The Area

   

Winter

The region of the Portes du Soleil offers an endless diversity of pistes with varying difficulty and terrain. Choose between wide, sunny tree-lined slopes to the infamous "Swiss Wall"! 

If you make the great decision to stay at the resort, St Jean Station itself has more than 56 km of runs, of varying levels, including an 20 km Roc d'Enfer circuit following the "lost valley" through unspoilt scenery. The skiing area of this small alpine village is one of its true charms - we rate it as one of the best areas to ski in the Portes du Soleil.   
It offers quiet runs which are a well kept secret and we often enjoy skiing the runs entirely on our own!  No UK package holiday companies come here so it has a wonderful traditional alpine feel.  The scenery is  fabulous and small traditional restaurants on the pistes offer a genuine, welcoming atmosphere. 

Link: Roc d'Enfer 

Link: Portes du Soleil

Link: Vallee d'Aulps

Link: Ski buses

Ardent, Morzine and Les Gets are well served by free shuttle buses from La Grande Terche and St Jean.

 

Summer

This area of France is beautiful at any time of year. The shores of Lake Geneva are only 30 minutes away with steamers running during the summer months to many towns around the lake. There are oportunities for lake swimmng.

 

Cable cars across the Portes du Soleil are open from June/July to mid September for keen mountain bikers and walkers, and there is white water rafting and canoeing in the valley. There are opportunities locally for paragliding, riding, zip lining (fantasicable in Chatel),  fishing and swimming.

Chamonix is approximately 1 1/4 hours drive away and the town offers good mountain themed shops with numerous bars and restaurants.  The cable car ride to the Aiguille du Midi to view the highest peaks surrounding Mont Blanc is one of the most spectacular trips to be experienced in the area.

For golfers, there is a short but challenging course at Les Gets, beautifully set in the mountains with panoramic views overlooked by Mont Blanc.  A pleasure to play for golfers of all ability with a very a friendly club house and staff.  We recommend a buggy as the course is quite hilly.

 

Royal Evian Golf Club is 30 minutes drive away and you can enjoy immaculately kept fairways and greens on this championship course with views of Lake Geneva.  The course is used annually for the Ladies Evian Masters (the highlight of the Ladies European Tour).  A beautiful chalet-styled club house and terrace affords views of the course and provides a marvellous setting for your pre-round breakfast or for a celebratory drink and meal. It offers a relaxed atmosphere where all are welcomed.