• Scout Loves & Scout Tips
• Scout Review
• Les Gets Skiing
• Les Gets For Families

• Les Gets Accommodation
• Resort Activities
• Getting There and Around
• When To Go

Scout Review

Les Gets (pronounced leygeh with a soft g) is one of our favorite French ski villages and at just over an hour from Geneva airport it’s also one of the easiest to get to out of the major French ski resorts. While the greater Les Gets village area is actually quite substantial and spread out, the center has the feel of a charming little village filled with a bunch of hotels and plenty of traditional chalet-style buildings. It is situated about 15 minutes’ drive from Morzine and between the two villages sits the main Morzine-Les Gets ski area. Beyond Morzine you can explore Avoriaz and the greater Portes du Soleil circuit for which we have more detail in the Morzine review.

There is so much to love about Les Gets village, whether it’s the quaint, quiet feel and pedestrian friendly center or the sweet little Merry-Go-Round that dates back to the 1870s, or the quirky Mechanical Music Museum.  We loved exploring one of the many shops in the main street selling local Savoyarde food and liquor – it’s easy to spend hours admiring, smelling and hopefully tasting some of the delicacies on sale. Several of the hotels have ski-in ski-out or slopeside access which adds to the whole relaxed nature of the village. Most of the accommodation has been built in traditional style so Les Gets doesn’t have the “purpose built” feel that many ski resorts suffer from.

While there are a couple of bars in Les Gets you wouldn’t come here if you wanted a happening après scene – which suits many people just fine.

Les Gets Skiing

There are ski slopes on both sides of the Les Gets village. The main Morzine-Les Gets area is to the east while the smaller area called Mont Chery is accessed by a cable car from the northern end of the village. The Mont Chery area has some of the best advanced on-piste terrain with mainly red (intermediate) and black runs and just one blue run. As it’s off the main part of the ski resort it’s also very quiet and rarely has crowds.

As for the main part of the Morzine-Les Gets resort, Les Gets village is actually more centrally located to most of the runs when compared to Morzine.  Only the advanced area of Pointe de Nyon (with its dedicated freeride zone) takes a few lifts to get to.

Les Gets makes an excellent choice for families with first-timers or beginners. There are nursery slopes located right in the village however most of the first-timer and beginner area is located at the Les Chavannes zone which can be accessed by a gondola from the village. It has two magic carpets, a cable and a rope tow and the best part is that it’s all completely free. It is also segregated from the main ski runs so kids can learn in a safe environment. Since it’s a fairly central part of the whole ski area it’s not that difficult for parents to pop back to throughout the day. There are also some fun features for kids to enjoy as their skiing progresses at the American Indian themed “Grand Cry” area which features ski runs with obstacles, a cabin, teepees, a picnic room, face-painting, games and even goats!

The main Morzine-Les Gets ski area is perfect for beginners and intermediates and as the majority of it sits under 2,000m (6,500 ft) the ski runs are tree-lined making it a pretty area to ski in and sheltered in bad weather. Of course, the lower altitude of the Morzine-Les Gets area can mean the snow is less reliable. Fortunately, as the ski runs are mainly grass underneath (versus rock on higher altitude areas) it doesn’t take much snow to get good coverage, and there can be excellent snowstorms when the weather comes from the north across Lake Geneva. The resort has also invested in a lot of snow-making equipment.

It is possible to ski the greater Portes du Soleil ski circuit from Les Gets though it does require a bit of effort. (Our review of Morzine has more detail about the larger ski area). If you are looking to bash out miles and miles of skiing every day you would be best to stay in Morzine which has better access to the circuit. However, if you are mainly skiing the Morzine-Les Gets area and may explore the circuit on just one or two days, then it is certainly fine to stay at Les Gets.

It is possible to purchase a ski pass that covers the entire Portes du Soleil, or a cheaper one that just covers Morzine-Les Gets.

Download the Trail Map

Les Gets For Families

Les Gets is one of the best French ski resorts for families. We love the simple, friendly and laid-back style of the village and with several slope-side hotels to choose from a ski holiday here be incredibly easy. There are a variety of ski schools and some fun facilities for kids on the slopes at the Grand Cry area mentioned above. There are two child-care centers for children from 6 months to 4 years of age (which are both closed on Saturdays). For down days it’s easy to do day excursions or just hang about the village and explore what it has to offer, such as the Mechanical Music Museum.

Thanks to its close proximity to Geneva it’s not a major schlep to get there after a long flight.

Les Gets Accommodation

Les Gets accommodation is varied with quite a few decent 3 and 4 star hotels to choose from. Most of the Les Gets hotels offer half-board options which can help to make a ski vacation here super easy. There are a ton of private chalets available to rent – from basic through to luxury, fully catered chalets. There are also apartments throughout Les Gets village. Most of the chalets are spread out from the center, though with a few lift access points to the mountain and a decent shuttle bus system it’s not a major hassle to get around.

Resort Activities

There are a variety of on snow and off snow activities in Les Gets other than skiing. There is a good variety of Cross-country skiing on the marked trails (and the lower altitude trees certainly make for attractive trails), ski touring, paragliding and snowshoeing. Kids can have fun on little electric snowmobilies or get up some speed on a sledge (toboggan) or behind a dog sled at a farm about 25 min from the village. There is an outdoor ice-skating rink right in the center of the village. More sedate, warmer activities include the Mechanical Music Museum, Cinema, Library, Art Gallery or wellness spas. It’s possible to do day trips to Montreaux, Geneva and Chamonix, which are certainly easier if you have your own car.

Getting There and Around

Les Gets is one of the closest of the large ski resorts in France to a major airport. It’s just 60-70 minutes’ drive from Geneva airport. Chambery, Grenoble and Lyon are all around 2 hours. The easiest way to get to Les Gets is on a transfer bus – either private or shared – for which several companies run services. If you prefer public transport the closest train stations are at Thonon Les Baines and Cluses – each approximately 30 minutes away by taxi or private transfer, or slower on the scheduled public bus. Scout can help with transfers as part of a Les Gets ski package.

If you are staying in central Les Gets village you won’t need anything other than your own two feet to get around. There is a small bus/train that links the two ski areas and a shuttle system throughout the village.

When To Go

Christmas and New Year can be busy in Les Gets and due to its lower altitude, it’s best to plan a visit after this period. January is a great time to visit – the slopes are less crowded and snow falls are common though it can be quite cold. February is very busy during the British and French half-term school holidays. March is excellent with many blue-sky sunny days. April can be hit or miss with the snow conditions.