Tour & Excursion reviews in Avoriaz — 3 of Our Favourites

There are a few things we wouldn’t want you to miss- so we’ve come up with an outline of a schedule for you. We know you’ll want to tweak it, add your own activities, perhaps swap swimming for cheese and wine time, and maybe even go cycling, but nevertheless, we thought it might make the planning a little easier for you..

DAY ONE

One of the most beautiful spots in the Portes Du Soleil is without doubt, Lac Montriond. The lake itself was formed by the collapse of a mountain and sits nestled in the valley between several other peaks. The water mirrors the colour of the surrounding trees, making it a stunning greeny-blue and is a must-see. In good weather it’s perfect for picnics and BBQ’s and during the summer there are all sort of activities to get stuck into, including kayaking, pedalos and splash pools for children. You can combine this with a trip to the Goat village of Les Lindarets for Lunch. Hundreds of goats parade the streets of the village during the summer and their bells echo around the valley. Definitely an experience you shouldn’t miss when you’re here on holiday. These two activities work well together and will give you a full day of entertainment, probably a better choice for fair weather days.

DAY TWO

If you’re a bit unfortunate and have some rainy weather when you visit the region. Don’t panic! There are plenty of activities that are fun, come rain or shine! We think the Nyon waterfall and cascade adventure is well worth a visit. You’ll get so soaked by the spray of the river; it won’t matter if it’s raining! The waterfall fun is all within walking distance of the centre of Morzine, so you can combine it with a tasty lunch at one of the village’s popular restaurants. And perhaps, after you’ve walked off some of the fondue, you can return to town for some après tipples. Also, if you fancy extending your hike, the climb to the Nyon peak starts at the waterfall.

DAY THREE

A little further afield, and a drive away from Morzine, is the pretty town of Thonon Les Bains. Sitting on the edge of Lake Geneva, the town is popular for it’s beach area. On sunny days, families travel from the Portes Du Soleil to sit in the sun on the waterfront and soak up the rays in one of the many bars and restaurants. Its open-air swimming pool is also very popular in summer. Well worth a day trip or even a night stop over if you’ve time to spare.

DAY FOUR

After a busy day travelling down the mountain road to Thonon, you might fancy spending a day closer to home. Don’t miss a cycle down the Dereche river trail in Morzine. Follow the rapids and try your hand at the parcour course that’s marked along the pathway. There’s a day full of activities down the river, from children’s playparks, to horse riding and a go ape adventure park. This would also tie in nicely with a trip to Morzine’s popular outdoor swimming pool. Another day packed full of fun right in the heart of Morzine.

DAY FIVE

After spending a couple of days in the hustle and bustle of towns and villages, now might be the time to look for a bit of a country escape. Hidden away in the hills above Saint Jean D’Aulps is the beautiful hamlet of Graydon. It’s accessible by foot or by car on a road that winds up from the village of Essert Romand. It’s an ideal spot for a picnic or a hike and a perfect place for a bit of rest and relaxation in a beautiful Alpine valley.

DAY SIX

You’re nearing the end of your week in the Portes Du Soleil and are looking for a bit of an adventure to finish the fun. Fantasticable, a zip wire in the Chatel area of the region has become one of the areas most popular attractions. Whizzing daredevils at speeds of up to 100km an hour, it isn’t for the faint hearted. At the same time, you can visit Chatel itself for some traditional Savoyard dishes and delicacies. Another day that will leave you wishing you had more time to spend in the Portes du Soleil.

DAY SEVEN

Sadly, it’s your last day on holiday, but this doesn’t mean you have to stop having fun. It’s definitely a good idea to go out on a bang. The spectacular views you get on the cable car up to Avoriaz are well worth seeing and once at the top, there’s plenty on offer to fill up your final hours in the Portes Du Soleil. The swimming pool and leisure park is well worth a visit, especially if you have children, and there are plenty of bars and restaurants to try whilst you’re up there for the day.

So whether you’re here to cycle, or just here for some much needed R&R, you’ve got plenty to pack in on your visit to the Portes Du Soleil. If you’re short on time, and can’t quite squeeze it all in this time, don’t worry…. it’ll all be here waiting for you next year!

Legend has it that The Pont du Diable (Devil’s bridge) was a result of a deal made by farmers who were desperate to build a path linking the two sides of the valley across the Dranse. Feeling let down by God, they turned to the Devil who in turn promised to build them a bridge in return for the first soul to cross it. Thinking that they could trick the devil, the farmers sent a goat across the bridge. Angered by their actions the devil threatened to return but is yet to stick to his word. The residents wait in fear of the day he comes back….

Fact or Fiction. Well…it doesn’t really matter. The gorge and bridge now form part of a popular tourist attraction perfect on wet, chilly days but also on the hottest days of the year. Visitors descend down flights of wooded stairways to reach the gorge which sits deep down in the valley of the Dranse. You follow wildlife tracks and nature trails all the way down to the gates of the gorge where you await a guided tour. The day we went was wet and rainy and as we made our way through the forest it felt eerily atmospheric, passing under towering trees and through overgrown passages.

