Ardent 1,260m is a small, charming and traditional village set in the heart of the
vast Portes du Soleil ski area with direct access to Avoriaz. Nestling between
tree-lined cliffs Ardent has its own modern 10-man bubble lift to take you up to
Les Lindarets where you can branch off to explore the fantastic runs in both France
and Switzerland.
The Portes du Soleil is something of a hidden gem and an excellent choice for families skiing with young kids – many skiers are unfamiliar
with the area despite being one of the largest linked ski areas in the world with
a vast 650km of pistes; runs for every ability, fantastic snow record, and shortest
transfer time from Geneva airport.
Avoriaz, Morzine and Chatel are the largest resorts within the region that is split
into four main ski areas: Morzine/Avoriaz, Pleney/Nyon/Les Gets, Les Crosets and
Chatel. All of these are easily accessed from Ardent.
The unique charm of the Portes du Soleil lies in the mix of fantastic ski terrain,
a modern lift system and the traditional, unspolit charm of its many small
villages, like Ardent, which offer a children's holiday experience not equalled in the more
commercial resorts.
At the top of Ardent’s telecabine is the sunny bowl, Les Lindarets, from which
point a fast 6-man chairlift or the 4 man express give direct access to Avoriaz.
At 1,800m Avoriaz is the highest point in the ski area and offers excellent top
of the mountain skiing up to 2,446m.
Avoriaz has won numerous awards for it’s futuristic architecture and was created
by local skier and Olympic Gold medalist, Jean Vuarnet, who won the downhill for
France in 1960. On his return from Squaw Valley he was asked to oversee the creation
of a high-altitude ski resort above his native Morzine which linked to Champéry
in Switzerland. He called the new resort Avoriaz and it has become the heart of
the Portes du Soleil region.
At the top of the Ardent telecabine you can also access superb skiing on the Swiss
side of the ski area, with many beautiful runs down to the villages of Les Crosets,
Torgon, Morgins, Champéry and Champoussin. The area offers beautiful tree
lined blues and reds for beginners and intermediate skiers. For the more experienced
there are many technical black runs – not least the notorious 'Wall' run which
offers a challenging route into Switzerland. If your ski level or courage is not
up to the challenge you can also make your way down with the chairlift.
For more adventurous skiers hire an ESF guide for the breathtaking run from the
top of the ‘Col de Fornet’ into the unspoilt ‘Vallée de
la Manche’ and then return to the village by helicopter. The area is also
widely respected as having some of the best ski and board parks in Europe with high
profile competitions, attracting top professionals, organised every season.
The whole Portes du Soleil area is well known for its fantastic restaurants both
on the pistes and in the villages and Ardent’s local cuisine is excellent.
Bruno will be ready to welcome you for lunch or an après-ski drink in bar ‘L’escapade’
at the end of the day. On the cook’s day off we highly recommend the local
restaurant ‘La Chalande’ where Gilles and Karine serve traditional French
cuisine at a leisurely pace - giving you time to enjoy the traditional Haute Savoie
style dining room and fine wine list.
You can ski virtually to the door of all six chalets in Ardent and a full area lift
pass gives you access to runs in both France and Switzerland.