Chatel is next on the french side after Avoriaz. The valley running towards Avoriaz from Chatel village is probably the best area for those looking for wide cruising reds and blues. The lifts are fast and it holds i's snow late into the season due to i's north facing aspect. Definitely worth checking out.

Super Chalet is the next area down the Chatel Valley. It's got some great runs, beautiful views and tends to be quiet. The lifts are a bit old over the back side of Super Chatel though and you do have to get a bus down the Chatel valley to get to it (free, every 15 min's). Also remember to leave plenty of time to get home as it's several hours ski away from Les Gets!

From the top of Super Chatel you can cross the Swiss border and drop down into Morgins. Through Morgins leads you through the Swiss side, eventually looping back up to Avoriaz. The Big Lap of the Portes Du Soleil! A great day out for the enthusiastic intermediate, but leave early to make it home in the same day!

The Swiss side is like stepping back in time. The lifts may be older, but the pistes are quieter and it's just more peaceful. This is the contrast to the well developed French side, it may still have T-bar lifts but the pace of life here seems far more relaxed. There is though some great off piste to be had and being quiet there are fresh tracks to be had long after the snow has fallen. There are many large sunny bowls, worth hitting in the mornings as they soften up earlier than many areas. Morning is definitely the time to hit the Swiss side in late season where mornings are great there before hitting the more shady areas of Avoriaz and Chalet which hold their snow better into the afternoons.

Look out for the infamous Swiss Wall (off the back of Avoriaz), reputedly the hardest mogul runs in Europe! If you just fancy a look at it you can take the chair lift down over it to watch the entertainment below!



There are many other linked resorts in the Portes du Soleil. Torgon, Morgin, Les Crosets, St Jean D'Aulps, Chapelle D'Abondance, Champery, the list just goes on. After 3 seasons here I have still not reached the far side of this immense ski area.