The resort - Paradiski - Summer
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We are offering full summer season long rental for the whole of July and August of our apartment for the amazing price of £2250 or €2850 |
Summers in the Alps are quite simply stunning! They are not just for avid hikers or adrenaline junkie mountain bikers, white water rafters and climbers. They are about having a stunning holiday in beautiful surroundings with activities at your disposal too numerous to mention, if you want. If not, you can just sit and relax and enjoy the view, the clean air and the sun.
Many people do not realise how much there is to do in the mountains in the summer. The French resorts work hard to ensure there is a wide range of activities for everybody, so the biggest problem is what to choose to do. The best time to go is in July and August as the lifts, shops and restaurants are open.
Here are a few of our suggestions of what to do once the snow has melted and the summer sun is shining!
Arapaho Scooters
Hire an off-road scooter with big fat mountain bike tyres that has been specifically designed for downhill riding. You can hire the scooters (helmet and gloves provided) in Champagny and freewheel down practically any path. Available for anyone over the age of 10 years old and is great fun for all the family to enjoy.
Arbre Aventure
Swing through the trees high above the mountains on a circuit of zip lines, monkey bridges, ladders and ropes. You can travel through the forest without touching the floor, safely strapped into a harness and attached to a secure safety line. Both adults and children can enjoy this activity with different circuits for different ages and abilities.
There are 'arbre aventure' parks at Arc 1800, Belle Plagne, Aime Villette and Champagny.
Archery
Practice your Robin of Sherwood skills in a tranquil alpine setting. Beginners can learn from scratch and those with more experience can put their skills to the test with a variety of courses. Rosuel National Park has archery facilities and children from the age of 8 years can learn how to fire an arrow with the Club des Sports in Les Arcs.
Canyoning
Plunge yourself into the mountain streams via a series of abseil descents, jumps and natural water slides - just make sure you choose a warm day! You will make your way along rivers and rapids, using the river bed as a natural obstacle course.
Not suitable for very young children, but anyone over the age of about 8 can take the (very cold) plunge. You can choose from short beginner routes or longer ones for the more adventurous.
Hydrospeed is an alternative to rafting where you shoot down the river on a kind of inflatable body-board. Half-in half-out of the water you are closer to the action and guaranteed a soaking!
Childrens Entertainment
All resorts in Paradiski offer a large number of organised entertainments for children throughout the summer. Highlights include sporting demonstrations, street entertainment, folk shows and traditional festivals. Welcome evenings are scheduled throughout the week at the Tourist Office to present forthcoming attractions and entertainments.
The Les Arcs Club des Sports also offers a wide range of sporting opportunities for children of all ages to get involved in.
Local Farm
A host of beasts including donkeys, goats, chickens and other alpine farm animals await you at the mini farm in Montalbert. Here you can take a tour of the farm, ride a pony, learn about the traditional methods of making alpine cheese, and experience the delights of Alpine farming. The kids will love it.
Glacier Walking
For a truly unique experience, clamp on your crampons and go hiking on one of the many nearby glaciers, the Aiguille Rouge glacier and the Glacier du Geay to name but two. The breathtaking views and spectacular crevasses make this an incredible adventure. There are a number of glacial hikes, of varying difficulty, in this region of the Alps. Most mountain guiding companies will run organised excursions to the most accessible.
Golf
Les Arcs Golf Course offers something for every standard of player with the stunning backdrop of Mont Blanc in the distance. Open every day from the end of June to the beginning of September the Les Arcs Golf Club hosts a number of competitions and events throughout the summer.
For the more experienced player there is the 18 hole par 70 Le Chantel course, with a minimum handicap of 35. Booking in advance is recommended.
For those who prefer a more leisurely game there is the 9 hole par 27 Le Beauchet course, no minimum handicap or tee off time is needed. Both courses are in Arc 1800 and have spectacular views of the mountains.
If you fancy brushing up your skills with a few lessons the prestigious David Leadbetter Golf Academy runs 3 and 5 day courses in Les Arcs.
Hiking
Whether your idea of walking in the mountains is a gentle ramble or a three day hike, Paradiski has something for you. The valley has hundreds of kilometres of beautiful, marked walking trails and maps and trail guides are available from the Tourist Office. To reach the higher trails you can buy a Pedestrian Lift Pass. From a higher elevation you can see the most spectacular views. For the more adventurous, try longer hikes into the Vanoise National Park, perhaps staying overnight in a refuge. The local Mountain Guides Office offer guided group walks, walks on a glacier, and private, longer trips.
Horse Riding
There are two riding stables nearby; the Centre Equestre la Cavale in Les Arcs and the Centre Equestre Ranch El Colorado in Bourg Saint Maurice. The woodlands and mountain pastures of the Parc National de Vanoise is a beautiful place to go for a quiet pony trek or something a bit more adventurous.
Hot Air Balooning
Hot air ballooning looks serene, but there are moments of excitement, once the creaking wicker basket rises off the ground you are uncomfortably reminded that you are suspended hundreds of metres above the ground in a small twig structure! The views are stunning, and as you glide over the forests you may see deer and other animals normally hidden from view. The pilot controls the height but the wind determines which direction you take, so the flight can take anything from one to two hours, depending on when a suitable landing site comes into view.
Miniature Golf
Crazy golf fun for everyone! While the international sports organisation World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) prefers to use the name "minigolf", we feel "crazy" is more apt.
For budding golfers over the age of 4 years, La Plagne has 3 mini-golf courses with obstacles and challenges to test your skills. Located at Plagne Centre, Plagne Bellecôte and Montalbert.
Mountain Biking
Les Arcs and La Plagne are two of the best downhill mountain biking sites in Europe. The riding is challenging, the views are spectacular and the long tracks just keep on flowing! Probably a resort best suited to intermediate/advanced riders, you will find plenty of demanding technical trails and steep downhill plummets. (NB: In French, mountain biking is called VTT, Vélo tout-terrain).
The lift system is efficient and takes you and your bike up to 2700m from where you can choose from a multitude of tracks to get back down into town.
Paintball
This exciting activity offers fun for groups of all ages. A variety of scenarios are offered at the beginning of all games, with each game lasting approximately 2 hours; the ultimate aim is to shoot your opponents with paint pellets and capture their flag before they get hold of yours.
The paintball park in Plagne Bellecôte opens mid March for the summer season, players must be 13 years or older.
Helicopter Tours
Sit back and admire the mountains from even higher up! Daily panoramic helicopter flights are available (weather permitting) with a number of local flight companies or some mountain guide companies. Relax and enjoy the stunning views as you fly over the snowcapped mountain tops, glaciers and alpine forests of the Paradiski.
Paragliding ('Parapente')
Catch Le Grizzly lift from Vallandry and you will find your take-off point just to the right of the top of the chairlift, or from the top of the Cachette or Ours runs, you take-off and land in the valley of Bourg Saint Maurice or Ilette. La Plagne take off sites include La Grande Rochette, La Roche de Mio, Les Verdons and Les Blanchets. Once you are in the air the sights and the peaceful flying is a truly amazing feeling. The instructor will control where you go, aiming to catch thermals, which will keep you up for longer. A usual tandem ride will last about 20-30 minutes, depending on those thermals.
Rock Climbing
Les Arcs has plenty of rock and more than 6700m of vertical climb for you to tackle under your own steam or under the watchful eye of a guide.
Some 'top spots' to head for are:
- Falaise d'Arc (2000-2050m) - 11 routes, graded from 4b-6a.
- Falaise de Rochefleur (1620m) - 10 'official' routes and 9 'unofficial' but fairly easy routes, graded from 3b-6c.
- Pont Baudin Petit Dalle (1550m) - 18 routes, graded from 4a-6b.
- Pont Baudin Grande Dalle (1590m) - 19 routes, graded from 5b-7a+.
- Bloc de Ceris (1370m) - over 20 large boulders with a multitude of routes from 3-7b.
The Sports Centre in Plage Bellecôte features an indoor climbing wall and in Plagne Centre you will find 3 movable and tilting walls to practice on. There is also an indoor climbing wall in Arc 1950.
Summer Activity Club
There are so many things for kids to do in Paradiski throughout the summer that sometimes the only way to make the most of it is to enrol them in a summer club! The Les Arcs Club des Sports, based in Arc 1800, offers a huge array of activities for children of all ages.
Starting with the very young they offer a special nursery for 1-3 year olds with mini-trampoline, singing & music, arts & crafts, tobogganing and more to keep your little ones fully entertained. The Club Mini takes children between 3 and 6 years old for a range of activities including mountain rambles, picnics, swimming, judo, trampoline, painting and mini golf. For children aged from 6 years up to 17 the Club des Jeunes has more challenging sporting activities such as circus skills, tennis, water sports and mountain discovery, the Club des Jeunes is split into smaller age categories so that children are with others their own age.
Swimming
Apart from the many mountain lakes and streams which can provide a refreshing dip in the summer there is also a large swimming pool in Arc 1800. The pool is part of the sports centre complex and has a swimming pool, spa pool, children's paddling pool, waterslide and snack bar.
There is also a large swimming complex in nearby Bourg Saint Maurice, which comprises an indoor pool, outdoor pool and 3 diving boards.
Tennis and Squash
Les Arcs offers a grand total of 30 tennis courts as well as the services of the Nastase Academy. You can take a one-off refresher lesson, sign up for a course or enter one of the many tournaments that take place. Children from the age of 5 can also join in, with special lessons tailored to their needs.
For those of you who really like to build up a sweat there are squash courts at the Sports Centre in Arc 1800.
Vallandry has two courts that can be booked through the Office De Tourisme.
Trampolines
Work off that fondu on the trampolines at Plagne Bellecôte, Plagne Centre and Montalbert. Suitable for both children over 4 years and adults this is something everyone can have a go at! There are also trampolines and extremely good fun bungee-trampolines located at Arc 1800.
