This is as close to an alpine fairy tale as it gets. A beautiful resort tucked away between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc, Les Gets’ charm comes from rustic wooden chalets, friendly locals and the inevitably cosy atmosphere a smaller village can offer. Les Gets is pronounced Ley-Jay.
Situated just an hour from Geneva Airport, it’s perfect for those who don’t want to waste a chunk of their holiday travelling, as most people who fly in the morning can make it onto the slopes by mid-afternoon. This is also one of the closest resorts to Calais, for those who prefer to drive - it takes just under 8 hours, making it a great choice for those who don’t want to spend too long on the road!
The village itself is partly car-free, and the perfect size to go everywhere on foot. There’s a free bus circulating around the centre, and a free train that goes to the Mont Chery bubble lift from the Chavannes side. Don’t, however, be fooled by its size. Accommodation wise there’s a huge variety of chalets, catered and non-catered, hotels or apartments for any budget as well as an excellent choice of over 40 restaurants and a wealth of things to do off the slopes; including ice skating and bowling.
Les Gets is one of our favourite resorts for families, and has even been named a ‘Famille Plus’ village, meaning the national tourist board has approved it as a village that offers outstanding facilities, in a safe environment, making it the obvious choice for those with children. The tourist office and staff really go the extra mile during the Christmas holidays, half-term and Easter. There’s always plenty going on for children to get involved in, and Christmas here promises to be one of the most magical in the Alps!
The Les Gets/Morzine ski pass gives you access to 120km of varied pistes, with stunning scenery and breath-taking views of Mont Blanc on a clear day. Those who are looking to ski further afield have easy access to the whole Portes du Soleil area, with a massive 650km of pistes which even covers some areas of Switzerland.
Location: Haute-Savoie region, French Alps
Established: 1938
Open: Mid December – Mid April
Downhill: 120km (secured)
View our detailed Les Gets snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Les Gets snow history.
Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
Geneva Airport | 73km, 1h 30mins |
Chambery Airport | 126km, 1h 45mins |
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Top Altitude: | 2002m |
Bottom Altitude: | 1172m |
Resort Altitude: | 1000m |
Longest run: | 6km |
Slope Orientation: | NSEW |
Vertical Drop: | 2723m |
Skiable Vertical: | |
Night Skiing: | Yes |
Glacier: | No |
Downhill Runs: | 120km (secured) |
Beginner slopes: | 44% |
Intermediate: | 40% |
Advanced slopes: | 14% |
Lift Pass Price: | €216 for 6 days adult local pass (Les Gets/Morzine). €278 for 6 days adult area pass (Portes du Soleil) *online prices |
Nearby resorts: Morzine, Avoriaz |
Les Gets has several ski schools, making it an excellent place for children and beginners. Most have bi-lingual instructors, and the resort’s popularity with families means instructors are well versed in teaching children to ski.
A designated beginner park called Mappy’s Area is close to the Chavannes cable car, with gentle slopes, two magic carpets and rope tows to ski smoothly on 4 gentle slopes. There are good blue runs near the centre of town, and further up towards Chavannes, for any older learners who want to enjoy some of the areas’ stunning scenery - the ‘Bluet’ is really lovely.
For children, there is a wild west themed park called Territoire du Grand Cry which has a special moguled piste and banked turns for practice, treasure hunts, face painting and drawing competitions in the trappers’ cabin as well as a picnic area come lunchtime. There is also an ‘educational run’, sponsored by Milka, to teach children about Alpine environments, with chocolate and educational signs along the way. Entertainment is normally provided in this area in the French school holidays.
Mont Chery has a good variation of red runs, like Chamois or Epervier, and a slightly quieter set of pistes. Taking the Ranfailly Express up towards Ranfailly will connect you with great red runs like Fenerets to ski back towards the village, or Chevrelles to ski towards Morzine. The Nauchets Express lift towards the Secteur Charniaz has 3 long red runs and a couple of blues back to the resort.
There are good steep black runs like Myrtilles and the Yeti, on the La Rosta area of town for advanced skiers. On the Mont Chery side, there’s Bouquetin which is an amazing wide run - usually quiet too! Excellent tree skiing and off-piste opportunities exist a bit further afield in the Chamossiere & Nyon areas above Morzine, with several black runs and freeride zone.
