Les Gets is a traditional farming village in the Haute-Savoie department of France that connects directly to the Portes du Soleil ski area. It sits at a relatively low altitude but retains the wooden architecture of its agricultural past, avoiding the concrete blocks typical of purpose-built resorts. The community has restricted building heights and traffic to protect the local environment. Skiers come here for the relaxed atmosphere, the tree-lined pistes that provide excellent visibility during storms, and the easy connection to Morzine. The local terrain leans heavily towards beginners and confident intermediates, offering wide cruising runs that wind through the pine forests. Skiers wanting to cover more ground can use the village as a launchpad into the wider cross-border network, crossing into Switzerland and returning before the lifts close. It remains a working village year-round, which prevents the empty feeling that affects higher resorts outside of the winter months.
Mountain culture & milestones
Before it became a ski destination, Les Gets relied entirely on forestry and dairy farming. Its name derives from the local dialect word for the wooden channels used by loggers to slide timber down the steep mountainsides into the valley. The transition from agriculture to winter sports began in 1936 with the opening of the Boule de Gomme drag lift. It was a rudimentary mechanism and one of the earliest built in the French Alps. A modernised version of the lift still operates in the exact same location today.
The resort installed its first single-seater chairlift on the Chavannes slopes in 1938, using wooden pylons. The village gradually expanded its lift network in the following decades, introducing the red bubble cars of the Chavannes gondola in the 1970s. Agriculture remains a visible part of the local economy today. Several working farms sit directly adjacent to the ski pistes, and local producers still make Savoyard cheeses like Abondance.
The village also houses the Museum of Mechanical Music in its oldest standing building, which dates back to the sixteenth century. The collection holds over 900 automated instruments, ranging from small musical boxes to massive fairground organs.
Valley bases: where to stay
The resort is relatively compact, meaning most accommodation is within walking distance of a lift or a shuttle bus stop. Visitors generally choose between three main zones depending on whether they prioritise immediate piste access or proximity to the shops and restaurants.
| Base | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Village Centre | Built around the main street and the Chavannes gondola. Traffic is heavily restricted, and it offers immediate access to the ski schools, bakeries and evening venues. |
| Les Perrières | Located on the main approach road just outside the centre. It is quieter and has its own fast six-seater chairlift, which allows skiers to bypass the morning queues in town. |
| La Turche | A historic hamlet situated slightly above the main village. It provides genuine ski-in, ski-out chalets and relies on a dedicated drag lift to connect residents to the wider network. |
Staying in the centre means navigating the pedestrian areas, but a free road train circles the village throughout the day, moving skiers between the Mont Chéry and Chavannes lift stations. Those staying in Les Perrières or La Turche rely more on the shuttle bus network for evening trips into town.
Ski sectors at a glance
The local ski area divides neatly into two distinct mountains on opposite sides of the valley. They are not physically connected by a ski lift, requiring a short walk or a ride on the road train across the village centre to travel between them.
| Sector | Profile |
|---|---|
| Les Chavannes | The main hub, south-facing and linked directly to Morzine. It has wide, rolling blue and red pistes, dedicated beginner bowls and the majority of the ski school areas. |
| Mont Chéry | A standalone mountain with north-facing slopes. It is significantly quieter, offering steeper red and black runs, dedicated freeride zones and clear panoramic views of the Mont Blanc massif. |
The Chavannes side handles the bulk of the daily traffic, especially in the mornings when ski schools gather at the top of the gondola. Mont Chéry remains the preferred choice for locals and advanced skiers who want to escape the crowds during peak holiday weeks.
The mountain & skiing
The local lift pass covers 120 kilometres of pistes shared with neighbouring Morzine. The terrain skews heavily towards beginners and intermediates, with a layout that encourages relaxed cruising rather than aggressive descent. The Chavannes side consists mostly of gentle, tree-lined blues and reds. The Nauchets bowl acts as a central junction, feeding skiers onto fast six-seater chairlifts like the Ranfoilly Express. These modern lifts keep queues moving even during the busy February half-term.
Beginners benefit from a dedicated learning zone at the top of the Chavannes gondola, which allows novices to practice at altitude rather than being confined to the valley floor. The Mappys area provides a safe environment for children, separated from the main downhill traffic.
