Partway between Geneva and Chamonix, the Grand Massif is made up of four highly scenic traditional villages set in the Giffre valley. Samoëns, Sixt Fer à Cheval, Morillon and Les Carroz  together offer a host of undiscovered treasures from La Jaysinia botanical gardens in Samoëns with 8000 mountain plants from all over the world to the Gouffre Jean-Bernard which, at 5255 feet, is one of the deepest chasms on the planet. See the famous chevrotin cheeses being made in Sixt or have afternoon tea on a working farm. Take a day trip to the 700-year-old port of Yvoire on the shores of Lake Geneva where, not surprisingly, fish is the local speciality in many restaurants. Don’t miss the huge glacial amphitheatre, the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval near Sixt. Its steep slopes are one of the great natural wonders of Europe and legend has it that the surrounding mountains were at one time inhabited by ibex whose hooves were covered in gold.

Activity-wise, white water rafting is very popular in the Giffre valley and if you’ve always wanted to try paragliding, Mieussy is where the sport was invented in 1978. The Grand Massif also offers the chance to be initiated into the underground art of speleology.

The Portes du Soleil is named after a pass, Gates of the Sun, which gets the sun throughout the day because of its position on south-facing slopes and the combination of summer sunshine and a wealth of activities makes Portes du Soleil an irresistible year-round destination. For starters, there are 400 miles of marked hiking routes and more than 24 lifts open throughout July and August to help you navigate your way round the valleys. Then there are some 500 miles of mountain biking trails with 8 permanent downhill courses, including a two-mile descent in the resort of Les Gets. Chairlifts are specially adapted to carry bikes so there’s no excuse for not getting off the beaten track.

At the heart of Portes du Soleil, Les Gets is the mountain biking capital of the Alps. There’s no doubting the resort’s credentials – in 2004, Les Gets hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. If you’re feeling brave enough, you can test your skills on a section of a World Cup downhill course. But don’t worry; there are also green tracks for beginners and families with young children.

Abseiling, rafting, trekking with donkeys, potholing and micro lighting are just some of the other things you could get up to on holiday in the area. In summer, the sun warms the lakes to an average temperature of 22 degrees which makes swimming against a backdrop of forests and green pastures intensely pleasurable. Thrill seekers should have a go at canyoning down the middle of a waterfall and then plunging into a rock pool, there’s nothing quite like it. Or, with Lake Geneva close at hand, why not try wakeboarding. This rapidly growing sport is similar to snowboarding only it takes place on the water.