What You Need to Know About Les Gets
The Alps are full of stunning ski resorts that offer some of the best skiing experiences in the world. Les Gets is a French commune which is home to one of the most popular resorts in the region, and at Alpine Fleet, we provide leading shared and private transfers that regularly take visitors to and from Les Gets and that makes their skiing trip as seamless as possible.
Choosing a ski resort is a big decision, and before you set off you’re going to want to know that the destination has all of the facilities and amenities in place to cater for you and your group.
Thanks to our vast experience in helping transport guests to ski resorts across the Alps, our team is extremely knowledgeable on the ins and outs of all of its most popular resorts.
This includes Les Gets, and in this article, we’ll explain what you need to know about Les Gets before you visit.
Read on to find out more.
Where is Les Gets?
Before settling on Les Gets as your ski resort of choice, it’s important you understand the basics of what it offers and where it is.
The Alps has ski resorts in numerous countries due to the sprawling nature of the mountain range, and Les Gets can be found in the east of France, extremely close to the border with Switzerland. Due to its proximity to the Swiss Alps, many people fly into Geneva before crossing the border with France to get to the commune.
The resort is based in the heart of the stunning Chablais massif region that, as well as offering remarkable alpine views, is part of the Portes du Soleil ski area which is one of the biggest in the world.
All visitors to the resort are able to experience cross-border skiing, with some slopes starting in France and bending into Switzerland. It is also situated between two other famous ski resorts – Tanignes and Morzine.
The history of Les Gets
Now you know where Les Gets is located, let’s step back in time and look at its rich history.
The village itself actually dates back to the 11th century and is well-known for being one of the most tranquil and relaxing parts of the world that combines stunning alpine experiences with a vibrant and lively nightlife.
Long before tourists ever set foot on its luscious land, Les Gets was well-known for its breathtaking pine trees and wood exports. In fact, this is how the commune got its name as Les Gets derives from the French word ‘gitte’ which describes the process of rolling wooden logs down a hillside.
Wood from the pine trees was used to construct buildings, tools and all kinds of structures, and while it is not the only viable industry today, many people still work in the neighbouring forests on a day-to-day basis.
Due to its picturesque and remote surroundings, in addition to the range of skiing choices, it’s no surprise that people wanted to visit Les Gets as a holiday destination. The first hotels and accommodation opened its doors in the 1920s and 1930s, and it wasn’t long until people started to flock to the region.
In 1938, the first single-person chair lift was opened, allowing people to scale the neighbouring peaks. Then, in 1954, the first chair lift that allowed people to reach the top of Mont Chery (one of the biggest Les Gets mountains) was officially opened.
These days, thousands of visitors hit the Les Gets slopes every year with the resort becoming one of the most popular in the whole of the Alps.
How high is Les Gets?
The altitude of Les Gets is 1,172m (839ft) meaning people can reach staggering heights when skiing at the resort.
Altitude is not always the most important element when it comes to skiing, but it’s worth noting that Les Gets is slightly higher than the neighbouring Morzine.
So, if reaching great heights is important to you, then Les Gets is always an excellent choice.
Is there snow in Les Gets?
When you embark on a skiing trip, along with altitude snow is another thing people focus on.
If you’re determined that dense snowfall is a must, Les Gets might not be exactly what you’re looking for. On average, it experiences around 321cm of snow per year with the average snow depth being 100cm.
While snow does fall about 23 times a year, snow is not guaranteed at the village level. But, the higher peaks do offer snow with artificial snow regularly being pumped out on the slopes. Plus, the natural greenery on offer provides unrivalled beauty in its own right.
How to get to Les Gets?
As previously mentioned, Les Gets can be found on the eastern border of France, extremely close to neighbouring Switzerland.
With this in mind, Les Gets can be reached by both countries, but perhaps the best way to get there is to fly to Geneva Airport. In fact, it’s an extremely short drive from the airport to the resort, and when conditions are favourable it only takes around an hour to drive there.
Due to this, many people might consider hiring a car, and while this is certainly an option, we’d always recommend using a transfer. Transfers regularly operate from Geneva Airport, taking people directly to Les Gets and meaning they don’t need to worry about navigating mountain roads.
Both shared and private transfers are available. Private transfers can be arranged and reserved for just you and your group, whereas shared transfers will take larger groups of people.
At Alpine Fleet, we offer both options and can cater services directly to you and your needs.
Can you ski from Les Gets to Morzine?
Due to its proximity in the vast Portes du Soleil ski area, many people choose Les Gets as it is close to other resorts.
There are 71 slopes and 41 chair lifts shared by Les Gets and Morzine, and it’s extremely easy to spend time moving between the two and navigating the various peaks that the pair have to offer. In total, there is around 120km that is shared by both resorts.
This is extremely beneficial for people who are looking to maximise their experience and take in a broad range of slopes during their trip.
A joint piste map is also available, and no matter what level you’re at it is fairly simple to move between Les Gets and Morzine.
Is Les Gets good for beginners?
Les Gets is an excellent choice for those who are attempting skiing for the first time.
In fact, the resort is actually considered one of the best options for beginners in the whole of Europe. In particular, the Chavannes side of Les Gets features a wide range of beginner areas where people can get to grips with skiing for the first time.
Mappys is the largest beginner-friendly area at Les Gets, with two magic carpet lifts and two cable-tow lifts that can take visitors to the correct area. It’s worth noting that Mappys is mid-mountain, and to get back to the village a blue (intermediate) run will need to be navigated. However, for those still not confident to take on a blue run, a gondola can get you back to base.
There are also several green runs to enjoy, and when you feel confident enough you can progress to several blue options.
As well as the beginner ski areas, there is a child skiing area called Grand Cry. This is Red Indian themed, and features a mauve ski run (for kids) that is full of plants and animals for the children to identify and enjoy.
Is Les Gets family friendly?
Les Gets is the perfect ski resort for families who are looking for a skiing holiday that can be enjoyed by all.
There are a whole host of activities that are designed specifically for families. This includes fun zones, toboggan runs, electric snowmobiles, dog sledging and much more.
Les Gets is also Europe’s leading mountain bike resort, so if you’ve had enough of the slopes you can enjoy a cycle around the beautiful forest roads and experience the excellent terrain.
There is also a wide range of restaurants and accommodation options you can choose from.
Furthermore, the resort prides itself on ‘soft mobility’ which means it is extremely easy to get around. There are free shuttles, little trains, electric bicycles and more that can help you move around, with options for everyone.
Heading to Les Gets?
If you’ve decided to visit Les Gets, we’re here to help. Our shared and private transfers can help make your trip even more straightforward, so get in touch with our team to find out more.
