Chamonix Summer Sports

email info@myfrenchchalet.co.uk    tel +44 (0)20 7870 8354

In summer, there is so much to do around Chamonix such as climbing, golf, hiking, mountain biking, mountaineering, paragliding, sightseeing, sports and leisure and water sports. Chamonix summer holidays offers you a whole lot to get involved in. All our Chamonix apartments are centrally located to all activities. Please read on to find out about these activities. At the end there is a list of contacts enabling you to book the activities.

Climbing

Climbing in the Mont Blanc massif and the Chamonix Valley means high mountains, superb granite and miles of limestone cliffs. Crags are usually equipped. Mountain routes may be partially equipped with, at least, abseil points in place. Guide books are essential and can be purchased from shops in the town centre. Climbing walls are also very popular to start off with - there are some located in the valley so visit the tourist office for further information. If you want to go high, be careful, read a guide book properly, take the necessary precautions or hire a guide.

Golf

Golf in the Alps is popular with holiday makers who want to take in the mountain air while enjoying a leisurely round of 9-18 holes. Chamonix has an excellent 18 hole course and there are also courses at Evian and Verbier.

Hiking

The valley is beautiful and the hiking season can start as early as April in Chamonix. You will need lightweight boots and shorts, waterproofs, sunglasses, plus skin and lip protection. Always have a drink at hand as well. Walks are well sign posted. In the valley you can do one day walks from the cable car stations and further afield two day plus walks in surrounding French areas, Italy and Switzerland. Two very famous walks are The Tour of Mont Blanc which can take eight to ten days and The Walker's Haute Route which is Chamonix to Zermatt via mountain huts and valley hotels. You can start many of the hikes directly from our Chamonix apartments.

Mountain Biking

There are great mountain bike trails in the Chamonix valley and surrounding areas, for all levels. You can rent a bike from a store in Chamonix - please see below. There are excursion trails on the valley floor as well as more difficult ones using the cable car systems to access them. You can also start many of the rides directly from our Chamonix apartments. You can rent bicycles from the Skiset shop right underneath our Chamonix apartments (Ginabelle 2).

Mountaineering

There are lots of mountaineering routes to do in the summer from valley cragging to the ascent of Mont Blanc. You must be aware of mountain safety, if tackling anything very dangerous then hire a guide. Most shops in the town centre will have books covering the routes also visit the tourist office.

Parapenting

Parapenting is a very popular sport in Chamonix due to the high mountains and great winds. There are many takeoff sites in Chamonix for this sport - Le Brevent (Planpraz), Aiguille du Midi, Les Houches, Grands Montets, Aiguille du Plan and Plaine Joux . Chamonix is a wonderful place to learn how to free fly. You can take a tandem flight with a qualified instructor or lessons with a paragliding school. You can book your lesson right underneath our Chamonix apartments (Ginabelle 2) in the Skiset shop.

Sports Massage

Why not pamper yourself to a sports massage or aromatherapy treatment directly in your Chamonix apartment, accommodation or chalet. Revive Massage Therapy, run by English professionally trained staff, offers you sports massage and aromatherapy treatments delivered directly to your chalet or apartment anywhere in Chamonix.

Bowling

The Chamonix bowling arcade has eight international alleys as well as pool and snooker tables.

Horse Riding

There are two centres where you can hire horses or ponies.

Petanque

This sport that originated in the south of France is very popular in the valley.

Richard Bozon Sports Centre

Opposite l'Avenue de la Plage, the following activities are available within the sports centre: climbing wall, gymnasium, ice skating, swimming pool and sauna, tennis and squash.

Water Sports

You can do all the white water sports listed below in Chamonix. Early in the summer, in May and June, the rivers are usually high with snow melt from the mountains. During July, August and September the water levels are usually lower and the temperature warmer.

Canyoning

Vertical swimming with exciting water-slides into deep pools.

Hydrospeed

White water swimming is offered by all the rafting companies and is great fun. Thick, reinforced wetsuits, crash hats and flippers are provided but you'll still feel vulnerable.

Kayaking

This is good around Chamonix but not well publicised. The Giffre is good and grade three, the Dranse above Thonon offers a range of levels, The Dora Baltea features a range of difficulties including 15km of grade 6.

Rafting

This is a good white knuckle ride and the Arve (Chamonix) and the Giffre (at Samoens) are popular local rivers. Further afield are the excellent Dranse (between Morzine and Lake Leman) and, in Italy, the terrifying Dora Baltea.

Swimming, Sunbathing, Windsurfing and BBQs

The local lakes are excellent for these (Lake Passy is the best) but they do not really get warm until July. The outdoors is generally bug-free so sunbathing can be enjoyed in peace.