Mountain bikers have been travelling to the Portes du Soleil for over 20 years now. Morzine and it's surrounding towns are the epicentre of mountain biking in Europe. Buts what's really involved in making that dream Mountain Bike holiday in Morzine become a reality?

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How big are the jumps on Vink Line - MTB Beds

HOW TO MAKE A MORZINE MOUNTAIN BIKE HOLIDAY A REALITY

STEP ONE - RESEARCH

STEP TWO - ORGANISE

STEP THREE - ARRIVE

  • RIDE
  • EAT
  • SLEEP
  • REPEAT

The dreamy berms of Super Morzine await!

Super Morzine downhill tracks - MTB Beds

CHOOSING THE BEST DATES

If you want the the full Portes du Soleil lift system to be open, July and August. If you aren't planning a trip to Switzerland, then you might get a good deal staying in June or September.

Make sure you check in with MTB Beds as to what lifts will be open and when. We can usually be sure of this information by March at the latest, for the following summer.

The mountain bike season starts in Late May when Les Gets opens it's lift for the weekends only. This is usually every weekend from around the 20th May until they open full time on or near the 10th June along with the Pleney mountain bike trails in Morzine.

The full Portes du Soleil lift area doesn't open until near the end of June, when the huge Passportes du Soleil event rolls into town. Once this area is open you have access to 12 resorts, 22 chair lifts and over 55 downhill tracks and the world famous mountain bike holiday destination that is Morzine and the Portes du Soleil. 

The mountain bike season last for about 10 weeks in Morzine and generally starts to wind down around the last weekend in August so they can prepare the lift for the chaos of winter. We however simply move our operation down to Finale Ligure on the Italian coast and ride some of the best single track in the world, if the Enduro World series finale is there it's saying something.

Rocky root fest on Le Pleney

How many downhill trails on Le Pleney - MTB Beds

HOW LONG WILL YOU STAY?

A week is the standard Morzine mountain bike holiday and for most that is perfect amount of time, giving enough energy to hit the trails hard, take some chill time, spend a morning or two with a hangover if that is your thing.

Taking afew days or even a long weekend is great if you know Morzine well and have the travel component sorted. Get in, get out and have blast on your favourite trails. If you've not been before, you'll run out of time quickly and will wish you had the extra few days to explore.

Two weeks? Well that's the dream, though to be honest you'll lose some of the intensity of that you get on a one week trip, where everything happens for the first time and you wish you could go back and do it again, but don't want to miss the next moment or trail.

Season? Well, that's a whole other story.

There's plenty for the freerier in Chatel too!

How long to get from Chatel to Morzine - MTB Beds

TRAVEL

There are 3 ways to get to Morzine. Each have benefits and downsides. We've written extensively on the subject, a detailed breakdown can be found here.

  • DRIVE

+ Cheap if more than 3 travelling, can bring more equipment, road trip, no planes or airports.

- It takes a long time, driving is boring for some, wear and tear on car, expensive if less than 3 travelling.

  • FLY

+ Can be cheap, very efficient, should be hassle free and enjoy a beer at the airport.

- Can be expensive, some people hate planes, packing and unpacking your bike can be a pain.

  • TRAIN

+ Adventure, environmentally sound, economical, can work or relax on the train.

- It takes a while, you still have to get a transfer to and from the stations on either end, a missed train in Paris is a disaster.

Pleney Mainline laps are the stuff of dreams

Pleney Mainline Morzine - MTB Beds

CHOOSE THE BEST ACCOMMODATION

Choosing the best accommodation for your MTB Holiday in Morzine is no easy task. Do you choose a catered chalet in Morzine or a self catered apartment in Morzine? Neither of the previous then it must be a hotel in Morzine or why not go the fully monty and book onto the now famous Riders Weeks where we include all the below in one package

  • Central Accommodation with secure bike storage
  • Lift pass, 6 days full PDS area
  • Food, 2 course evening and continental with eggs breakfast (professional chef)
  • Airport transfers
  • Mechanic on site (not free but top class)
  • Hot-tub 
  • Goodie-Bag
  • Bike wash with Peaty's Cleaning Products

Self catered accommodation can start from as little as £120 per person per week (£17 per night) in a 3 bedroom chalet that sleeps 6, and all the way up to luxury with every budget considered.

Hotels start from around €45 per person per night for B/B

Fully Catered Riders Weeks come in at £619

How does that breakdown?

SELF CATERED Around

Lift pass – €112 Adult / €84 Child 6 days*
Food and booze – Anywhere from €25 – €200 per day depending on the send*
Travel costs – £250pp estimate
Transfers Skiidy Gonzales – £70pp return
Accommodation – £100pp – £500pp (pot luck on bike storage and facilities, or sleep in the van like a gypsy and wash in the cold river)
Spare bike parts

MTB BEDS RIDERS WEEKS

MTB Beds Riders Week’s Package – £619pp (includes transfers + lift pass + Half Board Accom)
Travel costs – £170pp estimate
Beer money – €Your call
Spare bike parts

Chalet Chapelle in Morzine

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR MTB HOLIDAY

We won't tell you how to suck eggs, everyone's experience is individual and that's the best thing about it. Some will enjoy shredding laps non-stop till the lift opens and until the doors close. Some want to chill at the lake by mid afternoon and some want to head the pub for afew too many.

Once you're in Morzine, go with the flow. Do your research before coming to make sure you have booked the best accommodation, that your bike is ready and you are physically ready aswell. Get the names of the resorts and the trails you want to ride, spend the first day riding something easy like Super Morzine and then just enjoy it till it's time to go home. Don't get hung up on what jump you haven't hit or peak you must climb, have fun and you'll make mountain bike memories for life.

BOOK NOW

To book that downhill mountain bike holiday of a lifetime click on the links below!

#ONEPEDALAHEAD

 

Featured Properties

from £950 per week
from £950 per week

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