Saint-Jean-d'Aulps
Saint-Jean-d'Aulps is about 66 km from Geneva Airport, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes by road, in the Vallée d'Aulps between Thonon-les-Bains and Morzine. Without a car, the usual route is a train or coach towards Thonon followed by a bus up the Dranse valley; a private transfer with AirportsTransfers.ch covers the whole journey from the arrivals hall to your door.
- Distance from GVA: about 66 km
- Drive time: around 1 h 15
- Border crossing: yes, the route crosses the border into France
- Public transport: towards Thonon-les-Bains, then a valley bus
- Best for: quiet stays close to the Portes du Soleil, families, walkers
A quieter base in the Chablais
Saint-Jean-d'Aulps is a village of scattered hamlets in the Chablais Alps, on the road that climbs from Lake Geneva towards Morzine and Les Gets. Its best-known landmark is the ruined Cistercian abbey of Notre-Dame d'Aulps, whose roofless Gothic church stands in a meadow and is part of a small heritage site. In winter the village has its own family-sized ski area, Roc d'Enfer, and sits only a short drive from the much larger Portes du Soleil, which attracts visitors who want quieter, often more affordable accommodation while still being able to ski the big area. In summer, the valley offers walking, river sports on the Dranse and access to mountain pastures. Accommodation is spread out, from village flats to chalets on the hillsides. The village is also within easy reach of Lake Geneva's French shore, so summer visitors often combine mountain days with an afternoon by the water at Thonon or Évian.
Train and bus: what to expect
There is no railway in the Vallée d'Aulps. Public transport from Geneva Airport typically means reaching Thonon-les-Bains, either by rail across the border on the regional network or by coach, then taking a bus that follows the Dranse gorges up towards Morzine and stops in Saint-Jean-d'Aulps along the way. In the ski season the bus service is busier, and shared airport shuttles to the Portes du Soleil sometimes stop in the valley. The trip is scenic, especially through the gorges, but it involves at least one change, waiting time and fixed departures. For a single traveller with light luggage arriving in the afternoon it is manageable; for anyone else, the chain of connections becomes the main source of stress on arrival day.
Luggage, skis and getting to the door
The hamlets of Saint-Jean-d'Aulps are spread along the valley and up the slopes, so even once you reach the village by bus, your chalet may be some distance from the stop. In winter, walking up a snowy lane with a suitcase and ski bag is not an ideal start to a holiday. A private vehicle avoids that entirely: the chauffeur loads everything at Geneva Airport and unloads at the door. A Mercedes V-Class van seats up to seven people with ten bags including skis, and a Mercedes Sprinter minibus suits larger groups or two families arriving together. Ski bags should be declared at the time of booking.
Groups, families and per-person cost
Bus tickets are per person, while a private transfer is priced per vehicle. A solo traveller will usually find the bus cheaper. For a family of four or a group of friends sharing a chalet, the single price of one vehicle divided among everyone brings the figures much closer, and the journey becomes one straightforward leg without changes. Child seats are available on request, and the chauffeur can take a short break on the way if children need it. Walking groups arriving for a week in the Chablais, or a club heading to the Portes du Soleil, can travel together in a minibus and start the holiday as a group rather than strung out across several buses.
Late landings and early flights home
Many flights reach Geneva in the evening, after the last convenient bus up the valley, and some return flights leave early in the morning. A private car is planned around the flight itself: the chauffeur tracks the arrival time, waiting is included if you are delayed, and departures leave from your chalet when you need them to. On winter Saturdays traffic heading towards the Portes du Soleil can slow the final part of the drive, and an experienced driver allows for that. In summary: the bus is fine for light, flexible travellers; a car is better for skis, children, groups and awkward flight times.
Booking your transfer to Saint-Jean-d'Aulps
Use the AirportsTransfers.ch booking form: enter the flight number, your address in the valley and the number of passengers and bags. The fixed price for your chosen vehicle appears before payment, which is made online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your chauffeur meets you in arrivals with a name sign. Add child seats and declare skis when booking, and include your return journey if you wish. For any question, phone or WhatsApp +41 78 346 56 77, available around the clock.
