The Alps are not just for the winter, there also a great place to take a summer holiday too. If you’re not one for lying about on a beach all day and you crave something more exciting then a summer holiday in the Alps is for you.
A summer holiday in the Alps doesn’t need to be an expensive holiday and actually you will find some hotels, chalets and other services have great discounted prices in the summer months, take us at Whiterides for example we have off all our normal winter prices - whiterides.co.uk.
So here is our guide on what to see, where to go, where to stay and what to do this summer in the tarentaise area of the Alps.
What to see in the Alps
Once the winter is over and the snow melts the Alps really come alive and places like the Vanoise National Park open up offering great access for hikers and walkers alike.
The Vanoise National park is situated between the Tarentaise and Maurienne valleys, it was created in 1963 and was the first French national park ! Several of the large ski resorts like Tignes, Val d’isere, Les Arcs and La Plagne sit just on the edge of the national park.
The park is home to an array of animals some that your more likely to see than others like Ibex and Marmottes, and here just up from Peisey Nancroix we are home to a pair of Beared Vultures, which is a rare treat for any nature lover or bird enthusiast.
Within the national park and the surrounding areas you never be short of fantastic views and breath taking scenery, from high mountain peaks to deep blue clear lakes the Alps has it all. And what better way to experience this then staying in on of the many refuge huts dotted around the area.
To pick one of our favourites Refuge De Turia situated just of the back of Les Arcs this is the perfect refuge to hike to in a few hours and stay the night. The location is amazing with views all along the valley and over to the Italian border. To stay the night the cost is €16.50.
Where to go in summer in the Alps
Within the Tarentaise valley you will find plenty of resorts to visit that are all geared up for the summer.
From the 3 valless (Courchevel, Meribel, Val Thorens), to the Paradiski (Les Arcs and La Plagne) and the Espace Killy (Tignes and Val d’isere) to name just a few.
Some resorts are more geared up for summer than other, for example Les Arcs is awesome for Mountain Biking.
And Tignes is great for all sorts of activities, with water sports on the lake, Mountain biking, and they always have great events on all summer, and the lifts are free to use for Mountain bikers and walkers alike. Plus you can get your snow fix as well up on the glacier!
If your looking for something less on the extreme side, resorts like Saint Foy and La Rosiere offer great hiking and walking trails.
There is a bit of something for everyone in the Alps in summer.
What to do, summertime in the Alps
The Alps are full of great activities to do in the summer, here’s our activity directory with some useful links:
Mountain Biking
Climbing/ Via Ferrata
Rafting, Cayoning, Paddle boarding
Golf
Swimming & Wellness
Hiking in the Alps
Road Cycling
Where to stay for your summer holiday in the Alps
There are plenty of great places to stay in the Alps from hotels, chalets and campsites here is just few of our recommendations:
Chalet accommodation across the French Alps
Hotels in the Alps
Campsites
Getting to the Alps in summer
Getting to the Alps couldn’t be easier with plenty of flights into Geneva, Lyon, and Grenoble at great prices from providers like Easy jet and Ryan air and a transfer time of around 2.5 hrs you can be on your holiday in half a day direct from the U.K.
And of course for your airport transfer Whiterides have got plenty of options from Geneva, Lyon and Grenoble airports to Les Arcs, La Plagne, Tignes, Val d’siere resorts just to name a few.
And with 20% off all transfer prices all summer there isn’t a better time to book a summer holiday in the Alps.
From All the Whiterides team we hope you have a great summer and we look forward to seeing you all very soon.
Airport transfers to popular summer resorts
Whiterides has written some informative pages for the more popular resorts: