St Gervais Summer Sports

email info@myfrenchchalet.com | tel +44 (0)20 7193 6513

Summer is as active in St Gervais Mont Blanc with 180km of marked paths and trails, rock-climbing, paragliding, canyoning, rafting, ice skating, horse riding and mountain biking.

Climbing

Rock-climbing in the Mont Blanc massif means high mountains, superb granite and miles of limestone cliffs. Sport-climbing is popular and many valley-floor crags are equipped: mountain routes may be partially equipped with at least abseil points. Buy a guidebook from shops in the town centre: for higher routes it is best to hire a guide. Newcomers can start at one of the climbing walls in the valley - visit the tourist office for further information.

Golf

Alpine Golf is popular with holiday makers who want to take in the mountain air while enjoying a leisurely round of 9 or 18 holes. There are golf courses at Evian, Megeve and Verbier.

Hiking

The hiking season starts in late April in St Gervais, with many wonderful and well signposted walks in the area. Choose between 1 day walks from the town or go further afield for 2 day plus walks in the surrounding French countryside, Italy and Switzerland. The famous Tour of Mont Blanc takes between eight to ten days with accommodation at mountain huts and valley hotels. Or head up to Chamonix to start the well-known Walker's Haute Route to Zermatt. For all walks, carry waterproofs, sunglasses, sun protection and plenty of drinks.

Horse Riding

The horse-riding centre, Les Ecuries du Mont Blanc, is open year-round for hacks and horse-riding among the hills.

Mountain Biking

There are great mountain bike trails in St Gervais and surrounding areas from undulating excursion trails along the valley or more difficult trails reached by cable car.

Mountaineering

Summer mountaineering ranges from valley cragging to a Mont Blanc ascent. Be conscious of mountain safety and hire a guide for more high-risk routes. Most shops in the town centre sell books covering the routes or visit the tourist office.

Parapenting

Parapenting is a very popular sport in St Gervais due to the high mountains and favourable winds. Take a tandem flight with a qualified instructor or lessons with a paragliding school at one of the many takeoff sites in the area.

Petanque

This sport that originated in the south of France is very popular in the valley.

Water Sports

July, August and September are the peak months for watersports when the water levels are lower and the temperature is warmer. In May and June, the rivers are usually high with snow melt from the mountains. Activities include:

• Canyoning – walk, swim, abseil and jump along a river - fun guaranteed!
• Hydrospeed - white water swimming with only the protection of thick, reinforced wetsuits, crash hats and flippers
• Kayaking – in the grade 3 River Giffre, various grades at the Dranse above Thonon (between Morzine and Lake Leman) and the Dora Baltea in Italy (which has a 15km grade 6 stretch)
• Rafting - the Arve (Chamonix) and the Giffre (Samoens) are popular local rivers for a white knuckle ride on a raft. Go further afield for the excellent Dranse and the terrifying Dora Baltea.

Swimming, Sunbathing, Windsurfing and BBQs

The local lakes are excellent for swimming, sunbathing, windsurfing and BBQs - Lake Passy is the best – and they warm up from July onwards.