Summer
This area really does have it all
Road & mountain biking
The opportunities for cycling are endless. During the
summer months, lifts in St Gervais, Les Contamines and Megève
will effortlessly
carry you and your bike high into the mountains. For mountain bikers this opens
up all sorts of off-road opportunities, from open alpine pastures through to
tight and technical single-track through the trees. By riding all the way down
from Mont d'Arbois to Le Fayet there are a staggering 1250 metres of
descent. And if you don't mind long hard climbs, then there are lots of options
for epic days out, crossing between the St Gervais and Megève valleys.
It’s
also possible to take bikes to the Col de Voza via the rack and pinion railway.
From here there are some very technical and demanding rides to the Bionnassay
glacier, followed by sublime trails back to St Gervais.
For road cyclists there are some excellent training rides within the
valley with climbs and descents of varying severity. It’s also easy to nip
down to the open expanse of the Arve valley floor to put in some longer
mileages. And from St Gervais it’s quite possible to take in classic Tour de
France routes such as the Col de Aravis and Col de Colombiere. If you fancy a
big day out, then why not ride from St Gervais to Annecy, taking in as many cols
as you can handle, safe in the knowledge that you can leap on the train back to
St Gervais when your legs pack up! For the more casual cyclist, the Bettex
lift enables a leisurely half day meandering down the roads, taking in the
breathtaking scenery and exploring the ancient hamlets.
Walking & climbing
St Gervais and the Mont Blanc region are at the very heart
of the European mountaineering scene. Surrounded by many of the most famous peaks, there are spectacular views in every direction. To the west the
skyline is dominated by the 4807 metre Mont Blanc and the glacier de Bionnassay.
To the east is the unmistakable outline of Mont Joly with it’s spectacular
ridge walk. From the door of Mountain Refresh you can walk alongside babbling
brooks, make your way to alpine pastures, or head out for long and strenuous
hikes to summits and ridges.
Within close proximity of St Gervais and Les
Contamines are dedicated rock climbing area's with fixed protection and secure
abseil points. There are easy climbs for beginners as well as more strenuous
moves for the experienced rock jockeys.
For
alpine climbers Mountain Refresh is an ideal base from
which to prepare for any of the areas classic climbs, including Mont Blanc
itself. We know several highly respected high mountain guides and will be happy
to make bookings with them on your behalf.
Adventure and swimming
Within an hour of St Gervais are a number of via ferratta
routes. These consist of steel ladders and cables going up and across a mountain
crag. Although technically quite easy they are often very, very exposed! As well
as some specialist safety equipment you’ll need a good head for heights and a
reasonable level of fitness. But the adrenalin buzz is huge!
An easier and less
daunting alternative is the local adventure parks where you can swing from tree
to tree using a variety of ladders, nets, bridges, tight-ropes and aerial runways. Equipment and supervision are provided and there are dedicated parks for
children too.
For swimmers, St Gervais has an outdoor pool, or there is
the lakes at Les Contamines which include a children's park, or the nearby Mont
Blanc beach where you can swim and BBQ or hire pedalos with the dramatic
Mont-Blanc as your backdrop.
Click here for information on places
to visit and here, for specific kids
activities.
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