Via Ferrata
If climbing up sheer rock on the end of a piece of rope sounds a bit scary then Via Ferrata climbing offers an element of security that still allows beginners to enjoy the achievement of having scaled a mountain!
Following marked routes through the mountains you are helped along by steps, bridges and ladders whilst being roped up for extra safety. Suitable for adults and children over the age of 8, guides can be arranged on request.
There are 2 main Via Ferrata routes in La Plagne; Plan du Bouc and Grosses Pierres. Plan du Bouc is in Champagny le Haut and features 2 courses, 1 intermediate and 1 difficult. Grosses Pierres is in Champagny en Bas and is a more challenging and physical.
White Water Rafting
If you have not experienced this before then this is a definite "must try" on your list of activities to do! Paradiski has a number of trained guides who will let you experience some of the best white water rafting available in the Alps. From the middle of May until September, the mountain rivers flow furiously as they are fed from the melt waters running off the glaciers high above the towns and villages. There are various options available from a 3 hour adrenaline rush to a full days excursion - this activity is guaranteed not to disappoint.
Take a look at some of these suggestions...
- Get the local lift up the mountain, have a drink, snack or lunch at the restaurant at the top with the stunning view, then walk back down.
- Book into some of the free local activities in Vallandry which include art & craft for the children, archery, group games and golf lessons (kids & adults separately).
- Use the free local tennis courts (just need pre-booking at the tourist information centre).
- Play as many rounds in a day as you wish for a tenner at the local 6-hole golf course. It may be short but it is technically quite difficult and great fun. Bring your own clubs. Alternatively or additionally, play a round on the much larger 18-hole at Les Arcs 1800 which is longer and flatter and where you can borrow clubs. Both courses have driving ranges available.
- Hire mountain bikes locally (only adult sizes available, bring your own kids bikes or hire from Intersport in Bourg) and do a grand tour around the entire Les Arcs ski area getting the lifts up and cycling back down. There are clearly marked cycle routes, but we recommend some additional routes on footpaths and pistes. If you have skied the area you will find it great fun to cycle where you normally ski.
- You can get the Vanoise Express across to and back from La Plagne, and have a gentle walk on relatively level paths in the forests.
- Drive 10 mins (or walk 35 mins) to Les Arcs 1800 and spend the afternoon at the outdoor pool (with slide to keep the kids entertained).
- From Les Arcs 1800 a lovely day out is getting the TransArc lift up (mid-station for an easy walk or top for more challenge), then walk to the Arpette restaurant, and spend the rest of the day there lounging around the pool and enjoying drinks, snacks or a full lunch at their lovely restaurant.
- Another day at Les Arcs 1800, choose from the many entertainments available which include: crazy golf, bouncy castles, bungy trampolines, circus school, art classes, climbing wall, archery, bowling, tree-climbing adventures (separate courses for ages 3-6, 6-11, 11+).
- Drive 10 minutes to the Vanoise National Park. There are a couple of easy child-friendly walks, one to a waterfall and one around a marked circuit, with a "refuge" for drinks and snacks available. Alternatively if you do not have young children, there are fantastic walks into the National Park, you can even stay in the refuges to go further.
- Also available in the nearby Vanoise National Park there is horse-riding, a fantastic tree-climbing adventure with a course for younger children and one for teenagers/adults, walking with donkeys, walking with huskies, rock climbing, "via ferrata" (a structured route through the rocks) and several restaurants. If you are lucky you may see the pair of rare "bearded vultures" nesting near the path, only 1 of 10 breeding pairs in the Alps. Also see if you can spot the marmottes (rather like land-beavers), eagles, ibex and large numbers of wildlife in the Park.
- If you like walking in groups, the local tourist office has details of guided walks either going through particular areas or themed.
- Opposite the Les Mélèzes apartment is the free "lobster pot" lift down to the old village of Peisey which has a baroque church, a couple of shops, restaurants and a weekly market. Or you can walk down and get the lift back up.
- If you like action, you could try a tandem parapente jump off the mountain and enjoy the amazing views over all the local resorts, Bourg and the valley.
- If you like water based adventures, you could try white water rafting, kayaking, hydrospeeding, all starting from Landry, just 15 minutes from the Peisey-Vallandry. Check out http://www.h2o-rafting.com
- If you like relaxing around water, your options are, the outdoor pool at Les Arcs 1800, the local hotel pool, the leisure-lake near Aime which has a beach, cafe, playground, crazy golf and tree-climbing adventure park, or the pool in Bourg Saint Maurice which has an outdoor and indoor pool.
- For a change have a day out in Bourg Saint Maurice, especially on Saturdays which are market days. Bourg has lots of shops, supermarkets, a little tourist train-trip, restaurants, leisure centre, and heaven help us a McDonalds, what more could you want?
- For a day trip out, you could go to Tignes where you can visit and ski the glacier, spend a day around the lake or at the leisure centre. Lake Annecy is a couple of hours away, Italy is a short drive over the Col de Petit St Bernard, or slightly further afield is Chamonix and Mont Blanc.
See... not too many hard walks up mountain!
