Mountain Activites

Choose from:

·  Walking / Randonnées pedestres

·  Mountain Bikes / VVT

·  Rock climbing / Escalade

·  Via Ferrata

·  Paragliding / Parapente

·  Pot holing / Spéléologie

Introduction

The vast and changing landscape of the French Alpes provides the most fantastic scenery, clean fresh air, stunning mountains and crystal clear lakes. All the traditional holiday activities are on offer from high adrenalin rushes to gentle strolls. For information on the activities, contacts and guide information please see the contact information on the resort pages, or the Tourist Offices who have literature and more details of all activities in their area.

Walking / Randonnées pedestres

Pedestrian trails are maintained by organisations in each area, which guarantees a consistent signpost system and high quality up-keep of the area. Maps are available from Tourist Offices who can also provide contact details for experienced guides who operate in all resorts to help visitors get the best from the area.

'Walking in the Alps' from Guide publisher Cicerone is worth acquiring visit www.cicerone.co.uk

Mountain Bikes / VVT

Mountain bikes make easy work of getting up hill, but ski lifts are better! Cycle round at altitude then off-road it home down some fairly serious ski pistes. Trails are marked and maintained by organisations in each area. Maps and details of guide services in the area are available from Tourist Offices.

Click here for a list of the competitions in the Oisans region this summer

Rock climbing / Escalade

Top roped for safety, clinging to training faces, instructors are available to help you climb up and abseil down the rock faces safely using harnesses and ropes. Each climbing area will have a number of graded routes to cater for all abilities.  Children usually need to be 8 or older to participate. See the Tourist Offices for details.

Read an article about Rock Climbing with Children in Morillon/Samoens

Via Ferrata

A challenging and demanding combination of scrambling and climbing rockfaces with man-made courses of pegs and cables, fixed ropes, ladders and hand rails. They vary in length and difficulty to suit most people’s appetites for adventure, and some sites have special courses for children. Helmets and harnesses are provided for safety.

Paragliding / Parapente

Fly with the birds and see the Alps from a different view. Starting on top of a hill and running till airborne, paragliding is similar to hangliding, using an inflatable parachute to catch thermal air currents and gain height. Full training and instruction given. Tandem flights, where you are strapped in front of an instructor are popular as a first experience flight.

Pot holing / Spéléologie

Venture into the earth to discover underground rivers, caverns and strange rock formations. A very wet mountain activity! Helmets, overalls and torches are provided.

·  For Water Activities, click here

·  For Golf, click here