The resort is smaller and cutter than Morzine.

Lac des Ecoles in Les Gets is an amusement area, an  artificial lake with inflatables, a park with spider and climbing stuff for kids. Also, you can learn enduro or mountain bike.

There are plenty mountain routes for bikers, from the easiest ones( blue, green) to thr most difficult( black).Cable cars are specially desingned to transport bikes to the top.

At the terrace restaurant Lac des Ecoles you can serve burger, chips, panini at very decent prices.

During night www.altalumina.com offers a magical night experience into the enlighted forest.( dogs not allowed)

We liked it better than Morzine, because of quietude and less cars on the road.

In the French Alps the mountain hikes roads are often on the car road in some parts, can be dangerous especially when you go hiking with kids or dogs.

Less English people than in Morzine, still English is spoken on regular basis in shops, restaurants, etc

People are friendly and helpful and speak Eglish pretty well( again, a wonderful surprise for us,used with the typical parisian reply "no, je parle pas Alglais,pas du tout").

There are plenty of restaurants  to serve dinner with fondue, tartiflette, raclette or pierre( bbq at the table on a hot stone, served with chips and salad). 

What we liked best in this trip: relaxed English atmosphere, good value for money accomodation, pet friendly resorts, wonderful mountain trails for beginners.

Bonus trip: Morzine is quite close to Geneva Lake( Montreux, Yvoire, Evian) and to Annency Lake.

If you visit Geneva Lake and you are in mood for a swim, we found a hidden gem- Domaine de Rovorée- two small,secluded beaches, not very crowded, a castle and a huge park with giant trees.