Skiing holidays in Chatel from Drive-Alive Motoring Holidays.

Click the piste map of Chatel to enlarge

A typical Savoie village, Chatel is situated to the south of Lake Geneva not far from the Swiss border. Geneva is 72 km.  You will find the real Savoie character here. There are numerous forms of entertainment: restaurants, bars with music, cinemas, bowling, library, shops, street entertainment, childrens ski club from 3 years (booking advised). Chatel has become the most sporting ski resort in the Portes du Soleil in summer as well as winter!

Self-catering apartments and chalets in Chatel
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Chatel in summer

International competitions, numerous fetes in the surrounding French and Swiss villages. Discover the Fantasticable, a unique machine from which you fly over the hamlet of Plaine Dranse at nearly 100 km/hour! Take part in hiking, climbing, mountain biking, paraponting or water sports (swimming, fishing, canoeing/kayaking, rafting, pot-holing).

Chatel in winter

Resort situated in one of the largest ski areas in Europe, Chatel links the 12 Swiss and French resorts of the Portes du Soleil, such as Morgins, Champery or Avoriaz and this is unique! There are therefore more than 650 km of ski runs, 234 ski lifts and 276 ski runs of all levels. The resort is in an exceptional position for skiing with more than 83 km of runs, 42 ski lifts and 48 ski runs. You can explore the Abondance valley on cross country skis linking the villages of La Chapelle and Abondance. There are numerous activities to try such as diving under ice, the bob luge, skating or trips on snow shoes or by husky.

Access: Chatel is one of the easier areas in the Alps to reach with Geneva only 72km (45 miles) away.  There's a weekend bus service to and from the airport. The nearest rail station is at Thonon-Les-Bains, 20km (13 miles) distant which is served by TGV from Paris.  Taxis or a bus service (up to six times daily on Saturdays) link the station to the resort.

Drivers from the north should arrive on the A40 motorway towards Geneva, taking the Annemasse exit.  Follow the road to Thonon and then on to Chtel.  There are underground parking spaces for 400 vehicles in the village, open from morning to evening.  Weekly tickets are available or you can pay by the hour.  Village centre parking with a time limit of three hours is also available. 

A regular ski bus runs throughout the area from 8.30am to 9.30pm. The bus service is free with all routes beginning outside the church. Seven different routes are followed indicated by different colour codes.

Ski region information Les Portes du Soleil:

Altitude : 930 - 2300 m

Pistes : 650 km; blue: 318 km, red: 267 km, black: 65 km
Halfpipes: 3
Funparks: 10
Boardercross: 5

Lifts/Trains :
Tow lifts: 113
Chair lifts: 82
Cable cars: 10
Cable cabin/s:4

Going out / Aprs ski :
Restaurants : 57, Bars : 7, Cafes/tea rooms : 9, Pubs : 2, Cinema

Sport & Fitness activities:
Paragliding, Cross country skiing, Toboggan, Ice rink, Dog sleigh

Ski school :
Ski and Snowboard schools: 6, Instructors: 115, Group ski lessons

Children :
Childcare service, Ski kindergarten, Baby sitter, Children's roundabout, Children'' ski piste with ski lift

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