Tag: hiking

Day Tripping ‘Up the Alps’

On By upthealpsIn travelLeave a comment

sixt

Here comes the Summer! Well, not quite yet BUT, with the winter season well and truly behind us, we’re starting to look forward to the long sunny days that summer brings here in the Alps. Whilst there’s plenty to do and see here in Les Gets and the surrounding villages, there are also some fab places to visit a bit further afield. We’re looking forward to getting out and about again after our winter hibernation! For anyone visiting the area, here are some of our favourite day trips………

Beach time, a bit of culture and cool beers in Annecy
Less than an hours drive away, we love to visit the stunning city of Annecy where there’s something for everyone on a day out. Annecy (the capital of the Haute Savoie) is situated right on the shore of the lake and there’s a great beach and huge grassy area if you fancy just chilling out, having a swim or taking a pedalo out. For something a bit more cultured, there are lots of boat tours (must book in advance) and the Chateau Museum to visit. On a Sunday, there’s a fab market in the old town – great for grabbing a bargain or just sitting at one of the many restaurants that line the river banks and doing a spot of people watching over lunch!

Annecy is also brilliant for shopping – lots of lovely boutiques alongside firm favourites like Superdry, Benneton and all of the usual ski/mountain gear brands – Annecy is, after all, the home of the Eider brand.

There are loads of bars and cafes to choose from, but for an afternoon bevvy, ‘Beer O’Clock’ is not to be missed – serve yourself from a range of beers, ciders and ales from around the world whilst enjoying a delicious charcuterie and cheese platter!

Self service ales at Beer O’Clock
Take a Boat Tour on the lake at Annecy

Messing about in a boat at Lake Geneva
Again, it’s less than an hours drive to the shores of Lake Geneva. Our absolute favourite thing to do is take a boat out on the lake, zoom across to the Swiss side and find ourselves a pretty cove to drop anchor, dive, swim and picnic! On the French side of the lake, and easily accessible by either boat or car are the 2 pretty medieval villages of Yvoire and Nernier. Bedecked with flowers and boasting some lovely architecture, they’re both great to visit for a wander, some window shopping and watching the boats. Yvoire is an absolute must for icecream lovers – ‘Glacier Les Galets’ has a vast selection of homemade icecreams and sorbets in all kinds of flavours (Haribo Smurf is always a favourite with children, whilst the vodka red bull option goes down well with grownups!). There are also plenty of restaurants to choose from here, but we like to grab a delicious takeaway sandwich & frites from ‘Le Pause Gourmande’ and take it down to the harbour front to enjoy the view of the lake.

One of the many lovely chateaux to be seen on the banks of Lake Geneva
The best icecream is served here!
Homemade icecreams at Yvoire

A hike & a swim at Sixt-Fer-A-Cheval & Verchaix
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If you fancy a good hike in simply breathtaking scenery, then the Cirque du Fer A Cheval close to the village of Sixt is the place to visit (45 min drive from Les Gets). It’s a National Park and will put you in mind of ‘Lord of the Rings’ as you hike along the river and between soaring cliffs and waterfalls. There’s lots of parking and you can hike little or as much as you like, but there’s a wonderful loop up to the ‘Bout du Monde’ (‘World’s End’ :>) that takes about 3 ½ hrs (including picnic break) and is not too challenging (suitable for kids).

After a well earnt cold drink at the bar near the carpark, it’s off to the lovely little ‘Lac Bleu’ at Verchaix for a bit of a chill and a cooling dip. If we have little ones visiting, they’re bound to want to try the adventure park in the trees around the lake, which has high ropes, fun zipwires and a big jump onto a huge airbag – followed of course by an icecream at the café! And finally, if we have any energy left, we really like to pop 5 minutes back towards Samoens and have a couple of games of 10 pin bowling at RiverBowl before we head back up the mountain.

There are of course loads more brilliant day trips within an hour’s drive of Les Gets – just contact us if you’d like to know find out more! Summer catered, B&B or self catered accommodation is available at Chalet Virolet in Les Gets – a great base for your summer holiday!

Things to do in Les Gets if you don’t ski…

On By upthealpsIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Did you know that there are lots of ways to enjoy the snowy mountains in and around Les Gets that don’t involve skiing or boarding? If you do have non skiers in your group, there’s plenty to keep them entertained, so here are a few ideas:

  • Snowshoeing – a great way to see the mountain and enjoy the same piste-side restaurants and stunning views as your skiing friends! Hire some shoes and poles in the village, pick up a map from the Tourist Office and choose your route, which can be as easy or as challenging as you like. If you don’t fancy a big hike up hill, then use the Chavannes or Mont Chery telecabines to get you up the mountain and go from there. If you want to go off the beaten track, you can join a guided group, well worth it as your local guide will get you away from the crowds and you’ll be guaranteed some amazing scenery. Check out ESF or Caroline Hale (who also provides a flask of hot chocolate :> )
  • Pisted Walks – if you don’t fancy snowshoeing but still want to get out on the mountain, then there are some great pisted tracks on both sides of the village. One of our favourites is the Mont Chery – Mont Caly loop. Take the Mont Chery telecabine up the hill and start from there (if it’s a clear day you’ll get a magnificent view across to Mont Blanc). It’s an easy, gently undulating walk and you can perhaps stop half way at the Chevrelles restaurant on Mont Caly for lunch or a drink.
  • Sledging – not just for kids! As we reminded ourselves this weekend, sledging is fun whatever your age :> There are 5 designated sledging areas around the Chavannes side of the village, the longest being at the bottom of the Perrieres (100m woohoo!). These are roped off areas, safely away from skiiers & boarders. Sledges can usually be borrowed from your accommodation or if not, hired from any ski shop in the village – just don’t forget to wear you helmet!
  • Ice Skating – the ice rink is situated in the centre of the village – for a few euros you can hire skates and spend some time practicing your moves (accompanied of course by some classic euro-pop tunes :>)
  • Relax! – Les Gets has 3 spas offering massage and beauty treatments to help you relax, unwind and get into ‘holiday mode’. 2 of the spas also have jacuzzi’s and saunas, so if you like, you can really make a day of it. More info at Sereni Cimes, Les Gets Luxury Spa, Clair Moment

In addition, the village has a bowling alley, cinema and of course lots of fab shops, café’s and restaurants – it’s very easy to while away an afternoon in a cosy café with a good book and a glass of wine!

So whether you can’t ski, don’t ski or won’t ski, Les Gets still makes a brilliant winter holiday choice – come and see!

Jen & Craig