Avoriaz

Avoriaz is one of the most distinctive Alpine ski resorts you will probably ever visit, thanks to its futuristic design and dramatic clifftop location overlooking the neighbouring resort of Morzine. Avoriaz is situated in the centre of the Portes du Soleil, one of the world's largest interlinked ski areas.

Avoriaz is a purpose-built ski resort but, unlike so many of the resorts that sprang up in the 60s and 70s, it isn't home to unsightly concrete monoliths. The resort is made up of wooden-clad apartments and chalets that sympathetically blend into the surrounding mountains.

The town is completely pedestrianised, everyone makes their way around either on foot, ski or on horse-drawn sleighs. Avoriaz caters especially well for families thanks to a range of specially designed children's ski areas and a rather fabulous indoor waterpark.