Grand Massif - Morillon

SEE MORILLON SKI SPECIAL OFFERS!

Morillon is one of the 5 resorts that is part of the giant Grand Massif

(Flaine) ski area with 79 lifts covering 265km of piste in France.

In Morillon there are weekly torchlight descents, concerts, wine and food tasting, and a variety of activities for children are all part of an extensive winter programme of entertainment.  Value-for-money restaurants make eating out a pleasure while a ‘traiteur’ produces first class regional food to take away.

Morillon 1100 (also known as Les Esserts), is a purpose built resort above Morillon village & is very much a pedestrian family friendly resort. Morillon 1100 offers a small selection of restaurants and bars, a few shops and mini-supermarket. The ’Village des Enfants’ children facility is based at Les Esserts.

Verchaix is in the middle of the Haute-Savoie, placed on a sunny slope of the Giffre Valley. Verchaix overlooks Morillon Village and has good road links to Annecy, Geneva and Chamonix. Verchaix’s typical hamlets compose of country cottages, farms, chalets and offers plenty of Savoyard charm.

Morillion is only 35 miles (1 hour) from Geneva airport and a 15-minute drive from the motorway exit & TGV train terminal of Cluses.

View here to read about Morillion and Le Morillion in the TimesOnline

Rated by Peak Retreats’ clients in 10/11 amongst the top 10 resorts that they would recommend a friend.

Morillon Resort Opening Dates

Morillon opens on 17/12/11 and closes on 15/04/12

Partial opening from 16/04/12 - 22/04/12, Flaine only.

Follow the links below

Why Morillon France?

·          Morillon is a traditional village with a friendly atmosphere

·          Morillon ski resort has access to the massive slopes of Le Grand Massif

·          Plenty to keep the kids happy

·          Superb value for money

·          Easily reached by road or plane via Geneva

Childcare in Morillon

The Village des Enfants is conveniently located at Morillion 1100 Les Esserts near to the main gondola and welcomes little ones from 6mths to 9yrs. If you are coming from Morillon Village you will need to come by car or cable car. There is no bus.

With child specialists and local carers, you can trust you are leaving your children in safe hands. Open 7 days a week from 09.00-17.00.

Tel Morrillon :+ 0033 450 907 215

Mornings are 9h - 12h30 and afternoons from 13h30 – 16h30 (17h30 during French school holidays)

Childcare and Garderie Prices 11/12 (without meals)

Garderie looks after children from 2yrs – 9yrs.

Rates 11/12:

1 hour - €7.50

½ day - €26

Day - €35

5 ½ days - €100

5 days - €136

6 ½ days - €120

6 days - €163

5 days are Mon-Fri, 6 days are Sun-Fri

Nursery looks after children from 6 months to 24 months.

Rates 10/11:

1 hour - €7.50

½ day - €26

Day - €38

5 ½ days - €105

5 days - €153.50

6 ½ days - €126

6 days - €184

5 days are Mon-Fri, 6 days are Sun-Fri

For a list of babysitters consult the tourist office.

Childrens Ski Lessons in Morillon Les Esserts 1100

Children can ski from 3 years old with ESF Morillon Les Esserts although we can only pre-book from 4 years old.

Peak Retreats can pre-book your ESF Morillon ski lessons.

See here for details for Morillon Ski Schools.

Activities in Morillon

Dog sledging
"espace nordique du Haut Giffre”: 00 33 450 34 13 79
The round takes between 20 and 30 minutes.
According to the snow condition it is in Samoëns or in Sixt Fer à Cheval.
Rates:
36€ per person.
18€ for children from 4 to 10 years, with an adult.
Free for children less than 4 years with an adult.

Sled: 2 persons (1 or 2 children by ages)

Intro: 1 day per week

Walks in Morillion France
On foot or snow shoes.
15 different signposted tracks to help you discover the Giffre valley.
Itineraries on sale at the tourist office: 5 €
Each itinerary described with an illustration and a simplified map

Paragliding (two seater)
Discover the valley from up high
Adults from 70€.
In Morillon. Profeel 04 50 90 30 08 / 06 12 98 12 50

Helicopter flight
Every Thursday morning. Registration at the tourist office of Morillon.

Swimming Pool
You'll find a swimming pool in Cluses, 17km from Morillon. Connection by shuttles from Morillon Village.

Ice skating
In Morillon just near the blue lake (village) and in Samoens 4km.

Open every day from 14:30 to 19:30.

Wednesday opening 14h to 16h and from 16h to 18h animation given by the tourist office and night music from 20h to 23h.

4 € child until 16yrs

6 € adult
Entry for Wednesday animation 3€

Ski joering

A horse, skis, these are the components of skijoring. Horse trekking offers an introduction to this discipline Nordic every Wednesday and Thursday.

Reserved for skiers. Subject to enough snow.

€37 per hour, intro €23.

Sledding

2 slopes are located at Morillon 1100 Les Esserts for adults and children.

Cinema
In nearby SAMOENS

Everyday from 17h30-21h and from 14h30 in bad weather.

Programme available at tourist office.

