A classic viewpoint looking across the Portes du Soleil. When your riding in Morzine this is where the scale of the Alps hits you — huge terrain, endless lift access, and some of the best downhill trails in Europe.

If you’re planning a mountain biking trip to the French Alps, riding in Morzine should be at the top of your list. The atmosphere, the terrain, the food, the progression… it’s the type of trip every rider remembers forever.

Whether it’s your first bike-park holiday or your tenth season, this guide covers everything: booking, insurance, bikes, transfers, lift passes, hire prices, trail progression and hidden gems.

Step 1 — Book Your Trip Early

Morzine fills up fast from June to September, especially during events and school holidays.

Flights & Accommodation

Fly into Geneva Airport — closest to Morzine
Book accommodation slightly outside the main centre

Quieter
Better sleep
Easier bike storage
Less nightlife noise

Staying on the edges = better recovery and better riding.

Step 2 — Get the Right Insurance (CRITICAL)

You must have downhill-approved MTB travel insurance.

Standard holiday insurance will NOT cover you.

We can personally recommend:

Pedal Cover

Yellow Jersey

They both specialise in MTB, downhill, enduro, travelling with bikes, race cover, pedal damage, etc.

Step 3 — Take Your Own Bike or Hire?

Both options work — but here’s the reality:

Hiring a Bike in Morzine

Good if you’ve not already got the right tools for the job.

Modern enduro bikes are capable enough for most trails but the extra travel of the DH bikes can save some severe arm pump.

Hire Price Range 2026

€100 to €150 per day

(depends on brand + suspension + DH vs enduro)

IMPORTANT: Hire shops get extremely busy.

Arrive early at the hire shop before all the best bikes get taken.

Santa Cruz V10 hired from FB Freeride shop for €125 per day – Highly Recommended

Bringing Your Own Bike

Perfect for aggressive riders who want consistency:

Your suspension is already dialled
Cockpit feels natural
No surprises with brakes or tyres
Trails get rough late-season → DH bike is ideal

If you’re bringing your bike, you’ll need a proper travel bag.

Evoc bike bag

VIEW PRICE ON AMAZON

Evoc bike bag – pro

VIEW PRICE ON AMAZON

Check out our full post on Evoc Bike Bags

Pro Packing Tips:

Let the air out of your forks before packing — it shortens the wheelbase and makes DH bikes fit in bags perfectly.

Remove your rear mech and use your body armour for extra bike protection.

Stay under the weight limit of your airline – no baggage over 32kg will be accepted, even if your willing to pay extra.

Evoc Pro Bag + Bike + Helmet + Shoes + Armour = 31kg

Step 4 — Airport Pickup (Don’t Get Stuck Waiting)

From Geneva to Morzine (1hr 20min):

Two options:

Shared transfer

Cheaper
Slower
More waiting around

Private transfer

Faster
No queues
Straight to your door

Popular companies:

Bike Morzine
Getaway Vans
Skiidy Gonzales

All are MTB-friendly with trailers for bike bags.

Step 5 — First Stop in Town: Ô Chalet

Image credit: Ô Chalet Morzine

This is tradition.

Drop your bags → walk straight to Ô Chalet → grab a burger

Best way to kick off a riding week.

Step 6 — Lift Pass Prices 2026

Morzine Lift Pass Prices 2026

You’ll need a Portes du Soleil MTB Lift Pass if you’re riding, Les Gets, Super Morzine, Le Pleney, Chatel and Switzerland. This is the standard lift pass used by most riders visiting Morzine in summer.

1 Day Pass: €38
6 Day Pass: €194 ← what most riders buy

Grab your pass the evening before if you want to be on the first gondola at 09:00.

Step 7 — First Day Riding in Morzine: Warm Up Properly

Don’t send yourself to A&E on day one.

You need to ease your body and arms into Alpine terrain.

Best places to ride in Morzine 2026 – Your recommended warm-up:

Les Gets → Super Morzine → Le Pleney

This order lets you build confidence, find your flow, and finish the day on iconic Morzine trails.

Image credit: © Portes du Soleil / official trail maps

Head to Les Gets

Smoother
Flowier
Predictable trails
Slower lifts
Lots of mini shredders, Perfect for getting comfortable

After warming up:

Head back to Super Morzine

Playful
Fast
Great for building flow + confidence

End the day on:

Le Pleney

Mixed terrain
Legendary Pleney black
Braking bumps get fierce later in the season

Step 8 — Level Up: Riding Chatel Bike Park

Image credit: © Portes du Soleil / official trail maps

After a day or 2 you’ll be warmed up and ready for the next level.

Chatel is home to some of the best trails in Europe:

Vinkline –
Panoramic –
Vorochatak –
Black Shore –
And many more

Big jumps, big berms, fast tech — this is where your riding levels up.

Step 9 — Switzerland: Riding Swiss National, Champery + Morgins

Champery views for days — soaking it all in before the chaos begins.

Les Crosets — dropping in toward the legendary Swiss National.

Champery — ready to send it into the steep stuff.

Now you’re into bucket-list MTB.

Swiss National

One of the best “big view” DH tracks

Fast, open sections with big Alpine views
Mix of bike-park feel and natural rougher bits
Great progression step between Morzine and Champery
Perfect for riders who want speed without going full “World Cup death chute”
A proper bucket-list lap when you link it into a big Swiss day out

Champery

One of the most iconic DH tracks on the planet

World-class steepness — this is the track riders talk about for years
Raw, technical riding with roots, off-cambers, and sniper-line precision
Famous “World Cup chute” — the steepest marquee section in downhill
A real test of control: traction management, braking discipline & line choice
Best ridden after warming up on some steep tech at Chatel so your switched on
Huge bragging rights — riding it clean earns instant respect

Morgins Bike Park

One of our personal favourites — and for good reason:

Fast, open turns that let you fully lean the bike and carry speed
Perfectly shaped berms — iconic golden-dirt corners that feel endless
Natural jump lines that give effortless pop without forcing anything
Big variety of trails: tech, flow, freeride, and high-speed DH
Incredible scenery as you traverse ridgelines and open Alpine bowls
Great progression zone to build confidence before and after Champery
Lift-linked, but the route can feel confusing the first time — easy once you’ve done it

You can get to Morgins via the lift network, but the best way is booking a Bike Morzine shuttle day — they’ll drop you off and pick you up whenever you want. We spent the whole day lapping the park, then got dropped at the lake to chill afterwards.