Ardent is a beautiful hamlet nestled in-between the mountains, with no shops other than a couple offering ski hire. It does have a lively bar offering après-ski drinks, snacks and light lunches and the Cosy Bar next door has a more relaxed bar and restaurant for lunch and is a popular and very convenient dinner venue with our guests on cooks’ night off.
There are free buses that will take you to Montriond, Morzine and Lac de Montriond, where there is far more on offer.
Cosy bar
For those that want to enjoy all that winter in the alps has to offer, but don’t want to ski, there is plenty to choose from;
Markets If you fancy trying a little bit of the local cuisine whilst you’re Morzine, then I would make sure you pay a visit to the weekly market which runs throughout the year. There are loads of stalls selling fantastic local produce including cheese, meats, and sweet treats. There’s also plenty of choice when it comes to souvenirs and gifts, if you’re looking to take some little presents back with you. The market takes place every Wednesday morning and is in the Carrefour car park in the centre of Morzine.
Horse Carriage rides– In Morzine and Avoriaz up to 6 people can have a ride in a horse-drawn carriage around the resort starting at 15€ and up to 90€. Starting at the Tourist Office, the ride takes you through the whole village, showing you the old town, the different hamlets around Morzine or even up to lake Montriond.
Igloo Dining Experience– In Morzine, you can have dinner inside an igloo after a short 30-45 minutes walk. A guide will accompany you and you’ll enjoy a delicious cheese fondue surrounded by ice before heading back down. Anyone over 8 years of age can take part.
Swimming and Waterparks Aquariaz, in Avoriaz, is a bit of a modern wonder. It is a tropical leisure centre situated at 1800m with real vegetation from tropics around the world. A great afternoon activity for the kids, with whirlpools, a 10 metre half-pipe slide and 30c water. There’s also an outdoor hot tub and whirlpool bath with gorgeous views over the valley. By foot, head to Morzine and take the bus up to Avoriaz, its hard to miss. Or by Skis, you can use the lift systems up to Avoriaz, from where you can see Aquariaz
Snowshoeing– Half day snowshoeing excursion suitable for all the family An ideal activity to bring your family and friends together while getting closer to nature. Every trail is an adventure and they offer various trails and hikes around Morzine. Their qualified instructors will safely guide you to awesome sites and will share their knowledge about the area, the fauna and flora along the way.
Husky Sledging– Be in charge of your own sledge and team of excitable husky dogs, driving them along forest paths in winter. After a brief explanation of how to make your team stop and start, you set off following the guide’s team. There are also child-dedicated rides.
Snowmobile/Skidoo Those who enjoy speed will love riding a powerful snowmobile (like a motorbike with caterpillar tracks) around Morzine. Discover the different dimensions of driving: carving turns, accelerating in a straight line, ascents and descents. Snowmobiles are a great way to explore Morzine especially as you get to ride them when the resort is at its quietest. Disappear into the woods and blast around empty snowfields on your scooter with your own guide.
For the more adventurous
Ice Lake Diving Plunge into the freezing waters of Lac Montriond and experience the thrill of diving under the icy layers above. Explore the beautiful water, the wildlife and ice formations found in the water.
Heliskiing For backcountry adventures, this independent company operates in and around the following three heliski destinations: Valgrisenche, The Courmayeur Valley and the Col de Petit St Bernard Pass. They have pioneered 32 drop zones within these three broad valley regions giving you a huge choice of terrain, snow conditions and mountain orientation to ensure you have a day best suited to your ability and preferences.
