Chalet Agapes

This 3 star chalet has a garden, sunny terrace and balcony on the back of the property, to catch the sun, and there’s no better place to relax, with the mountains towering above you.

About the property

The cosy but deceptively spacious Chalet Agapes sleeps up to 8 people in four bedrooms. All have private showers or baths. Two of them have access to the sunny balcony, while the largest, on the top floor, is perfect for children, with four simple beds and an en suite bathroom.

On the lower ground floor, the open plan living area opens on to the terrace and garden - throw open the doors in the summer and let all that crisp mountain air flood in!

The modern kitchen is well equipped, and with seats at the breakfast bar, it’s a sociable place to cook up a feast. The large dining table will seat everyone, although if it’s warm enough, take your dinner outside to the picnic benches on the terrace. In colder weather, light up the woodburner and toast your toes as you reflect on a great day in the mountains.

About the area

Chalet Agapes is in an idyllic location in the Le Lavanchy area of Montriond, between the resorts of Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets.

Although a car is essential to get here, the whole of the Portes du Soleil are on your doorstep, and with 650km of pistes, there is plenty of scope for skiers and boarders of all ages and abilities.Try L’Abricotine - one of the longest runs in the Portes du Soleil, which descends 8km along the Swiss-French border to the Ardent cable car, via the snow-bound village of Les Lindarets (a great place to stop for lunch).

This cosy chalet is the perfect base from which to discover the area - you can ski into Switzerland for lunch and be back for dinner. It’s also worth the short drive to Mont Chery, a standalone mountain with great off-piste, where you’ll get fabulous views of Mont Blanc and, if you’re early, plenty of fresh powder.

If you’re not a skier, there are indoor and outdoor ice skating rinks in Morzine, which are often host to ice hockey matches, and the local cinema shows films in English. The more adventurous might like to try snowmobiling or ice-climbing on some of the area’s frozen waterfalls, or discover the area in a more sedate manner on a sleigh ride.

Other ways to have fun include snowshoeing and sledging, while the Indiana adventure park in Morzine offers a variety of activities for all ages.

Summer brings its own special magic to the Alps

Summer in the Portes du Soleil is very special, with snowy slopes replaced by lush green pastures, which are a natural playground for walkers, mountain bikers and thrill-seekers.

From Agapes, it’s just a 10-minute walk to the beautiful Lac du Montriond, where you can swim, canoe, follow the biking and hiking trails or enjoy a pony ride. It’s a great place for a picnic, but there are also some excellent restaurants.

The impressive Brochaux waterfalls are worth a visit, as is Les Lindarets, where goats wander free in the summer. Neighbouring Morzine has earned Famille Plus status for its excellent childcare and entertainment - the perfect choice for young families.

There are superb water parks in Morzine and Avoriaz, plus two summer sledging runs, while the Indiana adventure park has a range of assault courses to suit all ages. Golfers will find excellent courses in Les Gets and Avoriaz.

Other activities include climbing, rafting, via ferrata, canyoning, mini-golf, quad bikes, fishing, kayaking and hiking. You can also take advantage of the Portes du Soleil Multi Pass, offering unrestricted access to the full range of family activities.

Stay close to home or go exploring, there’s so much to see

The traditional village of Montriond, along with neighbouring Morzine and Avoriaz, offers plenty of variety for a holiday, whatever the time of year, but if you venture a little further, there’s lots more to discover.

The Portes du Soleil resorts cross the border into Switzerland, giving you two countries and two cultures to explore. It’s just over half an hour’s drive to Lake Geneva, where you can visit lakeside resorts the pretty spa town of Evian-les-Bains, or the beautiful medieval village of Yvoire. You can also cruise to other lakeside towns such as Lausanne and Montreal.

In Chamonix, just an hour’s drive away, you can take a ride on the second-largest cable car in the world, and take in the spectacular views from Mont Blanc. Geneva airport is just an hour away from Agapes, so if you don’t see everything this time, you’ll just have to stay a little longer.