There is more to do in Morzine / Les Gets and the Portes Du Soleil than just amazing Mountain Biking, have a look below at some alternative ideas for some great days out in the local area.
1. A day trip to Chamonix / Mont Blanc-
With a drive of only one hour you can be in the beautiful valley of Chamonix. With some great hot spots, such as the Mer de Glace by train and a visit up the l’Aiguille du Midi cable car to a height of 3842 m with amazing views of the glaciers and mountains.
Here is a link to the great day trips in Chamonix –
2. Via Ferrata-
This sport is a protected climbing route pioneered in the Alps. The essence of a modern Via Ferrata is a steel cable which runs along the route and is periodically fixed to the rock. Using a via Ferrata kit, climbers can secure themselves to the cable, limiting any fall.
The cable can also be used as aid to climbing, and additional climbing aids, such as iron rungs, pegs, carved steps and even ladders and bridges are often provided.
There are Via Ferrata routes near Morzine in St Jean D’Aulps , La Chapelle-d’Abondance & Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
See the link to some local guides –
3. Road Cycling –
As well as some as the best Mountain Biking in the Alps, the region has amazing Road Riding.
Morzine/ Les Gets offers cyclists a wide range of services: marked and mapped routes, sign-posted mountain passes, cycling events, introductory courses…
It is a cyclist’s paradise with 15 mapped itineraries starting from Morzine, There are 25 mountain passes within 50 km, plus an international reputation thanks to it hosting 22 stages of the Tour de France.
Some hints on Road Cycling here –
4. Golf –
There is an 18-hole course in Les Gets. This fairly technical golf course offers panoramic views and great facilities. The golf course clubhouse is a welcoming place to enjoy a drink and the restaurant has a lovely terrace on which to enjoy lunch. Coaching, equipment hire and electric buggies are all available. With stunning mountain views and pleasant summer weather this is a wonderfully relaxing way to spend the day.
There is also a 9 hole golf course in Avoriaz with amazing views of the mountains from it’s elevated position. Enjoy a round of golf and a drink and some food from the restaurant at the clubhouse.
Golf Course Les Gets –
Golf course Morzine/ Avoriaz –
5. Day trip to Évian-les-bains-
Head down the valley from Morzine for a visit to Évian-les-bains.
With less than an hours drive away from Morzine, it is a great place to visit for the day. Situated on Lake Leman ( Lake Geneva ) with stunning views across to Switzerland, great restaurants and bars and the home of Evian water and the famous Evian Casino.
The lovely town of Evian –
6. Day Trip to Annecy-
An hour and a half away from Morzine along the auto route and mountain views on the way. You arrive at the third largest lake in France. With plenty of parks to chill out in with a picnic or hire out a row boat or even a small engine boat. Or for the more sporty hire some bikes and take the flat cycle path round the lake. Annecy has the old town to wander around with some great shopping, bars and cosmopolitan restaurants.
A guide to the wonderful Lake Annecy –
7. Whitewater Activities –
For the more adventurous you can head down the valley for a refreshing dip in the Alpine water melting from the higher mountains. Several mountain rivers now include equipment designed for fun descents by different methods abseiling, jumping and natural waterslides.
• Rafting (river descent in an inflatable boat paddled by several people)
• Hot-dog (small boat similar to a raft, but smaller)
• Hydrospeeding (whitewater swimming using a float and flippers)
• Kayaking (river descent by rigid canoe)
• Canyoning (river descent using ropes, abseiling & jumping )
Here is a link to a company specialising in water adventures in the area –
8. Morzine Activity /Equestrian Centre-
The Morzine equestrian center is located in the heart of the pedestrian area of the Dérêches, surrounded with 5 km of walking trails through the forest, at the banks of the Dranse river.
You will find numerous activities in the Dérêches park: tennis, swimming pool, ice rink, adventure park, a mini farm open to the public, a 5km fitness circuit and even a large kids playground area ! Ideal for families who want to organise a day bursting with fun and sporty activities in the heart of the resort’s authentically natural park.
Morzine’s Horse riding school –
9. The Portes Du Soleil Multipass-
To make a family activity holiday more affordable the PDS has created the Mulitpass.
If you stay at accommodation within the Portes Du Soleil who are registered on the scheme you can qualify for activity passes for around 2 euro per person card you can do more than 50 activities as often as you like in the Portes du Soleil’s 12 village-resorts.
Such activities range from Tennis, swimming pools, public lakes , resort buses, resort chair lifts and skate rinks.
http://en.portesdusoleil.com/summer/multi-pass-activities.html
10. Electric Mountain Bikes-
Electric mountain biking’s on the up-and-up in the Portes du Soleil! This new activity is on offer in most village-resorts; it’s a chance to free-wheel your way around the PDS. You can travel around the vast area with relative ease.
The resorts have created marked trails throughout the area. Battery recharging stations will be installed throughout the area to ensure you can make the most of the huge amount of biking on offer and that you do not run out of power.
If you do not own an e bike there are hire shops in each village of the PDS.
More information on E Bikes in the PDS –