The Snowpark in Mont Chery has rails, kicks and boxes in all different sizes for all abilities to have a go. There’s also a new Videopark; that usually opens mid-morning until the slopes close, a fantastic opportunity for skiers and boarders to have their best runs filmed, to view technique and improve style.
Whilst the resort isn't primarily known for a huge après ski scene, a choice of over 100 shops, bars and restaurants means there's definitely fun to be had after a long day on the slopes. There are several lively bars, and most will stay open until about 2 am. The Irish pub is great for its friendly atmosphere, home-brewed beers, live music and great tapas. The Black Bear is child friendly, with a pool table and located just above the Irish pub. If 2 am isn't late enough for you, Igloo nightclub is open until 4 am every morning apart from Mondays. It was the first nightclub to open in the French Alps in 1938, which means any visits count as cultural education!
Anyone wanting a calmer drink at the end of the day should head to the hotel Chamois d'Or, offering a chic setting for wine, cocktails and champagne, with sport playing on big screens throughout the evening.
The gastronomy scene is alive and well with lots of choices where restaurants are concerned. For traditional French haute-cuisine, visit Restaurant L'outa for fine wines and high-quality cooking. Anyone keen to sample traditional Savoyard recipes (think hot cheese served many ways!) should visit La R'mize, nestled in the centre of the village. Le Flambeau is also well worth a visit. Run by a married couple, channelling a vintage tea-room décor, it offers traditional French dishes, snails included, for very reasonable prices.
For those keen on post-skiing relaxation, there's the beautiful 'Spa Serini Cîmes', offering treatments and massages from all 5 continents of the world.
The traditional market held every Thursday morning, where the locals sell their artisan French produce and crafts, is definitely worth a mention, and indeed a morning off the slopes.
The Portes du Soleil region is unique due to its position between the cold fronts of Mont Blanc and the humidity of Lake Geneva, and this micro-climate often results in heavy snowfall. Couple this with excellent snowmaking technology and the result is usually good snow for the majority of the season. Although it is lower in altitude, the grassy slopes mean that less snow is needed for good coverage, and tree-lined runs will offer protection from wind, ice and poor visibility. January is cold, so the snow quality is excellent, but February/March offers a higher snow quantity and more powder. Anyone with a ‘Portes du Soleil’ pass can ski up to Avoriaz, which boasts the highest altitudes.
Christmas and New Year are extremely popular, and Les Gets also plays host to many exciting mid-season events. A Valentine’s Day tradition of a romantic meal in the Mont Chery bubble lift and the hugely popular Rock the Pistes music festival which happens in March. Also, the Red Ski Show which is put on by the local ESF school every Monday during February and March.
If you’re after the perfect setting for a family ski holiday, Christmas in Les Gets is well worth considering. This picturesque alpine village really comes into its own for the festive period. With a huge variety of activities, and excellent snow, you won’t be short of great skiing or Christmas magic. Les Gets Christmas ski holidays ‣
New Year in Les Gets is just as magical, as Christmas celebrations last until December 30th. On New Year’s Eve there is a spectacular fireworks display and plenty of bars and restaurants for celebrating, and New Year’s Day usually sees not only live music, but really high quality snow on which you can blow the cobwebs away. Les Gets New Year ski holidays ‣
February Half Term in Les Gets is a great time for family skiing, with lots to do on and off the slopes, and a special children’s ski and activity area. Good snow and a host of ski-school options make it the perfect resort for the half-term break. Les Gets Half Term ski holidays ‣
For anyone seeking a relaxed skiing holiday, the sun over Easter in Les Gets makes learning to ski all the more pleasant and the range of off-slope activities means you can really make the most of everything the resort has to offer. Les Gets Easter ski holidays ‣
Les Gets really comes into its own when providing first-class family holidays. It has been awarded the title of Famille Plus resort by the French tourist board, meaning that it met some 110 criteria proving it could provide outstanding facilities and services geared specifically towards families with children of any age.
