Les Crosets ski resort guide & reviews Ski area, apres-ski, things to see & do in Les Crosets
Resort reviews
Les Crosets is a small traditional Swiss ski resort with around 1330 permanent residents. It is full of character and charm and is a very popular Swiss tourist destination but surprisingly, not well known outside of France for the time being! Skiing started in Les Crosets in 1947 after the first lift was installed and has been gaining in popularity ever since.
Les Crosets is one of 12 lift linked resorts in the Portes du Soleil ski system that together, provide a massive 650km of pistes spanning resorts in France and Switzerland.
One of the best features of the Portes du Soleil resorts is there is a good mix of resorts to choose from the big and busy to the more refined. Les Crosets fits in to the latter and is a perfect resort for family ski holidays.
Spa & Wellbeing
In October 2010, a new thermal spa center in Val-d'Illiez was opened. The thermal spring water, which is used in the pools, is rich in sulfur, calcium and magnesium and used for a variety of medicinal purposes such as treating skin problems.
Childcare
The creche in Les Crosets takes youngsters during the winter season from 3 months to 6 years and is open daily from 8am to 7pm. The Tourist Offices organises lots of events for the children throughout the summer and winter seasons from outdoor adventures to nature trails.
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 1669m |
| Top lift | 2460m |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Piste (km) | 650 |
| Longest run | 6 km |
| Off piste | |
| Cross country | km |
| Season | Dec - April |
| Snowboard parks | 13 |
| Heli Skiing | ✘ |
| Summer skiing | ✘ |
| Glacier skiing | ✘ |
| Babysitting | ✘ |
| Creche | ✔ |
| Apres ski | Relaxed |
Les Crosets ski area guide
Whilst not one of the highest resorts in the Alps, Les Crosets averages around 8m of snowfall a season which is pretty impressive allowing the ski season to run from the end of November to late April. The local ski area links the Swiss resorts of Champéry, Les Crosets, Champoussin and Morgins and provides enough terrain for beginners and early intermediates for a weeks skiing holiday. Those who like touring will opt for the full Portes du Soleil lift pass where there is simply too much terrain to explore in a season!
Beginners
With 140 green and blue slopes across the Portes du Soleil, there is no shortage of beginner slopes. In Les Gets, the first batch of greens are at the top of the Chavannes Express lift which you get from the center of the resort. To get back, there are some wide and gentle blues.
Intermediate
Les Crosets is an intermediate skier paradise with almost too much to choose from. You can ski clockwise or anti-clockwise around the Portes du Soleil taking in resorts such as Avoriaz, Morzine and Champery in Switzerland. If you dont fancy touring around the Portes du Soleil, there are plenty of pistes around the Swiss sector to keep you entertained.
Advanced
If you want to stay in the Les Crosets area, advanced skiers should head over to the Linga section which has steeper north-facing slopes and is also the gateway to Avoriaz. Elsewhere around the Portes du Soleil, there are some very challenging runs with 25 very long black slopes including the famous "Wall" in Avoriaz with moguls as high as an adult!
Cross-country
Cross-country trails start from the Nordic center at nearby Champery just 2km away. There is a free shuttle bus to get you there and back. The centre also does biathlon with introductory lessons.
Snowboard
For snowboarders, there are 10 snowboard and terrain parks and 1 superpipe across the Portes du Soleil area. In Les Crosets, there is the Smoothpark at Super-Châtel and boardercross. Whatever your level, there is something for everyone to enjoy and the facilities are there to help improve your technique in a safe and controlled environment.
Things to see & do in Les Crosets
- Spend a relaxing day at the Thermes Park
- Ice skating
- 40km of winter walking and snowshoeing trails
- Dog sleighs
- Tobogganing
- Ten-pin bowling
- Parapenting
Après-ski
Après-ski in Les Crosets is fairly relaxed and quieter when compared to some of the other resorts in the Porte du Soleil area such as Morzine and Avoriaz. However, don't be fooled in to thinking the place is a graveyard - far from it. There are some great bars and the après-ski usually starts on the slopes in when of the mountain restaurants.
Featured chalets in Les Crosets
Les Crosets is a small and very compact village but has been growing steadily over the years due to it's ever growing popularity as a ski or summer mountain holiday destination. Being just 90 minutes from Geneva airport also means it's easily accessible for weekend ski breaks.
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Our view Les Crosets ski resort
We think Les Crosets is an ideal ski resort for family ski holidays. With lots of gentle pistes on your doorstep, tree lined runs and good links to the other resorts in the Portes du Soleil, Les Crosets offers plenty of ski terrain for all abilities. A few suggestions...
- If you are a competent skier then the "Wall" in the Avoriaz sector is a must and is actually less scary than the chairlift down the side of it!
- Each Wednesday, there is a farmers market where you can buy the local speciality cheeses from Abondance and local dried meats
