Looking over Lake Montriond © Will Ross
Cradled in the heart of the Portes du Soleil, Morzine is a great place to go in search of alpine adventures. I was there in July during the Tour de France and the weather was fantastic, blue skies every day and temperatures nearing 30 degrees. If the weather isn’t enough of an excuse to visit this resort, the list of adventure activities on offer is enough to fill a family holiday for at least a week. Here’s a bit about the mountain biking and trekking opportunities in Morzine, and a list of who to get in contact with for the other activities.
Morzine is a great place to take young children and with kid-friendly hotels and nurseries for babies from age 3 months you might even find some time to yourself. The destination has been awarded with the ‘Family Plus‘ certificate, meaning that it is commit to doing their utmost for families with children through their 6 point programme. The village is notably quiet and civilised so perhaps let the kids off the leash a little and let them get up to their own explorations.
Once you’re in Morzine, nothings really that far away. If you position your accommodation right you could be within 100 metres of both the lift to Avoriaz (Super-Morzine cable car followed by Zore chair) and Les Gets (Pleney cable car).
The Portes du Soleil Multi Pass costs just one euro per day per person and allows access to all the lifts if you go without a bike. If you don’t want to head up the mountain but want to do something active, the Multi Pass gets you onto the tennis courts and pool area for free. Without the Multi Pass, return lift-passes are 5.60 euros for adults, 4.50 euros for children and 5.10 euros for seniors.
Mountain Biking
Canyoning with Cascade Aventure, © jowardphotography.com
The Portes du Soleil is home to one of the world’s biggest MTB areas, with 12 linked resorts offering 650km of signposted bike paths. However because Morzine is a valley most of the trails lead down trails which require full suspension bikes which cost around 80 euros a day to rent. If you want something more gentle than take out a hardtail – around 50 euros a day. The best maps for mountain biking are done by Vtopo and are on sale at lift-pass offices, resort bookshops and sports shops for around 15 euros.
There are plenty of shops that rent full suspension bikes in the village but if you are looking for hardtail bikes (i.e. mountain bikes without full suspension), go to Ecole VTT MCF which is on Avenue de Joux Planes in Morzine. Always be sure to check over a mountain bike before you rent to make sure there are no cracks and that the breaks work properly.
A good way of trying out the bikes is to head out to the Montriond Lake which is a gentle 20 minute cycle from Morzine. There are a couple of restaurants where you can have lunch and kayaks are on hire at the lakeside (4 euros for half and hour, 6 euros for the hour).
Trekking
There are hundreds of paths suitable for all levels in and around Morzine. Get hold of the Multi Pass and you can take a lift if you want to get up above the village quickly, or if you just want some help on the way down. There is a good A6 booklet from the tourism office that is worth getting hold of but if you want to get a local guide, get in contact with the Bureau des Guides or Takamaka. Guides tent to be around 18 euros for half an day and 27 euros for the full day. Companies offer half day themed treks, full day treks and multiple day treks, staying overnight in mountain refuges.
Canyoning
Most adventure companies offer canyoning but if you want to get going quickly, Cascade Aventure have a great set up on the Nyon Waterfall which is a twenty minutes’ walk from the village.
White Water Rafting Activities
Rafting, Hydrospeed (swimming down white-water with floats and flippers) and Kayaking are organised by Eaux Zones.
Via Ferrata
Contact Takamaka to scramble around cliffs using ladders, steps and cables.
Orienteering
Contact Hervé le Sobre at Alpi’randonnee & MTB .
Pot-holing (exploration of undergroung grottos)
Contact the Guides Office to explore the Balme Caves.
Trekking with donkeys
Self-guided, guided and multiple-night treks can be organised through the Guides Office.
Paragliding
This was really popular when I was there and looks fantastic. Contact L’Ecole de Parapente when you’re there.
Our route
