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Quiet slopes, great atmosphere and some special events
It’s a new year and the town and slopes are quieter, it’s one of the best times to visit.
After the Christmas holidays are over, January is the quietest part of the main winter season in Morzine. This means you have the slopes to yourselves, rarely have to queue for a lift and can enjoy pistes in great condition.
The quiet conditions on the mountain don’t translate to quiet nights in the town. There are fewer families and more adult visitors, meaning it can be easier to get a table at a restaurant, and the bars are buzzing with plenty of live music and party nights to keep you entertained whilst you warm your hands on a glass of vin chaud.
Read on for a look at what we like to do in resort throughout January.
There is regular snowfall - on average six days - and subzero temperatures keep it nice and fresh. In January the average daytime temperatures generally fall between a high of 3°C and a low of -3ºC, getting around five hours of sunshine. Definitely pack those thermals!
With all those empty pistes, no lift queues and perfect conditions, we like to get out into the mountains on our skis and snowboards as much as possible.
If you visit the resort in January you can buy a lift pass and join one of the local ski schools' many ski or snowboard lessons taking place around the resort.
At this time of the season we are looking forward to some live music sessions, whether from local bands or even one of the open mike nights and jam sessions that the local bars often hold. So, whether you fancy yourself an Adele, Bob Dylan or a Satriani, there's definitely somewhere you can 'entertain' the crowds.
Of course, that's if we've made it home from one of the many après-ski events taking place every evening across town.
Hideout Bar, located within the popular Hideout Hostel in Morzine, is renowned for the vibrant and flavour-packed food served at its in-house restaurant. Rather than focusing on traditional alpine cuisine, which can be found across the resort, Hideout takes a refreshing detour with fresh and exciting Asian street food.
La Chaudanne Wine Bar & Restaurant in Morzine is a haven for food and wine lovers, offering a warm, chalet-inspired atmosphere and a taste of Savoyard hospitality.
La Folie Douce in Avoriaz is the ultimate destination for combining great food, music, and fun in a spectacular alpine setting. Every afternoon, this legendary après-ski venue brings together locals and visitors alike for open-access clubbing, spectacular shows, and unforgettable moments with family or friends.
Bec Jaune Brewery in Morzine is a must-visit for lovers of craft beer and fresh, inventive food. This lively microbrewery and restaurant offers a unique experience, combining the art of beer-making with a seasonal menu that changes throughout the year. Whether you’re a vegetarian, a meat-lover, or simply curious, there’s something to delight every palate.
Ô Chalet is a lively, laid-back spot in the centre of Morzine, known for serving tasty burgers, bagels, kebabs and crêpes at reasonable prices. With its broad, crowd-pleasing menu and buzzing, informal atmosphere, it’s perfect for a quick bite between activities, a relaxed après-ski snack or an easygoing meal with friends or family. Open all year round, it remains a firm favourite among both locals and visitors looking for great value and flavour.
Open every day except Monday from midnight to 05:00. Get your dancing shoes on!
It doesn't just have to be piste based adventures you take part in. Ski-touring and split-boarding have become extremely popular in recent years, and there's nothing that gets the heart pumping like gaining altitude under your own steam. When it's a 'white out' you'll find us changing tack entirely, pulling on some raquettes (snowshoes) and venturing forth into the wilderness on one of the many snowshoeing routes around the valley, all the while dreaming of tomorrow's bluebird powder day.
For backcountry adventures, this independent company operates in and around the following three heliski destinations: Valgrisenche, The Courmayeur Valley and the Col de Petit St Bernard Pass. They have pioneered 32 drop zones within these three broad valley regions giving you a huge choice of terrain, snow conditions and mountain orientation to ensure you have a day best suited to your ability and preferences.
Stick on your head torch and enjoy the sledging down the pistes at night.
Snowmobiling can be a fun, fast, snowy activity. Starting from Avoriaz resort, outings start from 17.30 to midnight, giving you free range of the snow and the Alps.
A fantastic way to see the resort with your friends and family and a great way to entertain any non-skiers in your group.
Get to know the mountains at a steady pace while being guided by high mountain instructors.
Montriond Lake (1064 m) is the third largest lake in Haute Savoie, after Lake Geneva and Lake Annecy. Its maximum depth is 19m to a maximum length of 1320m and a maximum width of 235m.
With the festivities of Christmas and the New Year behind us, we can now revel in the sporting events and entertainments that the resort fills the calendar with. There's also the weekly market to enjoy - dating back 1,000 years, anyone wanting to try some local produce, in particular the cheeses that the French Alps specialise in, should pay it a visit.
The world's leading obstacle race company brings its Spartan race to Morzine in winter over one weekend, with races over 10km or 21km.
Rock on Snow Tour is a festival bringing together all things snow that kicks off the Portes du Soleil winter season in some serious style.
You'll find a host of traditional butchers, fishmongers and grocers selling local produce such as tasty cheeses and fine sausages.
It's the holiday season in Morzine and there are two weeks of magical performances, entertainment and activities!
The Morzine-Avoriaz Hockey club play competitive and friendly matches throughout the summer and winter season.
Discover the thrill of speed skiing with the X-Speed Ski Tour.
This is only a small selection of the events taking place in Morzine during the first month of the year. Take a look at our events calendar for a full rundown and to find some accommodation for your stay.
Find out all about what is happening in the Morzine area and how to make the most of your time here. The latest news, reviews of fun activities, current events and the trendiest restaurants, as well as interviews with leading locals, insider's guides and our top choices for things to do, see and experience in the region. Plus, during the winter season, our famous snow reports and dump alerts all in the same place.
See allLatest News & ReviewsMorzine hosts a wide range of events throughout the year. The biggest winter festival is the Rock des Pistes week in March, where live bands play up on the pistes, with many other concerts being held in resort during the evenings. Highlights in summer include Crankworx and the Pass'portes du Soleil (two large mountain biking events), and the Spartan obstacle course race.
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