Ski vacation in France

A Ski Trip with a Cheese Problem

  • Dates and duration

    9 days, 8 nights
    March 7-15, 2025

  • Location

    “Portes du Soleil”- Morzine, France

  • Maximum number of participants

    12

  • Price

    $500 (reservation deposit)
    $3450 Sale (second payment)

Join us for an amazing ski/snowboard and food themed trip in the French and Swiss Alps. Haute Savoie is my favorite place to ski because of the beautiful unspoiled mountain views, fresh powder, excellent food, and French touch. We will ski and ride the “Portes du Soleil”, a collection of 12 connected ski resorts encompassing more than 600 kilometers of slopes in France and Switzerland’s Rhône-Alps region (making it the second largest in the world) that allow for giant loops (see video Ski Safari) without ever skiing the same slope twice. The Portes du Soleil benefit from a microclimate between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc that generates substantial amounts of snow. Avoriaz  is often the resort in France to receive the most snow, as the Portes du Soleil resorts are the first to accumulate snow from storms coming from both the North and the West. In addition to the large resorts of Avoriaz, Chatel, and Morzine, you can discover small charming locals’ resorts with excellent restaurants only accessible by ski.

$3,950.00

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Meet Local People

Ski and dine with local French people who will show us the proper way to twirl a fondue fork and powder stashes.

Beautiful accommodations

Stay in a stunning post and beam luxury chalet modeled after mountain refuges in the Alps.

Traditional cuisine

Eat your way through the traditional cheese dishes of the region, plus much more.

The whole country of France is famous for cheese but the Rhône-Alps region is famous within France for their delicious cheeses made by cows and goats grazing on lush mountain pastures. Every day we will dine on an ever changing selection of regional specialties including “Fondue au Fromage” (rustic bread dipped into a simmering pot of melted mountain cheeses and wine), mountain trout, local sausages, “Raclette” (slices of creamy melting cheese poured over boiled potatoes and eaten with cured meats), “Tartiflette” (a gratin of potatoes, lardons, and onions covered with a slightly aged soft cheese called Reblochon) and more! Enjoy amazing French wines from the dry whites of the area (Vin de Savoie-Rousette, Apremont, Chignon) but also the reds of Bordeaux, Bourgogne, and Côtes du Rhone. The French microbrewery movement has become increasingly strong in the last five years and the are excellent local beers, as well as spirits such as the famous Genepi (a liquor made from alpine plants in the Genus Artemisa).

One of the things that makes this trip special are the exceptional guides who will show you the secret powder stashes, cruisy runs snaking through the woods, and best places to eat slopeside. Guillaume Meynet is a French IFMGA certified guide (the highest certification available for guides) who grew up in the Portes du Soleil. Guillaume can lead on-piste explorations, but where he really shines is side-country (lift-accessed off-piste) or backcountry touring (using skins to ascend). If you have experience with backcountry touring and have the proper equipment, there are limitless possibilities for unique runs using the lifts in combination with short skins.

Thomas Barnier is a ski instructor for ESF (Ecole de Ski Francais) who is an excellent teacher for intermediate to expert skiers and boarders. Thomas is happy to show you around the huge terrain of the Portes du Soleil, but also to give you tips, exercises, and advice to make your skiing or boarding better.

We will also have the opportunity to have a rest day, where we can visit the local farmer’s market and shop for our dinner. A visit to La Chèvrerie des Ardoisières will allow us to meet the goats, learn about the cheesemaking process, and of course try their delicious cheeses. There will be the opportunity to relax with a massage at the chalet, followed by a cooking class utilizing the produce from the market.

Take the gondola up the Aiguille de Midi, Mont Blanc (Chamonix) and, for advanced skiers, descend the 15 kilometers Vallée Blanche over the glacier accompanied by a certified IFMGA/UIAGM French mountain guide. We will ski/snowboard 5 days with breaks in between for cultural activities and exploring.

Accommodations will be in a beautiful mountain chalet in the mountain town of Morzine, and one day in a hotel in Thonon-Les-Bains on arrival. Most meals, lift tickets, transportation within France and Switzerland, and all accommodations are included. Airfare, rental equipment, alcohol, gratuities, and travel insurance (highly recommended) are not included.

Must be at least an intermediate level skier/snowboarder that is very comfortable with intermediate (blue) slopes and able to ski advanced (black) slopes. Must have a good level of fitness.

Typical days might mean getting up at 7 am so that we can have breakfast and get on the slopes early. In the evening we will have time to relax and experience French mountain towns before eating large amounts of cheese in various forms. Bedtimes could run late. If you are not comfortable skiing/boarding all day and eating cheese all evening then this is not the trip for you. We will have a rest day built in and there will be the option to skip a day of skiing.