The Gorge, which lies directly under the Devil’s bridge, has been formed by years of ice-cold water crashing down the valley and eroding the rocks. The public started visiting in 1893, which is also when the legend spread rapidly to the surrounding towns and villages. Tours through the gorge take place throughout the day and last about half an hour. You're guided through the gates of the gorge down flights of stairs until you’re standing on wooden platforms looking down into the swirling, crashing river. The tour is all in French but you’re given a translation and are able to ask questions in English so that you don’t feel like you’re missing out. There are steep rock faces, big cavernous holes and waterfalls all formed by ice, changes in temperatures and harsh winters. It’s interesting for adults as well as children, who can allow their imaginations to wander.

One of our favourite parts of the tour is the traces of history left etched in the rock as you make your way around the gorge. Hearts and initials have been scratched into the rock by workers and visitors - some of them dating back to the 1940’s. You can also see the old steps and metal railings, now left abandoned, which allow you to imagine what it would have been to scale the wet, slippery rocks when safety was slightly less of a concern. The tour itself takes about 40 minutes. You feel like you’ve had plenty of fresh air, a good walk and it’s not too exhausting if you want to take the children with you.

Once you’ve finished the tour you have to climb back up the wooded stairs to the car park where the warm café awaits you. There’s hot chocolate, tea and coffee to warm you up on the chillier days and a cooling beer and ice cream for the hotter days. The visit costs 6€ for adults and 4€ for children and is a great way to spend a few hours of your holiday. It gives you shade from the sun and if you’re wet from the rain why not get wetter in the waterfalls! We’d certainly recommend it and as the 4 year old who was with us said “it was really good… I bet fairies live here”.

Before you’ve had time to blink, someone will tempt you into their bar with the offer of a cool refreshing pint and a platter of incredible cheese or you’ll be so inspired by your beautiful surroundings that you’ll pop on your hiking shoes and head for the hills. However, if you do fancy seeing some other parts of this beautiful alpine region, there are loads of things on the doorstep for you to try.

The shores of Lake Geneva are a mere 30km from Morzine, down the windy mountain road to Thonon. A day trip to the town is completely doable by car or bus, but if you think you might be tempted to have a glass of chilled wine in a bar on the waterfront, you can always contemplate staying the night. Thonon has a very popular beach area, with huts that my friend described as “cute with brilliant ice creams”. There’s also a popular outdoor swimming complex in Thonon, with three heated pools and in summer a beachside cinema. If you fancy staying the night, for a family of four, you’re looking at spending around 60€ for a budget hotel, rising from there for the more luxurious ones.

A little further round the shores of the lake, is Evian, the town made famous for its bottled water. It’ll take you around 2 hours to get there, but once there, you won’t be disappointed. With a feel somewhat like that of a Devon seaside resort, Evian is full of pretty fountains, pathways and gardens. You can fill your water bottle at the main spring in Evian for free which seems to be somewhat of a tourist attraction. The town’s also popular for it’s architecture, with many people visiting to see some of its grand buildings. There are plenty of accommodation options in Evian from hotels to campsites, many overlooking the lake. For a camping plot for 2, you’re looking at around 14.50€ for the night.

Heading a little further a field now but sticking with the water theme, Lake Annecy is most certainly worth a visit. We stopped off there on a long journey and fell in love with the place. The lake has a shoreline of around 35km with lots of beautiful French towns scattered around its coast. It’s famous for its offering of activities such as windsurfing, wakeboarding and diving. There are archaeological sites at the bottom of the lake, including the wreckage of an old ship, which sank in 1971. The romantic town of Annecy is known for its architecture, its castles and its cathedrals. Lots of couples like to visit the Pont Des Armours (Lovers Bridge) before indulging in dinner at one of the towns many restaurants.

If you fancy camping for the night, with a view out across the lake, you’re looking at spending around 8.50€ to camp and 16€ for a motor home.

The region is extremely popular with road bikers, and most of my suggestions would work if you were attempting your own mini tour de Haute-Savoie. None more than this last excursion. Why not cycle to Chatel across the Portes Du Soleil, via the famous climb to Avoriaz, which is often used as a stage in the Tour De France. At 14.6km and with an 860m climb, it certainly isn’t easy. But when you descend down the other side into Chatel and sit down for a bottle of Vin rouge, it’ll all be worth it. There are plenty of accommodation options, including at hotels, such as the Belalp, Choucas and Au Bois de Lune. Prices start at around 55€ for two people per night.

Again, these ideas only scratch the surface of what’s available in this beautiful region. Don’t forget a visit to the goat village of Les Lindarets, a trip to the pretty coastal village of Yvoire on the edge of lake Geneva, a hike to the stunning Graydon valley or a white water rafting experience down The Dranse. Geneva is just over an hour away, taking you on a journey through some beautiful French towns and villages and remember, other beautiful Alpine resorts such as Val d’Isere and Chamonix aren’t a million miles away!