The French Alps are widely regarded as the one of the best ski holiday locations in the world, however once the snow melts many resorts are transformed into a completely different type of adventure playground for the whole family. This is your quick guide to experiencing summer activity holidays in the French Alps.
With so many outdoor activities on offer it is a challenge to review them all for you, so here are the best of the huge variety of great, and different, activities you can try in the French Alps during the summer.
From family activity holidays to activity holidays for groups, here are some of the fantastic ways you can find some fun in the Alps.
Paragliding
Paragliding, or as the French say, parapenting is one of the most exciting yet peaceful activities to try. The initial adrenaline rush of running off a mountain is soon replaced with a relaxed sensation as you gently glide above the trees and take in the stunning landscapes.
Be sure to pick a warm day to try paragliding, as the hot thermals will increase the amount of time you will be airborne for.
Blobbing
The relatively new water activity of blobbing features a massive inflatable air bag and needs at least two people. One person sits on the end of the blob and is launched into the air when the other person jumps onto the airbag. Blobbing has almost become an extreme sport where tricks and flips can be performed.
Horse Riding
The beautiful and picturesque scenery of the French Alps is best explored on horseback. You can find horse riding schools situated at most of the ski resorts. If you want to spend most of your holiday in the saddle, you will want to know about these great horse riding holidays.
Mountain Biking
Possibly not the most outrageous activity on our list but mountain biking in the French Alps is a must. A great day out on any family activity holiday that everyone can enjoy, explore the beautiful landscapes that the French Alps offer. From single-track to downhill trails and bike parks the amount of biking available is almost endless and is certainly accessible for all abilities and ages.
The Portes du Soleil is a very highly regarded mountain biking area which has a great sellout MTB event every year. …an 80km MTB ride featuring 15 chair lifts, 6000m of descent for only 1000m of climbing, 8 food stops and scenery to take your breath away either side of the French-Swiss border.
Rock Climbing
Whether it’s your first time rock climbing or a seasoned mountaineer the Alps provides 1000’s of routes across all grades. Chamonix is often referred to as the ‘capital of world climbing’ due to the range of climbing available. There are few better places to learn the ropes and your instructor will guide you through the first steps to becoming a safe and efficient climber.
The Fantasticable Zip Line
A one-of-a-kind experience, The Fantasticable is not for the faint hearted. Attached to a metal wire with a harness, you fly at over 100km per hour between mountain tops.
Summer Skiing in the French Alps
Not many people know that the ski resort of Les Deux Alpes sits on a glacier at 3600m above sea level. This means that there is snow on the top of the mountain all year round! So, if you still seek a snowsport fix, you can combine skiing in the morning with some mountain biking or trail running in the afternoon.
White Water Rafting in France
The French Alps have some excellent rivers for white water rafting. Run time is approx 2 ½ to 3 hours and the rafting centre will brief you on kit use and safety before you go off to the rapids with your instructor. You can either join one big raft for eight to ten people or take a smaller two-man raft. Small waterfalls and swirling currents will add excitement to your journey downstream!
Activities to do In the French Alps in Summer
If you think those ideas are cool, here is a sample of some of the other awesome activities that Alpine Elements provides on their summer family activity holidays in Europe.
- Walking and Hiking
- White Water Rafting
- Canyoning
- Via Ferrata
- Quad Biking
- Rock Climbing
- Mountain Biking
- Road Cycling
- Pony Trekking
- Devil Karts
- High Ropes Adventures and Zip Lines
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding
- Dinghy Sailing
- Kayaking
- Fly Boarding
- Blobbing
- Tow Surf
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Helicopter Flights
- Sightseeing Flights by light aircraft
- Dirt Biking
- 4×4 Driving
- Mountain Boarding
- Hydro Speeding
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
Where to find out more about summer family activity Holidays in the French Alps
To find out more about family activity holidays in Morzine and other locations in the French Alps, and to look at accommodation, Alpine Elements provides great value in alpine activity holidays for singles, couples, groups and families.