Piste maps
Key facts
| Resort | 1800 m |
|---|---|
| Slopes | 950-2275 m |
| Lifts | 198 |
| Pistes | 650 km |
| Green | 13 % |
| Blue | 40 % |
| Red | 37 % |
| Black | 10 % |
| Snowmaking | 835 guns |
| Price index | 95 |
Package operators
Alpine Answers, Club Med, Crystal, Erna Low, Independent Ski Links, Inghams, Interactive Resorts, Lagrange, Neilson, Pierre & Vacances, Powder White, PowderBeds, Rude Chalets, Ski Collection, Ski France, Ski Independence, Ski Total, Skitracer, Skiweekends.com, Thomson, White Roc, Zenith
AvoriazFrance
The upside
- Good position on the main Portes du Soleil circuit, giving access to very extensive, quite varied runs
- Very successful design – car-free, with ski-in/ski-out lodgings
- Good children’s facilities
- Local slopes are among the best in the Portes du Soleil and generally have the best snow, but ...
The downside
- Low altitudes and exposure to westerlies means some risk of poor snow lower down, and rain
- Architecture doesn’t suit everyone
- Lacks a slick bag delivery system
- Can get very crowded at weekends
- Limited range of restaurants, very limited range of other amenities
- Hardly any hotels
Latest user reviews
Getting Stashed In Avoriaz - 22nd January 2011 This…
garethbeckett 27 Apr 2011
Just back from a week in Avoriaz (Late Jan 09). The…
Steveb27 1 Feb 2009
I recently (Easter 2008) visited Avoriaz with seven,…
Joanna 14 Apr 2008
Your views?
If you have visited this resort not too long ago, why not add your own short review to this page?
Summary
Of the many purpose-built resorts thrown up in France in the 1960s, Avoriaz is probably the best-designed – genuinely convenient in most respects, completely car-free and visually striking rather than offensive. And it is set in the highest, most snow-sure part of the relatively low (but very extensive) Portes du Soleil ski area. Avoriaz missed out on the new generation of smart apartment developments that have transformed self-catering in many French resorts, but it has now more than caught up, with some fabulous places opening last season and more due to open for 2012/13. Now how about a few more hotels?
News – 2012/13
The Prodains cable car from Morzine is to be replaced by a gondola, opening in February. A new aquatic centre – the Aquariaz – opened in July 2012, with water slides, river rapids, a climbing wall above a plunge pool and lots of tropical plants. The second phase of the luxury 5-star Amara apartments is due to open, as well as the 4-star Atria-Crozats residence.
News – 2011/12
Two buildings opened in the first phase of the new 5-star Pierre & Vacances apartments Amara – with spa, pool, saunas etc – near the top of the resort. And a new ice rink opened near the centre. A pass that lets you ski for any five consecutive hours in a day replaced the half-day pass.
News – 2010/11
The Ardent gondola was revamped and now has a higher capacity. A boardercross course was also built.
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