Portes du Soleil sets out expanded offer for winter 2026–27

Portes du Soleil is preparing for the 2026–27 winter season with a renewed accommodation offer, new mountain hospitality venues and a programme designed to underline the French-Swiss ski area’s cross-border identity.

The linked domain, which brings together 12 resorts across France and Switzerland under a single lift pass, is scheduled to open from 19 December 2026 until 18 April 2027. It claims 600km of pistes, 208 lifts and 307 marked runs, ranging from beginner terrain to the steep, ungroomed Chavanette descent—better known as the Swiss Wall.

Stretching between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc, Portes du Soleil includes Avoriaz, Morzine, Les Gets, Châtel and Abondance on the French side, alongside Champéry, Morgins, Torgon and the Val-d’Illiez resorts in Switzerland. The area’s central selling point remains the ability to ski between countries without changing lift passes or repeatedly returning to the same slopes.

New accommodation for the season

Several major hospitality projects are due to welcome guests this winter.

In Morzine, the long-established Hôtel Le Tremplin is entering a new phase under Flock Inns, part of the Timpson Group. The property, a local landmark for almost a century, has been refurbished with renovated dining areas, a terrace and 13 high-end ski-in, ski-out suites.

Morzine will also see the opening of Hôtel Garance. Formerly known locally as Les Airelles, the property has been redeveloped by the Mont-Blanc Collection while retaining its original façade. The hotel will feature 64 rooms, a locally focused brasserie, Nordic spa and wellness facilities, as well as social spaces including a karaoke area.

In Avoriaz, Pierre & Vacances’ Capella residence is reopening after a substantial renovation. Its 143 four-person apartments have been redesigned, alongside the addition of an indoor pool with mountain views. According to the press material, energy-efficiency work and upgraded insulation are expected to halve the carbon footprint associated with each stay.

A further addition is planned at altitude between Champéry and Morzine. At 1,920 metres on the Franco-Swiss border, the former Cabane du Col de Cou customs house is becoming a staffed, year-round refuge with 40 beds. Its dining room opened in autumn 2025, with sleeping accommodation scheduled to become available during the 2026–27 winter.

Meanwhile, Le Chaudron restaurant in the Les Lindarets sector of Montriond has reopened after a year-long renovation. Under new manager Mathieu Muffat, the venue will offer traditional daytime dining and what the press pack describes as the hamlet’s only après-ski experience.

Beyond the piste

The resort group is also promoting a wider range of activities intended to encourage visitors to explore beyond conventional downhill skiing.

The winter programme includes night skiing in Morgins, dog-sledding in La Chapelle d’Abondance, an immersive night walk at Alta Lumina in Les Gets and the Fantasticable zip line in Châtel. Visitors can also try ice diving in Lake Montriond, observe birds of prey on Morzine’s Nyon plateau or take a snowshoeing route in Torgon with views towards Mont Blanc, the Dents du Midi and Lake Geneva

For skiers, the area’s established routes remain central to its appeal. Avoriaz’s tree-lined Stash snowpark is aimed at freestyle users, while Morzine’s 1000D route combines technical sections and forest skiing across a claimed 1,000-metre vertical descent. The Roc d’Enfer loop near Saint-Jean-d’Aulps offers a quieter circuit through less developed terrain.

At the other end of the spectrum, Torgon provides a more relaxed, panoramic experience, while Les Gets’ Grand Cry area offers boardercross, themed trails and a musical run intended to appeal to families and recreational skiers.

Mountain dining and overnight stays

Food is being positioned as another way to connect the French and Swiss sides of the domain. Specialities highlighted for the coming winter include Abondance-based Berthoud, Valais raclette and rösti, with mountain restaurants such as Ferme-Auberge d’Alpage Chez Denis in Châtel, La Rossetaz in Les Gets and Buvette d’Alpage La Bourri in Torgon forming part of the area’s on-mountain offer.

Portes du Soleil is also encouraging visitors to turn a day’s skiing into an overnight route. Seven mountain huts are open in winter, including L’Ancienne Douane in Morgins, a former customs hut at 1,820 metres that has been converted into a refuge. The new Cabane du Col de Cou will add another high-altitude option for guests travelling between Champéry and Morzine

Events return

The season’s calendar will begin with Rock On Snow in Avoriaz from 11–13 December, offering visitors the chance to test the latest ski, snowboard and equipment models before the main season begins.

Other events include the Spartan Winter Trail in Morzine, La Grande Odyssée sled-dog race in Montriond, the Winter Trail Race in Les Gets and the Welsh Alpine Championships in Champéry and Les Crosets.

The headline music event will be Rock the Pistes, scheduled for 14–21 March 2027. Now established as a high-altitude festival combining skiing with open-air concerts, the event will stage eight slope-side performances across Morzine, Montriond–Les Lindarets, Châtel and Morgins. Access is included for Portes du Soleil lift-pass holders

Rail access promoted

The destination is also highlighting rail travel. Geneva remains the closest major airport, while visitors can reach Cluses or Thonon-les-Bains by train before continuing to the resorts by bus or taxi. Champéry has its own railway station, giving it direct train access from the Swiss network.

Montagne Verte, a local non-profit organisation, has launched the Pass Alpin Express, offering discounts to travellers who reach the mountains by train. Benefits include reductions on accommodation, equipment hire, lessons and activities.

With its combination of expanded accommodation, new dining and refuge projects, cross-border skiing and a busy events programme, Portes du Soleil is presenting winter 2026–27 as a season focused on connecting its resorts more closely—both on the mountain and beyond it.