The Portes du Soleil is a world-class ski area in the Northern French Alps, situated between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc. Accessing this incredible spot need not start with an airline flight. Travelling by train to Morzine takes a similar amount of time to flying, and involves Eurostar to Paris and a TGV (fast) train. The positive environmental impact of rail travel over flying is huge, and we’ve partnered with Flight Free UK to share this message and introduce an exciting discount to skiers who opt to arrive by train.

Joining forces with Flight Free UK

AliKats Mountain Holidays design low impact ski chalet holidays. From heating our chalets with renewable energy and running zero food waste catering to directing time and money towards our local environmental association Montagne Verte, we are taking strides to protect the planet (and our mountain playgrounds) for future generations to come. Yet, the means by which people travel to our chalets, is something we can’t ignore due to the great cost to the environment through the emissions associated with taking a flight.

Flight Free UK is a charity that encourages people to travel without flying. Over 10,000 people have already taken part in the pledge to go flight free for a year for the sake of the climate and for their own benefit as travellers. What’s even more impressive? The results show that once people have tried a flight free year, they are more likely to make low-carbon travel choices in the future! This proves that once people try it, they really do like flight free travel. With Flight Free UK’s help we want to encourage more skiers and snowboarders to choose train over plane for their ski holiday this winter, in the hope that their positive travel experience will create long-term change.

Our ski-by-train incentive gives skiers who take the train to Morzine a reduction of €1000 on the cost of their catered holiday in Chalet Bizet.

Take the train to Chalet Bizet and save €1000 on your ski holiday

Choose train over plane for your catered ski holiday in Chalet Bizet and receive a discount of €1000 on the cost of your holiday. Chalet Bizet is a beautiful three bedroom ski chalet, tastefully designed with hand-picked furniture, large open living spaces and its very own bar. A stay here is inclusive of AliKats’ VIP catering package (fine wine, bespoke cocktails and our award winning food) and a private chauffeur service to get you to the ski lifts in less than 8 minutes. This Morzine chalet is in the perfect location for access to The Portes du Soleil ski area, the biggest international ski area in the world, with incredible skiing for all levels and styles of skiers and snowboarders.

The €1000 discount applies to whole chalet bookings in Chalet Bizet. If you’d like to travel by train and make a room only booking, you’ll be eligible for a 10% discount on the price of your holiday. To book Chalet Bizet and claim your discount please contact us. Please see all T&Cs below.

Why take the train?

Reduce emissions

Rail travel is much better than flying or driving when it comes to cutting down carbon emissions. It’s estimated that 66% of the emissions of a ski holiday come from the flight to get there. The good news is a train to the Alps generates just 2% of the emissions of an equivalent flight.

Flying to Morzine (via Geneva, Morzine’s local airport) generates 183kg CO2e per passenger.

Going by rail generates just 4.5kg CO2e!

Put another way, taking the train is 41 times more carbon efficient than flying! Whatever way we look at it, the facts are there for all to see.

Make travel a fun part of your holiday

There are good reasons why more and more people are converting to rail travel for their mountain holidays around Europe. Taking the train to the Alps is less time-consuming than many first realise – and in the case of Morzine, which is roughly an hour’s transfer from the train station, door-to-door travel time is similar to taking a flight.

Rail is also a calmer way to travel, avoiding airport queues, baggage drop and early check-ins. In contrast to flying, which involves lots of broken up chunks of time, rail passengers benefit from a bigger chunk of time on-board to relax, read and spend time with their travel companions.

Another great advantage of rail travel for skiers is you can bring your skis on board without hiked up baggage costs (one suitcase and pair of skis/board is free). Savings can also be made on kids and group tickets. On many services kids under four go free (if a seat is not needed) and kids aged 11 or under are eligible for a reduction of around 30%.

For skiers swapping plane for train, catching some amazing scenery through the window and meeting fellow travellers is a fun, relaxed way to start your holiday.

Please check out our blog post for information on the train route from London to Morzine to plan your journey.

Ready to book your holiday in Chalet Bizet?

To book Chalet Bizet under the ski by train offer, please check availability and contact us with your holiday dates. To apply the discount we will need to see proof of the purchase of rail tickets from a UK train station to Cluses, Thonon les Bains or Geneva. Read our advice on the best rail routes from London here.

Terms & Conditions – Ski by Train Chalet Bizet Offer

1. The offer is for new bookings only made between 10th November 2024 and 27th March 2025 for winter holidays in 2024/25 and winter 2025/26.
2. The €1000 discount applies to whole chalet bookings in Chalet Bizet. For room only bookings, a 10% discount will be applied to the price of your holiday.
3. This offer applies to catered holidays in AliKats VIP Chalet Bizet, which include 7 nights accommodation, food (hot breakfasts, afternoon tea and 4 course meal on 5 evenings, and 7 course taster menu on 1 evening) and unlimited wine, and a private chauffeur service.
4. AliKats will ask to see train tickets from the UK as proof of travel.
5. Travel costs are not included. However, train travel qualifies you for the Montagne Verte AlpineExpress Pass for more money saving deals on transfers, ski pass, ski hire and other services and activities in Morzine.

AliKats create eco-friendly chalet holidays, whilst protecting the health of the planet, visit our sustainability hub for more information. Discover more about Flight Free UK and take your Flight Free pledge here.

Photo credits: Image 1 and 4 by @vtlphoto for Morzine Tourist Board.