EN
EN
Classic mountain charm
Stunning views
Hidden gemClassic mountain charmStunning viewsHidden gemClassic mountain charmStunning viewsHidden gemClassic mountain charmStunning viewsHidden gemLocated in the Vallée d'Aulps in Haute-Savoie, St Jean d'Aulps is traditional Savoyard village in the Portes du Soleil region. The resort sits between 900m-1,800m, with 16 lifts serving 50km across 33 runs. The vertical drop of 900m provides satisfying descents, and the season typically runs from late December to early April. French Alps ski resorts are increasingly popular with UK travellers, and St Jean d'Aulps represents excellent value and quality.
With reliable with snowmaking of snowfall and a well-maintained lift system, St Jean d'Aulps provides reliable skiing across varied terrain suited to all ability levels. The atmosphere is welcoming and genuine, with a character that makes visitors feel at home. Check out St Jean d'Aulps ski deals to start planning your trip.
Located in the Vallée d'Aulps in Haute-Savoie, St Jean d'Aulps is traditional Savoyard village in the Portes du Soleil region. The resort sits between 900m-1,800m, with 16 lifts serving 50km across 33 runs. The vertical drop of 900m provides satisfying descents, and the season typically runs from late December to early April. French Alps ski resorts are increasingly popular with UK travellers, and St Jean d'Aulps represents excellent value and quality.
With reliable with snowmaking of snowfall and a well-maintained lift system, St Jean d'Aulps provides reliable skiing across varied terrain suited to all ability levels. The atmosphere is welcoming and genuine, with a character that makes visitors feel at home. Check out St Jean d'Aulps ski deals to start planning your trip.
The skiing at St Jean d'Aulps is centred on the Roc d'Enfer massif, a steep, north-facing mountain that rises directly above the village. The terrain is densely forested on the lower slopes and opens out higher up, with the 1,800m summit providing views across the Chablais Alps towards Lake Geneva. The name Roc d'Enfer - Rock of Hell - gives a fair indication of the mountain's character: this is steep, technical terrain with a serious personality.
With 50km and 33 runs, the local ski area has enough for several days of skiing. But the real advantage is proximity to the rest of the Portes du Soleil. Morzine is 10 minutes by car or shuttle, and from there you can access the full 600km network spanning into Switzerland. St Jean d'Aulps gives you the quiet village base with easy access to one of the world's biggest ski areas when you want it - the best of both worlds.
Beginners have a dedicated nursery area at the base of the Roc d'Enfer sector with gentle slopes and surface lifts. The seven green-graded runs provide a reasonable amount of easy terrain, and the lower village slopes are wide enough for comfortable learning. The ski school uses this area extensively, and the atmosphere is calm - the steep upper mountain keeps the crowds above, leaving the nursery zone quiet.
That said, St Jean d'Aulps is not primarily a beginners' mountain. The 900m base altitude means snow reliability on the lower green runs can be variable later in the season, and the mountain's advanced bias means progression beyond the nursery area involves steeper gradients sooner than at gentler resorts. For absolute first-timers wanting extensive gentle terrain, a resort like Morzine's Pleney sector or the Super Morzine area may be a more comfortable starting point - both are just minutes away.
WeSki insider tip: If you're a beginner staying in St Jean d'Aulps, take the free shuttle to Morzine's Pleney sector for your first few days - the beginner terrain there is broader and the snow more reliable at altitude. Come back to the Roc d'Enfer once you're ready for blues and reds.
Confident intermediates will find the Roc d'Enfer sector rewarding. The 10 blue runs provide cruising terrain through the forest, while the easier reds offer a natural progression with genuine pitch and varied gradients. The tree-lined runs on the lower mountain are a particular strength - they hold snow well, provide shelter in poor weather, and have the kind of natural terrain features that make each descent feel different.
The wider Portes du Soleil access transforms the intermediate experience. From Morzine, you can ski across to Avoriaz, Les Gets, Châtel, and into Switzerland - a week wouldn't be enough to cover it all. The contrast between the steep, forested Roc d'Enfer and the wide, open bowls of Avoriaz or the gentle cruising of Les Gets means every day can feel like a different ski holiday. St Jean d'Aulps is the quiet base; the Portes du Soleil is the playground.
