Summer Activities
There are many things to do in the summer around Morillon and the Giffre Valley and there is always something for everyone no matter how old you are.
Summer Activity Highlights
900 kms of marked walking tracks across the Grand-Massif. You can go on your own or on a guided Trek (some have pack donkeys) and stay in a refuge high in the mountains. Several guided walking adventures from Nordic walking to nature walks from a few hours to a couple of days. The walking is amazing so please click here for our walking page for more information
600 kms of mountain bike track across the Grand-Massif on your doorstep, there is a cycle track from the chalets which leads onto marked cycle tracks. You can hire bikes in Morillon.
4 lifts open in July-August to take walkers and mountain bikers up to the plateau above Morillon, Flaine and Sixt.
Great water based activities from the Giffre river which runs from Sixt : White water rafting, Cano-raft, Canyoning, Canoeing and Kayaking.
Paragliding and hang gliding is fantastic in the Giffre Valley. Take off in front of the chalets or at other launches in the valley. Great for novice and experienced pilots. Lots of landing fields and easy to fly cross country to Mont Blanc, Chamonix, Mieusy or beyond. 3 schools if you want to learn. Site familiarisation and retrieve driving can be arranged for qualified pilots.
All mountain climbing activities including a Via-ferrata (metal cables) ideal for those who want to try climbing.
Caving - explore the deepest cave in the world.
Roller Boarding at Morillon Les Esserts.
Golf courses with stunning views,
Horse Riding and horse riding treks into the mountains
Fishing in the rivers or in numerous lakes.
‘Lac Bleu’ lake with its own beach and swimming, petanque area, picnic area, tenniscourts, volleyball, mini golf and terrace bar-restaurant.
The region’s largest ‘Indiana Park’ next to the lake which is ideal for all ages to experience adventure on cables above the ground safely. Children are supervised for a 2 hour session.
Farm visits, alpine wildlife discovery outings.
Children’s club (6-12 yrs old) and crèche (3-6 yrs old) at nearby Samoëns.
A huge and diverse program of family entertainment (Bands, Circus, other acts and entertainment) from late June to early September (over 200 events).
Every Friday is market day in Morillon.
Summer Activity Details
White water rafting, Cano-rafting and Canyoning
We can highly recommend
the white water rafting. Suitable for all the family (minimum age 8)
and guaranteed to get everyone screaming with excitement.
Canyoning is
popular in the Giffre river and you can float down over various rapids and even
over a waterfall.
Indiana Rafting
We recommend Indiana rafting for a great white water rafting experience for the whole family. They also rent mountain bikes.
Tel: +33 450901517 Ask for Philippe
Haut-Savoie Nature-Adventure ( alternative next to bridge opposite adventure park)
Tel: +33 607197264 / +33 684551221
Visit: www.rando-rafting.com
Email: hsna.belouin.m@wanadoo.fr
Paragliding
/ Hang Gliding
The Giffre Valley
and surrounding Alps really are a fantastic place to fly. You can learn to fly at
one of the three schools in the valley, take a tandem flight or if you are a
qualified pilot enjoy the valley on your own from up high.
Tandem flight - Discover the valley from up high with a certified instructor. This really is a fantastic experience. They do two different flights: top to bottom lasting about 30 minutes or on a thermal day the Valley tour which lasts about 2 hours. You also get to take the controls and fly it yourself if you ask nicely. We recommend Pegase for your Tandem flight experience.
Fly yourself - if you are already
a qualified pilot there are two main take off points at about 1600M
within 15 minutes drive from the Chalets. The
Valley has many rocky outcrops which are great thermal sources and it is easy to
fly cross country within the valley or beyond to places like Chamonix, Mont
Blanc and Mieussy.
There are several sites between 15 minutes and 30 mins drive including Samoens,
Mieussy, Les Gets, Morzine, Avoriaz, Brison, L'Agy and Chamonix. For real details on the
sites please contact us as we are pilots.
We can provide a site familiarisation and
retrieve service should you wish at extra cost.
Learn / experience flying - the main School in the Valley who we work with and highly recommend is Pegase Air Samoens paragliding +33 450349580 www.parapente-samoens.com as they are larger, very professional and run excellent courses. You can use the experience towards your CP.
We also run the following courses:
Cross Country courses in May/ June with French PG champion / instructor and English retrieve. Thermal to 4000M+ and fly the Chamonix to Annecy spineback PG motorway and more!
X-Alps like paragliding and hiking course with light paraglider / harness (6kg - Advance Hike). Learn about parahiking. Small hikes into the stunning mountains and fly places you would not normally get to. Kit provided.
For more details click here.
Horse Riding
Horse trekking adventures +33 450349580
A full range of Horse / Pony riding can be done from a little ride for the little ones on a pony to a proper horse trek ride into the woods and mountains. Horse Riding departs next to Lac Bleu.
+33 450900504 or +33680686965
Mountain
Biking
Cycle from the Chalets into the 900 Kms of mountain tracks. Alternatively take the bikes up the ski lifts (you hook your bike onto the chairlift to take you up the mountain) at Morillon and then cycle down on the varying tracks graded blue to black (one leads back to the Chalets). Also for all the family there are fantastic flat cycle tracks that follow both banks of the river through the Giffre valley.
Mountain bike guide and bike hire: Morillon Verneret sports +33 450901517. Ask for Philippe. www.indiana-rafting.com
They also do white water rafting.
Tour de France
The Tour de France regularly goes through the valley. It is an exciting spectacle to watch. Cycling enthusiasts can trace the route that the Tour de France takes.
Walking and trekking
You can do everything from very easy walks to real mountain adventures. Several guided walking adventures from Nordic walking to nature walks from a few hours to a couple of days.
Walk from the Chalets into the 900 Kms of mountain tracks. Alternatively take the ski lift up at Morillon and then walk down the mountain tracks (one leads back to the Chalets). Also for all the family there are fantastic flat tracks that follow both banks of the river through the Giffre valley. You can also join an organised guided trek (with or without pack donkeys).
Nordic
walking: Michele & Matt
Willmott +33(0)450581961
Pack Donkey trekking: +33
450895647
Guides: Bureau de guides +33 450344312 or guidesamoens.free.fr
Mountain adventure staying overnight at a refuge (mountain hut - from basic to ones with rooms and food). Visit: http://www.sixtferacheval.com/anglais/accommodation/refuge.htm
Rock Climbing, Via Ferrata and Caving
The Giffre Valley is a well known destination for Rock Climbers. There are some truly amazing climbs from beginner to very technical and some amazing views. All these activities can be done through the Bureau des Guides who provide experienced guides and all the equipment needed. This area is very well known for excellent climbing and can be experienced safely by all ages and abilities. We can highly recommend the rock climbing in particular where you learn on an 80m rock face.
There are several areas with Via Ferrata which is climbing but on cables, metal ladders and suspension bridges set into the rock. Again you can take a guide or go by yourself.
The valley has the deepest caves in the world. The cave of Jean-Bernard is 1602 metres deep and can be accessed from the Refuge de Folly. So you can go over two days and have a night in the mountain refuge de Folly. Alternatively you can do a day visit to le cave Le Mirolda which is a short drive up the Croiu mountain in the valley and is 1610 metres deep.
For guides for all mountain activities contact:
Tel: +33 450344312 or guidesamoens.free.fr
Les
Adventuriers -Adventure Park
Has high ropes and wires in the trees which is suitable for all ages and abilities. It is located next to the 'Lac Blue' in Morillon. The activity is very well supervised and parents can leave children to it for a couple of hours and enjoy a coffee in the cafe nearby overlooking the lake.
Tel: +33 624792599
Mountain
Zipwire
Longest Zipwire in the world.
Lie prone in a harness and fly like superman across the valley and back. reach
speeds of 100Kms per hour. Real adrenaline buzz.
Fantastic Cable near Chatel.
Tel. 33 (0)4 50 81 34 83
Quad Biking
2 hours drive with guide or
night drive with dinner at an alpine farm. There is also a Quad circuit. Quads Sauvage +33 661107589
Water Skiing
and Wake Boarding
There is a very friendly small
Waterskiing Club in the valley at Crystal Lac about 10 minutes from the Chalets
by car. Tel: +33 615771144
Yoga
If you want to stretch, breathe and relax why not do Yoga at the chalet: Michele & Matt Willmott +33(0)450581961
Helicopter flight
Every Thursday morning. Registration at the tourist office of Morillon.
Prices vary depending on where you are going; there are 2 different flights: the Grand
Massif flight and the Mont Blanc flight.
Golf de
Flaine – Les Carroz
Tel : +33 4 50 90 80 74
18 holes, length 4063m, par 63
Open: 1/7-31/8, weekends only 15/6-30/6 & 1/9-30/9
Green fees (daily) 18 holes 30€, 9 holes 19€ (approx.)
It is a spectacular mountain course at an altitude of 1900m with fantastic views over the Alps.
Further information from the tourist office.
Tourist Office
Tel +33 4 50 90 15 76
Also explore the following URLs for more detail on Location and Activities:
