The Skiers' Guide to Morillon

Morillon is a charming French ski resort nestled in the Grand Massif ski area, just 70 minutes from Geneva airport. This family-friendly destination scores an overall rating of 3.79/5 from our Snomad community, with particularly high marks for family friendliness (4.94/5) and value for money (4.37/5).

The resort sits at a relatively modest altitude of 700m, with lifts taking you up to 2500m. What makes Morillon special is its authentic village feel combined with excellent access to the wider Grand Massif area, connecting to Samoëns, Les Carroz, Flaine and Sixt. One Snomad community member liked that the "beautiful tree lined runs, gorgeous views, lovely restaurants" make for wonderful skiing suitable for all abilities.

With 20 runs (3 beginner, 12 intermediate, and 4 advanced) locally and connections to the broader Grand Massif network, Morillon offers plenty of variety while maintaining a peaceful atmosphere. The area is served by 1 gondola, 2 chairlifts, and 3 drag lifts.

Morillon's ski terrain provides a balanced mix for different ability levels. Beginners benefit from well-positioned nursery slopes and gentle green runs through picturesque forests. As Jeremy, an intermediate skier, points out: "Great links to the other resorts in the Grand Massif. A number of new, faster lifts have gone in over the last couple of years makes skiing even better."

Intermediates will find plenty to enjoy with a good selection of blue and red runs. Ava, another intermediate skier, mentions: "When links to Flaine and rest of Grand Massif are open this is an amazing ski resort to stay in. Really beautiful, lots of blues and reds in the area."

For more advanced skiers, the full Grand Massif area opens up more challenging terrain. Our users give Morillon 4.44/5 for groomed runs, while noting that it scores a more modest 3.56/5 for advanced skiers and 3.25/5 for experts.

A standout experience mentioned by Andrej, an intermediate skier from the UK, is the memorable Cascades run: "It's a 14km long blue run which starts at the top of Flaine accessible by Les Grandes Platieres gondola from Flaine bowl... with breathtaking views with Aiguille Du MIDI clearly defining the position of Mont Blanc."

Off-piste opportunities exist but are somewhat limited, with a 3.29/5 rating for off-piste and 2.65/5 for powder zones. The resort also scores 3.56/5 for tree runs, which can be a saving grace on poor visibility days.

Morillon scores 3.42/5 for eating out, offering a modest but satisfying selection of dining options. The village provides several restaurants serving traditional Savoyard cuisine alongside more casual eateries.

Our reviewers mention that restaurants in the area are generally "friendly and well run." Rob, an intermediate skier, specifically praised the "lovely restaurants" both on the mountain and in the village.

If you're staying in Les Esserts (the mid-station), dining options become more limited. As Robin, an advanced skier from the UK, notes: "Most of the accommodation is self-catering, but there are enough places to eat out if needed."

Jewels, an expert skier, was more critical of Les Esserts' dining scene: "Eating out in Les Esserts was a choice of two places and it all felt a bit abandoned." However, this limited selection doesn't seem to detract from the overall experience for most visitors.

Morillon isn't known for its wild nightlife, scoring 2.68/5 for après-ski. This is a resort where the evenings tend to be as peaceful as the slopes, perfect for those prioritising rest over revelry.

Zoe, an advanced skier from the UK, puts it plainly: "Don't expect wild night life though!" Similarly, Robin describes it as "not a resort for wild apres ski." If you're after buzzing bars and clubs, you might be disappointed, as Jewels mentions: "If you needed the whole buzzing apres scene, you'd be sorely disappointed!"

That said, the bars that do exist offer a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Max, an expert skier, found a "very nice atmosphere in the bars and restaurants with some delicious food." The vibe is more about casual drinks and conversation than dancing on tables in ski boots.

For those wanting a bit more evening entertainment, a trip to neighbouring resorts might be worthwhile, with Samoëns being just a short distance away.

Morillon truly shines when it comes to families, achieving an exceptional 4.94/5 rating for family friendliness. The car-free nature of Morillon 1100 (Les Esserts) makes it particularly appealing for those with children.

The majority of users think Morillon is perfect for family ski holidays. George, an expert skier, highlights the "lots of family friendly runs and enclosed piste areas that all lead to one point at the bottom," which helps keep groups together.

Laura, an advanced skier, shares her family's experience: "We love Morillon, with its small village feel, and easy ski school access, it makes skiing with a young family very doable." The resort also earns high marks for ski school quality (4.62/5), with Jeremy noting that the "ski-school is ESF, very efficient."

Beginners are well catered for with a 4.00/5 rating, and many users mention the excellent green runs through the trees that are perfect for children learning to ski. Mia, an intermediate skier from the UK, recalls: "Great resort for taking children, lots of really fun green runs through the trees and good ski schools."

The relaxed atmosphere, lack of crowds (with a strong 4.22/5 rating for quiet slopes), and family-oriented infrastructure make Morillon an excellent choice for those skiing with children.

Accommodation in Morillon receives a solid 4.22/5 rating from our community. The resort offers a range of self-catering apartments and chalets that won't break the bank.

Laura mentions there are "lots of apartments to rent at reasonable prices" in Morillon 1100, while Jeremy points out the presence of "supermarkets and bakery as well as a good choice of ski-hire shops" which makes self-catering convenient.

Many visitors choose to stay in Les Esserts (Morillon 1100), the mid-station area above the main village. As Kat, an advanced skier from the UK, explains: "Staying in Les Esserts, the middle station makes it much more convenient especially with kids," though this comes at the cost of fewer dining and après options.

Robin, another advanced skier from the UK, found Les Esserts to have "a relaxed atmosphere" with mostly self-catering accommodation. Some users also mention staying in nearby Verchaix, just across the river from Morillon, with a short 10-minute walk to the gondola.

The accommodation options are more focused on practicality and value rather than luxury, aligning with Morillon's excellent value for money rating (4.37/5).

As part of the Grand Massif ski area, Morillon benefits from the region's commitment to sustainable tourism. The Grand Massif was the first French ski area to receive the Green Globe certification for sustainable tourism development.

The resort's relatively low altitude has unfortunately made it vulnerable to climate change effects, with several users mentioning concerns about snow reliability at the village level in recent seasons. Laura, an advanced skier, noted: "Only issue here is resort height, and we have found the snow levels poor in recent years in the village."

The Grand Massif area has invested in more efficient snowmaking systems and works to protect local biodiversity. The free ski bus service mentioned by Andrej helps reduce the carbon footprint of visitors moving between the connected resorts, though more detailed information about specific environmental initiatives in Morillon itself is limited.