Montriond is the quiet village of the Portes du Soleil, right next to Morzine, but with an asset the others lack: its lake. Set in a frame of forests and cliffs, Lake Montriond is one of the loveliest stretches of water in the Chablais. Add the spectacular Ardent waterfall and access to the vast Portes du Soleil area, and you have a calm, family-friendly nature base, a stone’s throw from the buzz of Morzine.
People come to Montriond for the lake and its shores, for the Ardent waterfall, to hike towards the pastures and the goats of Les Lindarets, and to ski the Portes du Soleil via the Ardent gondola. It’s the choice of those who want the mountains in peace.
Here’s how to make the most of it.
In brief
- Altitude: 950 m (village), access to the Portes du Soleil area via Ardent.
- Identity: a nature village of the Portes du Soleil, its lake and its waterfall.
- Access: ≈ 1 hr 15 from Geneva airport; 5 min from Morzine.
- Best season: June–September for the lake and hiking; December–April for skiing.
- Don’t miss: Lake Montriond, the Ardent waterfall, the Lindarets goats, the Portes du Soleil.
Lake Montriond
Lake Montriond is the village’s signature: a long emerald stretch of water at the foot of the cliffs, ringed by a shaded path that loops around it. Swimming, fishing, family walks, lakeside picnics — it’s one of the finest mountain lakes in the area. The loop takes about an hour on foot. See the Lake Montriond page.
The Ardent waterfall and the mountains
Higher up, the Ardent waterfall tumbles down a rock band for nearly 30 metres: a spectacular, easily accessible site. From the hamlet of Ardent, a gondola climbs towards Les Lindarets — the famous “goat village” — and gives access to the Portes du Soleil, one of the largest areas in the world, in winter and summer alike. See the Ardent waterfall and skiing in Montriond pages.
What to do in Montriond
- Lake Montriond: swimming, the lake loop and fishing beneath the cliffs.
- Ardent waterfall: the great waterfall, easy to reach.
- Hiking: Les Lindarets, the Nyon plateau and Portes du Soleil pastures.
- Skiing: access to the Portes du Soleil via the Ardent gondola.
Where to stay
Montriond offers a nature-village range, calmer and often more affordable than neighbouring Morzine: chalets, family hotels and rentals near the lake or the village. It’s an ideal base for enjoying the Portes du Soleil in peace, with the lake and the forest within reach. We compare available stays at the best rates below.
Where to eat
The food is Savoyard: reblochon, tartiflette, fondue and diots in the village and the pasture farm-inns, notably at Les Lindarets. The lakeside terraces are a summer pleasure.
Getting there
- Car: ≈ 1 hr 15 from Geneva; A40 motorway, Cluses exit, then the valley towards Morzine and Montriond.
- Train: Cluses or Thonon station, then bus or shuttle.
- Plane: Geneva airport ≈ 1 hr 15 away, shuttles in season.
When to come
- June–September: the season of the lake, the waterfall and hiking.
- December–April: skiing on the Portes du Soleil via Ardent.
- Off-season: a very quiet village, with some shops closed between seasons.
Good to know
Montriond or Morzine? Montriond is the quiet nature village, with its lake; Morzine, 5 minutes away, concentrates the buzz, the shops and the main access to the Portes du Soleil. Many stay in Montriond for the peace.
The lake. The signature asset: swimming and the lake loop in summer, sometimes skating in winter when it freezes.
Do you need a car? Handy for linking the lake, Ardent and Morzine; shuttles serve the valley in season.
How long to stay? A day for the lake and the waterfall; a week as a nature base for the Portes du Soleil.
Nearby
Montriond is at the heart of the Portes du Soleil. Morzine is five minutes away, Avoriaz and Les Lindarets are reached via Ardent, and Les Gets completes the area. The Giffre valley (Samoëns) is on the other side.