Adventure! It has taken 15 years of skiing in the area to discover all 3 of these restaurants in Morzine and the wider ski area! We love the marvel of coming across one of these charming refuges where you least expect them. In all cases you are outside the patrolled ski domain so are at risk therefore hiring a guide such as Bill Ski or Avoriaz Alpine ski school is recommended. Happy trails!
In order of accessibility:
La Crapahute (newly renovated).
Ski tour/cross country ski / off piste/snowshoe/walk.
Map link >>. (About 20-30 mins uphill, short generally pisted descent)
Source: Photo from the Crapahute Facebook page
Take the bus to Ergine, then follow the cross-country track above the Crapahute and descend. Or with the help of a guide come down off-piste through the valle du manche.
The restaurant is beautiful, with an open fire and great food. We have always really enjoyed the vibe here a great mix of visitors stoked from off-piste adventures to local grandparents in the know with their grandchildren.
Restaurant Chalet d’Alpage
(reservation strongly recommended)
Ski tour/snowshoe / walk.
Map link >>. (about 30/45 mins there – 45/60 mins back, quite flat).
Image source: Google
Drive up the Col Du Encrenaz on a non-snowing day as the snow is generally cleared until the top of the mountain pass, you can ask the restaurant if it is when you make your reservation. Or arrive by skiing down the back side of Mt Cheri! Then descend the snow-covered section of the road via your chosen method of transport on snow.
Perhaps one of the most traditional Alpine restaurants in Morzine that you could visit awaits. Run by a husband and wife, it is a good fun adventure to get there and a nice reward at the end. The restaurant is located at the bottom of a national park and has a feeling of being out in the wild.
Refuge Du Bostan
Ski tour / snowshoe / walk..
Map link >> (about 3 hrs uphill, 1 ½ hours off piste return including a bit of uphill).
Source: refugedebostan.fr
Bostan is deep in the backcountry! Follow the directions for La Crapahute then continue, taking the track that branches round to the right. Normally quite a well-trodden path, FatMap has the route though you should really should take a guide as you will be several hours in the backcountry.
If I was on a Skiology holiday this is where I would be making our family go on the team night off and stay the night haha! I love it here, out in the wild amongst the animal footprints. Local, organic produce in the middle of nowhere after quite a push to get here, a great place to rest and refuel calories burned after a super adventure.
