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Val d'Isere Activities - Summer
| Summer Activities in Val d'Isere |
The majority of things to do in Val d'Isere relate to being outdoors, and whilst there are many organised activities, getting out there is mainly what it is about - at a leisurely pace or at warp speed, it's up to you.
The list of activities available in the summer is extensive and also includes tennis courts, golf courses and plenty of walking. A €24 activities pass will give you 6 visits to the swimming pool, 2 lift trips, limited access to the tennis courts, golf practice, shooting stand, fun park and discounts on many other activities in the resort. There are also variations on the duration of the pass and what it includes. |
| 4 x 4 Driving, Quad Biking & Trial Biking |
4x4 - Test your driving skills on the internationally renowned, specially designed 4x4 tracks in Val. These trails are some of the highest in Europe. Available through Club 4x4 des Aigles or Evolution 2. €92 for 1-4 people for 1 ½ hours driven, or €138 for 2 hours self-drive accompanied by a professional.
Quad Biking - An action packed and fun way to discover the superb Alpine views and experience the joys of these super-agile all terrain vehicles. Introductory hour is €48 with Evolution 2.
Trial Biking - For complete beginners or experienced motorcyclists (who will need a driving licence). €50 for introductory hour with Evolution 2 or Moto Club Les Aigles. |
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last updated 3-Dec-2007 |
| 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. These eco-friendly adventure parks are created around the trees without damaging them in any way and can be dismantled if necessary, leaving the forest as though untouched. Both adults and children can enjoy this activity with different circuits for different ages and abilities.
The 'Parcours Aventure' in Val d'Isère is in the Foret du Rogoney, just a 5 minute walk from the centre of town. It is open from early June until the end of August every afternoon between 13.30 and 18.30. Large groups can book in advance for a morning opening. See here for details.
Children must be over 6 years old and over 1.40m tall. |
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last updated 8-Apr-2008 |
| Archery |
Practice your Robin of Sherwood skills in a tranquil alpine setting. Beginners can learn ‘tir l’arc’ from scratch and those with more experience can put their skills to the test with a variety of courses.
The Parc des Sports Vallée du Manchet has an archery course that is open from early June through until late August, every day except for Saturday. Children must be aged over 8 years old and children between 8 and 11 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Please see here for details. |
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last updated 8-Apr-2008 |
| Canyoning |
A not-so-gentle but extremely refreshing summer activity is one way to describe 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 and try canyoning. With the safety of a guide everyone can abseil down cascades, splash into pools and ride the river rapids. You can choose from short beginners’ 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!
Different companies will have their own policies on age limits but usually, unless they are booked onto a children's activity course, anyone under the age of about 14 years old will have to be accompanied by an adult. A basic level of swimming ability is required for safety reasons.
There are a number of local companies that offer guided descents down the local waterways. |
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last updated 9-Apr-2008 |
| Children's Entertainments |
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Val d’Isère offers a number of organised entertainments for children throughout the summer. Highlights include: ‘Les Aiglons’ sports club, children from 4 to 10 years olds can take part in activities such as sports, excursions, educational activities, refuge outings and more; ‘Juniors Club’, 11 to 16 year olds will enjoy all the sports offered by the sports department such as baseball, street hockey mountain climbing and more; regular children’s shows; street entertainment every Thursday. For festivals and other entertainments enquire at the Tourist Office for details or check our What’s On Calendar to see what is happening when. |
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last updated 9-Apr-2008 |
| Downhill Mountain Biking (VTT) |
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Val d’Isere is great for the keen skier in winter with an array of long, steep descents across the Bellevarde, Solaise and La Daille areas. However, these slopes are much more difficult to tackle in summer on a mountain bike. There has been a downhill track from the top of the La Daille cable car for nearly 10 years but it is very technical and is therefore only ridden by the most experienced riders. There are many more options for mountain biking in Tignes so this may be worth considering if staying in Val d’Isère. (NB: In French, mountain biking is called VTT. (Vélo tout-terrain!)) ... see "Val d'Isere Mountain Biking" for more |
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last updated 10-Apr-2008 |
| Farm & Crafts |
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At the Ferme de l'Adroit you can take one of Xavier's guided tours where he will introduce you to the animals and demonstrate the art of cheese making, with a tasting session to try the finished product. There are plenty of friendly farmyards animals to pet and visitors are welcome to watch the 6pm milking sessions; the fresh (unpasteurised) milk can be bought direct from the farm. |
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last updated 10-Apr-2008 |
| Fishing |
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The cold clear waters of Alpine lakes, rivers and streams are a beautiful place to fish. They can also be a great place for spotting other local wildlife too, such as marmots and deer. Regular fishing contests take place at nearby Lac Ouillette throughout the summer. Fishing permits and tackle can be bought/hired at Jean Sports. |
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last updated 10-Apr-2008 |
| Fitness & Sports Centre |
The sports hall at the foot of the Bellevarde Face has basketball, ping-pong, volleyball, hand-ball, badminton, trampoline, gymnastics, football, weights room and a rock climbing wall. It’s open every day from 9-12am and then again from 3-7pm in the winter and 2-7pm in the summer. The cost for use of the facilities is 23€ for an hour hire of the 650m2 hall, 5.50€ per hour for the ping-pong table or 6.80€ for an hour on the climbing wall.
There is a gym and weights room located with the public swimming pool in Solaise. Cost is 10€ for a single session, or 60€ for 10. With 10 sessions, you receive a membership card which gives you access to the facilities from 7am-10pm. Otherwise; opening hours are 2-7pm through the winter and 11am-8pm in summer.
