The insider’s guide to reading the Avoriaz piste map

If you’re planning a ski holiday in Avoriaz, the first thing you’ll want to download is the Avoriaz piste map. It’s your blueprint for navigating one of the most snow-sure and unique ski resorts in the French Alps. But for many skiers, the map can feel a little overwhelming at first glance - lines, colours, symbols, arrows, and lifts criss-crossing the page. This guide breaks it down so you can make sense of the Avoriaz piste map, plan your routes confidently, and avoid common mistakes.

You can download the official Avoriaz piste map here. Keep a digital version on your phone, but it’s also worth grabbing a paper copy once you arrive, screens don’t always like snow, sun glare, or cold fingers.

Like most French resorts, Avoriaz uses the standard piste colour system:

Green: Very easy, beginner slopes
Blue: Easy/intermediate
Red: Intermediate/advanced
Black: Expert

That said, not all runs are equal:

• Many of Avoriaz’s blues (especially around the Lindarets valley) are broad and gentle, perfect for families.
• Reds here can lean towards “steep and fast” rather than “just a shade harder than blue.” The runs under the Grandes Combes lift are a prime example.
• A handful of blacks, like the famous Coupe du Monde in the Prodains sector, are more challenging than the piste map alone might suggest.

Avoriaz’s piste map is packed with helpful icons, but a few are particularly worth noting:

Snowparks & fun areas:
Avoriaz is famous for freestyle, so you’ll see snowpark zones marked clearly. The Stash (an eco-friendly snowpark in the forest) is unique and well worth checking out.

Beginner zones:
Look for the gentle Espace Débutant areas around the resort centre and the top of the Proclou lift.

Restaurants:
Mountain huts are marked, but the map doesn’t tell you which ones are cosy alpine restaurants and which are quick self-service stops.

Ski links & borders:
Dotted lines and arrows show how Avoriaz connects to the wider Portes du Soleil, including routes into Switzerland.

One thing that often surprises visitors is that the Avoriaz piste map shows far more than just the local ski area. It covers the full Portes du Soleil, stretching into neighbouring French resorts and across the border into Switzerland.

Here’s how to understand what your lift pass actually includes:

Local Avoriaz pass

• Covers the pistes and lifts around Avoriaz itself, plus Super-Morzine and the Lindarets bowl.
• On the piste map, the Avoriaz-only area is clearly defined - check the key and watch for boundary lines.
• On the mountain, you’ll also see signs near certain lifts that say “Full area pass only from here”, marking the edge of the local pass zone.
• The maximum Avoriaz-only pass is 2 days (except for super-senior passes). There is no 6-day Avoriaz-only option, which means topping up every couple of days if you stick to the local area.

• Gives access to all 600km of pistes across Morzine, Les Gets, Châtel, Champéry, Les Crosets, Morgins, Champoussin and more.
• Unlocks seamless skiing across borders, including Switzerland.
• Costs roughly €340 for 6 days, which is why many guests opt for the full area pass rather than repeatedly topping up the local one.

Avoriaz sits right at the heart of the Portes du Soleil, so the piste map lets you plan days in multiple directions:

For beginners:
Start in the centre of Avoriaz, take the Proclou chair, and enjoy gentle green and blue runs looping back towards the village.

For intermediates:
Spend a day exploring the Lindarets valley — a playful mix of blues and reds leading down to the famous goat village.

For adventurers:
Head out towards Switzerland via the Fornet sector, ski into Les Crosets or Champéry, and loop back into France.

If you do ski into Switzerland, keep an eye on the piste map and lift signage showing “last return” times. These are clearly marked at the bottom of key lifts and are essential for getting back into France before connections close.

Even with the map in hand, there are a few classic traps:

• The home run to Prodains: Looks simple on the map, but late in the day it can be busy, icy, and mogulled. Beginners are often happier taking the cable car down.
• Flat sections: Some links, especially towards Super-Morzine, can be slow-going for snowboarders, carry speed where you can.
• Hidden bottlenecks: Lifts in the Lindarets bowl can queue late morning. The map won’t show this, so skiing earlier pays off.

The Avoriaz piste map is more than just coloured lines, it’s the key to unlocking everything this snow-sure, car-free resort has to offer. Once you understand the boundaries, lift pass options, and subtle warning signs the map doesn’t shout about, you’ll ski with more confidence and far fewer surprises.

Download the latest Avoriaz piste map, share it with your ski group, and start planning your perfect day on the mountain.