Les Portes du Soleil
580km across 12 French-Swiss villages. 163 lifts, 2,254m summit, Geneva 80km. €65-75 day pass. Home of the Swiss Wall.
Current Conditions→
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
28 Nov 2026
Closes
18 Apr 2027
Days open
141
Annual snow
4.1m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Les Portes du Soleil spans 580 kilometres of marked piste across 277 runs, spreading between 985 and 2,254 metres elevation with 1,269 metres of vertical drop. The cross-border ski area links 12 villages in France's Haute-Savoie and Switzerland's Valais, making it one of the two largest ski areas in the world alongside Les Trois Vallées. Eight French resorts including Morzine, Avoriaz, Châtel and Les Gets connect with four Swiss resorts including Champéry, Morgins and Les Crosets, all accessed on a single lift pass. The microclimate between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc generates substantial snowfall from November to April, typically enabling operations from early December through mid-to-late April.
Terrain distribution favours progression, with 53 per cent beginner slopes, 36 per cent intermediate and 11 per cent advanced across 14 valleys covering 1,036 square kilometres. The Pas de Chavanette, known as the Swiss Wall, descends 331 metres over one kilometre with a 40-degree pitch and car-sized moguls, earning an orange classification beyond the standard black rating. The Linga sector connects Châtel to Avoriaz whilst the Grand Paradis run drops beneath the Dents du Midi peaks. Tree-lined runs dominate below 1,800 metres whilst open bowls characterise the upper elevations near Pointe de Mossettes at 2,260 metres.
Most base villages retain traditional Chablais architecture with wood chalets and working market towns, whilst Avoriaz at 1,800 metres remains Europe's largest purpose-built car-free resort with 18,000 beds. Morzine anchors the French side as the largest town and most central access point to the entire circuit. The Swiss villages of Champéry, Morgins and Torgon offer quieter alternatives with views of the Dents du Midi range. Free shuttle buses connect outlying areas including Abondance and Saint-Jean-d'Aulps to the main lift network.
The full Portes du Soleil pass unlocks all 12 resorts across both countries, with individual sector passes available for Avoriaz, Morzine-Les Gets and the Swiss valleys. Adult day tickets range from €65 to €75 depending on season, with youth season passes from €470. The area suits intermediates exploring varied terrain across two countries, families seeking gentle tree-lined progressions, and advanced skiers tackling the Swiss Wall and Linga sectors. Eight French and four Swiss resorts provide accommodation from traditional chalets to modern ski-in developments.
1269m
Vertical
277
Runs
580 km
Piste
4.1m
Annual snow
The Terrain
277 runs across 580 km of piste
Les Portes du Soleil is among the largest linked ski domains in the Alps, with 277 runs over 580 kilometres between 985 and 2,254 metres, a vertical of 1,269 metres. The split is 53% beginner, 36% intermediate and 11% advanced, with nothing graded expert. Roughly 160 lifts keep the circuit turning, including 38 six-seat chairs, 28 quads, 10 gondolas and 73 T-bars. Snowmaking tops up natural cover on the lower slopes, and the scale of the place means a week rarely repeats itself. Distances are big, so plan your day around where you intend to finish.
On the Swiss side, the villages of Champéry, Les Crosets, Champoussin and Morgins feed a long run of linked slopes towards France. The best-known stretch is the Swiss Wall off the Pas de Chavanette, a steep mogul field that regularly draws onlookers from the chairlift beside it. Away from that, most of the area is cruising terrain, with gentle tree-lined runs below about 1,800 metres and open slopes higher up. It suits intermediates and families who like variety and range, though genuinely steep skiing is limited to a handful of runs.
Terrain split
277
runs
277 runs across 4 grades
Beginner147 runs · 53%
Intermediate100 runs · 36%
Advanced30 runs · 11%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Les Portes du Soleil
The 2025-2026 season runs from 30 November 2025 to 21 April 2026, with some lower Swiss sectors closing earlier depending on snow conditions. Typical operations span early December through mid-to-late April, offering approximately 20 weeks of skiing. The Geneva-Mont Blanc microclimate between Lake Geneva and Europe's highest peak creates consistent snowfall patterns, with Châtel averaging 400 centimetres annually at 2,200 metres summit elevation. This geographic positioning generates reliable accumulation despite modest summit heights compared to higher French resorts.
Annual snowfall averages vary between 320 and 381 centimetres depending on aspect, with the French sectors averaging 8 metres total winter accumulation according to some measurements. The relatively low elevations from 985 to 2,254 metres benefit from moisture-laden systems crossing Lake Geneva, whilst pasture-covered lower slopes require only 20 centimetres of base to become skiable. Snowmaking covers lower elevations including Morzine at 1,000 metres, Morgins and the key valley connections. Base depths typically peak in February and March rather than January.
January and February deliver the most reliable powder and coldest temperatures, whilst December offers early-season conditions with shorter daylight. March combines deep snowpack with longer days and warmer temperatures, ideal for circuit touring between villages. April brings spring conditions with corn snow by afternoon, though north-facing Swiss sectors hold powder longer. The area opens some lifts for autumn glacier-free operations and extends through the French Easter holidays regardless of date.
