Loitering within Tent

You've decided to visit the Portes du Soleil and who would blame you? It is after all undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in the world. Whether you're heading to Les Gets with its stunning meadows and green hills, Morzine with its crystal clear lakes and vibrant atmosphere or Avoriaz and its rocky, dramatic landscape, you're bound to have a wonderful holiday.

The next question decision comes when choosing where to stay. There are amazing hotels, chalets and bed and breakfasts galore but if you're looking to truly explore the countryside, why not throw in a night or two on one of the regions campsites? You'll be sleeping under the stars and as I've learnt myself, it' can be a pretty magical experience.

There are lots of options if you do take the decision to camp. You can head to one of the many campsites in and around Morzine and Les Gets, that are fully equipped with decent facilities, or you can look at trying a wilder type of camping. This is most certainly the way to really feel at one with nature, however it's not for everyone. We've been looking at what's around for campers, caravanners and campervan enthusiasts and have even given a few a try for you.

Morzine & Montriond

The main Morzine campsites are located on the outskirts of town. Les Marmottes in Essert Romand, Le Solerey in Saint Jean d'Aulps and also a large site called Le Pré in Montriond. Each has full facilities including showers and toilets and camper van service areas. We've spent a lot of time at the Saint Jean one, which is located right next to the river. It's reasonably priced and if you do decide to stay a while, Pierre- the very friendly manager, will make you a good deal. It's great if you're looking for a quiet place to stay but still want some luxury like hot showers and good washing machines.

The site in Montriond has a great location and is close to a few good bars and restaurants. It's also on the river so comes complete with relaxing sounds to drift off to sleep to. Les Marmottes is also in a good location especially if you're looking to explore some of the cycling routes around Morzine. It's a large site but it's definitely advisable to book because they fill up pretty quickly.

Les Gets

In Les Gets the main campsite is La Grange au Frene. Located a little way out of town, this campsite has a pool and is in an ideal place to access the bike routes and lifts.

Avoriaz

There aren’t many official campsites in the Avoriaz area. There are plenty of wild spots however, and I’ll get on to that in a moment. If you are looking to head away from Morzine towards the Abondance valley then L’Oustalet campsite in Chatel might be just what you’re looking for. It’s open in Summer and Winter and has good facilities if you’re not quite ready to completely hang up your need for a bit of luxury just yet!

Wild camping and campervans

If you're looking for something a little more remote and aren't worried about showers and toilets then the whole of the Portes du Soleil is literally your oyster! There are spots all over the place that a perfect for a night in a tent or are ideal to park your campervan at for a night or two of wild camping. If you're looking to park up for a couple of nights in the centre of Morzine, Les Gets or Avoriaz then there are a number of campervan friendly spots that come with amazing views and a certain amount of security.

Morzine and Montriond

There's a perfect pull in just before Lac Montriond, which is secluded and perfect if you want to enjoy the lake in the early morning and late evening. If you want to camp at the lake there's a spot on the cliff side that's really popular with campers. It has a couple of picnic tables and a flat ground that is a great place to pitch up. In Morzine, although not tranquil, you can park in the main Carrefour car park in town. There's a toilet and it means you can get into town easily if you're looking for a night out. It's not glamorous but it feels secure. Inferno bar at the Nyon plateau are happy to host campers in the summer which might be worth a try as they have some stunning views up there!

Les Gets

In both winter and summer you often find camper vans at the bottom of Les Perrieres lift in Les Gets. It has a small service station for camper vans and is a great place for accessing the Les Gets pistes. The machine you use to service the vans costs around 5 euros to use – we had problems with our English bank card so it isn’t 100 percent reliable if you don’t have access to a French bank card. If you’re struggling you can always ask a fellow camper to help you out.

Avoriaz

On the route d'Avoriaz [the main road up to Avoriaz from Morzine] you'll find a couple of car parks, which often host a few camper vans. There's a beautiful patch of land next to the Zore lift, which boasts amazing sunsets over the whole of Morzine. You can also head up nearer to Avoriaz where you can park overlooking the whole of the Portes du Soleil.

Refuges

If you like the idea of sleeping in the wild then you also have the option of using one of the regions refuges. This are really popular with hikers who are trying to complete big walks and need to take two or three days out to complete them. There are refuges all over the place. They're simple wooden huts that give you shelter and a place to sleep overnight - they're nothing glamorous but give you a camping like experience without you having to carry all of the equipment. Lac Mines d'Or and Graydon are two of the most popular refuges and get you right on the doorstep of some of the regions toughest but most beautiful hikes.

Camping and caravanning isn't for everyone but there's something incredibly special about falling asleep under the stars and waking up in the great outdoors. If you can put up with the lack of luxury facilities then the tranquillity and peace you get when camping can't be beaten. It'll bring another magical element to your Portes du Soleil adventure.