Last Updated on March 2, 2025

Morzine – a great base for active summer holidays in the French Alps

Chilly Powder Hotel Au Coin du Feu at Prodains, Morzine is a perfect base for experiencing all the activities available in the summertime with many different things to try. For those looking for an active summer holiday, Portes du Soleil has a lot to offer in the most beautiful surroundings.

Mountain biking in Portes du Soleil

Mountain biking is huge in Morzine and Les Gets.  So much so that the World Championships were taking place in Les Gets when I was last there! With six hundred kilometres of mountain bike trails in the Portes du Soleil, graded for ability there is plenty for mountain bikers to explore.  You can hire a bike from specialist shops in the resort too. And, it’s easy to get up the mountains as you can take a mountain bike on many of the open chair lifts as well as gondolas such as Pleney, Super Morzine, and the Prodains Express to Avoriaz. For a less strenuous activity, why not try an e-bike?

Hiking in the Alps

If you love hiking as much as me, you’ll find the walking routes around Morzine are well-signposted and very quiet.  You can easily get away from it all and take in the beautiful mountain scenery.  There are so many options, with marked paths offering different durations and altitudes. I went up the Super Morzine lift, then took the Zore chair. From here there is a lovely, long, walk which takes you down to Lindarets and the Goat Village. It’s fun to walk the routes you have skied down in the winter, the gradient on foot seems very different to when you are on skis.

The Goat Village is an ideal spot to stop at one of the many restaurants for a tasty lunch. The goats are very relaxed and wander freely in the village.

An alternative walk is the easy stroll from the centre of Morzine to the bottom of the Telepherique at Nyon. The path winds along the river Danse through the trees towards the Cascade de Nyon, where you can see the waterfall plunging through a gorge carved into the rocks.

Pas de L’Aigle

A visit to the Pas de L’Aigle is a must for its spectacular views. Take the Telepherique de Nyon up to the plateau, the chairlift that runs from there takes you slowly up the mountain. There’s a short steep section at the top of the chair lift leading to the viewing platform. From here you can see for miles around, with Morzine far below in the valley, surrounding mountain peaks, and even Mont Blanc shining brightly in the far distance.

Canyoning

Canyoning is very popular in the summer. For those who want to try, the place to go is Nyon. Canyoning involves going down the river gorge with climbing harnesses, abseiling down waterfalls, and jumping into pools. It’s a very physical and exhilarating activity.

White Water Rafting

White water rafting is an adrenaline experience and while I didn’t have a chance to try it here in Portes du Soleil, I’ve had a go on a previous activity trip during the summer in Chamonix and can recommend it to everyone. Here you have the opportunity to take part in a half-day activity running on the river Danse, with graded sessions making it suitable for all ages.

Parapenting

If you are looking for something different, why not try parapenting and enjoy a tandem session with a qualified instructor? The feeling of soaring into the air and riding on the thermals is unique, it’s very calm and peaceful to be up in the air looking down at the ground below.

‘Fantasticable’ Zip Wire

A giant zip wire linking two mountains, the starting point of the ‘Fantasticable’ is in the Châtel area at the top of the Rochassons chair lift. Snugly strapped into a harness you whizz along the wire, a length of 2523 metres, at a speed reaching nearly 100km per hour.

Cascade Aventure Park Nyon

Closer to the ground is the Cascade Aventure Park at the Nyon Waterfall. Cascade Aventure is an alpine outdoor adventure park geared to everyone regardless of age or fitness level. Here you are up in the treetops, similar to Go Ape in the United Kingdom, and zip wires run from platforms taking you effortlessly from tree to tree.

Relax at Lac Montriond

If you want to chill after all your adrenaline-filled adventures, then why not spend a day at Montriond visiting the lake?  It’s a great place to swim, kayak or paddleboard.  Or you can stroll around the shores of the lake and admire the beautiful scenery, and just relax with a picnic

Wibit, Les Gets for Kids.

An ideal activity for children is the Wibit Park in Les Gets on the Lacs des Ecoles, an aqua playground made up of inflatables on the lake water. The Wibit Park is made up of around forty modules with an obstacle course, giant slide, water climbing wall, blob (human catapult), and monkey cage among others. It is very popular with younger children.

These are some of the many activities you can do in and around Morzine in the summer, it is also possible to go horse riding, and play golf. Further afield spend a day in the picturesque city of Annecy, or travel to Lake Geneva where you can take a boat trip on the lake or visit the source of Evian water at Évian-Les-Bains.

If you are looking for an active summer holiday in stunning surroundings, then Portes du Soleil certainly fits the bill.

Useful information

The Morzine Tourist Office has a wealth of information available.

You can save money and make the most of the many activities available by buying the summer multi-pass, which gives you free access to more than sixty activities for a small daily fee. This covers all of the lifts in Morzine and Avoriaz, including the Prodains Express, the Pleney gondola, Super Morzine, and the Telepherique de Nyon. With the multi-pass, you get free entrance into many other venues including the swimming pool and ice rink in Morzine. For mountain bikers, there is a mountain bike pass available to take the lifts up the mountains and ride back down.  Check here for more information on the summer multi-pass with costs and options.

The Pas de l’Aigle at the Pointe de Nyon is accessible by the chairlift at the top of the Nyon Telepherique, tickets are available at the restaurant for a small fee.

For more details of companies offering canyoning, white water rafting or parapenting.

There is more information on Fantasticable available from their website

And for more on the Cascade Aventure in Nyon.

Details for the Wibit Les Gets  adventure park are available online here.

I was hosted by Chilly Powder at the Hotel Au Coin du Feu in Prodains, Morzine for four nights. Chilly Powder operates year-round, offering active summer holidays for individuals, groups and families looking to experience the stunning Portes du Soleil region. Summer prices start from £595 per week based on two adults sharing a standard bedroom, or £1,660 for two adults and two children sharing a standard family bedroom. Prices are based on a half-board basis with wine included in the evening meals. Self-catered chalets and winter ski holidays are also available. To learn more or to make a booking, contact Chilly Powder on info@chillypowder.com or 020 7289 6958 or visit www.chillypowder.com