The Pass'Portes mountain bike event runs 26-28 June 2026 in Avoriaz, marking the transition to summer operations beginning mid-May. No notable on-snow festivals feature prominently beyond local village celebrations. Night skiing does not operate across the main Portes du Soleil network. The shoulder seasons see reduced lift operations with Swiss valleys often closing connections by early April whilst French sectors maintain access through the final weekend.
Season 2026 - 2027
28 Nov 2026
Opens
18 Apr 2027
Closes
141
Days open
4.1 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Les Portes du Soleil
Daily snow reports at Les Portes du Soleil go back to 1996, 31 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
77 cm
Snowiest day
24 Dec 2024
48 cm
This winter · 2026-27
so far
410 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Les Portes du Soleil, and where to stay
Les Portes du Soleil occupies the Chablais Alps straddling Haute-Savoie in France and Valais canton in Switzerland, positioned between Lake Geneva 30 kilometres north and Mont Blanc 50 kilometres south. The French villages sit in the Abondance and Aulps valleys whilst Swiss resorts occupy the Val d'Illiez and overlook the Rhône valley. Morzine anchors the network at 1,000 metres elevation, Avoriaz sits at 1,800 metres, Châtel at 1,200 metres, and Champéry at 1,050 metres in the shadow of the Dents du Midi peaks reaching 3,257 metres.
The nearest major centre is Geneva, 80 kilometres northwest, with Montreux and Lausanne on Lake Geneva's northern shore 40 kilometres from the Swiss valleys. Thonon-les-Bains lies 30 kilometres north as the main French lakeside town. Cluses sits 30 kilometres west as the closest French railhead whilst Aigle provides Swiss rail connections 25 kilometres north. The Franco-Swiss border runs along the ridgeline between Avoriaz and Les Crosets, with the Pas de Morgins mountain pass linking Châtel to Morgins by road in winter.
Road access from France follows the A40 Autoroute Blanche from Geneva and Lyon, exiting at Cluses 22 kilometres from Morzine or continuing to Thonon-les-Bains. The drive from Geneva takes 80 minutes to Morzine, 90 minutes to Châtel via the D902 through the Abondance valley. From Switzerland, the A9 motorway exits at Aigle or Monthey, with 20 minutes' drive to Champéry and Morgins. The Pas de Morgins provides the only winter road connection between French and Swiss sectors.
Geneva International Airport sits one hour from most resorts, served by 49 airlines with 388 daily flights. Direct buses operate from Geneva to Les Prodains below Avoriaz in under two hours. Train connections reach Cluses and Thonon-les-Bains from Geneva in 90 minutes via the Léman Express cross-border service, with onward buses to Morzine, Châtel and Les Gets. The Swiss side connects via train to Aigle station, then the S36 regional line directly to Champéry in two hours 30 minutes total from Geneva, with bus connections to Morgins from Troistorrents.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near Les Portes du Soleil, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Les Portes du Soleil's ski season?
Les Portes du Soleil's 2026 - 2027 season typically runs from November 28 through April 18. That window is roughly 141 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in Switzerland, Europe often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
How much skiable terrain does Les Portes du Soleil have?
Les Portes du Soleil lists about 580 km of piste of marked terrain spread across 277 named runs. That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
What is the terrain like at Les Portes du Soleil?
Trail grading at Les Portes du Soleil breaks down roughly as 53% beginner, 36% intermediate, 11% advanced. With a strong beginner share, Les Portes du Soleil suits families and first-time visitors who want forgiving warm-up terrain before exploring further upslope.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical metres. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
How many lifts does Les Portes du Soleil have?
Les Portes du Soleil operates 163 lifts across 9 lift types. The fleet includes 73 t-bars, 38 6-person chairs, 28 quad chairs, 10 gondolas, 5 triple chairs, 4 surface lifts, 2 aerial trams, 2 double chairs, and 1 8-person chair.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
What is the elevation and vertical drop at Les Portes du Soleil?
Base elevation at Les Portes du Soleil is about 985 m (3,232 ft), with the summit around 2,254 m (7,395 ft), giving roughly 1,269 m (4,163 ft) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
How much snow does Les Portes du Soleil get each season?
Les Portes du Soleil averages about 410 cm (161 inches) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
Where can I buy Les Portes du Soleil lift tickets and how much do they cost?
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans €39 to €75, depending on date band and whether you are buying peak or regular windows. Multi-day products (multi-day passes, season passes) usually lower the per-day cost if you are staying several days. Tickets can be bought online through the resort's official checkout (linked from our lift tickets page) or at on-mountain ticket windows, subject to availability.
Buying ahead of peak holidays and weekends generally saves money and guarantees access on sold-out days. Before you commit, scan the snow report and webcams so you are paying for conditions that match your expectations.
How can I check snow and mountain conditions at Les Portes du Soleil before I go?
SnowStash pulls together 31 live mountain webcams, an interactive live trail map and a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Les Portes du Soleil so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Does Les Portes du Soleil have a trail map?
Yes. A live interactive map embeds current lift and run status when the provider supplies it, which is useful on-morning for seeing what is actually spinning. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for Les Portes du Soleil. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
Where is Les Portes du Soleil located?
Les Portes du Soleil sits in Switzerland, Europe. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.
Latest News
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