Families looking for a ski holiday on a budget should consider self-catering apartments. With no prescribed routine or set meal times, they offer more freedom than any other accommodation option. There’s a Carrefour supermarket in the centre of the resort, so food shopping needn’t be a battle, and enough restaurants to easily justify going nowhere near the kitchen a couple of nights during the week! Sleeping up to 6, and just a 3 minute walk from the village, Les Fermes Emigay Apartments are well worth checking out if you’re interested in this option.
For those who prefer the routine of catered holidays, and the ease of avoiding food prep, a hotel or chalet is a great option. Many hotels and chalets come with an in house childcare option, if you’re travelling with little ones too young for ski school. If this is something you would be interested in, do give us a call for information on the best properties for this service.
Christmas here is one the reasons Les Gets is such a popular family resort when the tourist office goes out of its way to make sure it’s the most magical time of year. From spotting Santa on the chairlift to watching elf gymnastics in the village square, it’s one of the best resorts in the Alps for festive cheer, and definitely one to consider if you want Christmas fun for all the family, and good quality skiing. Half-term and Easter are also great times to book a holiday to Les Gets, there’s always plenty of things going on, and special children’s activities in the ski/activity area.
The beauty of this resort is its incredibly short transfer time of an hour from Geneva Airport, so a holiday with flights and transfers included is a great stress-free option. Alternatively, because the village also has one of the shortest drive times – of just under 8 hours – from Calais, a self-drive package is an equally good choice for those who want to drive, but don’t want to spend too long on the road. Accommodation is also available on its own if you want to arrange your own transport.
Groups travelling to Les Gets have an excellent choice of accommodation; those who don’t mind self-catering should check out Les Fermes Emigay Apartments, each one sleeps up to 6, and is only 3 minutes from the village centre. Practically speaking, they’re close to the supermarket so lugging heavy shopping bags across ice won’t be a problem, and there’s the added bonus of them being just 3 minutes from the restaurants and bars.
If a group is unsure on concrete numbers, a large hotel like the Hotel Marmotte is a perfect choice as it allows stragglers to book up later, once they’ve made up their minds and offers the closest thing to ski-in ski-out location, with the nearest lift being just under a minute away. Hotels are great for large groups due to the larger communal spaces like bars, restaurants and swimming pools they tend to provide.
In terms of the skiing, Les Gets is a great resort due to its links with the Portes du Soleil region, which offers over 600km of pistes to be explored. A local lift pass will give you access to 120km of really varied terrain, so group members can choose what they ski and how far they push themselves. Learners in a group are well catered for by ‘Mappy’s Area’, a designated beginner park close to the Chavannes lift. Intermediates will find good red runs on the Mont Chery side of the village, and advanced level group members will find challenging black runs on the Mont Chery section, and further afield in the Nyon and Chammossiere areas.
Whilst Les Gets isn’t known for its après-ski, there’s definitely nightlife to be enjoyed. Bars like the Black Bear are great for groups, with lots of seating and pool tables too. There’s also Igloo nightclub for any nights where 2 am just isn’t late enough, open until around 4 am, it’s the perfect place to end your evening.
Aside from eating and drinking, anyone wanting a break from slopes can visit the resorts cinema, bowling alley or the centrally located ice-rink. There is also the spa Serini Cîmes, offering massages and other treatments from all around the world. Any non-skiers who don’t want to miss out on the fun can organise day trips to nearby Geneva or go walking on the specially cleared mountain trails.
Despite it being one of the smaller resorts in the Portes du Soleil, Les Gets is well equipped to provide a group of any size with a really memorable and enjoyable holiday. Make your holiday as easy as possible by booking everyone onto a holiday with flight and transfers, or channel crossings if you’d rather drive. Alternatively, if things are proving tricky to organise, book one of our accommodation only holidays, to allow time to sort out travel.
Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
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Chalet Cocon | 7 | £ 1049 |
Chalet Bogart | 7 | £ 1049 |
Chalet Bacall | 7 | £ 1049 |
Les Fermes Emiguy | 7 | £ 293 |
Chalet Cocon des Neiges | 7 | £ 1289 |
Les Fermes Emiguy Apartments | 7 | £ 434 |
Hotel La Marmotte and Spa | 7 | £ 1456 |