Ski rental
Ask rental shops to match equipment to your ability and the conditions you expect to ski.
- Equipment swaps: Ask whether you can swap uncomfortable boots or change equipment during the week, and whether a fee applies.
- Boot fitting: Boots are the thing to get right; a good shop spends time here. Turn up early on arrival day before the rush.
- Online reservations: Compare equipment age, category and swap arrangements as well as the headline price.
Because Châtel is spread along the valley, pick the shop that matches the lift you'll use rather than the one nearest the car. Germain Sports runs two branches, one in the center on Chemin sous le Crêt behind the bakery and another out at Linga on the route de Pré-la-Joux, which covers both ends of the resort. Intersport has a shop on the route du Linga and another right at the foot of the Super-Châtel gondola, handy if you're staying in the village and starting from there. Ask about their equipment-swap arrangements when booking.
Lift passes
The Châtel–Espace Liberté pass covers Châtel, La Chapelle d’Abondance, Torgon and the Chalet Neuf sector of Morgins, as named on the current tourist-office map. It already includes skiing in Switzerland. Choose the full Portes du Soleil pass for routes beyond that coverage, including Avoriaz, and check the map before setting out. The hands-free card stays in your pocket as you pass through the lift gate.
Budget for the card itself as well as the skiing. It costs €3, or CHF 4 on the Swiss side, and it's compulsory on any pass of three days or more. Keep the reusable card for a later visit.
Pass prices & age bands
Portes du Soleil passes, covering the full 12-resort circuit. Prices checked September 2026, for the 2026/27 season:
| Duration | Adult 26-64 | Youth / Senior 16-25 & 65+ | Child 5-15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | €69 | €62 | €52 |
| 6 days | €352 | €317 | €264 |
These are the full high-season rates. Discounts apply on specific dates. A pre-opening rate runs until December 19, 2026. Passes of five days or more drop 10% outside the school holidays (January 9 to February 5, 2027) and 15% from March 6, and there's a separate low-season period from March 20 to April 18, 2027. Buying online in advance is cheaper than the ticket desk.
Note that youth and senior pay the same rate, and that the Châtel–Espace Liberté pass costs less if you're a beginner or plan to stay local: €281 for a six-day adult pass against €352 for the full area.
Age bands are child 5 to 15, youth 16 to 25, adult 26 to 64 and senior 65+. Under-5s ski free, and there are Super Senior rates from 75, but both are only issued at the ticket desks on proof of age rather than online.
Official Châtel lift pass prices →
Rent the hardware, own the clothing
Renting skis, boots and snowboards avoids transporting your own equipment. For clothing, consider what fits comfortably and what you will use again. If you're building a kit list, start with the packing list and the month you're traveling.
The ski packing list → · Châtel snow & weather by month →