Summer Activities & Getting Around in Morzine

So for the last few days, we’ve been helping you make the most of your holiday to the Portes du Soleil. We’ve been helping you find the sun and that all important holiday tan, we’ve helped you cool down in the shade with a nice glass of wine, we’ve found you a party and we’ve uncovered the summer of events here in the PDS. So what next? “There’s more?” I hear you say..

There most certainly is more. We’ve only scratched the surface. Now that everything has opened for the season there’s miles and miles worth of mountains and fun to tell you about. The problem is where to start?

For 2€ a day you can treat yourself and your family to a summer Multi-pass which will really help you to get out across the Portes Du Soleil and try everything that the region has to offer. It’s a great starting point for planning your holiday and gets you access to most of the best activities. It includes access to lots of lifts and cable cars, which will carry you and your family up the steepest hills, so you can have some stunning, gentle walks across ridges and up to peaks.

In Morzine, the pass includes the Pleney, Nyon and Super Morzine lifts but also covers lifts much further a field in Chatel, Avoriaz and the Vallee d’Aulps. With your pass you can also access the swimming pools, tennis courts, indoor ice rink and small train, which saves you from having to walk miles between all of these different activities in the heat of the summer sun! If you fancy a day out of Morzine as well, the pass also includes swimming at the lakes in Les Gets and Montriond, a visit to the Abbey in Saint Jean d’Aulps, mini golf, and lots of different water centres across the PDS.

So you’ve bought your multipass but don’t have enough time to fit everything in…that’s where we come in…we’ll tell you a bit about what’s going on to help you plan your holiday a little bit….

LIFTS & WALKS:

Lots of lifts are open to pedestrians during the summer and mean you can really get out and explore the beautiful Morzine mountains. The Nyon Cable car carries you up to the Plateau at Nyon meaning you can head up to one of the many bars to enjoy a drink on the terrace in the beautiful alpine sunshine. If you’re feeling brave, you can also climb to the top of Pointe de Nyon for incredible views across the PDS. On good days, you can even see Mont Blanc!

Similarly, you can take the Pleney bubble up to the top of the main Morzine slope from where you can take a number of gentle hikes around the surrounding countryside. You can descend into Les Gets or Nyon or simply walk back to Morzine down some beautiful wooded mountain trails. Similarly, on the Avoriaz side, you can get the Prodains lift up to the main resort and hike up to any of the surrounding peaks including Fornet where you can look over into Switzerland – and on clear days you can look down the famous Swiss wall which, if you’re an advanced and slightly nutty skier, you may have attempted in the winter!

There are loads of trails and perfect paths for summer walks and runs at the top of the Super-Morzine bubble as well.  They’ll take you around the ridges and hills, which surround Lindarets and Ardent. If you’ve still got some energy left you can descend down to Lake Montriond and take the forest track back to Morzine. Remember if you’re hoping to get a lift back at the end of your walk, most of them stop operating between 4.30pm and 5pm. Don’t get stuck up a mountain please!

SWIMMING

Speedos at the ready - the outdoor pools and lakes across the PDS are open for swimming! Morzine’s main pool is open every day throughout the season from 08:00 in the morning during the week and from 10:00 at the weekends. It’s great for the whole family, with lane swimming, splash pools and waterslides. If you’re hot and don’t mind a slightly chillier experience then Lake Montriond and also the bathing lake in Les Gets are open for business too!

TENNIS

You can play on Morzine’s main grass courts any time between 08:00 and 20:00 during the summer. Luckily, a brand new café has just opened down at the tennis courts serving hot and cold drinks and food and most importantly ice creams! So you can treat yourself after the exertion of a game of tennis.

ICE SKATING

If all this outdoor activity is too hot for you, then don’t worry, we’ve got just the ticket! Head to the Palais des sports, and you can give Ice Skating a go. The rink is open to the public from 14:15 - 17:15 everyday with a late night skate option on a Tuesday. Where there’s a winter resort, you’ll always find a snow sport somewhere!

TRANSPORT

The most important thing and what will help make your holiday run smoothly, is the planning of how you get to all of these amazing places. There are free buses running throughout the season across the Portes du Soleil, including between Saint Jean d’Aulps and Morzine, Morzine and the Lac Mines d’Or and further round the region as well. And don’t forget, littlies will LOVE the Morzine petite bus! Riding it is an activity in itself.

So – tomorrow, in the last of our summer guide to fun, frolics and a holiday to remember, we find out about food, drink, places to stay and we’ll give you our top tips to making your stay in the Portes du Soleil extra special!