WeSki insider tip: The forest runs on the Roc d'Enfer are some of the best tree skiing in the Portes du Soleil when it's snowing or visibility is poor. While everyone else queues for the higher lifts, the mid-mountain reds stay sheltered, quiet, and in great condition.
This is where St Jean d'Aulps comes into its own. The Roc d'Enfer is the steepest sector in the entire Portes du Soleil, and the 14 red and 2 black runs from the upper mountain are properly challenging. The reds here are steep by any standard - several would be graded black in other resorts - and the blacks themselves are sustained, often moguled, and demanding. The north-facing aspect holds cold, firm snow, and the gradients reward aggressive, committed technique.
Off-piste, the Roc d'Enfer is exceptional. The dense forest holds powder beautifully after storms, and the steep, varied terrain between marked runs provides genuine glade skiing that's among the best in the northern French Alps. The couloirs and steeper lines off the summit ridge are serious undertakings requiring good conditions and ideally a local guide. For strong skiers who want challenging terrain without the crowds, St Jean d'Aulps is one of the Portes du Soleil's best-kept secrets.
WeSki insider tip: The north-facing trees below the Roc d'Enfer summit hold untracked powder for days after a storm - while everyone heads to Avoriaz, the forest here stays empty and the snow stays cold. It's some of the best tree skiing in the Haute-Savoie.
The steep, forested terrain of the Roc d'Enfer is excellent for freeride snowboarding. The natural features - tree gaps, gullies, drops, and rolling terrain - suit an adventurous riding style, and the uncrowded slopes give you space to pick your line. The gondola handles the main vertical, reducing surface-lift issues. For freestyle riders, the wider Portes du Soleil offers terrain parks in Avoriaz and Les Gets, both easily accessible from Morzine.
The Roc d'Enfer's steep, north-facing forest terrain is the main off-piste draw. After snowfall, the trees hold cold, light powder exceptionally well, and the varied gradient - from moderate glades to steep couloirs - provides options for different levels of experience. The summit ridge has more exposed terrain for advanced off-piste skiers, and the relatively low traffic means fresh tracks last longer than in the busier Portes du Soleil sectors. Guided off-piste sessions are available locally and recommended for unfamiliar visitors.
The ESF operates from the resort, running group and private lessons for all ages. Children's programmes use the gentle nursery area at the base. English-speaking instructors are available on request - the proximity to Geneva and the Portes du Soleil's international reputation means English is more widely spoken here than at some inland French resorts. Class sizes tend to be smaller than in the busier neighbouring resorts.
The local ski area doesn't have a major terrain park, but the natural terrain - drops, banks, and features in the forest - provides plenty of natural hits for creative riders. For dedicated park riding, Avoriaz's Stash and The Lil' Stash (designed with Burton) are among the best freestyle facilities in Europe and are accessible via Morzine on the Portes du Soleil pass.
St Jean d'Aulps works well for families who want a quiet, authentic village base with easy access to the wider Portes du Soleil when they need it. The nursery area and green runs at the base provide a calm learning environment for young children, the village is safe and walkable, and the proximity to Morzine means more extensive beginner terrain is just a shuttle ride away when children are ready to progress.
Older children and teenagers who can handle red runs will love the Roc d'Enfer's steep, forested terrain - it feels adventurous and slightly wild compared to the groomed motorways of larger resorts. The broader Portes du Soleil access means ambitious young skiers can explore a different resort every day. For families with mixed abilities, the combination of gentle village slopes for the beginners and steep, serious skiing for the more advanced works well.
For parents, the practical appeal is clear: accommodation in St Jean d'Aulps is typically more affordable than in Morzine or Avoriaz, the village has a genuine atmosphere that doesn't feel manufactured, and the Abbaye d'Aulps provides a cultural point of interest on rest days. Self-catering chalets and apartments with mountain views are the main accommodation style, offering space and flexibility. The village restaurants are welcoming to families and refreshingly unpretentious.
