Dog-Friendly Chalet Holidays in Morzine

May 16th, 2023 Holiday Tips

There are a few things that we really love here at AliKats. Skiing goes without saying, food is also pretty high up there, but our hearts’ true desire is dogs. They’re just the best, and there’s nothing better than being able to share the joys of holidaying in the mountains with your four-legged partner in crime. We’ve put together a quick guide to bringing your dogs with you to the mountains, including hints, tips and a list of reasons why AliKats and the beautiful Porte du Soleil is the paw-fect destination for your next adventure!

dog-friendly chalets Morzine

Why Morzine is a fantastic choice for dog-friendly holidays in France

Super Easy Dog-Friendly Travel

France has got a reputation for being one of the most dog-friendly countries in Europe, and getting here couldn’t be easier. We recommend coming by car as it enables you and your dog to stop, stretch your legs and rehydrate whenever you need. The Eurotunnel is fully prepped for pooches; allowing you to drive here quickly and hassle-free. Remember that the rules have changed a bit since leaving the EU, so you can no longer use a pet passport issued in the UK. Instead, your dog will need an up-to-date rabies vaccination, a microchip, a recent worming tablet and a pet Health Certificate. If in doubt, visit the UK government website for all the details here.

Dog-Friendly Walking Trails with Spectacular Scenery

There are few places in the world more ideal for dogs than the mountains. With endless wilderness and fantastic trails, the Porte du Soleil is a vast playground for you and your dog to explore. The stick game is also pretty tight. From long, winding traverses to top-of-the-world summits, the myriad of hiking, running and walking trails in and around Morzine will guarantee to tire out even the most energetic of pooches. One of our particular favourites is the Brochaux waterfall, a 30-40 minute walk which crosses beautiful alpine pastureland and ends in the stunning Brochaux waterfall. Little streams offer ample opportunity for dogs to drink and take a dip, and trees provide shade throughout most of the walk for those particularly warm summer days. You can find a summary and directions here.

Delightful Dog-friendly restaurants

Many of the restaurants and bars in Morzine are dog-friendly. It’s actually quite uncommon to find a restaurant that doesn’t let dogs in. Bar Le National in St Jean D’Aulps is almost more of a local for the valley’s dogs than it is people, and with great food and a lovely upstairs terrace, it’s the perfect setting for a beer after a long hike with your four-legged bestie. Hotel du Lac is also a beautiful spot for dinner and a cocktail, and the stunning 1.5 mile walk around Lac Montriond is the ideal start or end to a dreamy evening. Central Morzine even hosts a bar that is named after their pretty pooch Poppy. As they put it: it’s a bar where you can eat. And anywhere that serves good food, good beer and loves dogs, is a winner in our book. Take a look at our foodie blogs here for some more mouth-watering inspiration.

Beautiful dog-friendly accommodation

You’ll be delighted to hear that all of AliKats chalets are dog-friendly! Our favourite is Ferme à Jules.

Being the largest of our chalets, there is ample room for zoomies indoors and out, and the chalet leads onto a large driveway so there’s no worry of your dog accidentally zooming onto the road. The beautiful garden with breath-taking views of the valley is the ideal spot to soak in the hot tub, whilst your doggo taps into those seemingly endless reserves of energy! Its location in the beautiful, quiet area of Montriond lends itself to peaceful walks and stunning scenery. From your very front door there is a lovely walk up to Lac Montriond which you can extend further to the village of Les Lindarets, also known as the Goat Village, which is well worth seeing.

For more info about bringing your dog to stay with us, visit our guidelines page here.

Tips for Holidaying with your Dog in Morzine

  • Know the hunting schedule. Hunting is a traditional pastime here in the mountains and the season runs from September to February each year, but it doesn’t need to stop you exploring the mountains with your pooch. Pay attention to signs on the trails – they often indicate hunting in the area and usually tell you which days they are active. You can also download the Chasseco app here for daily updates about where and when hunting is scheduled.
  • Bring a lead. Although the mountains are a paradise for dogs, farmers graze their livestock during the summer, and you’ll need to put your dog on a lead should you walk through a field with cows or sheep in.
  • If you plan on doing a lot of walking with your dog, it may be worth buying them a tick collar or tick treatment. Ticks can be quite virulent during the summer, and it’s just nicer for everyone – particularly your hound – if they stay in the grass!
  • Don’t forget to carry water. Although there are lots of streams in the mountains that your dog can drink from, these are not always a guarantee. Summers can be warm here and streams can dry out, so make sure you always bring a backup just in case.
  • If, in the unfortunate event that you need a vet, there are several really good ones in and around Morzine. Laurence Levanchy in Montriond and the Véto Family Vétérinaire in Tanninges are two to note down just in case.

 

Hopefully we’ve convinced you that dog-friendly holidays in France are actually pretty easy! Morzine and its surrounding mountains are the ideal destination for even the most adventurous pooch, and our collection of dog-friendly chalet holidays are the perfect base from which to explore. So what are you waiting for? Take a Howl-iday with your hound!

Al - Co-Founder
About the author: Al - Co-Founder
After an interesting but ultimately unrewarding 10 years working in banking in London and Geneva, I made the move into full time mountain life and have never looked back. When I am not looking after our 3 energetic and hilarious children, I oversee the commercial and business change side of AliKats. I also helped set up a local environmental charity called Montagne Verte, along with Kat. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn

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