Markets

Market in Morillon is on Wednesday from 16h-20hr in Le Bourg.

Other markets:
Cluses on Monday morning
Bonneville and Annemasse on Tuesday morning
Samoëns on Wednesday morning
Taninges and Les Gets on Thursday morning
Sallanches on Saturday morning

Benefit from the Morill’1 card! The tourist office has created a discount card available for all holiday makers. It allows discount on entertainment, drinks, food and activities and even at peak times up to a 60km radius. With certain residences you get the card free and other residences you will need to pay €1/pers/day. Details will be sent with your voucher pack once you have booked.

Eating Out and Après-Ski in Morillon

10 bars/restaurants

Mountain restaurants  

L’Igloo, Le Telemark, Chez Martine et Eric

Other amenities in Morillon

In Morillon village – hairdressers, tabac, 6 bars/restaurants, pharmacy, sport shops, ATM cash point.

In Morillon 1100 – Sherpa minimarket, 4 bars/restaurants, sport shops

(no cash point in Morillon 1100).

All the above information is for information only. For the most up-to-date information please visit the resort tourist office website

Morillon Tourist Office (OT Morillon)             

Tel +33 4 50 90 15 76

www.ot-morillon.fr

Accessto Morillon                 

By Road: Driving distance from Calais to Morillon 537 miles (approx 7hrs30)

From Calais, take A26 Motorway towards Reims and Troyes, then Dijon, Mâcon then ‘Autoroute Blanche’ Motorway (A40 Mâcon – Cluses) Exit Cluses Scionzier. Follow signs to Samoens. After the Chatillon pass, follow signs to Morillon. It takes approximately 15 minutes from the motorway exit to Morillon.

By Rail:Cluses 20km

For information on timetables and availability ... www.sncf.fr
There are shuttle buses from the station in Cluses to Morillon. These buses run only as far as Morillon village and do not go up to Morillon 1100. If you arrive during the opening hours of the cable car, you can use it to complete your journey.
One-way ticket Cluses-Morillon about €7.

Information on timetables 04 50 34 40 09.

Airports:

Geneva to Morillon is 59km (1 hour)

Shuttle bus (about c€64 per pers return children 4-12 half-price)

www.gva.ch/en

Chambery is 110km from Morillon (1 ½ hours)

www.chambery-airport.com

Grenoble is 196km from Morillon (2 hours)

www.grenoble-airport.com

Lyon Saint-Exupéry is 197 km from Morillon (2 hours)

www.lyonairport.com

Getting around Morillon Village and Morillon 1100

Shuttles run between Samoens and Morillon but no shuttles run between Morillon Village and Morillon 1100. To get from Morillon Village to Morillon 1100 you must take the cable car only during the day or by car.

Airport Transfer – pre book your Morillon transfer

Pre-book your taxi transfer with Peak Retreats

From Geneva Airport to Morillon transfer – from £74 per person return based on 4 people sharing. 

For all other transfer prices please click here.

Access Plan

Morillon France

Click on maps to enlarge

Resort Map

Morillon Village & Verchaix

Resort Map

Morillon 1100 France

SKI AREA

The villages own complex of nine lifts is directly linked to Flaine, Samoens, and Les Carroz with runs for all abilities.

The Chamonix Valley and the Portes du Soleil (Les Gets, Morzine and Avoriaz) are only a 30-minute drive away. Morillon is also an ideal starting point for cross-country skiing, walking and snow- shoeing.

BEGINNERS

For beginners there are a few green slopes at Morillon 1100 Les Esserts, and some blues to progress on. These all link back to the resort centre, making it a great environment to learn in.

New for winter 11/12: A moving carpet for beginners at Morillon 1100 and small slope to practice first turns.

INTERMEDIATES

For intermediates, the Morillon slopes are excellent – the long green Marvel run to Morillon 1100 is an easy cruise with excellent signs along the way explaining the local wildlife. Intermediate and boarders will enjoy the 49 red pistes and 15 black pistes of the Grand Massif.  The Grand Massif itself has extensive intermediate slopes with big lift networks.

EXPERTS

Experts can find some tricky red and black runs above Morillon ski resort.

OFF-PISTE

Extensive off-piste opportunitiesare an added bonus around the Morillon ski resort and surrounding resorts of the Grand Massif

SNOWBOARDERS

Snowboarders and twin-tip skiers have a choice of three purpose built terrain parks (see below).

SKIING BACK TO RESORT

If you are staying in Morillon village, depending on snow conditions you can take the ‘Doina’ red run which winds under the Morillon gondola to the bottom or there is a blue run too (but its not always open). If you are staying at Morillon 1100, the pistes coming directly into the resort are the green ‘Marvel’ and 2 blue runs – ‘Sairon’ & ‘Charnia’.

PS. If you suddenly come across a rocket with a blue helmet on the slopes don’t worry it’s probably only local hero Antoine Deneriaz who won Gold in the men’s downhill at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics!

MORILLON PISTE MAP

To see the Grand Massif piste map for 11/12 please see the resort guide panel on the top right hand side of the current page.

