Morzine at a glance
Morzine is a real mountain town before it is a ski resort. It sits at about 1,000 metres in the Chablais, in Haute-Savoie, around an old village centre with a church, slate roofs and wooden chalets that climb both sides of the valley. People live and work here all year, which gives the town a life of its own outside the holiday weeks.
Morzine is also a gateway to the Portes du Soleil, one of the largest linked ski areas in the world, shared between France and Switzerland. From the town, lifts climb to Le Pleney and on to Les Gets, to Super-Morzine and Avoriaz, and from there over the border to Champéry and the Swiss resorts. One lift pass covers around 600 kilometres of slopes.
For Geneva Transfer Booking, Morzine is one of the most requested destinations in winter, and increasingly in summer too. It is close enough to Geneva for a long weekend, and big enough for a full week without repeating a run.
A short history
For centuries Morzine lived from farming and from its slate. The valley's grey stone was quarried and split into roof tiles that covered houses across the region, and slate roofs remain the town's signature. The first skiers arrived in the 1930s, when lifts began to climb the slopes above the village, and Morzine grew into a resort without losing its town life.
The decisive change came with the creation of Avoriaz on the cliff above and the linking of the French and Swiss resorts into the Portes du Soleil. Morzine became the valley base of one of the largest ski areas in the world, and later, in summer, a pioneer of lift-served mountain biking in Europe.
When to come
The ski season usually runs from mid-December to early April. Christmas, New Year and the French school holidays in February are the busiest weeks, with the most traffic on Saturdays. January and March are calmer, with long sunny days in March. In summer, the lifts and bike park open from late June to early September. In May, October and November, many lifts and restaurants close, and the town is at its quietest.
From Geneva Airport to Morzine: the route
The drive covers about 90 kilometres. Google calculates about an hour and a half without traffic. On a Saturday in February, when thousands of chalets change guests on the same day, the valley road can be much slower, and we plan the departure time with that in mind.
The route leaves Geneva and crosses into France, then follows the A40 motorway towards Cluses before turning off into the valleys. From there the road climbs through Taninges and over the col of Les Gets, then drops into Morzine. The last part is a mountain road with bends, cleared and treated in winter.
Many chalets in Morzine are not on the main road but up narrow lanes on the slopes above the town. Our chauffeurs drive to the chalet door whenever the access allows it, on winter tyres and with chains on board.
The border and formalities
Geneva Airport has a Swiss side and a French side. If you leave from the Swiss side, the car crosses the French border a few minutes after the airport. Switzerland and France are both in the Schengen area, so there is usually no passport check, but customs controls on goods can take place. Each passenger should carry a valid passport or identity card, and travellers who need a Schengen visa should check that theirs is valid.
Winter: skiing in Morzine and the Portes du Soleil
From Morzine, two main sectors are reached directly from the town. Le Pleney and Nyon offer tree-lined runs, ideal on days of poor visibility, and the link to Les Gets. Across the valley, the Super-Morzine gondola climbs towards Avoriaz and the high, snow-sure slopes of the Portes du Soleil.
Good skiers spend days crossing into Switzerland, to Champéry, Les Crosets and Morgins, and come back through the famous Swiss Wall at Chavanette, one of the steepest marked runs in the Alps. Beginners have gentle areas close to the town, and ski schools teach in several languages.
The season usually runs from mid-December to the start of April. Morzine's altitude is moderate, so the higher sectors around Avoriaz help in years with less snow.
Summer: the capital of mountain biking
When the snow melts, Morzine changes its clientele. The town has become one of Europe's best-known mountain-bike destinations, with lift-served downhill trails, enduro routes and cross-country loops across the Portes du Soleil. In summer, the lifts carry bikes, and riders come from all over Europe.
The valley also suits walkers and families: the Lac de Montriond, a short drive away, the Ardent waterfall, and the hamlet of Les Lindarets, known for the goats that wander freely between the restaurants. Paragliding flights over the valley are popular when the weather is calm.
What to see around Morzine
- The old village centre, with its church, slate roofs and shops.
- The Lac de Montriond, surrounded by forest, for a walk or a picnic.
- The Ardent waterfall and the road up to Les Lindarets.
- The slate heritage of the valley, once quarried and still visible on roofs throughout the town.
- The Portes du Soleil viewpoints reached by lift, with views over Lake Geneva on clear days.
At the table
Savoyard cooking is made for cold days: tartiflette with Reblochon, fondue, raclette, diots sausages with polenta and crozets. The neighbouring Abondance valley gives its name to a fine cheese. Morzine has restaurants for every budget, from mountain huts on the slopes to more refined tables in the town.
Advice by type of traveller
Families. Book the arrival so that children reach the chalet before dinner. Ask for child seats with the children's ages. In high season, Saturdays are the busiest day on the road.
Groups of friends. A Mercedes V-Class or a Sprinter keeps the group together with all its skis and boots, instead of several taxis.
Weekend skiers. A Friday evening flight and a Sunday evening return work well, as long as the return time leaves margin for traffic.
Mountain bikers. Tell us how many bikes you bring and whether they travel in bags or boxes, so that we choose the right vehicle.
Vehicle, luggage and equipment
A Mercedes E-Class suits one to three passengers with suitcases. The S-Class is the most comfortable choice for couples and executives. With skis, boots and bags for a week, the V-Class is the practical choice, for up to six or seven passengers. For larger groups or lots of bikes, the Sprinter is available on request.
Booking and the return trip
Prices shown on this page are calculated by our booking engine for a one-way trip from Geneva Airport to Morzine. Book online to see the exact price for your chalet address, or call us. When you book the return trip at the same time, the booking engine applies a 10% reduction to the round trip.
Your chauffeur follows your flight in real time and adapts to delays. For the return, we agree the pick-up time at your chalet, taking into account your flight time and the traffic expected on that day.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the transfer from Geneva Airport to Morzine?
About an hour and a half for about 90 kilometres without traffic. On winter Saturdays, allow more time.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, carry a valid passport or identity card: the route crosses from Switzerland into France. Checks are rare but possible.
Can you drop us at a chalet on a steep road?
Yes, whenever the access is safe. Give us the exact address when booking, and tell us if the chalet is reached by a private track.
Can you take mountain bikes in summer?
Yes. Tell us how many bikes and in what packaging when booking; we will choose a V-Class or a Sprinter.
Is Morzine connected to Avoriaz and Les Gets?
Yes, by the Portes du Soleil lifts. By road, Avoriaz is about twenty minutes up the hill and Les Gets about fifteen minutes away.