Advanced skiers tend to exhaust the local challenges quickly. The Chavannes side has a few short steep pitches, but the real technical skiing is on Mont Chéry. The black run under the main gondola is notoriously steep and frequently icy, while the backside of the mountain provides excellent lift-served off-piste through the trees. Skiers looking for steeper terrain usually buy the full Portes du Soleil pass, unlocking 650 kilometres of connected terrain. This allows day trips to the higher bowls of Avoriaz or long excursions across the border into the Swiss resorts of Champéry and Les Crosets.
The village & après-ski
The main street operates a partial pedestrian system during the winter, which keeps the centre calm and safe for families. The architecture remains strictly low-rise, relying on traditional Savoyard designs of stone and timber.
The atmosphere after the lifts close is distinctly relaxed. People gather on the outdoor terraces near the base of the pistes for a quiet drink rather than attending high-volume club nights. The après-ski scene is polite and family-oriented, with local breweries and wine bars taking precedence over dancing on tables in ski boots.
Dining options focus heavily on regional specialities. Restaurants serve hearty mountain fare built around melted cheese and cured meats. Tartiflette and fondue dominate the menus, alongside locally sourced steaks and freshwater fish from Lake Geneva. The village also supports several excellent pizzerias and modern European bistros. The nightlife wraps up relatively early, reflecting the resort’s core demographic of families and dedicated skiers who prefer to be on the first lift in the morning.
Snow & season
The village sits at an altitude of 1,172 metres, which is objectively low for a major French ski resort. Rain at the base level is a genuine risk at the fringes of the winter, particularly in early December or late April. However, the underlying terrain is summer pasture rather than jagged rock. This means the resort needs very little snow depth to open safely; a base of just a few centimetres is enough to cover the grass, whereas high-altitude rocky resorts require massive dumps to fill in the gaps.
Most of the skiing happens between 1,500 and 2,000 metres. The extensive tree cover on the lower slopes helps to protect the snowpack from wind and direct sunlight, preserving the conditions for longer than exposed areas. The resort has invested in artificial snowmaking on the main arterial routes back into the village to ensure a ski-in, ski-out experience for as long as possible. The north-facing slopes of Mont Chéry hold cold, chalky snow exceptionally well, often remaining in pristine condition days after the last storm.
Summer & year-round
In summer, the village focuses on downhill mountain biking. The local bike park has over 128 kilometres of marked trails that range from beginner flow tracks to severe downhill runs. The resort regularly hosts rounds of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, drawing thousands of spectators and professional riders.
The lifts also provide access to an extensive network of hiking trails that cross the border into Switzerland. The Lac des Ecoles, located just above the village, opens for swimming during the warmer months, complete with a water slide and a grassy beach area. In the evenings, the Alta Lumina night walk offers a light and sound show in the forest, guiding visitors through an immersive storytelling experience. The village remains active from June to September, with most shops and restaurants staying open to support the summer tourism economy.
Safety & mountain etiquette
The wooded lower slopes provide excellent definition and contrast during whiteout conditions, making Les Gets a safe bet when storms close the higher, exposed areas of the Portes du Soleil. However, skiers heading off-piste among the trees need to exercise caution regarding tree wells and hidden streams, which can be dangerous even in shallow snow.
The connection back from Morzine gets heavily congested at the end of the day. The home runs funnel hundreds of tired skiers onto the same narrow tracks, leading to unpredictable movements and scraped, icy patches. Skiers are advised to moderate their speed during the final descent and give plenty of space to beginners. The local ski patrol strictly enforces speed limits in designated slow zones around the learning areas. Backcountry skiers should always consult the daily avalanche bulletin, as the steep faces off the back of Mont Chéry are prone to sliding after heavy snowfall.
Who it suits best
Les Gets is ideal for families and intermediate skiers who want a traditional village environment combined with massive ski area access. The gentle terrain makes it perfect for those looking to improve their technique without intimidation. It is less suitable for groups looking for late-night parties, or experts who want steep freeride terrain straight out of their chalet door. Skiers seeking guaranteed deep powder in April would be better placed staying in higher resorts like Avoriaz or Val Thorens.
Getting there
Geneva Airport is approximately 72 km away. The nearest rail hubs are Cluses and Thonon-les-Bains.
This guide is published by Alps2Alps for general information only. It is not affiliated with Wikipedia or any resort, airport, or lift operator. Facts were accurate at the time of writing; always check official sources before travel.
Deadline: February 13th
Winner Announcement: February 14th
