Mountain Biking

With more than 600km of pistes linked across twelve connected resorts, the Porte du Soleil is one of the largest mountain bike resorts in the world. Its huge variety of paths and trails, fantastic infrastructure of summer lifts, and friendly ‘après mountain biking’ culture makes it perfect for all ages and abilities. From chilled mountain traverses to adrenaline-fuelled downhill kickers, Morzine will have you coming back for more! If you’re looking for some serious inspiration, the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships are held this year in Les Gets, or join the Pass’Portes du Soleil – a yearly event which encourages friendship and camaraderie through the collective exploration of the beautiful mountain trails.

The summer luge

Another activity set amongst the mountains is the luge – a kind of summer sledge meets toboggan. Fantastic fun for kids big and small, the luge is a great way to scratch that adrenaline itch without committing to throwing yourself down the mountain on a bike. Younger children can go in the sledge with a parent, whilst older children can race each other side by side! Access the luge from the top of La Crusaz chairlift.

Fantasticable

If short, sharp rushes of adrenaline are your thing, Fantasticable will be a truly joyful – and eye-watering – experience. This 1200 metre zip wire at the top of the Chaux-Fleuri chairlift will let you soar across the valley from one mountain to the other, at superhero speed!

Road Cycling

If you’d prefer to swap the trails for tarmac, the unique geography of Morzine makes it incredible for road cycling. Home to legendary Tour de France climbs, such as the Col de Joux Plane and Col de la Ramaz, the Portes du Soleil’s challenging climbs and thrilling descents are made ever more exceptional by the stunning backdrop of the French Alps. Hit the road directly from your chalet, or organise a trip to coincide with some of the fantastic events which celebrate this historical sport. The L’Étape du Tour de France is a yearly event, offering you the chance to cycle one of the iconic stages of the Tour de France; or come and watch the Tour itself. Catch a glimpse of some of the world’s finest athletes as they tackle gruelling climbs and daring descents, then soak up the atmosphere as Morzine comes alive with sporting spirit.

Hiking

One of the best things about Morzine in the summer is that the mountains are so accessible. Gone is the need for snowshoes, poles, salopettes and crampons. Even the highest peak in the valley can be reached with a good pair of hiking boots, a backpack and map. There are an endless number of trails to explore in the Portes du Soleil and, much like mountain biking, the mountains are here for you whatever your ability. You can buy a pedestrian pass for all the chair lifts, which is a game-changer if you want to feel on top of the world, but don’t fancy tackling huge ascents! From those all-day thigh-burners to breezy wanderings through the forest, the mountains around Morzine are guaranteed to lift the spirits and nourish your soul.

Lakes, Rivers and White-Water Activities

Water activities might not be an obvious choice for a holiday in the mountains, but there is so much fun to be found in the pools, lakes and rivers! Try swimming, canoeing or paddle boarding on the beautiful Lac Montriond, or if you’re keen to get the blood pumping, try some of the more extreme watersports. Throw yourself at the mercy of the rapids with white water rafting; or go canyoning and spend a day wading, scrambling, sliding, abseiling and swimming your way down a gorge. Check out our post on white water rafting here to get the full low-down, plus some useful information about where and how to book all of these exciting activities.

Swimming Pools

If you have water babies in your family, choose from a fantastic range of pools. Morzine’s swimming complex includes a 25m sports pool and two smaller learning pools for kids. Outside offers an Olympic-sized pool, a large water slide, a toddlers pool and a beautiful terrace for sunbathing and picnics. Whilst the tropical land of Aquariaz in Avoriaz is home to water slides, a climbing wall, rapids and an outdoor jacuzzi. Over in Les Gets, you’ll find an action-packed inflatable aquapark. For more on Morzine’s pools, lakes and waterfalls, see our complete guide to water activities.

