Les Esserts: Ski Resort in the Grand Massif

Les Esserts, also known as Morillon 1100, is a ski resort on the wooded Esserts plateau. It is part of the Grand Massif ski area and is designated as a ski-in/ski-out destination. For planning purposes, Les Esserts can be considered a winter sports destination, while the Grand Massif is the larger ski area. Lift operations are seasonal. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can first decide whether winter sports or the other aspects of the resort will be the focus of your trip.

A winter sports resort with a history

Les Esserts’ development as a winter sports resort has a specific historical starting point: the land was alpine pasture and was acquired between 1937 and 1939 to create a winter sports resort there. The first chairlift between the village of Morillon and Les Esserts was built in 1958. These dates describe two different stages—the resort’s early planning and the later construction of the chairlift connection. They help put Les Esserts in the context of Morillon’s development, without conflating its history at the time with current operating schedules.

The connected Grand Massif ski area has 265 kilometres of slopes; Morillon is named as one of the linked resorts. This distinction is important for orientation: the 265 kilometres refer to the ski area as a whole, not Les Esserts alone. This lets you consider the local resort and the wider area separately when deciding what to focus on during your stay.

Walking trails with different destinations

The trails described also offer different experiences on foot. La Croix des 7 Frères leads to the highest point in Morillon and offers views across the valley; the chairlift from Les Esserts is given as the starting point. The trail to the Plateau de la Charniaz starts in Morillon 1100, in the Les Esserts district. It passes through a forest, crosses several streams and returns to a clearing. The main difference when choosing between the two routes is therefore their destination and character: one leads to a viewpoint, the other passes through forest, streams and a clearing. Weather and trail conditions may affect the experience; take them into account when planning.

Seasonal experiences in the area

The “Rando nocturne avec fondue” event combines a night walk through the forest with a visit to a yurt in Morillon 1100 Les Esserts. The experience includes a fondue made with three types of cheese. The event is seasonal. If you’d like to include it in your trip, check the dates for your stay.

At the Forum des Esserts, a fun introduction to disc golf is also offered on an adapted course. The activity’s availability may change, so check before your trip whether it is taking place on your dates. The two activities offer different experiences: the night walk leads to a shared meal in the yurt, while the introduction focuses on playing disc golf on a course.

Next, choose which of the aspects of the resort described here matters most for your trip. For the walking trails, take the weather and trail conditions into account; for the seasonal event, check the dates. This keeps your planning focused on the specific activities and conditions.

Discover more destinations: Nancy-Sur-Cluses, Ville-La-Grand, Ambilly, Ayse, Nâves-Parmelan, Draillant, Brens, Douvaine.

For the broader travel overview: Haute-Savoie.