MORILLON SNOW REPORTS

To see Morillon snow reports please see the resort guide panel on the top right hand side of the current page.

What’s new with the ski area for 11/12?

See MORILLON RESORT NEWS

Morillon Lift Pass

Save Time in resort and budget ahead by pre-booking Morillon lift passes. See below for prices.

PRE-BOOK* your GRAND MASSIF LIFT PASS with PR

FREE PASSES!

Children under 5 and seniors over 75 receive a FREE lift pass.

Note: Proof of age will be required for reduced price passes.

BEGINNER PASSES

Please note that there is also a cheaper lift pass called ‘Massif’ covering only Samoëns, Morillon and les Carroz although we cannot pre-book this. Beginners are advised to buy the ‘Massif’ lift pass in resort (€164 for 6 days).

Other lift pass on offer (to buy locally in resort in Euros):

For complete beginners:

Morillon beginner pass - €15 for adults and €10 for children (1/2 day)

Morillon beginner pass - €16 for adults and €12 for children (day)

(2 x trips Morillon gondola, drag beginner and Chairlift Esserts)

Massif ski pass – ½ day and daily rates:

½ day - €23 children, €31 adults

Day - €25 children, €34 adults

Grand Massif ski pass – ½ day and daily rates:

½ day - €28 children, €37 adults

Day - €31 children, €41 adults

Morillon Ski School

PRE-BOOK* your 6 Half-Day GROUP SKI/BOARD LESSONS

Please note that a booking fee of £9 per party will be charged.

Group Ski Lessons

Snowboard lessons only available during French school holidays (afternoons only).

Times and Schedules (ALL TIMES TO BE CONFIRMED, SUBJECT TO CHANGES).

All lessons are Sunday-Friday.

¹ SKI: Adults, Children & Kindergarten (4-15):

² SKI AND SNOWBOARD: Adults Competition (16yrs+):

³ SNOWBOARD: Adults & Children (8-15):

Please note that lesson times are subject to change right until the last minute. Outside French school holidays the ski school reserves the right to cancel group lessons should numbers be insufficient. For peak periods (18/12-2/1, 13/2-13/3 & 9/4-24/4) we strongly recommend that you book as early as possible and in any case at least 6 weeks prior to the required dates. Morning lessons tend to get booked up first and therefore we may only be able to offer afternoon classes within 6 weeks of departure. In some resorts English speaking instructors may not always be available, particularly at peak times.

Le Village des Enfants (Nursery with skiing)

(NOT pre-bookable. Please use these prices as a guide only, 09/10)

¹ Mornings: 2 ^1/4 hours in High season and 2 ^1/2 hours in Low season (am only 09.30-12.00 in Jan, Mar & Apr). Snowboard lessons only available during French school holidays (afternoons only) in Morillion.

  ²Lunch 8€ extra. ² Kindergarten is not pre-bookable through Peak Retreats but we can forward a booking form for you to book directly.

Morillon Individual Tuitions

(10/11 prices, NOT pre-bookable with PR)

Prices given in euros are just an indication and are subject to change

Individual tuitions can only be purchased directly from the ski school. Peak Retreats cannot pre-book these.

Contact the ski school in Morillon:

Ecole du Ski Francais Village +33 450 90 15 09

Ecole du Ski Français Les Esserts +33 450 90 11 52

Morillon ski hire

Ski hire Morillon prices start from £35 for children (skis and boots) & £49 for adults (skis and boots) for 7 days. View here for Morillon ski hire prices.

Mountain restaurants in Morillon

L’Igloo (by chairlift Bergin) and La Chalet d’Clair plus many more in the Grand Massif domain.

Cross-country in Grand Massif

In Morillon:

3km of slopes free access (near Morillon Village and Lac Bleu).

The Haut Giffre Valley:

There are nearly 50 kms of slopes.

-Boucle du Lac Bleu (green)
-Circuit de la Plaine
-Bois de l'Etelley (rejoint Samoëns)

Between Morillon and Sixt Fer à Cheval from 700m-1000m altitude.

Altitude site:

For these sites you must have a car.

The “Col de Joux Plane” (1700m) about 30 kms of slopes in front of the Mont Blanc. This site is opened only when the valley is closed. About 20 km from Morillon.

Also:
Agy (1300m) is near Les Carroz and there are about 20 km of slopes.
Le Praz de Lys (1400m) up to Taninges. About 23 km of slopes.

Snowshoe in Morillon

École de Ski de Morillon : half-day walks every tuesday and thursday : +33(0)4 50 90 11 52 +33(0)4 50 90 15 09

From about €20 per person.
Bureau des guides de la vallée du Haut Giffre : Day or half-day walks every day : +33(0)4 50 34 43 12
Prices about 18 € per half day, equipment €5.

Terrain Parks - JamPark

JamPark Pro is in Flaine and is the main park. Has a quarter-pipe, tables, rails, a boardercross course and chill-out zone.

There is a tiny kids’ park in Samoens, a boardercross course in Les Carroz and another kids’ park, JamPark Kids, with a boardercross on the Morillon side.