Portes du Soleil is one of the most popular destinations for British skiers, it has an excellent snow record and it’s varied resorts, such as Chatel, Avoriaz and Morzine can be reached in around an hour from Geneva. Popularity can lead to busy lifts & bustling resorts which for some is essential and for others a distraction. In this article we highlight the quiet Ardent lift at the very centre of the ski area and the peaceful valley it occupies, ideal for those who love the natural mountain life most of all.

Every year, Portes du Soleil attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over Europe, but what make it so popular?

• The area is very close to Geneva with transfer times of approximately an hour to most resorts in Portes du Soleil.
• There’s a great range of resorts for all tastes; Morzine with it’s lively party atmosphere, Avoriaz it’s high altitude pistes and the more traditional (and peaceful) Chatel.
• Portes du Soleil enjoys more snow than other regions of a similar altitude
• The area boasts over 650km of pistes and immeasurable off-piste opportunities

Those looking for a resort-based experience in which the shops and bars are part of the event will likely go for somewhere central; Brits go for Morzine for the nightlife & families often choose Les Gets for it’s quieter ‘village’ feel. Being in the resort comes with drawbacks which for some do not outweigh the advantages.

If your ski or snowboard holiday is all about the days on the snow rather than the nights in the bar, you’ll find being in a crowded resort just makes the lift queues longer in the morning and the parties just keep you awake when you could be resting up for the next big day.

So… How to avoid the queues and get some serious piste time in the Portes du Soleil?

The Ardent Bubble, at the centre of the Portes du Soleil

The newly refurbished cable car that runs from the hamlet of Ardent above Lake Montriond takes you from the quiet lift station of Ardent (with it’s ample car park) up to the station of Les Linderets, a central hub of Portes du Soleil.
Those who ‘self-drive’ will find it easy to park at Ardent and the Morzine ski shuttle, the “M Bus”, stops there regularly. The bubble is fast, taking you to the Linderets station in less than 10 minutes, from this point you can find yourself in Avoriaz, Chatel, Morzine or over the Swiss border with 3 lifts or less; a truly central point from which to explore the ski area of Portes du Soleil.
Being away from the resort centres makes the Ardent lift a little harder to get to but that’s more than made up for by the lack of queues and central location.

The Retreat, Morzine; ideally suited for the Ardent lifts

‘The Retreat’, a luxury alpine hide-away set in the heart of one of the best skiing areas in Europe. The Retreat is a beautifully restored 300 year old Savoyard farmhouse, a handcrafted mixture of the best in contemporary living mixed with traditional Alpine architecture, all seamlessly moulded together. The retreat is aptly named, being outside of the village of Montriond in an undeveloped tree-lined valley makes it a true mountain retreat in a truly natural setting.

Guests who arrive with their own cars find the Ardent lift just 5 minutes away beyond the beautiful lake Montriond, alternatively guests of the Retreat tend to opt for their ‘ski chauffeur service’ or hop onto the “M Bus” that heads up the valley at regular intervals.

Find out more about The Retreat on ChaletFinder.