St Jean d'Aulps is a small village, so the off-slope offering is intimate. But the Vallée d'Aulps setting, the medieval abbey, and the proximity to Morzine and Thonon-les-Bains add depth for rest days and non-skiers.
The valley setting and surrounding mountains provide a solid range of winter activities beyond the ski area:
The valley's history, proximity to Lake Geneva, and Morzine's facilities add options beyond the village for rest days and non-skiers.
Dining in St Jean d'Aulps is rooted in the Savoyard farming tradition of the Vallée d'Aulps. Abondance cheese - the valley's celebrated local product - features heavily, alongside classic mountain dishes. The restaurant choice is small but genuine, with family-run establishments serving honest food in warm, unpretentious settings. On-mountain restaurants on the Roc d'Enfer add altitude options, and Morzine's wider restaurant scene is just 10 minutes away for more variety.
WeSki insider tip: Abondance cheese is the star of the Vallée d'Aulps - a firm, fruity, mountain cheese with AOP status that's been made in these valleys since the Middle Ages. Order a fondue made with Abondance rather than the standard Emmental mix and you'll taste the difference immediately.
Après-ski in St Jean d'Aulps is village-scale and village-paced. The end of the ski day means a bière or vin chaud at the base of the gondola, a walk back through the village, and an evening that centres on dinner rather than dancing. The atmosphere is friendly and sociable in a quiet way - locals and visitors mixing in the same handful of spots, conversation flowing easily, and nobody in a hurry to be anywhere else.
If you want more nightlife, Morzine is 10 minutes down the road and has a livelier bar scene with music, later hours, and a more international crowd. But most visitors to St Jean d'Aulps are here precisely because they prefer the quiet alternative - a long dinner, a nightcap, and the knowledge that the mountain will be uncrowded again tomorrow.
Après-ski spots to know:
Accommodation in St Jean d'Aulps is predominantly self-catering chalets and apartments, many in traditional Savoyard farmhouses and timber buildings. The style is authentic rather than purpose-built, with exposed wood, stone, and mountain views. A few small hotels and guesthouses are also available. The village is compact, and most properties are within walking distance of the gondola or a short drive.
The accommodation here tends to be more affordable than in neighbouring Morzine or Avoriaz, making it a practical base for families and groups who want Portes du Soleil access without Portes du Soleil prices. Several properties are spread across the hamlet and surrounding hillside, so some are more remote than others - proximity to the gondola is worth checking when booking. The village has a small supermarket, bakery, and basic services for self-caterers.
The local St Jean d'Aulps pass covers the Roc d'Enfer sector's 50km and 16 lifts. For access to the full Portes du Soleil - 600km across 12 resorts in France and Switzerland - the Portes du Soleil pass is available at an additional cost, though it requires driving or taking the shuttle to Morzine to access the linked lifts. Check for family and multi-day pass options when booking your St Jean d'Aulps ski holiday package through WeSki to find the best fit for your trip.
Rental shops in the village and at the gondola base carry a full range of ski and snowboard equipment. The village shops tend to be less hectic than those in Morzine, so fittings are unhurried and staff have time to get your setup right. Booking ahead during French school holidays is wise.
WeSki partners with SkiSet shops in St Jean d'Aulps, letting you add equipment to your package and collect on arrival. Browse St Jean d'Aulps ski deals to build your perfect trip.
The village is small and walkable for those staying near the centre or gondola. A free shuttle bus connects the village to the gondola base during the season. For accessing the wider Portes du Soleil via Morzine, a car or the shuttle service (about 10 minutes) is needed - St Jean d'Aulps is not lift-linked to the rest of the Portes du Soleil network.
A car is the most practical option for flexibility, particularly for evening trips to Morzine's restaurants or day trips around the Vallée d'Aulps and Lake Geneva area. Parking is available at the gondola base and in the village. The road to Morzine is well-maintained and straightforward in winter conditions.
