Morzine: Les Portes du Soleil: The mecca of MTB and DH in Europe

If you want to experience one of the world's most epic and famous mountain biking and downhill destinations, Morzine: the Portes du Soleil region is a must-see. Besides riding legendary trails, you can also experience a Downhill World Series race firsthand, surrounded by an atmosphere of adrenaline, mountains, and cold beer at the end of the day.

What is Les Portes du Soleil?

This immense domain connects several legendary bike parks:

• Avoriaz Bike Park
• Châtel MTB
• Champéry-Morgins Bikepark
• Les Gets Bikepark
• Morzine Bike Park

With a single pass (seasonal or daily) you have access to everything. Our recommendation: make Morzine your base. It's the most centrally located town, with quick access to the lifts and an amazing cycling community vibe. Info here

How to get to Morzine

The essential thing is to get to Geneva, Switzerland.

• From Colombia, the easiest option was to fly directly to Madrid and then connect to Geneva. This route avoids lengthy layovers.
• Once in Geneva, the most practical option is to book a shuttle van to Morzine in advance (approx. 1.5 hours). There are shared and private options; the private option is ideal for groups of 6 to 8 riders and is much more economical. Info here
• There is also public transport that accepts sports equipment, although with less flexibility.

Morzine's lifts: two mountains, two worlds.

The town has two main cable cars that are the gateway to adventure:

• Le Pleney:
  Here you'll find some brutal downhill lines, and the best part is that from this lift you can connect directly to Les Gets without needing buses. The trail connecting both towns is smooth, with short descents that even a downhill bike can easily handle.
• Super Morzine:
  This section has more blue trails with flow and small jumps, perfect for warming up, as well as technical black lines with roots and gaps. From here you can connect to Avoriaz and Châtel. Pay attention to the lift schedules, because if you miss them you'll have to pedal or push back.
  

Châtel: the freeride paradise

If big jumps and high air are your thing, Châtel is THE park. It's the furthest away, and to get there you need to combine at least four lifts and a few descents. It takes about an hour, but trust us: every minute is worth it.

Life in the village

Morzine has everything to make you feel at home:

• Restaurants and cafes to recharge your batteries.
• Bike shops with spare parts, clothing, and rentals. Our favorite was The Woods.
• A large Carrefour to stock up on groceries and cook during your stay.

And to top it all off: we found a spot that's pure Fugitiva style. Buy a beer and get your bike pressure washed. Yes, beer + washing your bike—the perfect combo after a day of mud and adrenaline. @actionsport_morzine

Key tips

• Rain is frequent in August and September, so bring quality rain gear.
• Consider buying your lift pass online before your trip, so you only need to pick it up upon arrival.
• Always check the lift schedules if you plan to move between parks.
• Try to coincide with one of the DH or XC world series dates to live the experience.