Morillon Guide & Reviews Ski Area, Apres-Ski, Things To See & Do in Morillon
Resort Reviews
Morillon is located in the Vallée du Giffre in the French Alps and comprises 2 small villages linked by the beginners piste. The lower main village is home to approximately 500 permanent residents and provides the majority of amenities. A few hundred meters higher up at 1100m is the "new" Morillon - Plateau des Esserts - specifically built for skiing and is mainly chalets with some shops, bars and restaurants.
Après-ski
The après-ski in Morillon is both relaxed, informal and lively with a good variety of restaurants and bars. Tourists staying in Samoëns looking for some nightlife go to Morillon which is only 5 minutes by taxi.
Children
The village des enfants (“children’s village”) is a nursery and daycare centre that caters for children aged 6 months to 10 years’ old. The “Children’s Village” provides a high level of safety and is set in the middle of the Esserts forest.
Morillon ski area guide
Morillon is linked to the Grand Massif giving access to a huge ski area of some 265km of piste making it one of the largest and finest ski areas in France. Even in high season, the lift queues are minimal. Due to its geography, the area receives abundant snow meaning the season lasts well into the Spring.
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 1100m |
| Top lift | 2500m |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Piste (km) | 265 |
| Longest run | 14 km |
| Off piste | |
| Cross country | 76 km |
| Season | Dec - April |
| Snowboard parks | 1 |
| Heli Skiing | ✘ |
| Summer skiing | ✘ |
| Glacier skiing | ✘ |
| Babysitting | ✘ |
| Creche | ✔ |
| Apres ski | Relaxed |
Skiing around the Grand Massif gives options for all levels of skier and boarder in varied terrain - from the sun drenched bowl of Flaine to the rabbit runs in the forests around Samoëns and Les Carroz.
Beginners
Morillon is ideal for beginners and has gentle slopes to get you started off before progressing on to the wide blues at the top of the main lift.
Intermediate
For internediates, there is a huge choice of pistes from Morillon to Les Carroz and into Flaine. The blue Cascade run is a must for cruising and starts from Flaine at 2480m and continues for 14km in to Sixt!
Advanced
For advanced skiers, there are 14 black pistes to challenge you including the Combe de Gers which has a staggering 800m vertical drop all off piste. Morillon may not have the ruggedness of some off-piste trails such as that found in Chamonix and Verbier, but it does offer plenty to keep the experienced skier challenged throughout their holiday break.
Snowboard
The Jampark at Flaine is superb and has all the rails and jumps for beginners and experienced boarders.
Other ski holiday activities
If you want a break from skiing or the weather isn't that great, Le Grand Bornand has lots of other activities to try...
Cross-country
Cross country skiing is a gentler way of discovering the local mountains. There are 46km of cross-country trails in the valley next to the banks of the Griffe river and go all the way to Sixt. Stunning scenery can also be found when skiing through the Joux Plane pass at 1700m. The Joux Plane pass is, however, only open when the Haute Griffe cross country trails are closed.
Our views on Morillon
We think Morillon is a superb alpine village for family ski holidays. It is more relaxed and informal than many of the mainstream ski resorts and certainly more low key. However, the good news is that the people are very welcoming throughout the Griffe valley not to mention the extremely well connected ski area of the Grand Massif. A couple of suggestions...
- The blue Cascade run is a must for crusing and starts from Flaine at 2480m and continues for 14km in to Sixt! However, to get back to Morillon, you need to get the ski bus to Samoëns as there is no lift connection back to the Grand Massif circuit from Sixt
- A day trip to Chamonix to experience the 24km Valley Blanche from the top of the Aiguille du Midi at 3842m. Chamonix is just under an hours drive
- Every Wednesday in the winter season, Morillon has a farmers market where you can but local produce including wine, cheese and fresh fruit and veg
If you like Morillon, you may also consider the resorts in Alta Badia in the Italian Dolomites and Fugen in the Ziller Valley in Austria.
