A summer holiday in the mountains is a great way to completely disconnect from everyday life. The sound of the cow bells in the distance. The wings of an Alpine chough beating up above our heads. A marmot whistling and then rushing into hiding. The gentle-flowing waters of a river. Hiking in the Alps is a great way to escape the crowds and embrace the deafening silence of the mountains. The silence will only be broken by the sounds of nature, and the mountain air is so fresh, you’ll want to be able to bottle it up and bring it home with you.
Kilometres of trails through the Portes du Soleil
Haut-Chablais is home to some of the easiest hiking trails in the French Alps. Just in Morzine-Avoriaz alone, there are 140 km of hiking trails, which include a vast area across the Portes du Soleil. All the main routes are fully marked-out, making it easy to find your way if you’re hiking alone, or you can choose to call upon a guide who is specialised in the mountains.
Hikes organised by Morzine Tourist Office
For example, you can set off on a hike up over the Col de l’Encrenaz with a qualified guide, via the footpaths up to Col Ratti. This is an easy, family-friendly Alpine trail with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. On the way, the guide will tell you all about these peaks and local wildlife. You can also get an introduction to milking cows, listen to some music and enjoy a delicious Savoyard dish. This hike organised by the Tourist Office is on Tuesdays 21 July and 11 August and costs €20 per person (children aged 6 and over). Sign up on the Monday before the outing and come to the Tourist Office with your own car at 5.30pm.
Hiking in the Alps is not only about heading up into the peaks, there’s another free organised walk around the centre of Morzine every Tuesday throughout the summer at 9.45am. Set off on a 2-hour walk through nature, from the swimming pool at the entrance to Dérêches Park. You can collect edible wild plants along your way and learn about how they are used to treat certain ailments. After that, you’ll be shown how to concoct a medicinal speciality of the mountains. Sign up at Morzine Tourist Office on the Monday morning.
Hike up to Mines d’Or lake
If you fancy some cheese after your walk, head to Mines d’Or lake, nestled at the bottom of the Valley of La Manche. This is one of the most peaceful places in the Portes du Soleil, at the base of the staggering Tête de Bostan which is well-known for its remarkable rock formations. Here, there are no mechanical lifts, just a pretty lake, birds singing, hiking trails and some of the valley’s best panoramic views. Stop off at the Chalets de Freterolles, a farm that is well-known for its cheese, made right there on the farm. Visitors particularly like their cheese fondue and blueberry tart.Â
Themed hikes
If you are looking for different sorts of summer activities in the French Alps, there are also themed walks, which combine a guided walk in the forest with meditation, forest bathing or running. Or, for a truly unforgettable experience, you could set off on a hike at the end of the day. One of the best times of day for a hike in the Alps is early evening, when most hikers have already left the trails to head back to the urban areas and the sunset reflects orange and pink shades onto the peaks.
Thematics