Rock Climbing and Via Ferrata

Often overlooked, outdoor climbing is an incredible way to connect with the mountains. Morzine and the surrounding area offer some fantastic opportunities for beginner and intermediate climbers. There are several Via Ferrata courses (a series of ladders, steps and bridges following a route along a cliff face) which are a great way to get comfortable scaling the rocks up high, without the pressure of rope climbing. Try the Rocher de la Chaux in St Jean D’Aulps for stunning views of Mont Blanc from the top. If you’re a first-time climber, we strongly recommend going with a guide (find out everything you need here). If it isn’t your first rodeo, the Via Ferrata routes can be accessed any time, and you can hire climbing gear from the tourist office in St Jean D’Aulps if you don’t have your own.

Day Trips from Morzine

Although you may find it difficult to tear yourself away from the mountains and all the incredible activities there are to do here in Morzine, it’s really worth taking a day trip out of the valley to explore the wider area. Soak up some culture with a trip to the vibrant city of Annecy or dip your toes in Lake Geneva at the tranquil village of Yvoire. If you’re keen to keep nature close, try Sixt-fer-á-Cheval or Chamonix for stunning mountains, waterfalls and classic Alpine culture. For more information on fantastic day trips from Morzine, check out our guide here.

The Morzine Multipass

The Multipass is a fantastic scheme that allows you and your family to access a huge range of free and discounted activities with the Porte du Soleil. These include things such as ski lifts, swimming pools and water parks, tennis courts, mini golf, local buses in and around the area, cinemas, climbing walls, museums and so much more! For guests (non-locals) not staying in Multi-pass affiliated accommodation, the pass costs €13 per day. However, AliKats is very proud to be part of the Multipass scheme, so if you stay with us, you can buy a pass to cover you for the duration of your stay at just €2.50 a day! For more information, visit the Morzine-Avoriaz website here.

When to visit and weather

When to visit really depends on what kind of holiday you’re looking for. The lifts open around mid-June and close mid-September each year, so it’s definitely worth coming within these dates to make the most of them for hiking and biking. For full information about lifts and passes, visit the Morzine-Avoriaz website here.

There are also loads of incredible events which happen within the summer season. From the Tour de France to the Spartan race, it’s worth planning your trip to coincide with these popular events.

As for the weather, it’s usually pretty glorious, but the mountains are known for their extremes. The summer days are usually very hot, but the temperature drops when the sun goes down, leaving you with long, cool evenings to BBQ, enjoy a glass of wine in the hot tub, or just sit and watch the mountains. We can also get some pretty epic storms, but if you haven’t seen lightning fill the sky over a mountain range, it’s worth coming here just for that!

What to pack

With the weather known to change quickly and dramatically, when packing for a holiday in the mountains, we recommend that you cover all your bases. Pack for hot summer days, balmy evenings, but also rain and cooler weather just in case. Whilst not a comprehensive list, here’s some of our top suitcase musts:

• Decent walking boots
• Good, thick hiking socks
• A water bottle (or camel pack if you’re hiking a lot)
• Backpack
• Sun cream
• A sun hat or cap
• A light jacket
• A jumper for when the sun goes down
• Some paracetamol or ibuprofen (it’s pretty expensive here!)
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Sandals/flip flops

Where to eat in Morzine in summer

For a little mountain town, Morzine has a fantastic foodie scene. From traditional Alpine cuisine to trendy Asian fusion, there is something for all tastes and appetites. For a full overview of the best places to eat in Morzine this summer, take a look here.

How to get to Morzine in summer

Although nestled in the mountains, Morzine is easier to get to than you might think. Flights to Geneva run daily throughout the year, then you can jump in a transfer which will drop you at the door of your chalet in around 90 minutes.

Geneva also has an international train station which can be reached from London in under 7 hours, with a change in Paris. From here you can get a transfer to Morzine, or take the train to Thonon or Cluses, both of which are only 30 minutes from Morzine.

If you prefer to travel on your own terms, or are maybe bringing your dog for an exciting mountain adventure, Morzine is about an eight hour drive from Calais, and can easily be done in a day if you’re happy to tag-team the driving (not with your dog, obvs!)

For more information about how to get here and recommendations for transfers and taxis, check out our page here.