(ok, so it was two days, but that doesn't scan as well)
PLEASE NOTE - this trip took place in January, and pictures snow conditions at that time.
Last month, we travelled to Les Gets in the French part of the Portes du Soleil. Although we'd skied there before, our last visit was a couple of decades ago - and much has changed!
Part of the Mont Chery area, looking toward Les Gets village and the main ski area the other side of the valley.
Les Gets - a quick introduction
The mountain resort of Les Gets, in the northern French Alps, is just 1 hour by car from Geneva Airport and is linked to 12 other resorts in the Portes Du Soleil region. In summer, the village is very popular with an international reputation for mountain-biking, hiking and numerous other activities.
The Les Gets-Morzine ski area has 68 ski runs and 50 ski lifts, within a total of over 300 pistes and 208 lifts across the entire PdS domain.
Hotels range from 4* to 2* as well as numerous chalets and apartments. There are around 40 restaurants, on and off the mountain.
Snow conditions
If you've been keeping up with the snow news this winter (on J2Ski, of course), you'll know that lower-lying alpine ski areas have had a few challenges at times; with warmth, rain and storms.
Late January was somewhat variable in Les Gets, but we got lucky and our pictures here reflect that. Currently (late February), lower cover is thin but there is snow in the forecast for this coming weekend.
You can find the latest weather and snow forecast for Les Gets on J2Ski here.
We arrived on a Thursday and skied the first day in heavy rain (which was just turning to snow at the top of the slopes). Heavy snow at the start of the season had laid a solid base, however, and on-piste base depths - and good grooming - were holding conditions up very well at that point.
That evening, temperatures dropped and it turned to snow and kept snowing overnight before clearing the next day.
Friday 19th January 2024 turned out to be "one of those days" you dream of, with fabulous snow across the domain, largely clear sky (with an impressive halo around the sun) and little wind.
When the view from breakfast looks like this, you know you're in for a good day.
The Skiing
We opted to stay within the immediate Les Gets area for the Friday, as the snow was so good.
Early up a succession of lifts, starting with the efficient Chavannes gondola out of town, we warmed up on a quick Blue and Red and found ourselves (thanks to the local knowledge of our lead for day - Rob) quickly at the top of La Rosta.
There isn't always powder in Les Gets, but when there is...
Although "only" descending from 1660 metres, the black Yeti run had been left unpisted and we were fortunate to be only the second group to drop in - and found super un-tracked powder. That was so good we went straight back to do it again before moving on.
A fabulous morning of mostly piste skiing, with a little side-piste powder where we could find it, followed.
It's an entertaining ski area, especially for cruisers, well-connected with Blues and (mostly) non-scary Reds. It's ideal for improving Intermediates, with good nursery slopes close to the town for Beginners. More advanced skiers will probably want to explore further afield (into the rest of the huge Portes du Soleil ski domain) but there's enough to keep everyone occupied when the snow is good.
We had an excellent lunch at the on-mountain restaurant "La Croix Blanche" and then opted for the walk across town to the ski area of Mont Chery. This was a treat as the snow was great and the mountain was virtually deserted; so we were able to cover some ground - and found more powder between and beside the pistes.
The Village
Although significantly expanded in recent decades, Les Gets has maintained a traditional friendly feel with Savoyard architecture, wooden chalets, and a pedestrian-friendly layout.
There's a good range of shops, restaurants, and après-ski bars in and around the village centre.
Off The Slopes
Although we missed out on them this trip, you can opt to try snowshoeing, ice skating, and sleigh rides for a change from skiing or boarding.
There are many events that take place throughout the year in Les Gets, including the recent of the Les Gets Comedy Festival. That took place during our visit, and we were entertained by a range of up-and-coming comedians hilariously presented by Maisie Adams and with Phil Wang topping the bill.
Catch this if you're in Les Gets next year, but be aware that it is (very) adult comedy.
Getting There
We flew into Geneva, from various UK airports including Gatwick and Southampton, and transferred to the PdS by taxi and minibus. Being close to Geneva airport gives many flight and transfer options, so Les Gets and PdS are some of the easiest ski resorts to access from the UK (and many other countries).
Where We Stayed
We stayed at the fabulous new luxury Chaley Blythe, where we were very well looked-after by Jenny and her talented and professional crew. Highly recommended!
Find Out More
Les Gets: https://www.lesgets.com/en/
Chalet Blythe: https://summitspecial.co.uk/chalet-hotel-blythe/ from £37,500 per week for exclusive chalet use for 7 nights or £695 per night for a room (3 nights minimum stay). Prices include half board with 4 course meal, canapes and all drinks.