Our group will be staying together in the chalet so you must be willing to share common spaces, help out with clean up, and be respectful of each other. For those interested in cooking there will be some opportunities for hands-on learning. This trip is not suitable for vegetarians, vegans, dairy free, or gluten free diets. Speaking French is recommended but not required. Please make plans to arrive at the Geneva, Switzerland train station on March 7th, 2025 by the early afternoon (airfare is not included). Cost for trip is $3950 (based on double occupancy) please add $600 for use of a double room by a single person. If you would like a guided ski descent of the Vallée Blanche (Mont Blanc, Chamonix) (guides are required) please add $275.

 

Day 1 (Friday)

Arrive in Geneva, Switzerland. Take free train from Geneva Airport to Geneva Cornavin Train Station.
Van to lodging: Hotel Ibis, Thonon-les- Bains, France.
Rest, relax, and recuperate or visit downtown, the old port, spa, etc.
Welcome meeting, icebreakers, aperitif.
Hosted dinner.

Day 2 (Saturday)

Breakfast at Hotel Ibis (check out)
Transportation by van to Morzine (1hour) Pick up rental equipment
Ski Portes du Soleil
Lunch on your own
Check into Chalet starting at 4pm.
Dinner main course “Tartiflette”

Day 3 (Sunday)

Breakfast at Villa Solaire
Ski Portes du Soleil
Picnic lunch from local cheese and meat specialties with fresh baguette
Return to Villa Solaire or visit Morzine for “apres ski.”
Dinner main course “Raclette”

Day 4 (Monday)

Breakfast at Chalet
Ski Portes du Soleil “Ski Safari”
Lunch on the slopes
Return to Chalet
Dinner on your own

Day 5 (Tuesday)

Breakfast at Villa Solaire
La Tour Fromagerie-Cheese making with Jean-Paul and Karine, tour, tasting. Feternes,
France
Lunch
Charcuterie Simon. Feternes, France. Simon will lead tour of curing chambers with aged
hams and sausages, smoke house, and production/retail area. Visit his pigs. Tasting.
Return to Morzine/Chalet
Free evening
Return to Villa Solaire Dinner “Fondue Savoyard”

Day 6 (Wednesday)

Breakfast at Chalet Free day to relax, explore, or ski.
Optional: Guided visit to Farmers Market in Morzine from 8am-9am. We will select
ingredients and plan a menu for dinner.
Ski Portes du Soleil or take a day off.
Lunch on your own
Free time
Informal cooking class as we prepare dinner from the market.
Dinner-menu to be decided the day of

Day 7 (Thursday)

Early breakfast at Chalet for those going on the optional trip to Chamonix/Mont Blanc.
Transportation by van to Chamonix/Mont Blanc for optional descent of Vallee Blanche. For
those not descending the Vallee Blanche they can take the Gondola up the Aiguille de Midi for
a view on Mont Blanc and/or ski at Chamonix. Ski Portes du Soleil (for those not going to
Chamonix/Mont Blanc)
Lunch at the Refuge du Requin
Dinner main course “Diots (local pork sausage) au vin blanc”

Day 8 (Friday)

Breakfast at Chalet
Ski Portes du Soleil
French ski lunch of local cheeses and cured meats/fresh baguette
Farewell dinner out at gourmet restaurant

Day 9 (Saturday)

Breakfast at Chalet. Check out by 10am
Departure for Geneva Airport by van 1.5 hours drive time

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TRIP PACKAGE INCLUDES

  • All accommodations (double occupancy)
  • Luxury room with ensuite bathroom (at chalet)
  • Most meals (8 breakfasts, 5 packed lunches, 7 dinners)
  • 5 days of lift tickets for Portes du Soleil (12 resorts)
  • Intermediate-expert group ski lessons
  • Options for guiding by IFMGA certified High Mountain guides for Sidecountry/backcountry exploration
  • Transportation by private van
  • All tours and tastings
  • English translations
  • American and French guides
  • More amazing cheese than you can imagine

NOT INCLUDED

  • Airfare (Geneva Switzerland is the closest airport)
  • Travel insurance (try World Nomads)
  • Rental equipment
  • Alcohol
  • Gratuities for guides (10-20% of trip cost is customary for excellent service)
  • Optional guided descent of Vallée Blanche (Mont Blanc glacier) ($275)
  • Massages

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FAQ Ski vacation in France

Must be at least an intermediate level skier/snowboarder that is very comfortable with intermediate (blue) slopes and able to ski advanced (black) slopes. Having off-piste experience is recommended.

No!  French language proficiency is recommended but not required.  Even if the only French word you know how to say is croissant you will be fine.  We will help with translations and in ski towns many people speak English.

Accommodations will be in a beautiful mountain Chalet (a light and airy post and beam luxury Chalet) in the mountain town of Morzine, and one day in a hotel in Thonon-Les-Bains on arrival. There is both Wifi and Laundry at the Chalet as well as a sauna and wood-fired hot tub.

Most meals, lift tickets (5 days), transportation within France and Switzerland, tours and tastings, and all accommodations are included.  Airfare, rental equipment, alcohol, gratuities, and travel insurance (highly recommended) are not included.

