Mountain bike holidays in Morzine-Les Gets

With access to varied terrain, Morzine is renowned for its world class downhill, enduro and cross country trails and some of the worlds most stunning scenery. Morzine is perfectly placed in the heart of the Portes du Soleil for the ultimate mountain biking holiday in the French Alps. Once the snow melts, the lifts re-open in mid-June until mid-September, to welcome mountain bikers from around the world.

Morzine, THE best European mountain bike destination

Most of the Portes du Soleil cycle tracks start at the top of cable cars and chairlifts and lead back down into Morzine. In the village itself, there is a real MTB buzz, with all the necessary services, specialist bike shops with qualified staff, and great ‘après MTB’! Morzine, home to its own world class downhill trails, acts as the centre for accessing the MTB trails of Les Gets, Avoriaz, Chatel, and the Swiss resorts of Champery and Morgins. All these MTB centres are within easy reach of each other which makes Morzine a perfect mountain bike holiday destination in the French Alps.

At a glance, the area offers…

• Morzine is in the heart of the world’s biggest MTB area, the Portes du Soleil
• A network of 25 chairlifts and cable cars, all equipped to take mountain bikes
• 12 linked village resorts across France and Switzerland
• Over 650km of signposted bike paths
• An 80km circuit covering France and Switzerland
• 6 bike parks (plus 4x freeride areas)
• 7 north shore routes
• Endless singletrack
• 30 purpose built downhill MTB trails
• Trial circuits, biker cross & bike-handling schools

Visit the official Morzine in summer website for latest prices and lift info

Mountain biking Morzine trails

Portes du Soleil biking trails range from easy family tracks to steep technical descents. Trails are graded from Green (easy) through blue and red to black (very difficult).

Chalet Morzine

At Chalet Morzine we are completely set up for mountain bikers. We have a huge garage with tool kit and bike stand, so you can set up your bikes easily and tinker with them to your heart’s content. A separate hosepipe and wash down area is provided outside the garage, with additional bike wash stands to help keep the bikes pristine. At all times, the garage is firmly under lock and key providing an incredibly secure area for your bikes.

Washing machine and drying room are at your disposable so you can wash out your kit (please rinse off the mud first boys) so you can keep everything smelling reasonable and above all dry!

We are based in a fantastic central location just off the Pleney tracks, right next to the Pleney lift and across from the Supermorzine cable car. Getting up and away into the heart of the mountain on your mountain bike is incredibly easy in a morning. The elevated position of Chalet Morzine means having a beer on the outdoor terrace is particularly awe- inspiring with the amazing uninterrupted views. In the evenings, it’s just a 2 minute walk and you hit the first bar and restaurant. You literally have everything at the chalet and on your doorstep for a great mountain bike holiday.

Cross-country (XC)

For the adventurous XC rider there are miles of amazing natural trails waiting to be explored and mountain restaurants are open to keep you well fueled. Fast rooty forest sections, tech rocky switch-backs, fast flowing singletrack, doubletracks and exposed high Alpine routes, though to gentle cross country journeys in stunning Alpine valleys. If you’re looking for the ultimate cross-country experience on your mountain biking holiday, then the area of Morzine and Les-Gets offer some of Europe’s best.

Col de Cou is the trail every biker wants to conquer, 400 metres up and 1,000 metres down, and tales of it are well-told among the local biking community.

Another favourite is Mont Chery circuit – after taking a lift to the top of Mont Chery, you’ll bike down a sweeping descent that will take your breath away.

The Colorado singletrack is a gorgeous route, passing through Alpine forest, and we think it’s one of the most amazing you’ll find in the entire world.

For a real challenge, try the Samoens Descent.

Downhill

With some of the world’s most stunning downhilling for your mountain biking holiday, Morzine is unmissable. The trails down into Les Gets challenge even the most experienced downhillers – starting at the top with phenomenal Alpine panoramas, they quickly descend into tight, berm-ridden trails. The local trail building team’s effort really shows here, with most clustered near to the lifts to provide easy access and minimal pedalling!

Near Avoriaz you’ll find another famous downhill track, an advanced course that takes riders down fast and steep through tightly wooden pine trees and a rooty, rocky dirt track. Watch out for the middle section – a huge drop has been known to send unwary riders sprawling into the trees, although huge orange padded crash barriers take the sting from falls.

If freeriding is your thing there are purpose built freeride, north shore and dirt jump areas with plenty of rooty dropoffs, jumps and rock drops to be discovered off the beaten track.

Beginners and families

There is plenty on offer for beginners and families with gentle cross country journeys through amazing scenery and where on a clear day you’ll also see the famous Mont Blanc in Chamonix. Morzine is well positioned for beginner bikers with specifically marked ‘Green’ XC Routes and purpose built beginners downhill trails. Once the lift system has carried you up and away onto to the top of the mountain, you’ll soon realise that you can fully appreciate the mountain on a beginner/gentler trail without hurtling yourself down the more difficult downhill tracks.

Show me pictures!You can view more images of Mountain biking in our photo gallery section

For the real MTB experience in Morzine, don’t miss the Pass’Portes du Soleil.  It launches the summer biking season with a lift-assisted 50-mile free ride tour of the region – the perfect way to begin a mountain biking holiday. Refreshments in the form of local specialities are provided along the way. Morzine bikers can complete the circuit in a day or over a weekend, with massive descents, traverses, and even a little hill climbing, all sure to provide a great Morzine MTB experience.

Bring your own or hire a mountain bike?

If you are bringing your own bike rather than renting one, check with your airline as to what allowances and restrictions apply as each carrier is different. Most airlines will carry bikes as long as they are boxed or bagged and do not exceed 23kg (51lbs) and should not exceed the dimension (H+W+L): 158cm (62in). Some will only carry bikes on a standby basis and others have special rules when groups with more than 4 bicycles travel together. All the airport transfer companies offer free bike carriage from Geneva to Morzine.

If you choose to hire, Chalet Morzine recommends…

Star Ski is in the centre of town and offers a great range of bikes and equipment, particularly for families.

Mountain bike guides

With 650km of sign-posted trails, and plenty more waiting to be sought out, the Portes du Soleil offers lots of choice and different trails to ride every day. However, it’s easy to come here and miss the best of the trails as the best is not always the easiest to spot! That’s where having a mountain bike guide will make a massive difference. They will help you find those great spots and the lesser ridden trails, that they have been riding in the area for years. More importantly, they can take you to the best trails for your ability and teach you the essential skills necessary to progress your riding.

Chalet Morzine recommends…

Guillaume Rosset as the best local mountain bike guide.
Contact Guillaume on tel: 00 33 450 790797 or visit Guillaume’s website

BMX

Love the thrill of tricking, or just the speed of the competition? For a BMX twist on your biking holiday, Morzine’s expressive BMX tracks and great BMX parks ensure that things are always off to a flying start in the summer. The Freestyle BMX tracks are really popular, taking advantage of the brilliant paths around Morzine to give riders plenty of opportunities for dirt jumping, whether you’re a dirt jumper or a trails rider at heart. Flatlanders who want to strut their stuff and show off have plenty of space in Morzine too.