Lift Passes

There is a wide array of lift passes available. All can be purchased at the SuperChatel Cable Car you'll find the ticket offices at the top of the metal staircase.  They also sell insurance - if you forgot to arrange suitable wintersports/travel insurance, then make sure you take this option just in case.

Most beginners will probably find that the local Chatel pass is more than enough for their first week on the slopes. More advanced skiers will really enjoy the much larger area covered by the full Portes du Soleil ski pass.

I'd certainly opt to pay the extra 2 euro to have a "hands free" ski pass.   Just tuck it in a pocket and it will be spotted by the large silver detector loops as you approach the entrance turnstile and after a few seconds the gate will magically open.  No cold fingers taking your gloves off, or hassle forgetting to collect your pass.   Just make sure its zipped up safely inside your jacket.  NB when it has been snowing very heavily the increase in ground cover means the detector loops are located fairly low down and hands-free passes may not be detected particularly if you are very tall, so you may need duck down a bit for the pass to be registered. Otherwise the system works brilliantly.

If you want you can check out prices for all the various passes on-line at www.chatel.com

In summer a number of lifts operate to allow walker and mountain bikers easy access to the hill tops. Special hooks are fitted to the lifts allowing mountain bikes to be safely carried, and the lift staff are specially trained to attach your bike to the lift and will take it off when you get to the top.

As in Winter the staff at the nearby SuperChatel lift station will be happy to explain what options are available, and their prices. For instance you don't have to buy a full day pass if you only want to ride the lift up - just buy a single ticket, and enjoy the walk down.