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Les Gets Ski Resort Guide

Les Gets Ski Property

Part of the expansive French/Swiss Portes du Soleil ski area with over 650km of pistes
One of the major ski resorts within a one-hour drive of Geneva
A fantastic family-friendly resort popular with Brits
A vibrant and charming village centre with an array of shops, cafes, restaurants and bars to explore
A bustling summer season and one of the go-to mountain resorts in the Alps for mountain biking

About Les Gets

Les Gets is a stone’s throw from Morzine in the heart of the Portes du Soleil ski area. Small, charming and relaxed, it is a fantastic family destination as it has gentle slopes perfect for learners and a huge range of off-mountain activities. It is one of the few resorts in France with the ‘P’tits Montagnards’ award for childcare so it is better suited to family life than other ski resorts.

The heart of the village has a strong community feel and there are over 100 shops, restaurants and bars which help keep village life interesting once you are off the slopes. Although the village is higher than neighbouring Morzine, snow-sure conditions down to the village cannot always be guaranteed. It does however have a fantastic network of snow cannons which replenish the pistes down to the village on the Chavannes side of the mountain.

Like Morzine and Chamonix, there is an estanlished summer season and it is one of the premier resorts for downhill mountain-biking with the Mountain Bike World Cup making a stop here annually.

Les Gets Property Market

Considering its prime position in the heart of the Portes du Soleil, property prices in Les Gets are surprisingly reasonable. The slope-side areas of Gibannaz, Chavannes and La Turche are ski in – ski out and represent the prime end of the chalet property market. Ski homes in the centre of the resort tend to be apartments, and constant new developments on the outskirts of the village mean the resort centre is steadily expanding. Those looking for traditional farmhouses or spacious plots to build their dream ski homes are best served looking at the Mont Chery side of the valley where there are still some large farms with renovation potential to be found at a more reasonable price than the piste-side chalets.

Why Buy in Les Gets

Location, location, location! Les Gets has it all. At just 1-hour motorway drive from Geneva airport, it is one of the easiest-to-access ski resorts in France making shorter more frequent trips easy which is a major indication of property growth value. Although smaller than neighbouring Morzine, it has a large expat community and is an established working town with good schools, lots of community activities and constant investment into the village and ski area. Town infrastructure is constantly improving, lift systems are being upgraded to provide quicker access to the rest of the Portes du Soleil and snowmaking capabilities are being increased to ensure longer skiing periods. This is the single greatest indicator of property growth value that a ski resort can show.

Getting to Les Gets

Les Gets is an easy 1hr 5min drive from Geneva airport along the motorway with a number of shared (and private) transfers making the trip several times a day making it a fantastic ski resort for shorter ski breaks. The train stations of Thonon les Bains and Cluses are less than an hour away from the resort and bus services or taxis can take you the rest of the way.

Winter in Les Gets

As one of the key resorts of the Portes du Soleil, skiing opportunities are endless and there is something for every level of rider to be found. Les Gets itself is ideal for beginner and intermediate skiers making it the ultimate family ski holiday destination.

There are two main ski areas that can be accessed from Les Gets village, Mont Chery and Chavannes. More advanced riders should catch the rapid gondola to the Mont Chery sector where there are a number of north-facing red and black pistes to explore. Just below Mont Chery is L’Encraz where you will find long cruisy pistes which take you back to the village and a new signed ski-touring route which will open in Winter 2019/20. Beginner skiers looking to progress will be well served by the new Les Trembles piste which takes skiers back to the Perrieres Exresss Chairlift.

The Chavannes sector is where true beginners or families with young children should head to start their day as the Chavannes Express run is a great confidence-booster for learners and offers some of the most stunning views in the resort. The Choucas run is also a good family option as there are little jumps lining it for kids to play around on and a café at the bottom to refuel if energy levels get a little low.

Whilst there are some decent black pistes and challenging off-piste runs in Les Gets itself, advanced riders will be best served skiing down to Morzine from the Chavannes side and getting the lift up to Avoriaz where some of the most famous black runs of the Portes du Soleil are found.

Summer in Les Gets

Like Chamonix and Morzine, Les Gets has one of the most established summer seasons in the Alps. The main attraction of Les Gets when the snow melts is mountain biking, and each year Les Gets plays host to the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup attracting the best mountain bikers from all over the world. With over 120km of trails and three dedicated bike-lifts, it is one of the premier downhill-biking destinations in Europe.

Les Gets also has extensive lift-accessed marked trails for hikers of all abilities as well as excellent climbing, white-water rafting and parapenting.

Sitting on top of the Crête des Chavannes Ridge facing Mont Blanc is Les Gets Golf Course, one of the premier technical golf courses in the Alps.

Les Gets Highlights

Les Gets is an exceptional resort for families whether you are a permanent resident or just visiting. In the winter the outdoor ice rink is a favourite for kids, and in the summertime there are pony rides, swimming, an adventure park, bowling alley and the Wibit Aquatic Parc, an inflatable obstacle course which sits in the middle of Lac des Ecoles.

Every March the Rock the Pistes and Snowboxx music festivals take over the major resorts of the Portes du Soleil. Collectively they have played host to some of the worlds most famous musicians including Fatboy Slim and Rag’n’Bone Man.

Places to Eat and Apres Ski in Les Gets

For such a small village, Les Gets has some of the best dining options in the Porte du Soleil. From traditional French fare to vegan-friendly restaurants there is something for everyone to enjoy. For casual dining, Aussie-inspired pub Le Boomerang is a great option with excellent food, live music and an extensive gin and tonic menu. If you are looking for a typical Savoyard meal, you must head to La Fruitière des Pierrièrs. A working fromagerie, all of the cheese is made in-house and the fondue is without a doubt the best in the whole village. For a fine-dining dinner option, make your way to Vina Annapurna for a contemporary French dining experience. Their menu is small but well-thought out, their wine list fantastic and the service is second to none. Those looking for a healthy-eating option should head Wild Beets Kitchen which offers the best salads, wraps smoothies and coffees in the village that even vegans can enjoy. On the mountain, you can’t go past Le Vaffieu serving up traditional Savoyard food and the best Café Gourmand in the Portes du Soleil. La Paika which sits on the slopes of La Turche has a varied menu which will keep the whole family happy, and La Grande Ourse is the grande dame of mountain eating. Sitting at a lofty 1725m, it has stunning views, excellent food and even offers a 5-course evening dining session which you access via their private piste basher.

When it comes to apres-ski in Les Gets, quality over quantity is the name of the game. Your first stop should be L’Apreski Bar which sits right at the bottom of the Chavanne lift next to the Tourist Office. Part of the Hotel Bellevue, there is a large sun terrace which is always filled with revellers and there is live music twice a week. Bar Bush is a favourite with tourists and locals alike thanks to their jovial atmosphere, live music as well as the weekly pub quiz which takes place every Friday evening. For those looking to dance the night away to the wee hours of the morning, discotheque L’Igloo is the place to be. The first nightclub in France, L’Igloo has been spinning tunes since 1938 and opens its doors each night from 11pm – 6am.