Châtel and the Portes du Soleil: 600km of cross-border skiing from the French Chablais

600km of slopes, 12 resorts, two countries

The Portes du Soleil were established in 1964 with the aim of connecting Chablais villages straddling France (Haute-Savoie) and Switzerland (Valais). The twelve resorts are:

French side: Abondance, Avoriaz, Châtel, La Chapelle d’Abondance, Les Gets, Montriond, Morzine, Saint-Jean-d’Aulps.

Swiss side: Champéry, Morgins, Torgon, Les Crosets-Champoussin.

The total domain comprises approximately 300 slopes and more than 200 ski lifts, totalling 600km of terrain. For comparison, this is broadly comparable to the 3 Vallées and considerably larger than Paradiski (425km).

Châtel: a dedicated domain of 83km

Châtel itself offers 83km of slopes across 45 runs, served by 43 ski lifts. Altitude ranges from 1100 to 2200m, with two distinct sectors:

Super-Châtel, directly accessible from the village by cable car. This is the most family-oriented sector.

Linga, more demanding, which opens the link towards Avoriaz and Les Crosets on the Swiss side. This sector appeals to confident skiers.

Cross-border linking: what it offers

The distinctive feature of the Portes du Soleil is the ability to ski into Switzerland, without formalities, on a single pass. The crossing to Les Crosets and Champéry passes through the Linga and Pré-la-Joux area, then over Pointe de Mossettes.

The appeal is twofold:

Cultural variety: lunch can be taken on the Swiss side (rösti, fendant) rather than the French side (tartiflette, Savoie wine).

Variety of scenery: the Swiss slope offers distinctive views, with the Dents du Midi as a backdrop.

Allow a full day for a return journey from Châtel to Champéry on skis, keeping an eye on last lift times (typically 15:30-16:00 depending on season) to avoid being stranded on the Swiss side.

Who Châtel suits

Châtel is less internationally known than its neighbour Avoriaz, but retains several advantages:

Village character: Châtel has retained a traditional urban layout, unlike the purpose-built resorts of the 1960s-70s. It is one of the few Portes du Soleil villages to offer an authentic atmosphere.

Intermediate to confident skiers: 83km of local domain plus easy access to the rest of the Portes du Soleil.

Families: the Super-Châtel sector is particularly suited to children learning to ski.

Cross-border residents and Swiss visitors: Geneva and Lausanne are approximately 1 hour 30 minutes’ drive away.

Passes: Châtel alone or Portes du Soleil?

Two pass levels are available:

The Châtel pass, covering the local domain. Sufficient for 3-4 days of skiing.

The Portes du Soleil pass, unlocking all 600km. Essential for stays of 5 days or more, and for those wishing to access the Swiss side.

When to visit

Ski season: early December to mid-April. Peak season runs from January to mid-March.

February school holidays see peak crowds; January (outside holidays) and the first half of March offer the best combination of snow and fewer crowds.

Planning a stay in Châtel

AEC Collection selects and represents premium chalets and apartments in Châtel and the French Chablais. Access to the domain is by cable car from Super-Châtel or by lifts in the Linga sector, and the Portes du Soleil pass is the option to choose to make full use of the domain.