Our 2 catered chalets both have: Cozy open fires Free Wifi & Sat Tv Hot Tubs & Saunas Excellent cuisine Chatel is in the heart of the Portes Du Soleil, one of the largest interlinked ski areas in the world
Situated right in the heart of the Portes Du Soleil in the Northern Alps between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc, the Chatel ski area is surrounded by French and Swiss ski resorts offering some of the best winter sports holidays in the world. The Portes Du Soleil is one of the largest interlinked ski areas in the world with a great snow record. From mid November to the end of April an average of 8 metres of powder falls every year.
The skiing in Chatel is extensive with a great variety of pistes for all abilities, some great snow parks and superb off piste. Starting your day in Chatel and using the modern fast chair lifts that link the resorts, you could find yourselves skiing in the very picturesque Morzine and Les Gets, the purpose built resort of Avoriaz and into Switzerland to the quiet open pistes of Champery, Champoussin, Les Crosets and Morgins with its breathtaking views of the Dents du Midi.
The Resort
Over the years with huge investment in new lifts, pistes, resturants, bars and activities, Chatel has developed into one of the most exciting places for a winter holiday, and the investment hasn't stopped there. Each year whilst Chatel remains a traditional Savoyard farming village and respecting all local traditions and cultures every effort is made to continue to develop the ski area which is now one of the best in the world. The resort lies at an altitude of 1200 metres, one of the highest in the Portes du Soleil with the neighbouring purpose built resort of Avoriaz at 1800 metres and the highest lift at 2400 metres.
With flight times of around 90 minutes from most UK airports and a transfer of around the same, traveling to a ski holiday resort from the UK does not get much easier or quicker.
The winter ski season in Chatel typically begins around mid December and Chatel is always one of the last resorts to close in the Portes du Soleil at the very end of April. There are 239 snow guns in Chatel and 835 across the Portes Du Soleil.
Super Chatel / Barbossine
The large range of modern lifts in Chatel gives you several points from where you can begin each day. One option is the Super Chatel gondola situated in the centre of the ski resort. There are plenty of gentle nursery ski slopes here as well as more challenging pistes for intermediates and the more experienced skiers and boarders. Super Chatel gives you linked access to La Chapelle and the Swiss resorts of Torgon and Morgins. There is a great Smooth Park with rails, kickers, slide boxes, slope style area and a boarder cross track running through the forest. The Fun Zone is a 250m long speed piste which is fitted with a timing device that shows skiers their speed on an electronic display.
Linga / Pre-La-Joux / Plaine Dranse
In a great central location are the lifts at Le Linga or Pre-la-Joux which take you to the Plaine Dranse ski area and then into Avoriaz and the Swiss resorts. This area of Chatel has an enormous range of pistes for all abilities and some of the best off piste in the Portes du Soleil. Linga is the area where we hold our weekly slalom competitions and also where you can also continue to ski late into the evening. Each Thursday night the stadium piste is floodlit between 7.30 and 9.30pm.
Back in Chatel you will find a large selection of great restaurants offering a wide variety of menus styles, a wide range of bars with live music throughout the season and also many sports shops selling all the equipment you will need for your holiday plus perfect gifts to take back home.
In addition to skiing and boarding on the piste there is a wide range of other activities to enjoy during the winter:
Snowshoeing - Explore over 80km of trails giving a different view of the mountain.
Sledging Area - 3 great sledging areas for all ages to enjoy
Tandem Paragliding - take a tandem flight, a unique experience!
Fishing & Ice Diving - In the depths of winter you can still fish for trout or make a hole in the ice and go diving!
ice skating - Near Lac Vonnes
Night Skiing - Ski under the stars on the floodlit stadium with music
Bowling Centre - 4 computerised lanes, pool tables and bar, open 5pm till late
Nightclub - Open every evening during the season
Cinemas - Chatel has 2 cinemas offering a different film every day.
Winter 2011 / 12 Events
Saturday 3rd December 2011 - Chatel Ski Resort Opens At Weekends
Saturday 10th December 2011 - Chatel Ski Resort Opens Everyday
Xmas & New Year - Festive Events and fireworks
January - Grande Odyssee 2012 International Dog Sled Race
25th - 27th January - Neiges Etoilees, International Food Festival
29th February, 7th & 14th March- Ski Memory show retracing 4000 years of skiing.
January & March - Various FIS International Alpine compettions
17th March - Amazing snowsports including Razorsnowbike, waterslide, piste groomer rides etc
24th - 28th March - Music Festival, concerts on the pistes
7th April - Montee Du Linga
14th April - Spring Concert
Whats New This Winter
For winter 2011 / 12 the 2 seater Rochassons chair lifts that links Chatel with Avoriaz is being replaced by a new fast 6 seater chair lift capable of carrying 3000 skiers per hour!
Improved facilties for disabled skiers with equipment such as the Dualski, Uniski, Kartski and Tandemski giving everyone the chance to experience the snow on the mountains.
New: Airboarding comes to Chatel, sledging on a cushion of air!