This trip is not suitable for vegetarians, vegans, dairy free, or gluten free diets.

If you have equipment that like and are comfortable with then I would suggest bringing it.  Ski/snowboard rental is quite affordable in France (probably around $250 euro for the week).  A good compromise is to bring you own boots if you like them and then rent the rest.

Our groups are relatively small (around 12 people total) but this is usually too large a group to try to keep together on the slopes.  Generally we will break into smaller groups so that we don’t have to wait as much.  We can show you some great spots or you can explore on your own.

The Alps are usually not extremely cold with temperatures usually in the 20-30 degree range.  Of course it can be colder, especially on the higher peaks and with the addition of wind so packing layers is always a good idea.

This trip is focused on skiing so we will be hitting the slopes early with the aim of catching the first chairs. Due to the size of our group we do have some flexibility in our planning so if some people want to take a leisurely morning or only ski half a day that may be an option.

If you need to cancel a trip that you have already booked and it is at least 90 days before the start of the trip your deposit is half refundable.  Final payment for the trip is due 60 days before the start of the trip.  Cancellations between 30 and 59 days before the of start of trip are 50% refundable. Cancellations less than 30 days are non-refundable (100% of booking cost).  For this reason, we recommend you consider purchasing travelers insurance, (try World Nomads) which will cover the cost of your trip in extenuating circumstances.

Gratuities for guides are not included in the price of you trip and are much appreciated. Tipping is at your discretion. Normally average tips for excellent service are around 10%-20% of the trip cost. Tips are pooled together and shared equally among the guides.

More questions?

Contact us

Testimonials

As an avid skier who has skied all over North America, I was looking for a ski trip to Europe that allowed me to do serious skiing, but also experience the local culture. I loved being in a small group, which included local experts in food and skiing, where we cooked, dined and skied together as a family. Aaron is flexible and responsive as a group leader, and was able to help customize transportation, rentals or other needs for the group. Portes du Soleil offers an enormous network of trails and resorts, with beautiful views and plenty of challenging skiing. I highly recommend Saveur The Journey for your next trip!

Our “Saveur the Journey” experience exceeded our expectations. We joined the trip to ski France, Switzerland, and Valle Blanche with someone familiar with the area. In short, the skiing was amazing and the Valle Blanche descent was a once in a life time experience. Aaron and Francois toured us throughout the enormous Portes du Soleil ski resorts knowing where to find the best runs and the terrific lunch stops. Beyond the skiing, we were pleasantly surprised that the off-mountain experiences equaled our skiing adventures. The accommodations, local tours, food, trip organization, and laughter were all reflective of a tour leader who genuinely cares and wants to share his love of France. “Saveur the Journey” is an experience that is reflective of Aaron, his enthusiasm for life, and his fixation on cheese!

The skiing alone is a great reason to join Aaron on a winter trip to the Alps but there is so much more that makes it the trip of a lifetime. The chalet is world class, the food is the delicious cuisine of the region, made by people who live there. Aaron and his French friends’ knowledge of the area, the history and the food culture, help to immerse into life in the French Alps. I can’t wait to do it again!

Aaron at Saveur the Journey offers excellent, well thought out vacations for the adventure and culinary enthusiast. My wife and I went on the French Ski vacation and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Aaron and the locals he hired to shepherd us through the French Alps and cook amazing French food, could not have been more perfect. Thank you to Caroline, Francois and Aaron, you all made the trip that much more enjoyable.

Our team

Aaron Schorsch

Owner- Saveur the Journey

Aaron Schorsch is the owner of Saveur the Journey where he combines his passions of food, travel, outdoor adventures, and culture. He grew up in rural New Hampshire and has lived and traveled extensively in the US and abroad. Aaron learned to snowboard while teaching English in the French Alps but later took up Telemark Skiing. While he still likes to drop a knee on occasion you are more likely to find him with fixed heels shredding the backcountry or resort in a style he likes to call “joyful abandon.” Aaron is a student of food who has worked throughout the food system from growing seed and farming of vegetables, fruits, and livestock to cooking in high end restaurants and managing farmer’s markets. He loves to talk about, think about, dream about and especially, cook and eat food. He is a member of Slow Food international and has been a US delegate at Terra Madre in Turin, Italy.

Guillaume Meynet

UIAGM Certified Mountain Guide and ESF Ski Instructor

Guillaume Meynet is a native of Haute Savoie (France). He grew up skiing, climbing, and mountaineering in the French and Swiss Alps. Guillaume passed his Guide exam in 2013 and is currently the head of the Guide Office in Morzine. He leads ski expeditions, climbing trips, mountaineering objectives, and canyoning. He lives with his wife and children in Morzine.

Caroline Pascal

Chef and local guide

Caroline grew up in Haute Savoie and is a fantastic cook. She loves to create and innovate, no two meals are ever the same. She is an avid gardener, seasoned traveler, carpenter, counselor, and an amazing host. Caroline loves learning about new cultures and sharing her own.