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last updated 3-Dec-2007 |
| Glacier Walking |
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For a truly unique experience, clamp on your crampons and go hiking on one of the Espace Killy’s Grand Motte or Pissaillas glaciers. 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. To read more about glaciers and the environment please go to our Glacier Meltdown article. |
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last updated 11-Apr-2008 |
| Golf |
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The nearest golf course to Val d'Isère is just down the road in Tignes. At a height of 6300ft Golf du Lac de Tignes is one of the highest golf courses in the world. As well as affording some amazing scenery this also means that your normal swing will make the golf ball travel much further! The 18-hole course in Val Claret has a pro-shop, club/buggy hire, changing rooms, a driving range and a club house serving meals, snacks and drinks. |
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last updated 21-Apr-2008 |
| Hiking & Walking Trails |
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Val d'Isère, is located at the entrance of the Vanoise National Park and this is the perfect place for starting easy walks or outings of several days in the mountains. On the pathways, you will find "indication signs" that show you your position, the area, and the approximate walking time left. The hikes are graded according to their difficulty in the same colours as the pistes in the winter with green being the easiest, followed by blue, red, and finally the steeper, longer black hikes. A "Hiking guide" presenting over 40 itineries is for sale at the Tourist Office. ... see "Val d'Isere Hiking & Walking Trails" for more |
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last updated 3-Dec-2007 |
| Horse Riding |
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Horse riding is an amazing way to enjoy the challenging terrain and spectacular views of the Alps. The Centre Equestre du Gorray in the Valllée du Manchet offers a variety of lessons and hacks suitable for all ages and abilities. Open every day (except Saturday mornings) from 06/07/08 to 29/08/08, you can claim a reduced rate with a Pass'Sports card. |
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last updated 21-Apr-2008 |
| Panoramic Helicopter Tours |
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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 Espace Killy. |
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last updated 22-Apr-2008 |
| Paragliding (parapente) |
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From near the top of Solaise Summit one can glide down to the bottom of the valley on a tandem paraglider controlled by the instructor. He manoeuvres the parachute while the passenger enjoys the ride and fantastic views. Taking off is the only scary moment: once you have been equipped with a helmet and strapped to the instructor behind you in a rather intimate way, both of you simply point your skis (or board) downhill, and carry on getting faster and faster until the parachute lifts you into the air. One then peacefully glides above the pistes for ten to twenty minutes, aiming to catch thermals to keep you up for longer. Landing is very gentle and no more of an impact than jumping off a step. ... see "Val d'Isere for Paragliding" for more |
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last updated 23-Apr-2008 |
| Rock Climbing |
At Val d'Isere Sports Centre you will find an indoor climbing wall for learning the basics, brushing up your skills or simply practising on a rainy day.
For those who want to get out in the open air you'll find no shortage of natural rock in and around the Espace Killy, to tackle under your own steam or under the watchful eye of a guide. Maps and guides of local climbing routes can be found at the Tourist Office. |
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last updated 23-Apr-2008 |
| Summer Activity Club |
There are so many things for kids to do in Val d'Isere throughout the summer that sometimes the only way to make the most of it is to enrol them in a summer club! Val d'Isere offers two clubs, 'Les Aiglons' and the 'Junior Club', that offer age-appropriate activities designed to get your children out in the fresh air and trying some new mountain sports. For the younger children there is a range of activities including mountain rambles, trampoline, dance classes, picnics and more. Older kids can take part in climbing, canyoning, street hockey, baseball and other sports.
Les Aiglons is for 4 to 10 year olds and the Juniors club is for 11 to 16 year olds, they both meet in the Manchets Sports Park and run between 2-6pm from Sunday to Friday. You can reserve your child's place here, there are reductions with the 'Pass Sport'. |
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last updated 24-Apr-2008 |
| Summer Skiing |
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Summer skiing is available on the Pissaillas Glacier from June 28th to August 15th 2008 (inc), depending on snow conditions. A daily lift pass will cost 25€ and includes transport by shuttle bus, please see our Summer Lift Pass Prices section for details of longer passes. |
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last updated 24-Apr-2008 |
| Swimming Pool |
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There is a public indoor pool at the bottom of the Bellevarde Face in the Solaise area. The opening hours are 2-7pm through the winter and 11am-8pm in summer. The cost to use this pool is 4.90€ per adult and 3.20€ per child (under 12). Guys must wear speedos in the pool which can be hired if you don’t have your own pair! There is also a sauna and Hammam on offer aswell as Aquagym lessons at 8.50€ per ¾ hour. |
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last updated 3-Dec-2007 |
| Tennis & Squash |
Val d'Isere tennis courts are discounted to holders of the 'Pleasure Pass', for more details about this and other activity passes please see our Val d'Isere Summer Lift Pass Options section.
Val d'Isere sports department also offers a variety of tennis lessons for all ages and abilities from 6th June to 29th August in the Manchet Sports Park. There are also indoor badminton and squash courts at the Charles Diebold Sports Centre. |
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last updated 24-Apr-2008 |
| 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! This form of climbing was invented by Italian soldiers in the Dolomites who used it to enable them to scale vertiginous faces easily and quickly. These days it is a popular sport that makes the thrill of mountain climbing more accessible to children, beginners and those who want a bit more security when they climb.
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.
Beginners can take their first steps at Roc de Tovière, behind the residential buildings in La Daille, where you will find some fairly easy routes on which to find your head for heights! There are more challenging routes at the same site, which leave from the same point but then branch off into longer routes. If you feel like pushing yourself you can try the tougher route 'Via Ferrata des Plates', which leaves from behind the Pierre et Vacances building. |
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last updated 23-Apr-2008 |
| White Water Rafting |
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If you haven't experienced this before then this is a definite 'must try' on your list of activities to do! Val d'Isere 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 town. There are various options available from a 3 hour adrenaline rush to a full days excursion - this activity is guaranteed not to disappoint. |
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last updated 25-Apr-2008 |
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