Booking a Morzine mountain bike holiday can be a stressful endeavour. Deciding where to go, what time of year, who you'll go with, how you'll get there, where you'll stay and what you'll add in make the trip even better are just some of the questions you'll consider when trawling through Google and in your WhatsApp groups. Many thousands of riders choose Morzine for their mountain bike holiday, but why is Morzine one of the best destinations and what is the best way to experience the resort?
Morzine does everything, maybe it is not the best at any one particular element, but it does everything well. It's real trump card is the Portes du Soleil, the lift network that gives access to 9 resorts and hundreds of different km's of trails. The real beauty of this system is not so much the quantity (which there is plenty of) it's the quality and diversity of the riding.
Riders Weeks in Morzine
Even without the Portes du Soleil, with only Les Gets, Morzine and Avoriaz open you have access to 3 unique riding zones that enable everyone from beginner to pro level athlete to ride trails suited to them. From the jump lines of Super Morzine to the progressive flow in Les Gets, to the steeps of Le Pleney there is something for everyone. Add to this that there is incredible scope for riding high to low alpine terrain all over the region if you're keen to pedal and explore, a guide making this kid of riding even more accessible.
We feel this is why Morzine is so popular but that's not all. Morzine represents value not only financially but also in time. It's perfectly placed for a drive from the UK or anywhere in Europe, being 8 hours from the channel and within 10 hours of pretty much anywhere else in mainland Europe aside from the far North, South and Eastern parts of other European countries. It has easy transport links with many transfer companies able to bring you from the nearest airport, which is Geneva at just over an hour away.
Once in Morzine, there are a plethora of accommodation options from hotels, to apartments and even catered chalets meaning you can choose the type of holiday that's right for your group. We've been offering trips in Morzine since we started in 2012 and through relationships and hard work we've curated what we feel represent the best value experiences for a bike holiday in Morzine.
What is the best way to stay in Morzine?
Self Catered vs Catered
In a self-catered chalet you are left to your own devices, your own program with your crew. Morzine has options for groups of all sizes from one person in a studio apartment, topping out at 14 or so for your own chalet. Once you crack 15 in a group your options do tend to get quite limited.
You'll either be eating out for breakfast and dinner or you'll be cooking yourself. This can make a big difference to your holiday. Shopping, cooking, cleaning up. The expense of eating out each night and the indecision of where to go, especially with larger groups. We have many self catered properties and believe for many they are the way to go but do not under estimate how easy and relaxing it is to have your own professional chef and host on hand preparing and serving you dinner, that's not to mention breakfast!
Adding in, that while many people have been to Morzine before, or feel they do not need advice on where to ride or what to do or feel the need to have interactions with people working, riding and living in Morzine, many do. Getting that little bit of insider knowledge or help with a problem can really make a difference. Even if you have been to Morzine for the last 20 years on the bounce, there is a good chance one of our host team can make that difference on your mountain bike holiday.
All Riders Week properties are hosted by our team with professional chefs preparing breakfast and dinner each night.
Always Great Vibes in Morzine
Hotel vs Catered
We work with several hotels in Morzine, Hotel Fleur des Neiges being our favourite. Located directly opposite our flagship chalet it's got a pool, lovely bar and great family run vibe. Powered by a generous continental breakfast stays here are flexible on dates, which is the biggest plus point of booking a hotel.
Of course you do not have access to a kitchen to cook, and your evening meals are not incldued, so you'll be eating out every night and you'll need to consider this cost in your budget.
Why Choose a Riders Week Catered Chalet?
The simple answer is that we make it easy. We believe holidays should be fun, relaxing and stress free and it's as straight forward as that.
While we put every effort into our self catered and hotel offers, the catered mountain biking holidays we run in Morzine are the nucleus of our operation. In these properties you'll find our team on hand, from hosts to mechanics to managers, able to give you guidance or a helping hand where you need it, or even just a chat. You'll also have a professional chef on hand, cooking amazing 2 course dinners 5 nights of the week.
We care about our food and while we don't often shout about it, we know it's to a good level, you only need to read client reviews for proof of that. We are not about just ticking boxes and serving something that fills you up, considerable time and effort is put into menu testing and sourcing of ingredients to make a balanced, healthy and delicious menu, cooked by a pro, every time.
Our properties are setup for riders to have secure storage for their bikes, places hand and wash dirty or wet kit, areas to relax in for different age groups, and several of them so you can find some space for you and your mates if you need it. Even elements as simple as where to put your bike bag are taken care of.
We walk through each holiday experience as if we were going on it, we act on as much feedback from guests as we can to improve the offer year on year, knowing we'll never be perfect but every summer we'll try to better than the last.
Value
While you can certainly do Morzine cheaper than a catered chalet, you could stay in a van for example, or eat pasta and sauce every night in your apartment, and so on. It's worth considering time as value, beyond the physical cash spent on a trip.
Time saved on shopping, prepping, cooking, taking out rubbish, cleaning up. Time spent on getting your lift pass, going to a bike shop looking for a tool, looking online to check if a particular lift is open. These are things that save you time and get you out on the trails quicker, and able to relax for longer.
Convenience
Along with value goes ease, the convenience of simply not having to worry about anything other than where you are going to ride and where you'll eat lunch.
Literally everything is laid on for you, or at the very least at your finger tips.
Coming back from riding, a bike wash with cleaning products on hand, not just a bike cleaner but chain lube, disc brake cleaner and maintenance spray, rags to wipe your bike down and mechanics roll. Tools on cutom racks including shock pumps and torque wrenches are just some of the little elements we think of at our catered chalets in Morzine.
Grab a beer from the fridge and settle down to watch GoPro from the day, the latest vlog on YouTube or a lap of Mario Kart on the Switch. Relax in the hot tub or in one of the lounges with one of the latest Misspent Summers Hurly Burly releases.
Your kit will be hanging downstairs in our boot rooms, so your room can stay nice and free from the smell of the sweaty, or muddy kit.
Social
One of the coolest things about one of our catered chalets in Morzine is the people you meet. Friends for life have been made on these trips, sometimes single travellers other times whole groups that ride and eat together in Morzine having met at one of our properties, then connecting back home to ride more and often holiday again.
We often see our clients chasing the last holiday they had, they want to repeat the experience, the fun they had the first time around and that's often down to the people they shared that experience with.
What's Included on a Catered Holiday?
- Accommodation in the centre of Morzine with Hot-Tub and Sauna
- Two-course meal served 5 nights of the week with continental breakfast 6 mornings with Eggs on 5 mornings
- Wine and Beer at dinner
- Bee Kind Toiletries with fresh, crisp cotton linen and towels
- Custom Peaty's Bike Wash down area, tools, pumps and bike work stands
- FREE Peaty's cleaning and lubricating products
- Mechanic and workshop on-site
- Kit washing facilities
- Passionate and knowledgeable staff always on hand to help.
NB - Airport transfers and lift passes are not included but can be ready at the accommodation at preferred rates, and transfers can booked via our partner link found in your booking confirmation
How to Book
You can see details of our Morzine properties on our Morzine Catered Properties page.
Find out more about our Hotels and Self Catered options in Morzine by clicking the links.
#ONEPEDALAHEAD