In a snowy paradise is a place where cars are banished and you’ll need to get around on your own two feet or flag down a horse-drawn sleigh. Alternatively, ski right from the door of your chalet and be on the slopes in minutes. This is the luxurious ski resort of Avoriaz.

The resort

Avoriaz 1800 is a French mountain ski resort in the heart of the Portes du Soleil, above the alpine town of Morzine. It’s a high-altitude resort which means it gets snow until late April.

There are 12 French and Swiss resorts linking 600km, of which, 75km is Avoriaz. It is a fabulous resort for families thanks to a range of specially designed children’s ski areas. It is ideal for beginners, with four green slopes and a network of more challenging blue slopes.

From Avoriaz, you have direct access to pistes in Chatel and Morgins. Avoriaz is directly linked to Swiss resort Les Crosets and French resorts Chatel and Morzine. The Avoriaz pistes are divided in four sectors: The Lindarets, Haut-Forts, Fornet and Super Morzine.  Then there is the famous village of Lindarets, a charming hamlet of old chalets buried under the snow within a beautiful valley that is arteried with red and blue runs plus a single black, while the others are used by beginners.

A jet set location

Avoriaz was one of the very first ski resorts and its first lifts date back to the early 1930s. The resort was the brainchild of Gerard Bremont, the son of a leading French industrialist and part of the French jet-set. Soon, Avoriaz was proclaimed the “Saint Tropez de Neige” – the centre of jet-set skiing. Hotel Dromonts and its restaurant and Discothèque were the place to be seen by starlets such as Brigitte Bardot who visited during the sixties mingling with elite skiers Isabelle Mir and Annie Famose who became involved in various property developments. Famose, a five-time French champion, won the downhill in 1963 and 1965, giant slalom in 1962 and 1964, and the slalom in 1963.

After her retirement from skiing, Famose developed sports shops and mountain restaurants, the first one in Avoriaz with Mir as a collaboration bearing their names called The Mirfamose. Today, one of the principal owners of the resort is the tourism and real estate development company Pierre and Vacances, whose founder, Gerard Bremont, took an active part in building the station.

Entertainment

The ski village itself mingles with the residential area, making a lively and interesting place to explore. Bursting with bars, restaurants and entertainment venues, as well as shops selling groceries and delicacies such as cheese and saucisson and souvenirs, it is worth exploring on foot.  One of the best places to enjoy lunch overlooking the slopes is La Cabane, owned by Annie Famose.

La Cabane is an ideal place to relax in the late afternoon sun with a glass of wine enjoying the views of the mountains. The restaurant is exquisite, each pine chair is draped with fluffy white cushions and the deck overlooks the snow which glistens off the wine glasses as punters sip elegantly. This spot is so glamorous that once Steven Spielberg came to visit. It was also Brigitte Bardot’s favourite spot. Inside the restaurant exudes sophistication, with a wooden cabin that is expensively furnished and the perfect place to enjoy early evening cocktails before an evening meal. There is so much to choose from on the menu from tartiflette to fillet steak and a vast array of wines.

Apres Ski

Ski down to the legendary La Folie Douce for some of the best apres ski in town. Stack up your skis and head to the VIP area  to enjoy the incredible views of the Alps as the bubbly is popped.

Skiers dressed in outrageous outfits dance on the eighties-inspired balcony among the Rubix cubes and neon lettering. Many more bust their moves on the tables waving their noodles in the air, and musicians and djs circle around. All in all, it creates an electric atmosphere and the bubbles flow nicely as the beats roll until six each evening to allow people to retire to their chalets.

Wooden-clad apartments and chalets blend harmoniously against the surrounding mountains. One of these is Chalet Renard Blanc, aka the white fox, a ski-in-ski-out flagship property operated by Flexiski, located in the heart of Avoriaz.

As you walk into the property, kick off your boots, hang up your coat and enter a spacious open-plan living room and dining area. There you’ll find comfy chairs decorated in bold colours which go wonderfully against the pine walls. There is an air of luxury in this spacious alpine log cabin. The eye is drawn towards a centerpiece light above the coffee table, as you sink back and relax in the cosy armchairs you can rest your ski legs while cradling a glass of wine.

This snug is ideal to play board games and chat with your friends. With six bedrooms, the chalet can sleep up to 12 people. Each of the rooms is spacious with comfy beds draped in fur rugs. Some of the rooms have a bathtub and others have a shared bathroom. Additionally, there is a sauna and hammam upstairs for soothing those aching muscles.