St Jean d'Aulps is in the Vallée d'Aulps in Haute-Savoie, between Lake Geneva and the Portes du Soleil. Geneva airport is the most convenient arrival point at around 80km (roughly 90 minutes by car). Lyon (around 250km) is an alternative. The A40 motorway and then the valley road via Thonon-les-Bains or the Col des Gets provide the main access routes.
WeSki has car rentals from the airport as well as private transfers to St Jean d'Aulps. Add them to your St Jean d'Aulps ski holiday package for seamless door-to-door travel.
Yes - the Roc d'Enfer sector is part of the Portes du Soleil domain. However, St Jean d'Aulps is not directly lift-linked to the rest of the Portes du Soleil network. To access the connected lifts, you need to drive or take the shuttle to Morzine (about 10 minutes), where you can ski across to Avoriaz, Les Gets, Châtel, and into Switzerland. The local pass covers the Roc d'Enfer only; the Portes du Soleil pass covers the full 600km.
Morzine is a larger, more developed resort town with more shops, restaurants, nightlife, and direct lift-linked access to the Portes du Soleil. St Jean d'Aulps is a quieter, more traditional farming village with steeper local terrain, fewer facilities, and lower accommodation costs. Many visitors choose St Jean d'Aulps for the authentic atmosphere and value, using the short drive to Morzine for wider Portes du Soleil access.
There is beginner terrain, but the mountain's advanced bias (42% red, 6% black) means St Jean d'Aulps is not primarily a beginners' resort. The nursery area at the base is adequate for first lessons, and the green runs provide gentle terrain. For more extensive beginner skiing, the short shuttle to Morzine's Pleney sector provides additional gentle pistes. Returning beginners and confident intermediates will get more from the local terrain.
The 900m base altitude is relatively low, which can affect snow reliability on the lower runs in warmer spells. The north-facing aspect of the Roc d'Enfer helps considerably, holding snow better than south-facing slopes at similar altitudes. The upper mountain at 1,800m is more reliable, and the resort averaged 110 days open last season. January and February are the most consistently good months.
The Abbaye d'Aulps is a ruined 12th-century Cistercian monastery above the village. Founded in 1094, it's one of the most atmospheric medieval sites in the Haute-Savoie. The ruins include the remains of the abbey church, cloister, and monastic buildings, and a heritage centre provides context on the monks' life in the valley. It hosts cultural events and is open for visits - well worth a rest-day excursion.
It works well for families who want a quiet, affordable base near the Portes du Soleil. The nursery area suits young learners, the village is safe and compact, and the proximity to Morzine provides additional facilities when needed. Older children with ski experience will enjoy the Roc d'Enfer's steep terrain. The main consideration is the advanced-leaning terrain - families with complete beginners may prefer to start lessons at Morzine and return to St Jean d'Aulps for the village atmosphere.
Excellent. The Roc d'Enfer is the steepest sector in the Portes du Soleil, with challenging red and black runs, outstanding tree skiing, and serious off-piste potential in the north-facing forest. For strong skiers who want technical terrain without crowds, it's one of the best-kept secrets in the northern French Alps. The Portes du Soleil pass adds 600km of further terrain accessible via the short transfer to Morzine.
4.9/5I usually book flights, ground transportation, hotel, ski rental and lift tickets myself but this year used WeSki for a trip to Morzine. It was so much easier. Everything worked perfectly - ground transportation arrived on time and there was plenty of feedback throughout the whole process giving you confidence the vacation would go smoothly.
A really useful service that is so much easier to use than other 'all-inclusive' sites. It nicely bridges the gap between a travel agent and booking the trip yourself online. I'll use WeSki every time I go skiing from now on.
We booked a late minute skiing trip to Morzine through we ski. We looked at booking the trip ourselves but could get anywhere near the price quoted by we ski. The company was excellent and we had no problems at all from start to finish. I would definitely use them to book another weekend skiing trip.
Seamless experience from start to finish. I was spending ages trying to sort out a weekend break and managed to do it with we ski in minutes and for the same price as booking it all up yourself. Flight, transfers and accommodation was all as expected and faultless.
