For 7 days, we’re taking you on a tour around the Portes du Soleil in the hope of helping you to make your holiday one to remember.
The Sun is out and the temperatures are pushing 30 degrees. For some this is heaven and the recipe for an ideal summer holiday but for some – it’s just too darn hot. Well here at Morznet, we want to help everyone. So today, I’m taking you on a tour of the coolest, shadiest yet still incredible spots in the area. It’s our tour of keeping cool if you like!
I’ve come up with this guide with my Mum in mind. She hates the heat and is most likely to be found hiding under a tree or sitting in a cellar with a glass of chilled wine when a heat wave hits. So I asked myself, where would I take her if she were here now?
One of my favourite spots in the Portes du Soleil is the Abbey in Saint Jean d’Aulps. It sits just off the main road on the way to Thonon. In a shady orchard with trees reaching high above its ancient walls it’s a beautiful place if you’re looking for respite from the sun. The Abbaye, as it’s called, was founded at the start of the 11th century, the cool visitors centre will tell you all about it but especially how the Monks survived life in a Mountain Abbey. It’s just a short walk from Saint Jean d’Aulps, which has a couple of bars that will be happy to serve you with a post visit drink. It’s a perfect way to avoid the heat of the midday sun whilst still making the most of your holiday.
If, like my mum, you love a cellar on a hot day then a cheese tour at the La Fruitiere L’Alpage in Morzine. At 9am on Wednesdays and Thursdays could be just the ticket for you. It’s free entry and most of the tour takes you round the cheese cellars letting you taste the local favourites. It’s obviously great for Cheese lovers but also excellent if you’re looking for a little bit of a breather from the summer sun.
Another favourite cooling spot of mine is the Cascade d’Ardent at Lac Montriond. If you can bear taking a little walk in this heat then the waterfall, directly above the lake, in the cooling shade of the forest, is a great spot for a shady picnic. You can also dip your feet into the chilly water, which is an ideal way to keep cool on the hottest of days. Similarly, at Lac Mines d’Or there are always loads of people huddled in the surrounding wooded area having picnics away from the burning sun.
If you want to keep active but want to keep out of the sun, you can also hike along a wooded path from the Mairie in Montriond down to the lake or up to the Cascade d’Ardent. Both keep you out of the sun but still give you a sense of achievement. It’s about a 12km round trip from the Dereche in Morzine up to the lake – and is pretty challenging on the way up. But at least you have the pleasure of an ice cream from one of the restaurants at the lake and a nice downhill return trip.
Talking of ice creams…what better way to get in the holiday vibe and also cool you down? Head to Thonon beach where I’m told the ice creams are great or even walk down the Dereche in Morzine to the shady stables and grab an ice cream to eat in the woods whilst dipping your feet in the river. The kids can have fun in the trees at Indiana Park whilst you watch them from a sheltered bench.
If all of this just doesn’t help you cool down then remember what I told you yesterday - lake swimming could be just the ticket! With the water still chilly from the winter ice there’s no better way to cool down than heading to the various open water swimming spots. Take your wetsuit though because although it might look appealing to just jump in, believe me, you’ll have the shock of your life!
So now we’ve got you cooled down and able to relax and enjoy your holiday, you’ll be ready to hear all about the wealth of events on your doorstep that are coming up during the next few months across the Portes du Soleil. I’ll be back tomorrow with our guide to the best of them. Get ready to hear about mountain car races, motorbike festivals and films at Lake Montriond.