The chalet is fully catered and has its own private chef and host to make guests feel welcome. They take care of everything from breakfast to afternoon tea and dinner. After a great day skiing, freshly baked cake, jams and scones, unlimited tea and coffee  await in the dining area.

Guests can unwind and swap ski stories in the sauna before getting a hot bath and then dressed for dinner. Each evening canapes and Prosecco are served before dinner to stimulate the appetite for a freshly cooked meal.

The quality of the food is superb, and all meals are cooked by an in chalet chef. The menu ranges from hearty British classics like Beef Wellington to fresh salmon, and mountain food, with free-flowing wine.

Hook your phone up to the Bluetooth speaker via the free Wi-Fi and play tunes and games. Evenings are full of joviality as the red wine flows with the occasional shot of the local Génépi and great conversation. On changeover days, the chalet host leaves a range of delectables from delicious, cured meats and fresh salad, not to mention a wonderful raclette.

The chalet is located directly opposite the Skiset rental where it’s possible to hire some skis, a helmet and boots before heading to your lesson provided by the British-run Avoriaz Alpine Ski School.

Beginners can soon progress here with plenty of easy blues so once the snowploughs are transformed into parallel turns, one can soon be whizzing down the beautiful tree-lined blue piste, traversing across the resort and discovering new places.

The next morning, blues and reds are perfect to Lindarets where you can enjoy chocolate chaud before taking a chairlift up to Brochaux. Here a wonderful restaurant called Refuge des Brochaux awaits. Over a glass of wine, one can enjoy incredible views and delicious salmon crepe and frites to refuel for a ski back down the mountain.

This area of the Lindarets Valley is stunning, boasting one of the longest slopes in the Portes du Soleil called the Abricotine. It snakes for 8 km from the ridges marking the border with Switzerland to the foot of the Ardent gondola. Montriond is known for its lake and its beautiful spruce forests.  A little higher up, the village of Lindarets is picturesque and it has an abundant goat population in the summer months that has caused it to be christened “village of goats” it is frequented by hikers who climb up the peaks in the summer to see the stunning waterfalls.

Exploring the town

For days when your muscles ache too much, there is plenty to do in the town off skis. The tourist office, is there to help plan all the activities in the resort. There is no better way to see the resort than on a horse-driven sleigh. It really is like stepping back in time as you hear the jingle of bells signalling the arrival of your transportation. These wonderful creatures bow their head as they arrive at your door. As you step into your carriage, you tell the driver where you want to go, and they will convey you there in style. During the tour, your guide tells you about the history of the resort.

Sled dogs

Another thrilling way to see the resort is by sled dog ride. The dogs rest just next to the chalet and take you on a thrilling adventure as you learn to drive a sled dog team in Avoriaz with a professional musher. During this initiation, you will learn how to take care of a team of two or three sled dogs and how to lead it. Accompanied by an experienced instructor you will tie all the husky dogs together and then it’s off for an unforgettable ride and while driving the sled, you will be able to feel the power of the dogs and the camaraderie of a sled dog team.  Another nice way to unwind after a long day’s ski, is at the Aquariaz indoor waterpark which has a tropical area to splash and swim about in for the ultimate in relaxation as well as a great area for kids.

A visit to Avoriaz is a magical experience and a place that has a special place in my heart. It has everything you could want in a resort. Ski in ski out of the chalet to discover a wonderful array of pistes, and a lively après ski. In the town itself you’ll find horse-drawn carriages, lots of bars, shops, and restaurants. Staying in a chalet was an incredibly special experience, surrounded by creature comforts while being pampered by the culinary skills of our chef as we enjoyed wonderful company and stunning views. It is completely relaxing and a three-day trip with Flexiski is the perfect antidote to the stresses of daily life.

Avoriaz is just one of the locations that Flexiski operates in. The company provides short and flexible breaks and weekend ski trips across the Alps, Norway and Canada. It is part of SkiWeekends aimed at skiers and snowboarders looking for convenience when booking premium accommodation.

Flexi ski breaks are designed for three nights but can be longer. They include a fully cooked breakfast, afternoon tea, evening drinks and canapes, and a four-course dinner with wine and airport transfers. Bookings can be made for the whole chalet or as individual rooms.