Planning on hitting slopes soon and don’t fancy spending the majority of your trip travelling? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
A popular choice for winter-sport lovers, did you know Geneva Airport was named Best Airport by World Snow Awards? While there are many resorts accessible by train or car, we can all agree that than prolonged time in any vehicle is less than ideal.
That’s why we’ve pulled together three of the top ski resorts within an hour’s reach of Geneva Airport (GVA) to get you up in the mountains tout suite!
Whether you’re more of a skier, snowboarder or someone who just loves the après-ski lifestyle, there’s something for you at each of these resorts…
La Dôle
Distance from GVA: 36.5km
La Dôle straddles Les Rousses, France and Lake Geneva, Switzerland, so you can expect great views from the top of this expansive resort. Just a 40-minute drive from Geneva Airport, La Dôle is easily accessible and only 20km from Nyon.
Espace Dôle is best suited to families and downhill skiing as 17 of its 28km slopes are easy and flat trails, with dedicated areas for first-time skiers. However, if you’re no beginner, there are 8.7km of intermediate red runs – check out Les Lesines for a challenge.
Les Quatre-Murs and Reculets-Dessus are designed for the experienced skier or snowboarder, covering 2.4km of the resort’s expert black runs.
If winter sports aren’t your thing, there’s so much more to do at La Dôle, including toboggan running, swimming, fishing, cycling, hiking and even paragliding.
Pros:
- Beautiful scenery
- Suitable for families
- Environmentally friendly resort
- Beginner slopes accessible from lower parts of the resort
Cons:
- Fewer runs for the experienced skier
- Off-piste runs can sometimes be untracked
Grand Montets, Chamonix
Distance from GVA: 67.5k
Grand Montets is one of the five resorts that make up the Chamonix Mont Blanc Valley. Considered the best free-ride resort in the world, this winter sports area sits against an impressive glacier (glacier d’Argentière) that stretches across three mountain sides.
Grand Montets is fantastic throughout the ski season. Suitable for children and adults alike, the slopes are suitable for mixed abilities with 29km of slopes to choose from, made up of both freeriding and prepared slopes.
It’s worth noting that the resort hosts 14km of difficult slopes – we’re looking at you black slopers! There are five lifts onsite and the highest point on the resort reaches an astonishing 3,275m. Don’t forget your camera!
Pros:
- Slope-side lodging
- High-quality nursery slopes
- Regular buses in the area
- Lots of bars and restaurants
Cons:
- Small village
- Expect weekend queues
Les Gets, Les Portes du Soleil
Distance from GVA: 79.2km
Les Gets is one of the 12 resorts within Les Portes du Soleil, which crosses the border between France and Switzerland. Only an hour’s drive from Geneva airport, Morzine attracts a vast number of tourists each year.
The stats speak for themselves at Les Portes du Soleil. The slopes are divided into difficulty with 310km for beginners, 210km for intermediate skiers and 60km classed as difficult.
The lowest mountain sits 1,000m above sea level and the mountain top is 2,466m.
A famous black/red run called The Swiss Wall straddles the border and is best suited for advanced skiers. While the Belette is best for beginners as it’s an accessible run rated green – perfect for first-time skiers who want to get a bit further up the mountain.
In terms of family activities, Les Gets has a snow park, snowshoe walks, forest circuits and hiking trails for you to get involved in. And when you come off the slopes, be sure to visit La Terrasse. It’s one of the highest rated restaurants on La Promenade des Anglais.
Pros:
- Night-time skiing allowed
- Snow park nearby
- Varied slopes
- Chalet-style village
Cons:
- Low altitude sometimes affects snow
- It’s quite far to the main Portes du Soleil circuit
Or perhaps you could buy near one of these resorts…
To get the process of buying your ski property underway, why not take a look at our handy ski property buying guides? It lays out the buying journey step by step to make the process as smooth and hassle-free as possible.
May 22, 2023
